Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 models represent another small step forward in the progression of 4K capable, full pixel changing projectors. While not much in scope compared to the previous generation of Epson Home Cinema 4K projector, they do represent a welcome evolution. They offer an upgrade over the previous model of Epson Home Cinema 4K projector which were able to handle only 4K content with some additional features. This leaves us with the question of how good are these new models? In this article we take a look at the features of the Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 models and what we can expect from them.
A big headline feature is the ability to display an array of standard format, broadcast HDTV signals. This is something that most of us have come to expect from an Epson Home Cinema 4K projector but it does add a bit of surprise here. It is the ability to display the standard broadcast channels without scaling or flipping, something that some previous models were able to do. It is not clear whether it is a hardware error or an ability of the technology on the 4k capable projectors, but it certainly is a welcome addition. We will have to wait until the manufacturers have posted a technical document to figure out exactly what they are capable of with regards to playback capabilities but for now we will assume that it is an option.
As far as the movie itself goes, it is a very good picture. Colors remain bright and crisp and if anything appears to be missing or off balance it is only due to the poor viewing qualities of the projector. Viewers will not have any problem with this aspect since the projector should be good in terms of contrast and brightness. It should also be pointed out that this model offers very good color accuracy, even when compared to the best models in its class.
Response time is another area where the Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 falls short of its competitors. The response time is much faster than the cheapest projectors in its class, which makes it a very quick TV to use. Response times vary according to the image content, so it is hard to recommend this model based purely on the fast response time. It does however make playing long movies a lot more enjoyable and entertaining. It would be hard to recommend a projector that can’t maintain a fast response time even when displaying the best picture quality though.
Sound is another point where the Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 falls short. Speakers are not much better than they were on the previous model, which is a real shame considering the features that they offer. Nothing about the sound quality of this projector makes a sound that is more than mediocre. Music played from CDs also sounds terrible with this model. There is no clearer picture on the face of the earth than it does on these speakers.
Price is definitely a concern for most people, but it must be balanced against many of the positive aspects that this model has. It comes with two projectors, one with an operating distance of 90 inches from the wall for those larger rooms and another with a working distance of just thirty inches. This is not enough to make a big difference in how large your screen is though. As long as you are looking at a picture that is above what you can see through the eyepiece on your television, then the extra distance that the Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 will give you is well worth it.
Price aside, the two other things that really make this 4K projector stand out are the built quality and its features. The built quality is excellent for this product. It is made out of plastic instead of glass, which means it is lighter and will not shatter as easily. In fact, the Epson Home Cinema 4010/Pro Cinema 4050 has some of the least flimsy construction on the market. I am not sure if it is because of the fact that it is a little smaller than some of the other projectors on the market or because of the different types of technology that go into its design. Either way, it is light and fits well in anyone’s home.
As far as its features go, there are a lot of them and they include things like digital frame recognition, touch screen functionality, an integrated memory card, and even a Digital Video Recorder that will allow you to record your own movies and view them later. Overall, the Home Cinema projectors from Epson are a lot more affordable and are better color than other models on the market today. Take a look at what Epson has to offer and you will not be disappointed and you will probably end up purchasing one of these projectors when shopping for projectors online, in the store, or at an auction or special price from a retailer.
