Epson America introduced a sub-$5,000 1080p home cinema projector using 3LCD chips, the new HDMI 1.3 spec, and a number of image enhancing technologies.

With this new native 1080p, 3-panel LCD projector from Epson, Sony’s VPL-VW100 is DEAD and the VPL-VW50 better watch out.  I have been testing Epson’s new Pro Cinema 1080 projector against my own theater’s VPL-VW50 for two weeks now and, I have to be honest, had I seen this projector three months ago, I doubt I would have installed the VPL-VW50.  Simply put, they are identical in image quality, but the Epson’s quieter, easier to use, looks a hell of a lot nicer and works at 1080p with both analog and digital signals – the Sony VPL-VW50 only works at 1080p through the digital-only HDMI-input.

And, with Sony having some of the worst customer service in the AV world now, Epson may well trump them with this new box!  I am impressed!

The PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080 is specified at 1920 x 1080 resolution, up to 12,000:1 (another new record!), and uses the VastLane SiI9133 HDMI receiver chip. Epson says this is the first HDMI 1.3 home theater projector on the market supporting Deep Color capability.

The PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080 has Epson’s C2Fine 1080p 3LCD chips, capable of displaying 12-bit Deep Color images and delivering the high contrast ratio. It also uses OptiCinema optics, E-TORL lamp, 1080Perfect Video Processor, AccuCinema lens and Absolute Black technology

The Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080 is ISF-certified, ensuring it achieves the required video fidelity and calibration. 

This projector ships in January to CEDIA dealers for MSRP of $4,999.

For more information, visit here.