There’s also a frame interpolation option in the onscreen menus that’s designed to take the motion judder out of pans on TV, and add some fluidity to sports, though sadly it doesn’t apply to 4K footage. In our test it worked well, though it’s best to keep it on a relatively weak setting to avoid any video nasties. Audio We play Venom on 4K Blu-ray and this projector explodes into life from the start, with some excellent HDR handling and dark detail in the opening shuttle crash scene. The light levels run from the dark forest shadows to the extreme brightness of the floodlights. Despite this range, the tone of the scene is expertly controlled. Lamp modes​Now, the results. First of all, it has 3 lamp modes, Low, Standard and High. I'm guessing Low is what Epson considers "Eco" on its spec sheet (1900 lumens). On High, the fan noise is insane, full-on jet engine mode. Standard is reasonable, Low is barely audibile. However, on Low there is a very high-pitched audible noise that cycles, it's like a 2-tone cycle followed by 2 seconds of silence and very high-pitched, similar to when a CRT TV starts. Some people might not be able to hear it, but if you do, it is very unpleasant. Even with the projector a fair distance from you, it is audible. I use my Sennheiser headphones to watch stuff, and with them on, I don't hear it (even if nothing is playing). It's also not audible on Standard mode, that may be because of the fan noise, but I put my head right next to the lens and I can't hear it at all on Standard or High. There isn't a dramatic difference in apparent luminosity between Low and High (even tho it's 1000 lumen), but with the former you are consuming 70W less and noise is much less, so that's what I would keep it on, at least for more casual viewing or gaming. In terms of limitations, the technology has a slower response time compared to DLP – much like LCD TVs – and thus the motion handling isn’t as good. In addition, the light path in an LCD projector isn’t sealed, so it can occasionally suffer from those dreaded dust blobs. The EH-TW6150 also has a few advantages over the EH-TW7000 that I neglected to mention. It has better power efficiency, the lamp uses 70W less and lasts 7,500 hrs on Eco (Low) mode. It has a much more attractive look IMO, and can be positioned upside down if needed, perfectly flat without any wobbling.

PRO-UHD 4K enhanced takes native Full HD (1080p) resolution and uses sophisticated 4K Enhancement processing allows the EH-TW7000 to double its frame rate, creating crisp and clear images. Although not strictly a 4K projector, it gives it a much more detailed, denser image than an equivalent Full HD version. The EH-TW7000 also supports 4K streaming services from providers such as Netflix.The Mars II is capable of a 720p HD picture and can project a picture up to 100 inches, though you’ll probably get the very best picture a little smaller than that. Its light output is a pretty measly 300 lumens though, so you’re going to need a very dark room to get the best out of it. Chief of which is its native brightness. At 3,000 lumens, a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and 10-bit colour processing, it ought to be able to create a likeable image in any ambient light conditions, and at any time of day. Measuring 410‎x310x157 mm and weighing 6.9kg, the 3800/EH-TW7100 is not exactly travel-friendly, though it’s easy enough to fetch from a cupboard for special occasions. Since the stereo speakers are mounted on the rear, we’re talking a coffee table kinda setup for the 3800/EH-TW7100, where its curved corners create a look that’s just about soft enough, design-wise. When used selectively the glossy, video-like look that frame interpolation creates on the 3200/EH-TW7000 is often very watchable and gets rid of motion blur and judder during camera pans. It’s theoretically best used on sports, and it worked well during a blast of Six Nations rugby. It works best on grand-looking TV spectacles like Blue Planet II, when gorgeous panoramas are mostly ruined by judder, but we also tried it on sitcoms. Whether you’re gaming, watching movies or the big sports event, nothing beats the thrill of a big screen. The EH-TW7000 offers an effortless 100” display in most rooms (at a distance from the wall of 2.95m), plus the ability to expand this five times, given a big enough space.

The Optoma offers an impressive amount of brightness, with a claimed 3,400 lumens meaning you'll be able to play games in a room with ambient light without issue. There’s even a built-in 10W speaker, though it does start to grate at high volume.

