Epson QB1000: two-minute review
The Epson EH-QB1000 is a fantastic projector, and in terms of performance, specifications and features, no other beamer comes close at this price.
The QB1000 uses a three-chip LCD design and laser light source that’s capable of producing an incredibly bright 3,300 lumens, which is higher brightness than many of the best 4K projectors can manage. In addition, thanks to excellent out-of-the-box accuracy the resulting images are not only bright but also naturally saturated. There’s a very low input lag, 4K 120Hz high frame rate support, and even HDR10+ high dynamic range support, making this beamer a cracking all-rounder.
The SDR performance is clean and detailed, with good motion handling and great accuracy. The HDR images are even better thanks to the dynamic tone mapping that gets the most out of the specular highlights and expanded shadow detail. The result is a rich and nuanced image with plenty of visual pop. The same goes for HDR10+ content, with its additional dynamic metadata.
Epson includes a host of higher-end features that are often absent from competing projectors. These include fully motorised lens controls and up to 10 lens memories for those using a ‘Scope ratio (2.35:1) screen. The menus themselves are comprehensive but simple to navigate, plus there are also extensive picture controls if you fancy getting your new beamer professionally calibrated.
The build quality is excellent, with a solid chassis and a choice of matte black or white finishes. There’s an extensive selection of connections, including two HDMI 2.1 inputs, along with a well-designed remote control that has a very useful backlight. There’s even a motorised lens cover to keep out dust, which is important because the light path on an LCD projector isn’t sealed.
Aside from the possibility of dust blobs, the only other limitation is the black level, which could be deeper. It’s also worth pointing out that the Epson isn’t native 4K, but can still produce higher-resolution images thanks to pixel-shifting technology. So when you add it all up, you really won’t find a more highly specified or better performing 4K HDR home cinema projector for the money.
Epson QB1000 review: price and release date
- First available: December 2024
- Price: £4,799 / $7,999
The EpsonQB1000 is the new entry-level model in the brand’s range of Premium Residential projectors and is available now in a choice of matte black or matte white finishes. The QB1000 currently retails for £4,799 in the UK but costs more in the US, where it will set you back $7,999.
Epson QB1000 review: Specs
| Screen sizes supported: | 50-300 inches |
| Brightness (specified): | 3,300 lumens |
| HDR support: | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Optical technology: | Three-panel LCD |
| Smart TV: | NA |
| Connections: | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC) , 2x USB-A (powered), RS-232C, Ethernet |
| Dimensions (H x W x D): | 7.6 x 21.7 x 20.5 inches (178 x 551 x 521mm) |
| Weight: | 49.8 pounds/22.5kg |
Epson QB1000 review: design
- Fully motorised lens controls
- 10 lens memory positions
- Backlit remote control
The Epson QB1000 looks identical to the earlier Epson LS12000, with the same matte black or white chassis and central lens flanked by large forward-firing cooling grilles. The bodywork is solid and well-built, the motorised lens cover is retained, and there are basic controls at the rear, along with a removable cover to keep things tidy. There’s also an optional ceiling mount if required.
Setup is simple thanks to a generous throw ratio and motorised lens controls that include 10 lens memories for those using a 2.35:1 screen. The QB1000’s increased brightness makes it ideal for rooms with lighter-coloured walls, and as a bonus, the weak contrast ratios won’t be as obvious. There are also various picture modes, along with extensive calibration controls.
The connections are located in a long recess at the rear of the unit, where you’ll find two HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K 120Hz, eARC, HDCP 2.3 and HDR10+, alongside regular HDR10 and HLG. There are also three USB ports, a 12V trigger output, an Ethernet port and RS-232C serial connector, along with support for various integrated control systems when used in a custom installation.
