Epson Pro Cinema G6900 WU Projector: Pros and Cons

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Art Feierman

PRO CINEMA G6900 WU PROS AND CONS: Behold - Here's a list of the the strengths and weaknesses in a home environment. A number of good features for commercial use, but not needed in the home, have been omitted. You can find out more about them in the Powerlite Pro G6900 version's review.

Pros

Extremely bright - with almost 6000 lumens (white and color)
Maximum native resolution: WUXGA 1920 x 1200, which means native 1080p as well
Excellent placement flexibility - extensive lens shift and six different lenses (lenses are quick install/release
Relatively compact, and light projector, relative to its brightness and features
Split Screen (two equal sized images, or one larger than the other) offer many possibilities
HDBaseT (HDBT) and SDI for running long distances from Hi-Def, and live video sources. Could useful in the home. I would use HD-SDI if I went with this model
Some networking features beneficial, including presenting over IP
Networking allows easy interfacing to a home network
Supports display of up to four computers simultaneously (family computing night?) a network feature
Very good color performance, right out of the box, 6000 color lumens, as well as 6000 white ones
Full color management system allows for accurate calibration!
Multiple Audio inputs, and an audio out, so projector remote can control audio
Excellent four year warranty, replacement, and support programs
Two projectors can be stacked for double the power, or passive 3D
Edge blending - not normally something needed at home, unless you have an at home gallery, or other art displays
Eco friendly manages all those 6000 lumens with only a 380 watt lamp. (many 1500 lumen projectors have 250 or higher wattage lamps)
Crestron Connect and AMX compatible - great if you have home automation
Overall, very good price/performance

Click Image to Enlarge

Cons

Only one HDMI port - two or three would be nice (it does have a DisplayPort)
Split Screen slow to engage, "clunky" when switching windows (but ultimately, it works)
No lens memory (requires motorized lenses) (but then media room PJ's would logically be 16:9, not widescreen)
Lamp life could be longer (but reasonably good for this class of projectors)
Dynamic iris is slow and seems to move in visible steps - inferior compared to what Epson puts in their home theater projectors (even though they sell for less)
Could be quieter - 39 db in full power is not bad for a 6000 lumen projector geared for larger environments Eco mode is quiet enough - at 31, which is below the high end for home projectors
Image defocuses very slightly during warm-up (first 15-20 minutes). You have to be looking. (Thus focus the projector (when you first install), after warm-up)
A white case option would have been a plus
Could have more smarts, such as MHL so you could plug in a Roku stick (for easy streaming of House of Cards, etc.)