Ultra short throw projectors (AKA laser TVs) are a type of projector that instead of sitting on the other side of the room like a normal projector, these visual devices are placed right under the screen. When the positioning is combined with their bright laser light source, you get a incredibly vibrant 4K image even in rooms with lots of ambient light like a living room. This helps make USTs a great option as a major television upgrade.
Brightness is such an important factor when it comes to comparing USTs so for this ultra short throw shootout we've got the battle of the brightest. The Epson LS800 Vs. The LG HU915QE.
The LG HU915QE CineBeam is one of LG's two new ultra short throw projectors (the other being the LG HU915QB). Their first UST was considered one of the best so it's no surprise that LG put out another top performer. With incredible picture quality, this triple laser is definitely one of top ultra short throw projectors. While the LG HU915QB emphasized picture quality the LG CineBeam HU915QE focuses on brightness. Read our review of the LG HU915QE.
If you want a bright UST you need to look at the Epson LS800. The goal of Epson was to make an ultra short throw projector bright enough for just about any room. With the Epson LS500 they accomplished that but it lacked the performance of most other USTs. So, Epson reworked their flagship laser TV and put out the highly upgraded Epson LS800. Check out our in-depth Epson LS800 review.
The LS800 wasn't available in time to be entered into the showdown, we're confident it would have done very strongly. The LG HU915QE also wasn't a participant as we instead opted to use the even superior LG HU915QB.
So which is better the Epson LS800 or the LG HU915QE?
Read our comparison of these two fantastic ultra short throw projectors to find out.
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Epson LS800 |
LG HU915QE |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
4000 |
3700 |
While the HU915QE is bright, The Epson LS800 is the brighter projector. |
Throw Ratio |
0.17:1 |
0.19:1 |
The Epson LS800 sits closer than every other ultra short throw with LG's UST in a close second place |
Chipset |
3LCD |
.67" DLP |
LS800 uses the 3LCD chipset which provides a brighter output and avoids the rainbow effect. The LG HU915QE uses the larger native 4K DLP chip which offers a sharper image. |
Light Source |
Single Blue Laser |
RBB Triple Laser With Green Phosphor |
The triple laser design of the LG HU915QE allows for a wider color gamut. |
Color |
77% DCI-P3 |
94% DCI-P3 |
LG's UST offers a superior color gamut partially thanks to its triple laser design. |
Contrast Ratio |
2966:1 |
2700:1 |
The contrast ratio on both laser TVs are pretty close with Epson's UST having the better contrast. |
Image Size |
80 to 150 inches |
90 to 120 inches |
The Epson laser TV gives you a much wider image size range, giving you more options. |
ALR Projector Screen |
Available Bundled With 100", 120" Screen, or on its own |
Projector screen sold separately |
One of the best values of the Epson LS800 is that it can come with a bundled ambient light rejection projector screen. Where you need to buy it separately with the HU915QE UST |
Input Lag |
16.7 ms |
53 ms |
The Epson LS800 is arguably the best UST gaming projector and is significantly better when it comes to input lag. |
Audio |
(x2)20W Yamaha Speakers |
2.2 Channel, 40W speakers |
The built in speakers are about even on these two laser TVs. |
Price |
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The Epson LS800 is $2,500 less expensive. |
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Epson LS800
The Pros
- Brightest UST projector on the market
- Incredible contrast
- Great value for the price
- Sits closer to the screen than any other laser TV
- Best UST projector for video gaming
- Able to make an image size up to 150 inches
- Can be purchased bundled with 100 or 120 inch ALR screen
- No rainbow effect
- Very good built-in speakers
- Available in either black or white casing
- Has 3 HDMI ports
The Cons
- Color gamut capability is less than other similarly priced projectors
- No Grayscale, Gamma or Color Management (CMS) Adjustments as there are on other Epson projectors
- Less sharp of an image
- No Dynamic Tone Mapping, Dolby Vision or HDR10+ Dynamic HDR formats.