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We watch Ant-Man on Blu-ray, and with plenty of colour and texture in the materials of the suit and almost every surface seen at ant-level, it makes for a good test disc. In response, the TW7000 offers a masterclass in budget projection. White brightness alone cannot bring the true colours you see everyday to life. The 3LCD technology found in Epson’s projectors delivers an equally high white and Colour Light Output (CLO), so that you can experience vivid and lifelike images. It’s really easy to use too, with next-to-no setup faff. Automatic focusing and keystone correction means it’s as simple as pointing it at a wall and letting the picture do the rest, while the Android-based interface is simple to navigate as well. Built around Epson’s 3LCD light engine, the 3200/EH-TW7000 is designed to be used occasionally in living rooms – most likely for sporting events, movie nights and gaming at varying times of day (and, therefore, daylight) – and outputs in a bright 3,000 lumens. However, it’s less capable on contrast than the 3800/EH-TW7100, with just a 40,000:1 quoted contrast ratio. Still, the 3200/EH-TW7000 ought to be able to create likeable images picture quality daylight hours.

As with other Epson 4K PRO-UHD machines, there is no motion processing while watching 4K content. Fortunately, the natural picture is steady enough. Some moments of judder may happen in particularly fast panning shots but it’s no problem in the main. The TW7100 does offer a slightly smoother ride, but you have to pay significantly more for that privilege. I should say that I used Natural mode for maximum color accuracy, which appears quite close to Cinema mode. Vivid mode looks ridiculous as expected, not recommended. I also did not find that the auto iris feature did much. It is disabled by default on Natural mode, and I decided to keep it that way after initial testing.

Why is Epson EH‑TW7000 better than the average?

Epson hardly needs an introduction, and the Japanese giant manufacturers every kind of projector, from the data grade units you often see in classrooms to more sophisticated models aimed squarely at the home cinema market. In terms of performance these projectors don’t disappoint either, and while not native 4K they are still capable of big, bright and detailed images that are uncompromisingly cinematic. The use of the three LCD panels also allows Epson’s projectors to reproduce 100% of the Rec.709 and DCI-P3 colour gamuts with impressive accuracy. The 3200/EH-TW7000 also includes a couple of settings that don’t work in ‘4K Enhancement’ mode: The first is 3D, which virtually no-one cares about. The second is Epson’s frame interpolation video processing, which compensates for motion by generating extra frames to insert into the existing content to bring more fluidity. It’s much disliked by home cinema aficionados, but not everyone. Watch a movie every day on the big screen for the next seven years2 thanks to its incredibly long lamp life that minimises replacements. Epson projectors are known for their reliability, so you don’t have to worry about missing a minute of your favourite film, game or programme. At 2.5kg, it’s also nice and light, so you can move it around in your house, or even take it with you to a mate’s house, if you’re feeling particularly dedicated to the cinematic gaming cause. The trade-off is that, while the rounded edges and glossy white finish are nice, it feels a little lightweight and plastic-y.

Even under the best conditions, colours are arguably only just so-so, and sharpness leaves a bit to be desired too – even when you remember it’s only a 720p image at play. Feel immersed in your home entertainment with an engaging big screen experience. This projector can create a display size of up to 500″, can play 2D and 3D content, and boasts noise-cancelling technology. Lens shift, zoom and keystone correction ensure that your picture is exactly where you want it to be. These compromises in picture quality might well be a deal breaker in a different projector, but in the Nebula Mars II, they feel like an acceptable trade-off for the convenience, ease of use and – above all – fun you get in return. You can still make the most of its HDR capabilities with movies, as the HD29H performs well here too. The brightness that the HD29H serves up really helps with delivering a pretty convincing HDR effect that is unusual to find at this price. Based around Epson's own 3LCD engine, the 3800/EH-TW7100 is also capable of projecting in sizes from 40-inches to up to 500-inches in diameter, which is … way too big.At this price, it isn’t 4K, but it does offer 1080p HDR gaming at 120Hz, and can downscale 4K sources too. To get the very best 8ms lag time as quoted though, you’ll have to play in HD SDR using the Enhanced Game Mode. Epson have a number of great home cinema projectors available with a model to suit every budget. To make it easier, we have produced the below comparison table to show you what features you can expect to get for your money..