Epson EH-LS9000

Epson's more affordable home cinema laser projector delivers movie (and game) magic

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While Epson's greatest push of late has been behind its new EF-72 coffee-table projector, any concerns about the brand forgetting its serious home cinema roots should be put to rest by the EH-LS9000.

Described by the Japanese company as an “affordable high-end 4K projector”, the LS9000 sits below the LS12000 and shares much in common with it and the even more premium QB1000.

For context, the EH-LS12000 costs £3999, and the even more premium EH-QB1000 is £4999. Those are both five-star projectors, so the LS9000 is in excellent company.

We are not exactly spoiled for choice at the LS9000's price. For years, we recommended the EH-TW9400 at this level, but that is the model that this new projector is (belatedly) replacing.

The BenQ W4100i is the only obvious non-Epson alternative. That's a decent option, but one with a slight identity crisis; by trying to satisfy both the living room and dedicated home-cinema scenarios, it has found itself slightly straddling both. The EH-LS9000, in contrast, is very clear in its intentions.

The Epson EH-LS9000 is primarily intended for use in a dark (preferably blacked-out) home cinema room, and the matte-black finish of our review sample seems to absorb what little light there is so that it effectively disappears.

The black version has the full model number EH-LS9000B, but there is also an EH-LS9000W which, you guessed it, has a white finish. The models are otherwise identical.

There is a very subtle, faux-leather texture to the projector, but you won't even notice that unless you get quite close to it. What you will notice is that this is a bit of a beast, measuring fully 19 x 52 x 45cm. Those are identical dimensions to the EH-LS12000 and EH-QB1000, and the reason is simple - they all use the same chassis.