Epson QB1000 review: features
- Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping
- Support for 4K 120Hz high frame rate
- Support for HDR10+ with dynamic metadata
The Epson QB1000 incorporates the same 3LCD design the brand uses on all its projectors, and this particular technology is limited to Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels). However, the QB1000 can accept and display 4K content (3840 x 2160 pixels) by using pixel-shifting technology that literally shifts each pixel diagonally to increase the perceived resolution and create more detailed images.
Despite using the same laser light source as earlier models it has a claimed peak brightness of 3,300 lumens, which is massive, and an average lifespan of 20,000 hours. As with all beamers that use LCD display technology the black levels are poor, with the QB1000 producing a claimed native contrast ratio of 5,000:1, although the dynamic laser feature can boost this to 5,000,000:1.
New this year is dynamic tone mapping that analyses HDR10 content and optimises the image, allowing the QB1000 to deliver improved performance with HDR compared to the earlier LS12000. As with the earlier model there is also support for HDR10+, which means the QB1000 can use the format’s dynamic metadata to deliver an image optimised to its inherent capabilities.
The QB1000 has improved motion handling and upgraded frame interpolation. As a result, it can deliver smooth and detailed motion with sport, although I’d recommend leaving the frame interpolation off when watching film-based content. The Epson also supports higher frame rates up to 4K 120Hz, which makes this beamer a great choice for any next-generation gamers.
Epson QB1000 review: picture quality
- Incredibly bright HDR images
- Impressive HDR tone mapping
- Very low input lag for gaming
The Epson QB1000 impresses right out of the gate, with the kind of bright, detailed and saturated picture that makes big-screen projection so enjoyable. With quality content, primary colours are punchy, while the uniformity of the LCD chipset is good with no signs of patchiness, banding or dust blobs. The latter can be an issue with LCD due to the light path not being sealed.
The out-of-the-box accuracy is excellent in the Cinema mode, with whites that aren’t awash in blue. The same goes for the skin tones, which look suitably natural, while the image itself is pleasingly sharp thanks to effective 4K upscaling and the three LCD panels being well-aligned.
Despite its inherent brightness, the QB1000 is surprisingly quiet, although the noise levels will increase if you use the higher laser settings. However, there’s so much brightness available that you don’t need to move the power up too high to illuminate even a large projection screen.
In fact, the QB1000 has sufficient brightness to handle rooms with light-coloured walls, and the option of a white finish also lends it to more lifestyle-friendly installations. The reflected light in this kind of setup has the added advantage of disguising the Epson’s poor contrast performance.
Black levels are the QB1000’s big weakness, with the contrast ratio only measuring 4,300:1 in my tests. To be fair at least this is close to the 5,000:1 Epson claims in its marketing, but it does mean blacks look more like a dark grey. You can use the dynamic laser feature to improve the contrast performance but in reality this only helps with fades to black and the rest of the time the blacks remain the same.
One area where Epson has improved the performance is in terms of motion handling, even with the frame interpolation turned off. When it’s engaged this feature results in smoother motion, which makes it very effective when watching fast-paced sports. However, make sure it’s switched off for movies and TV dramas, so they don’t end up looking like cheap video.
The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 inputs means the QB1000 can support frame rates up to 4K 120Hz. This makes it a great choice for gamers, and this appeal is only enhanced by the inclusion of ALLM (auto low latency mode), which automatically selects the Game mode when a console is detected. In Game mode the input lag measures a very impressive 19ms, with only Sony’s VPL-XW5000ES projector measuring lower.
The QB1000 supports high dynamic range, and really impresses with a bright and detailed image where the highlights pop and the shadows reveal more subtleties. The QB1000 doesn’t use a colour filter, which means it only covers 88% of the DCI-P3 wide colour gamut. However, thanks to the increased brightness and new dynamic tone mapping the results are often excellent.
For example, the Alfred Hitchcock classic North by Northwest was shot on the larger VistaVision film format and the resulting 4K disc is stunning. The QB1000 expertly delivers the sumptuous images, fleshing out the fine detail and rich colours with skill. The crop-duster attack is a particular treat, with the Epson’s increased brightness helping to bring the Indiana cornfields vividly to life.
