Epson EpiqVision LS500 Laser TV Review - Hardware

The Epson LS500 is a 4K and HDR capable Laser TV – basically an ultra short throw projector, with a built-in speaker system. Like all of them, it does not have 4K native resolution panels,. Like most of the 4K capable laser TVs, it uses 1080p panels and relies on pixel shifting to further work the data to sharpen the image.

The LS500 comes with 2 remote controls, one of which, however is not so much for controlling the projector, but an Android remote should you want to use the included Android OS stick with a different device, not this projector (that had me stumped, figuring out why there were two). Epson does not mention what the 2nd remote is for, in their manual.

The Lens, unlike other UST projectors is above the rest of the projector in a housing. It is close to the front.

The front has a gray grill cloth (dark for my black LS500) which is also available in white. That cover is held on by magnets and is almost effortless to remove.

Behind the cover, you’ll find the speakers to the outside, a focus control additional inputs (HDMI and USB) and the place for the Android OS stick and cables to connect it. The third HDMI is intended for the Android stick. Without the stick, the Epson is a typical not smart projector, but with the same picture quality. Finally, the control panel is located in there as well.

The rest of the inputs and connectors are, quite naturally, found on the back.

The LS500 is the smallest of the 4K capable projectors we have seen, except for the old LG HU80KA which is a much smaller, dimmer projector, that is not remotely competitive with the Laser TVs like today’s Epson, VAVA, Optoma, or LG’s own, excellent HU85LA, which is one of my favorites and a direct competitor of the LS500.

A Laser TV still isn’t as simple to set up as an LCD TV placed on a table top. But many people mount the larger LCD and LED TVs to the wall (50” and up, mostly, I would think). As to the really big ones – 71 inch, or 77 inch or larger, most folks that don’t have furniture long enough, prefer to mount.

Wall mounting a TV means not only mounting it, but getting power and sources to it. You can let the wires hang, or do the install properly, with the wires running through the wall to a nearby table with other equipment, such as a Blu-ray player, AV receiver and bigger speakers, cable box…

Wall mounting a Laser TV is different. The projector sits on the same table as any other gear, making connecting everything far easier. Instead, however, of mounting a 30-75 pound TV to your wall, you end up mounting a 100 to 120 inch (or larger) screen to that wall. No wires to run up the wall.

Bottom line, a laser TV is likely the easier installation for you, or the Geek Squad (yes Best Buy carries this Epson). That is just the total opposite of most dedicated home theaters, where the screen is mounted to the wall, but the projector is ceiling mounted, or on a shelf at the back of the room, creating wiring challenges. Epson provides an interesting piece of cardboard in the box, which you set up to determine exactly the positioning of the projector to the screen. I didn’t get to use it, as I’m using my own screen, but Epson’s got a great short video showing how to do it.

Can’t miss it, it sticks up. It’s big (the front element). And it is housed so that the glowing lens isn’t visible at all when sitting in normal positions. You might see a little of it if watching from far to the side, but not enough to distract.

UST projection lenses are challenging. While there is a focus control, as with other UST projectors, I find the LS500 to appear to be a little less sharp than standard, normal through projectors, such as Epson’s Pro Cinema 6050UB, which, similarly priced, would be a great choice if you were doing a traditional really dark home theater. (But the 6050UB is lamp, not laser).

If you go looking for the softness, it will be greater toward the top, but generally fine. In the upper corners however, that’s where, if there’s some text, it’s not difficult to spot the softer focus. That said, few will have an issue. I never notice it while watching my football (mostly 1080p) and when watching 4K movies, I notice only when looking for it.

Most are located on the back, close to the screen. If you are facing the back of the Epson, from the left:

First is a LAN ( wired network) connection, next over are HDMI 1 and HDMI 2. HDMI 2 has ARC (return channel for audio). Further to the right are a service port (USB) and a standard USB-A. Below those inputs is a stereo audio output, and below it, an RS-232C serial port for old school “command and control” of the projector, from a computer or other device. Way down low, you’ll find one security slot to secure your projector with cabling. Just to the right of it, is the recessed receptacle for the AC power cord.

Moving to the front, remove the front grill cloth (magnetically held in place. The built-in speakers are at the far left and far right. In addition to those:

• The Control Panel
• The Focus control (vertical slide)
• HDMI 3 (with ARC) This is normally used to hook up the provided Android OS stick.
• A USB style 2amp 5 volt power port, to power the Android stick. (alternately it could charge 3D glasses or other 5 volt devices, when not powering the Android stick.
• There are two adjustable feet below the front.

I already mentioned in special features, but let’s touch on The LS500’s audio system again: A pair of Epson speakers with 10 watts per channel provides enough volume to handle loud action flicks, but as you would expect, no deep bass, and little “middle bass” (but more than a typical large LCDTV – but that’s why some folks spend a lot on expensive sound bars.

The Espon’s not bad, but as a hard core audiophile, I highly recommend to anyone that really likes music, to get a proper sound system. For a Laser TV like this, with prices around $5K, spending say, 20% of that on a sound system certainly seems reasonable, but even a $500 or so system will blow away the sound in any of these Laser TVs (Only the big HiSense, which ships with a sub-woofer has any chance against a $500 system – that’s my 2 cents). Music lovers will be missing out big time listening to music festivals and concerts through the speakers of these Laser TVs. That said, in the pecking order, the Epson impresses me less with it’s sound than projectors from VAVA (Harmon Kardon inside), InFocus (NuForce inside) etc.) Several of the are in the range of being about twice as powerful as the Epson (but again, it will fill your room!).

Normally I tackle a projector’s control panel before the remote control, but since this Epson LS500’s control panel almost duplicates the remote, no additional comments are needed. It makes sense to do it after. That’s especially true since you are unlikely to use it, unless you can’t find the remote.

Epson has been using the same menu structure for probably more than 15 years.  It is well organized.  All the projector's smarts are in the android OS, so very separate. This first image is the Projector Info screen, which shows quite a bit of useful info, including the resolution and more about what is being projected.

Note that while Epson has tried to simplify the menus for this laser TV, the projector has the same complete set of adjustments to fully and accurately calibrate it. In the image player below are a few more menus as a sample, including the HDR tone mapping.

Bottom Line:  Excellent menu system.