Epson’s House Cinema 2250 is a superb Projector, creating an impressively brilliant picture with correct colours and an honest distinction ratio. It improves upon nearly every thing we appreciated with final yr’s House Cinema 2150, although not in any means that is vital sufficient to justify upgrading in case you’ve already received a kind of. Should you’re out there for a brand new projector, although, the 2250 ought to be in your brief checklist.

The standout side of the 2250 is its excessive mild output. I am fairly positive it the brightest projector I’ve measured, like, ever. Excessive brightness permits a projector to look higher at larger sizes and when there’s some ambient mild. Not like most different ultra-bright Projectors this one additionally has a fairly first rate distinction ratio. It is not as punchy or sharp as our Editors’ Alternative BenQ HT2050, which I nonetheless like higher general, however the Epson does have some vital benefits over the BenQ, with higher placement choices, immunity to DLP rainbows and built-in Android TV streaming.

My greatest criticism concerning the Epson is that it is most likely $150-$200 too costly. It is an incredible projector, however can be much more aggressive if Epson chopped the value a bit.

1080p in all sizes

Native decision: 1,920×1,080 pixelsHDR-compatible: No4K-compatible: Yes3D-compatible: YesLumens spec: 2,700Zoom: Guide (1.6x)Lens shift: ManualLamp life (Regular mode): 4,500 hours

The 2250 is a 1080p decision projector, however like many can settle for (and downconvert) a 4K decision sign. There is no actual profit in doing this, however it does not harm. It does not settle for HDR, which is okay as a result of projectors typically do not do an incredible job with HDR.

Among the best facets of the 2250, like its predecessor, is how simple it’s to put in a room. With ample zoom vary, it may sit effectively behind your seating space. Even higher, there’s lens shift, which is uncommon in sub-$1,000 projectors and fairly welcome. The mix permits for considerably extra placement choices, like on a shelf behind your couch. 

Most DLP-based projectors — which is sort of the whole projector market on this worth vary apart from these from Epson — lack any form of lens shift. Many even have a really restricted zoom vary. It’s worthwhile to make your room work round them, whereas the 2250 works together with your room. It is way more person pleasant.

I measured roughly 1729 lumens of sunshine output, or 192 nits. This simply edges out the earlier brightest projector I’ve measured, the BenQ TH685, by 10 nits/88 lumens. 1729 is a whole lot of mild. A lot in order that in an in any other case darkish room, on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display, it was virtually too brilliant. That is really good for 2 causes. One, you may need to hold it in ECO mode more often than not anyway, because it’s considerably quieter. In ECO mode it places out a still-brighter-than-many-projectors 126 nits. Two, projectors get dimmer over time, so beginning with “an excessive amount of” means it will likely be much better on the lookout for longer.

One gentle shock is the lamp life. In Regular mode, which is the brightest, is 4,500 hours. That is pretty typical, however in ECO it is solely 7,500, about half what many different projectors can do. I do not suppose that is that large a deal since Epson lamp replacements aren’t that costly, and seven,500 continues to be over 5 years at 4 hours an evening.

Geoffrey Morrison/Proinertech

Who wants connections?

HDMI inputs: 1PC enter: NoUSB port: NoAudio enter and output: 3.5mm stereoDigital audio output: NoInternet: Wi-Fi12v set off: NoRS-232 distant port: NoMHL: NoRemote: Not backlit (x2)

It might sound shocking that the 2250 really loses an HDMI enter from its predecessor. Nonetheless, I am unable to think about many individuals use the second HDMI enter on any projector. Who runs a number of lengthy HDMI cables when it is means simpler to modify on the supply utilizing an HDMI switcher, soundbar, or receiver? 

The lone HDMI additionally pertains to why there isn’t any USB connection, which for a few years has been there to energy a streaming stick. The 2250 has Android TV built-in. So in case you do not need to run HDMI, or simply need to use this for infrequent film nights, all you want is an influence cable, flat floor, and Wi-Fi. It has all the standard suspects: Netflix, Vudu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and many others., and you may solid out of your cellphone proper to the projector.

The ten-watt mono speaker is not going to supply sound worthy of the picture the 2250 can create, however fortunately there is a 3.5mm audio output, so you may simply join the projector to any powered speaker with an analog enter.

Two small remotes include the 2250; neither is backlit. One is just for controlling the built-in Android TV. The opposite can management the Android TV, but in addition controls the projector. This appears needlessly complicated to me. 

Geoffrey Morrison/Proinertech

Image high quality comparisons

I linked all three projectors through a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier, and seen all on a 102-inch 1.0-gain display. The 2150 is final yr’s mannequin, whereas the HT2050A continues to be our decide for finest projector on this worth vary.

