Epson’s LS800: Betting the (Living) Room on a 150-Inch Laser TV

Hardware · Purchased December 17, 2023 · $3,574.65 via Amazon

Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800
Photo: Epson

The Setup

I’ve wanted an ultra-short-throw setup for years, and the LS800 finally talked me into it. It’s a laser projector that sits inches from the wall and throws up to a 150" 4K image using 3-chip 3LCD tech with 4,000 lumens of brightness. It also runs Android TV out of the box and has a built-in 2.1-channel Yamaha sound system, so in theory it replaces the TV, the streaming box, and the soundbar all at once.

The Review

The image is genuinely bright — this is the first UST projector I’ve owned that actually holds up with some ambient light in the room, which was my biggest worry going in. The built-in Yamaha speakers are also better than I expected, though I still ended up running it through my existing sound system for movie nights. The 1080p/120Hz gaming mode with low input lag is a nice touch I wasn’t expecting to use as much as I do.

What I Liked

  • Genuinely bright image that works in a semi-lit room, not just a cave
  • Built-in Android TV means one less box under the cabinet
  • Yamaha speakers are surprisingly capable on their own
  • Dedicated low-latency gaming mode

What I Didn’t

  • Black levels/contrast still can’t touch OLED
  • The cabinet is large and picky about placement
  • Android TV occasionally feels sluggish

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy

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