- Large chassis, with legs set far apart meaning you need a wider TV stand
- No 3D support
- Is only ARC compatible and doesn't have eARC
LG HU915QE
The Pros
- Bright 3,700 ANSI lumen triple laser light source
- Offers outstanding contrast
- Uses the larger .66 DLP chip
- Sits the 2nd closest to the screen
- Dynamic Tone Mapping to tame HDR sources
- Powerful 40W speakers
- Offers a plethora of calibration and image controls, along with AutoCal option
- Has 3 HDMI ports
The Cons
- Uses a RBB triple laser with a filter instead of true red, green and blue lasers
- Projector needs to be more carefully aligned to avoid focus issues around the edges
- Large bulky chassis
- Even though it offers many calibration controls, it is difficult to calibrate fully
- No 3D support
- Relatively high lag time isn't bad per se, but not as good as other projectors for gaming
- Sand colored chassis. It could look OK with specific décor but would probably be better if it were white or black.
So Which Is Better, The Epson LS800 Or The LG HU915QE?
Without a doubt these bright ultra short throw projectors are two of the best available. regardless of which one you buy, you'll be ecstatic with either laser TV. But ultimately we had to make a decision. So between the LG HU915QE and Epson LS800 the winner is the………
Epson LS800
Why You Should Buy The Epson LS800
We chose the Epson LS800 as the winner in this shootout because of the better overall value. When it comes to picture quality, the LG HU915QE is best, but with a significantly higher price tag, it's hard to argue that it's $2,500 better than the Epson UST. If you want the better image go with the LG if you want the most bang for your buck, the Epson wins.
Epson's UST gives you a number of reasons why you want to choose the LS800 over the HU915QE. It's a bit brighter, sits a bit closer to the screen, has somewhat better contrast, and is available in both a black and a white chassis. You also want to pick the LS800 if you want the best gaming UST or if you are susceptible to the rainbow effect.
With a variable focus from 80 inches all the way up to 150 inches, the Epson laser TV gives you the most installation options. Another advantage of the Epson EpiqVision LS800 is that it can be bundled with a 100 inch or 120 inch ambient light rejecting screen for an extra value.
If you want a bright room projector but want to save a few dollars and still be perfectly happy, then buy the LS800 from Epson.
Why You Should Buy The LG HU915QE
LG is a company known for producing outstanding displays. With an incredibly sharp and vibrant image, the LG HU915QE is undoubtedly one of the best ultra short throws. The color gamut and clarity of the image do put LG laser TV ahead of this Epson UST in that perspective. The dynamic tone mapping also helps give the CineBeam an edge as far as picture quality is concerned. If money isn't an issue, the LG HU915QE is the better option.
The LG HU915QE offers a variety of different picture modes for viewing lights on and off, along with a Filmmaker mode to enhance your movie watching experience as the director intended.
The built in WebOS is robust and one of the few that offers Netflix apps built-in, meaning you don't need to use an external streaming device like a Apple TV or Roku. The user interface is also much easier to navigate.
When you compare the images side by side the LG HU915QE looks better in most of the scenes we watched. While it's not the best at being perfectly calibrated, calibrating the LG Cinebeam HU915QE is significantly easier thanks to the AutoCal option.
What do you think?
Which ultra short throw projector do you think is better? Which do you want to see head to head in our next laser TV shootout? Let us know in the comments below!
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If you have any questions on these projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | EPSON |
Product Status: | In Stock |
Lumens: | 4000 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,500,000:1 |
Chipset: | LCD |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.16:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21.0ms | 1080p/60Hz: 22.1ms | 1080p/120Hz: 12.3ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 2 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Wi-Fi: | Yes |
ARC/eARC: | ARC |
Operating System: | Android TV |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | EPSON |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Lumens: | 4000 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,500,000:1 |
Chipset: | LCD |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.16:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21.0ms | 1080p/60Hz: 22.1ms | 1080p/120Hz: 12.3ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 2 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Wi-Fi: | Yes |
ARC/eARC: | ARC |
Operating System: | Android TV |