These are among the finest projectors round $1,000 and it reveals. All three projectors look good on any content material you need to ship them. The photographs are colourful, pure, and punchy, at the very least relative to different projectors inside a couple of hundred {dollars}. 

Facet by facet, I might clearly inform the 2150 and 2250 are made by the identical firm. The photographs look way more comparable than completely different. The additional brightness, about 7%, is not that noticeable. The 2150 was the third brightest projector I’ve measured. Which is to say, they’re all very brilliant. 

The largest distinction is within the distinction. Technically, the 2150 has the next distinction ratio, about 1,220:1, which is the second highest for projectors on this worth vary after the BenQ HT2050A. The 2250’s 1,026:1 is decrease, however on the subject of distinction ratio a distinction of 20% is difficult to note at finest (and pretty near what might be thought of inherent measurement error). Nonetheless, they give the impression of being completely different. That is largely as a result of there appears to be much less of a colour tint within the 2250’s darkest photos. So it appears to be like much less synthetic and, subjectively, higher than the 2150 general. 

Neither projector comes near the BenQ on this regard, nonetheless, which continues to be our champion in distinction ratio at 2,094:1. Its picture has extra depth and punchiness, although the distinction is much less pronounced between these rarefied contenders than with some I’ve reviewed within the final yr. 

Geoffrey Morrison/Proinertech

The opposite edge the BenQ has is intimately. Each Epsons are LCD, and in my expertise LCD simply does not look fairly as sharp as DLP. So even on the identical decision, the BenQ simply appears to be like greater decision. Edges and tremendous particulars are simply extra noticeable. The Epsons definitely do not look delicate, however side-by-side with the BenQ they’re positively softer.

Evaluating the BenQ HT2050A and the Epson 2250, it isn’t a straightforward alternative. On a strictly picture high quality foundation, I am going to give the nod to the BenQ. That distinction ratio is implausible. Each projectors have nice colour accuracy, however the the BenQ appears to be like sharper. The Epson is brighter, however the BenQ continues to be fairly brilliant. 

This is not fairly the entire story, nonetheless. 

Past the specs

Like all single-chip DLP projectors, the HT2050A is topic to rainbows. Personally, I am not bothered by them. Some individuals are, nonetheless, and if that is you, it does not matter how good a DLP projector might look, it is unwatchable. So level to the Epson, because it makes use of three LCDs, which might’t exhibit rainbows.

The HT2050A can also be tougher to slot in a room. The zoom vary is so much much less, the utmost throw distance is much less, and whereas it has lens shift, it isn’t as a lot because the Epson. I do not suppose built-in streaming is a giant profit in this sort of projector, however the 2250 has that too and it really works effectively. In order that’s one other level.

Geoffrey Morrison/Proinertech

The Epson’s greatest legal responsibility, nonetheless, is its worth. The BenQ is 25% cheaper, and there are different projectors that may get the job finished for even much less. For a similar cash because the 2250 you might get the 4K Optoma UHD30. That projector has some points, however appears to be like nice and is extremely detailed. 

So the underside line is that this: The Epson 2250 is a superb projector. Should you’re not within the BenQ HT2050A, or need to sacrifice some general image high quality on the altar of pixels for the UHD30, the 2250 is the one to get.

Geek Field

Measurement notes

Out of the field, within the Cinema image mode and the seven-color temperature mode, the 2250 was very near correct in nearly each measurement. It lacks inexperienced all through the grayscale vary, aside from the brightest of photos, however not sufficient to look that method to the bare eye.

Coloration primaries and secondaries had been all very near their targets. Inexperienced could be very barely yellow, as is crimson. Cyan is barely blue. 

There are two completely different lamp modes and two iris speeds. You possibly can hear the iris working in case you’re near the projector. In Regular lamp mode, labeled Energy Consumption within the menu, the 2250 is kind of loud, however is ready to produce 192 nits, which works out to roughly 1,729 lumens. Drop to ECO mode and the fan noise drops to a extra acceptable degree, whereas nonetheless producing 126 nits. If you wish to go all out, and sacrifice general picture high quality and accuracy, the Dynamic mode can produce a whopping 289 nits, or roughly 2,602 lumens. I would not advocate that setting for regular viewing.

The distinction ratio common, not together with the iris, was 1,026:1, which is kind of good for a projector on this worth vary. The iris, which tracks the video sign to make darker scenes darker, provides the 2250 a dynamic distinction ratio common of 5,730:1. I did not discover that it added a lot and disabled it within the menu.