Furiosa is the prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road and enjoys the same epic desert vistas and insanely detailed production design as the earlier film, along with a deliberately stylised colour scheme. The QB1000 handles all these visuals perfectly, while the excellent motion handling ensures all the frenetic vehicular action is delivered smoothly and without any annoying artefacts.
The WW1 thriller 1917 is about a mission across no-man’s land and boasts superb photography and HDR10+ encoding. As a result, the QB1000 can render all the detail in the native 4K image, as well as deliver bright and clean daytime vistas. The nighttime scenes are more of a challenge, and while the blacks could be better, the bright flares really cut through the darkness.
- Picture quality score: 4/5
Epson QB1000 review: value
- Fantastic value for money
- Cheaper than any direct competitor
The Epson EH-QB1000 is fantastic value for money value, especially when compared to its direct competitors. The Sony VPL-XW5000ES is currently £4,499/$5,999, and while it might be native 4K it doesn’t have motorised lens controls, dynamic HDR tone mapping, or HDR10+ and 4K 120Hz support. The JVC DLA-NZ500 is more expensive at £6,499/$5,999 and while it is native 4K, has better blacks levels and does include motorised lens controls, lens memories and HDR10+, it still lacks support for 4K 120Hz and doesn’t have a Game mode, so it’s not the best choice for gamers.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Long-life laser light source, dynamic HDR tone mapping, 4K 120Hz and HDR10+ support | 5/5 |
| Design | Compact chassis, backlit remote, excellent build quality, easy setup and motorised lens controls with memories | 5/5 |
| Picture quality | Good out-of-the-box accuracy and super-bright pictures produce enjoyable HDR, although the black levels are weak | 4/5 |
| Value | fantastic value for money, especially when compared to direct competition | 5/5 |
Should I buy the Epson QB1000?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Epson QB1000 | Epson LS1200 | Sony VPL-XW5000ES | JVC DLA-NZ500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price: | £4,799 / $7,999 | £4,399 / $4,999 | £4,499/$5,999 | £6,499/$5,999 |
| Screen sizes supported: | 50 to 300 inches | 50 to 130 inches | 40 to 200 inches | 60 to 200 inches |
| Brightness (specified): | 3,300 lumens | 2,700 lumens | 2,000 lumens | 2,000 lumens |
| HDR support | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Optical technology: | Laser 3LCD | Laser 3LCD | Laser SXRD | Laser D-ILA |
| Smart TV: | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Connections: | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2xUSB-A (powered), RS-232C, Ethernet | 2xHDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1 x powered USB, Ethernet, RS232-C, 12-volt trigger output | 2x HDMI 2.0 , 1 x powered USB, Ethernet, RS232-C, 12-volt trigger output | 2x HDMI 2.0 , 1 x powered USB, Ethernet, RS232-C, 12-volt trigger output |
How I tested the Epson QB1000
- Measured with Calman calibration software
- Evaluated using SDR and HDR content
- Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema
As with all my TV and projector reviews I use a combination of subjective viewing and objective measurements against the industry standards. For projectors, I also do all my testing in a dedicated home cinema with a completely blacked-out environment and high-quality screen.
The subjective testing is based around watching a variety of familiar scenes, primarily sourced from 4K and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. Any test scenes have been specifically chosen to evaluate a display’s black levels, contrast performance, colour accuracy, upscaling, image processing, motion handling, and HDR tone mapping.
For the objective testing, I measured the QB1000’s brightness, greyscale and colour gamut in SDR, before doing the same in HDR. I also evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, along with the colour gamut coverage for DCI-P3. To do this I used a pattern generator and colour meter combined with Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software. I measured the QB1000’s input lag in milliseconds using a specialised Leo Bodnar tester.
First reviewed: January, 2025
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