Epson Lifestudio Grand Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector Preview

The Basics

Epson projectors have long been the number one choice for small to medium-sized theaters and media rooms. Recent introductions have expanded into large venue and ultra-short-throw solutions. The Lifestudio line is a group of lifestyle displays ranging from compact cubes to the flagship UST I’m checking out here, the Grand Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector.

The Rundown

The Epson Lifestudio Grand Ultra Short Throw Projector is a semi-compact laser projector with 3LCD PRO-UHD technology and 3,600 lumens of white and color brightness. It’s an Ultra HD display with HDR10 and HLG support. It also sports Google TV with 10,000 apps and counting, so you can watch content from all your favorite providers. Built-in speakers from Bose provide quality sound with support for all the latest audio formats. The Lifestudio app delivers an interactive experience where you can post and share your own content in real time.

The Follow-Up

The Lifestudio Grand looks to be one of the best values in the ultra-short-throw segment. For $2,699.99, you’re getting tremendous light output, Google TV, and super-easy installation. My initial setup was a breeze with a square and sharp image coming in just minutes. After a few calibration tweaks, I was looking at a colorful and contrasty image. A few quick tests showed it to be one of the highest contrast USTs I’ve seen to date. Once I connected it to my home’s Wi-Fi network, I was watching the latest episodes of my favorite Food Network shows along with movies on Netflix in 4K HDR. I’ll be running a full suite of benchmarks and spending some quality time watching movies on Blu-ray and streaming. Be on the lookout for my full review to drop on the SECRETS website in the coming weeks.