Epson Home Cinema EH-TW7100

A good value faux-4K projector for the living room with plenty of wireless audio options.

Like all affordable 4K-capable projectors, the shiny white 3800/ EH-TW7100 is a pixel-shifter. The ‘4K enhancement’ technique, called ‘E-shift’ by Epson, works thus: a 4K image is split into two Full HD images, with each one projected side-by-side to create an ‘enhanced’ 4K image. However, despite not being a native 4K creature, the 3800/EH-TW7100 has plenty of other features to tempt.

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.

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.

However, perhaps the real stroke of genius is that the 3800/ EH-TW7100 has two audio options; its own built-in 10W stereo speakers mounted on the back of the chassis near the ins and outs, and Bluetooth for streaming audio to an external speaker or soundbar. Ins and outs comprise two HDMI inputs, two USB ports, a 3.5mm stereo mini jack audio output to take sound to a

‘proper’ sound system, a 12V trigger and RS232C for attaching the 3800/EH-TW7100 to a home control system.

As well as 4K, the projector offers HDR10, HLG and even both flavors of 3D (if you’ve still got any such ambitions), and its lamp is rated at 5,000 hours in its least brightest mode.

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.

Setup with our 80-inch test screen was straightforward enough, with the 3800/EHTW7100’s 1.62 optical zoom creating a crisp image from around 2m from the screen. Something we love about some Epson projectors – including the 3800/EH-TW7100 – are the manual lens shift levers (vertical 60% and horizontal 24%) that make positioning a dead-on image that much easier.

If you’re obsessed with the 4K HDR footage being pumped out by the likes of Netflix, the 3800/ EH-TW7100 will only half impress you. Its 4K pixel-shifting is a great workaround. No, it doesn’t look quite as sharp as true 4K, but almost no-one can afford a true 4K projector, so that’s a moot point.

Native 4K it isn’t, but with bright, contrasty and colorful images – as well as built-in speakers and Bluetooth streaming – the Epson Home Cinema EH-TW7100 will suit most living rooms.

Jamie Carter