EpiqVision Ultra LS800 Ultra Short-Throw Laser Projector

It's not worth it for an 80" screen size IMO. The main benefit of having a projector is a huge screen to go with it because the contrast will be worse than a TV. That said, if you just want a clean look and don't want a giant black panel hanging in the room, USTs are a good option. Maybe consider a cheaper Hisense model? One big advantage of the Epson, however, is that you can place it much closer to the wall than other models.

I mean, I've only actively watched one which is my Epson LS800 so that's by definition the best projector I've used this year. :) Also, high-end is $250000 so you probably don't mean high end. What do I think you should buy? A 120 inch ALR screen and a Nexigo Aurora Pro MK II, or PX3-Pro ultra-short throw projector. Otherwise, maybe a Valerion Visionmaster Max if you want to use a boring old icky white screen and want a longer throw projector. The Visionmaster 2 Pro is on sale also https://www.valerion.com/global/projector-sale - buy the package with the 120 inch Fresnel ALR screen and sell your 100 inch presumably white screen to someone else.

As an Epson owner I'm potentially biased, but the LTV 3500 is very bright and has absolute ass black level. For bright material it can look good but in dark scenes it's absolutely terrible and also quite expensive. The Epson isn't the greatest at black level but it's pretty decent on 70% power and with dynamic contrast on, it depends on the viewer and what they expect. If rainbow effect isn't a bugaboo for you personally, there's the Nexigo Aurora Pro MKII and the Hisense PX3-Pro which both beat the Epson and AWOL easily, though Epson has some specific advantages - first, the shortest throw on the market so easier to place, and it's 3LCD so it has zero rainbow effect. These reasons would have to matter considerably to make the Epson the one to go with (in my case, both were relevant and I'm quite happy with my Epson.) Literally any UST 99.9% needs a proper ALR screen. It helps a ton in the daytime obviously but crucially it also improves image quality and contrast a shit ton in the dark. It's an expense any UST buyer should factor in. For these, you want low gain (like 0.5, 0.6) because this helps improve the percieved black level. The units have plenty of firepower to lose some due to a low gain. [ALR Screen VS White WALL - Side by Side Comparison in Different Lighting Conditions | Chris Maher, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1rVFTnkuE) As for HDR, Dolby Vision and all that stuff, it's obviously an advantage to have support for those, but no projector can actually do HDR. They can only adapt the HDR material to the best their light output can do. High Dynamic Range means a wide difference between black level and peak light. But projectors can't project blackness, so if you add a ton of lumens you will still not get the extreme contrast numbers you want for real HDR because your black level won't be black. So these things all slot into the "nice to have" category way more so than "must have". New units have support for it; the Epson sadly doesn't but since I feed my Epson off a HTPC with MPV anyway it's not that important, I'm still squeezing everything the projector can do out of it.

My Epson LS800 was pretty unbearable at 100% light output. Fortunately, at 70% pretty exactly the fan noise drops dramatically and stops being a factor at all for me. Since dialing down the lasers also helps the 3LCD panels block light to show black, and I have a 0.5 gain screen which further drops the black, I get what I'd consdier a very good image with low fan noise.

You'd be hard pressed to find a top grade projector where 4K isn't just thrown in as part of the deal. But let's just say I'm not at all upset that my Epson LS800 "only" has doubled up 1080p. The limitations of the human eye means it still looks glorious - fron the seated position. Sure, you can see a difference up close and all but still. But either way... if you buy a good projector today it's 4K so the discussion is academic. 8K however would be total horseshit in just about every way... However, if you showed me two projectors, otherwise identical seeming, one 1080 and the other 4K, and then told me the 1080 model had more light output, better native contrast and lower black level, but they cost the same, I'd pick the 1080 without any hesitation.

The LS800 is the best of them and at about 70% brightness the fans become almost inaudible. At 100% power you get a little more light output but there's also noise. Epsons tend to have audible fans. However, that presupposes the right screen and the right placement. The thing that makes UST's more resilient to daylight (not immune, just somewhat more resilient) is the UST specific ALR screen, and the fact that the UST is placed on a bench in front of the screen. If you ceiling mount, you lose that entirely and have to use a white screen, and at that point you're probably better off with a long throw. At least that will bounce the light more or less towards you instead of into the floor. UST's are zero compromise when it comes to placement. They *have to* be at the right distance both horizontally and vertically from the screen; the LS800 is the shortest throw on the market so it doesn't have to come quite as far away as others. Projectorcentral.com has throw calculators. You could do something like a Valerion Visionmaster Pro 2 and Valerion's Fresnel ALR screen for those. The ALR is a little less effective than an UST ALR (because an UST fires from such a unique angle from below, it's easier to reject light from above) but if you need it ceiling mounted that would be one of the few sensible approaches I can think of. Here's a rando video that shows what a Valerion with ALR would look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfOfofvQzis - a big difference in the dark, and an enormous difference with lights. Darkness is still basically a requirement to use a projector. Your image looks absolutely terrible compared to what my ALR creates with some light but there's no projector that can ignore ambient light.

