The home cinema projection market is evolving. At the premium end, 4K and laser light are beginning to dominate, while 1080p offerings are vacating the middle ground and heading into territory once dominated by low-cost 720p shooters. In between stretches a yawning chasm where manufacturers are increasingly wary of treading.
The EH-TW5300 reviewed here is one of a trio of lookalike low-cost Full HD models released by the world’s biggest projector brand. Sandwiched between the EH-TW5350 and EH-TW5210, it’s a well-specified 2D/3D model aimed at both casual users and more dedicated AV enthusiasts. Do you really need to spend more for a true home cinema experience? Perhaps not…
Fronting the unit is Epson’s D9 LCD panel technology, illuminated by a bright UHE lamp. The latter is claimed to last around 3,900 hours, extending to 7,500 in Eco mode. Epson suggests you’ll be able to watch a movie every day for 11 years without changing the lamp. Whether you can find that many actually worth watching is another matter entirely.
The projector can throw a bright 100in image from around three metres away (projection ratio is 1.22-1.47:1), making it ideal for smaller rooms. Light and colour output is rated at a dazzling 2,200 Lumens, bright enough to use in a living room with ambient light.
The EH-TW5300 is nothing if not dinky. Just 297mm wide, this lightweight should easily fit in the proverbial sock drawer when not in use. And at 2.9kg it’s light enough to be an effortless ceiling mount if you’re looking to build a more permanent theatre.
Connectivity comprises two HDMI inputs, one of which is MHL-friendly for hookup to compatible smartphones, as well as phono AV and PC VGA (with supported resolutions up to WXGA++). There's also an audio minijack output, plus a USB port for JPEG playback.
Finished in gloss white, it’s a nice-looking piece of kit. The roof is dimpled with on-body controls. In addition to basic menu navigation, there's Home and Source selection, plus lamp and temperature warning lights. There’s even a 5W integrated rear-facing speaker.
The lens is off set to the left, with hot air vented in from the front right and routed to the rear. Both manual zoom and focus ring are recessed into the cabinet. Epson offers vertical and horizontal keystone correction, but not lens shift. If you need more help getting the image where you want it, an adjustable foot allows you to angle the thing up.
There's really not a lot involved in getting the EH-TW5300 off and running. Many users will simply point it at a white wall, pull the focus into sharp relief, and connect their content source. Which leaves plenty of time for beer and Skittles.
Despite the price tag, the EH-TW5300 has some neat image processing on board. Picture presets comprise Dynamic, Bright Cinema, Natural and Cinema, and these are joined by deeper image manipulation, should you want to tweak. RGBCMY off sets? Help yourself.
Epson's SuperWhite mode is off by default, dulling the image when engaged. The auto iris can be switched off , or run in either Normal or High Speed modes. Similarly, the lamp has Normal and Eco modes. With the former, there's a cyclonic 37dB rush that’s impossible to ignore. This drops significantly in Eco mode (where output is rated at a more modest 1,500 Lumens), but operational noise is still comparatively intrusive at 27dB.
While the projector is Active Shutter 3D capable, with a 480Hz drive for minimal 3D crosstalk, no shuttering glasses are supplied (it’s compatible with the RF standard). If you feel like investing in the third dimension, you can also convert 2D to 3D, although I struggle to think when this might be appropriate.
The EH-TW5300 offers three tiers of frame interpolation of varying strength. Benefits of using any, though, are low. With a test pattern moving at 6.5ppf (pixels per frame) none of these modes actually improve moving detail resolution. Detail brickwalls consistently at around 700 lines. There are benefits when it comes to horizontal panning and judder, which smooth considerably on the Normal and High settings. Unfortunately motion artefacts are also introduced, as well as that telltale video sheen (AKA the soap opera effect). A mood killer for movies.
When it comes to visual snap, the EH-TW5300 fares well. The monochromatic cinematography of Band of Brothers looks gloriously dynamic. Snow gleams white, buildings and trees are bleached grey; the contrast with overcoated troops is striking.
However, such extremes cause the projector’s auto iris to grind loudly into action. This is immediately resolved by deactivating it. Perhaps surprisingly, this doesn't extract a heavy contrast penalty.
Black level performance is acceptable, particularly given the price. In a fully dark room, it’s certainly dark enough to convince, revealing realistic shadow detail. Colour accuracy is reasonably good, although when Hellboy confronts the Golden Army, he looks more orange than devilish red. That said, his steampunk adversaries are suitably golden.
The PJ has no problem delineating fine detail and texture, perhaps due to a new noise-cancelling chip Epson has introduced into the range. In Inception, DiCaprio's team trip from a plane to rain-drenched imaginary cityscape. The image is a feast of texture and colour, from yellow cab to sodden suits. The Epson nails all this with tangible depth and clarity. Peering deep into Christopher Nolan's illusory world, it's all too easy to believe that this sells for more than its £580 asking price.
Curiously, the IR codes for the EH-TW5300 actually clashed with the Sony Blu-ray player I had hooked it up to, causing the disc spinner to navigate when I was trying to control the PJ.
The onboard sound system is useful for convenience hookups where a big image outweighs audio performance – perhaps a late-night gaming bout of Fallout 4. Of course, I’d recommend a full 5.1 sound system if you want to combat the projector's fan noise.
The EH-TW5300 can be considered fair value and worth closer inspection if you're after a general purpose PJ for media duties. It casts a good-looking Full HD image for a bargain price – sharp and with high levels of contrast. The small form means there’s not a lot of noise management available, which for serious cinema rooms could prove a deal breaker, but if you can cope with or cure that, then it’s a bit of a 1080p steal.
Specifications
3D: Yes. Active shutter
4K: No. 1,920 x 1,080
CONNECTIONS: 2 x HDMI inputs; PC VGA input; USB input; composite video; stereo audio
BRIGHTNESS (CLAIMED): 2,200 Lumens
CONTRAST (CLAIMED): 35,000:1 (Dynamic)
DIMENSIONS: 297(w) x 245(d) x 114(h)mm
WEIGHT: 2.9kg
FEATURES: Proprietary 3-LCD design; 5W built-in audio; 3,900-hour lamp life (Normal mode); 7,500-hour lamp life (Eco); 27dB fan noise (Eco); Cinema, Dynamic, Natural, Bright Cinema presets; projection ratio 1.22-1.47:1; frame interpolation modes; 1.2x zoom; auto iris; adjustable feet; keystone correction