I literally just used the Android interface long enough to set up the screen settings and dial in the modes as best as one can (one inexplicable and cursed thing Epson did with these was to remove almost all calibration controls, which is somewhat infuriating since I have calibration hardware... but they can be made pretty good with what you have to work with.) Once I had dialed in the image settings, I hit the game mode button on the remote and switched to HDMI3 which bypasses all that Android stuff and I use my LS800 purely as a screen, no audio, no "smart" apps, that's all on the other side of the AV receiver. I remote control it with a combo of Home Assistant and a Broadlink RM4 Pro, and a plain old universal remote; I had to teach my old Harmony 650 the Epson IR codes but once done I can operate my entire system with one remote. I don't like the unpredictability and weirdness that CDC can introduce, rather discretely control everything.

It's absolutely worth it. An UST and a lightweight screen are logistically an absolute breeze vs an absolutely enormous TV. The TV fans argue that TV's work better in the light and have deeper blacks, and both are true. They never seem to agree though that a good UST with an ALR screen still has an excellent and extremely enjoyable image. It's just that 120 is better since more size is more immersion but that doesn't mean a more space limited set up with 100 inches won't be immersive and a great deal of fun. Go watch this, his videos and comparos are always top notch and make up your own mind https://www.thesmarthomehookup.com/big-screen-battle-100-qled-tv-vs-projector-vs-ust/ I *literally* carried in my fairly large Epson LS800 UST by myself, and I also dragged in the screen myself, assembled it on my living room carpet and I even hung it on the wall solo (though that part was borderline stupid, should have been less impatient and had a friend over, a 120 inch screen isn't too heavy to handle solo but it's pretty cumbersome, there's a risk of bending the frame). A 100 inch TV? I'd have needed two beefy workmen to haul it in and I'd have had to literally reconstruct and strengthen my old wall to hold it most likely, they really cut corners on that construction... obviously no problem hanging a light screen, it's even anchored in the drywall with Geefix drywall anchors. You *do* need to control the light in the room with any projector. Even an UST with the 99.9% required ALR screen. The ambient light rejecting screens cost real money but they help both with rejecting any remaining ambient light, and they help by aiming the light from the screen at you, instead of at the ceiling and walls.

I have an Epson UST and absolutely no regrets. I'm just about to put some motors on my blackout curtains so I can just push a button to black out the room, which is necessary in the summer. Now in the wintertime it's black out when I get home so no worries over the winter. Anyway, the ever reliable Hook Up channel has some input on this also: [Big Screen Battle! 100" QLED TV vs Projector vs UST | The Hook Up, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPikt0UbhPk)

You say budget isn’t a concern, but balked at $10k. Which is totally reasonable, but I think it’s important to set expectations. There is a sea of not-particularly-good projectors under $5k. At $5k you have a few decent options where color volume and black levels significantly improve. Above that, things sort of jump to $10k, where black levels and color volume either continue to improve or at least stay flat, but brightness increases. Above $10k, things explode in to the 10s of thousands. Largely for the purpose of going really big (165”+) and of course the Christie Eclipse at $400kish. This also doesn’t factor in the screen, which can cost as little as $300 and as much as $6k or more. Given you aren’t willing to properly light control, but need good brightness, image quality, fan noise, and low input lag, you’re going to have a hard time hitting all of that under $10k. I would have serious reservations about getting excited for HDR. You might find SDR content looks better. A JVC NP5, Sony XW5000ES, or Epson LS12000, and Epson QB1000 should all be on a shortlist. There are plenty of comparisons between them. Pair one of those with a positive gain ALR screen and you should have a good experience *most of the time*. Ultimately though, these still prefer a dark room, and the ALR screen will largely combat light colored ceiling and walls. You could also look at UST projectors. These kick out a shit load of light, though usually at the expense of contrast in a dark room. UST screens tend to offer better ALR effects as well. I like the new Epson QS100, as well as the LS800, but I’ve heard good things about the Hisense. Realistically though, you should strongly consider a 100-115” TV.

I love my Epson ls800. Worth every penny

I have 3 ls800 projectors for work stuff. On an alr screen with a reasonable amount of ambient light they look great. Yoy can wash then out with ambient light, especially if the content is dark. With the lights off the vividness is mesmerizing. Reviews put others ahead for dynamic range and contrast in low light environments, but if you are leaving the lights on they're just so much brighter than the rest of the cohort. The qs100 is even brighter, but also about 5 grand.

I had a similar experience, I got a cheap Chinese projector and it was actually quite good compared to 1080p old projectors with the added of modern connectivity. It served its purpose, we had a dark room for it, and overall an ok image with fun memories. I was lucky after that, we moved to a new apt with 22ft high ceiling and that’s when I joined the channel. I had not idea how far the tech was since like 2008, saw that UST 4k hdr projectors were a thing, went online and immediately saw I couldn’t afford one. So I went to marketplace, and found this seller, specialized in high end AV, selling an epson ls800. Story short we talked, was an overstock unit with about 100 hrs. In warranty, $500…. Probably one of the nicest seller I have met. And gave me such a great deal. So my advice, if you want to improve the quality down the road. Second hand marketplace is a good place to hunt for a newer unit with better specs. I’m right now in the process of saving and looking for an ALR screen although our room is dark so no need to rush on that one.

I agree I have an epson ls800 and it is miles better than any vr I've experienced. Much less strain on the eyes. I love playing games in vr but for media the projector is better.