Review on 📽️ Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300: 3600 Lumens Smart Laser Projector with Android TV, Yamaha Speakers, and Bluetooth Connectivity by Ryan Brunson

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For those who would rather not read a long overview of installing, setting up and operating this projector, I will start with a summary of my experience. I am really excited. - on the picture quality of this projector. From just a few inches away, you can project 4K quality video in a brightly lit room. I tested this projector in the worst possible conditions (bright lights, a rich burgundy wall, and a surface that was too high for the projector). Even under these conditions, I was blown away by the incredible video quality. Some of my issues with this projector are: (1) Exceptionally loud fan. (2) The installation was a little buggy (3) Popular apps like Netflix, Revain Prime, etc. cannot be projected unless a device like Roku or Revain Fire is connected or they are being streamed from another device with Chromecast. I successfully tested Roku. I wasn't trying to stream from my phone or tablet. I am so impressed with the ultra-short throw distance and video quality of this projector that I only deducted one star out of disappointment. However, I honestly would NOT recommend this projector for use in a smaller room as the fan noise is really overwhelming and can be heard over the audio stream. FIRST TIME INSTALLATION AND SETUP The whole setup process was very easy; However, there were a few oddities that disrupted the process a bit. The remote control battery cover was very difficult to remove. While I appreciate the lid that doesn't come off easily, even my husband had trouble removing the lid. After you have set up the projector and connected the power cord, turn it on and follow the onscreen setup instructions. The first step is to pair the remote control with the projector. Once paired, you'll walk through general setup options like setting the language and connecting to your WiFi network. If you have an Android phone, it's easier for you to set up the projector through your phone. Since I don't have an Android phone, I went through all the settings with the remote control. Every step of the setup went smoothly until I started entering my Google account details. During this process, the projector shut down and restarted without warning. After restarting, it was reported that a software update was in progress. Having never come across a device that updated without a warning screen, I initially thought there was a power outage in my house. After this update completed, the projector rebooted and reported that a firmware update was available. This time he asked me if I wanted to download and install the update. After this second update was complete, the device restarted the setup process when it reopened the remote pairing screen. The first time I completed the pairing process, it was quick and the screen went to the next step. However, this time nothing happened when I pressed the pairing buttons. I even changed the batteries in the remote control because I thought it wasn't transmitting. After many pairing attempts, I pressed the back button and the screen switched to the login screen of the Google account I was on before the updates started. It looks like the remote was paired all along but got stuck on the pairing screen. A key observation throughout the installation process, and particularly during the installation of updates, is that the fan was running INCREDIBLY noisy. In fact, the fan was so loud we thought we had a defective model. After a little research, I found that this noise is normal and cannot be prevented. ADJUST THE CORRECT HEIGHT/ANGLE For initial testing, I placed the projector on a dresser in my bedroom. The dresser is actually too tall to take full advantage of the projector, so I'm going to use a shorter piece of furniture for my permanent setup. Projection size depends on how far you place the device from the wall. With a large enough stand, the maximum recommended distance is 15.2 inches, allowing you to project a 120-inch image. In my setup, the projector was set to 14.5 inches. Because my dresser is so tall, the image was partially projected onto my ceiling. To compensate, I placed a book under the back of the projector to tilt the unit just enough to project the image completely onto my wall. Although the projector has adjustable feet that allow the unit to be tilted up or down, they do not extend far enough to achieve the desired angle. When the device is tilted, the image shape changes from rectangular to trapezoidal. To compensate for this, the device has a corner adjustment setting that allows you to correct the shape and size of an uneven image. The device projects an image with 8 adjustment points that can be adjusted individually. For my setup I had to adjust two of these points to get a rectangular shape again. Part of the projection to restore the shape. When I finished the settings, my screen diagonal was 92 inches. OPERATION This projector has the same functions as any Android TV. It can launch apps, stream content from any Chromecast-enabled device, connect Bluetooth speakers or headphones, and use voice commands. There are multiple ports for connecting various components, including HDMI, HDMI (ARC), USB, and optical. HDMI (ARC) and optical ports are handy for connecting soundbars. Many different display settings are available. Among the ones I like the most are the color mode and the automatic brightness control. Color mode lets you select a mode that optimizes brightness, color, and contrast depending on the projected image and viewing conditions. The automatic brightness control automatically adjusts the image contrast according to the brightness of the projected image. Both settings help create an incredibly high-quality and vibrant video stream. There are many sound settings, including a setting you can change to optimize the sound depending on the type of content you're projecting. Examples include theater, concert, and karaoke modes. You can also adjust other audio settings like surround sound, bass, and auto volume. The integrated sound for the projector comes from Yamaha and the sound is surprisingly good. While not a true soundbar, it shares many of the same characteristics. Audio stays clear throughout the volume range, and the virtual surround setting improves audio output and delivers great sound. FIRST TESTING As my home is not 100% ready to use this projector as one of our main TVs, it was tested under less than ideal conditions. In fact, it was tested under horrible conditions. I mounted the projector on a 46 inch tall dresser, which is probably about a foot taller than the ideal stand height given the overall size and dimensions of my room. The wall in my room is a deep burgundy red and I didn't have a projection screen to test with. I tested in daylight and with all overhead lights in the room. I could ever imagine While I would of course have gotten better color quality on a lighter background, the video projected onto my dark wall was surprisingly high quality. I have included a short video clip (please understand that video quality will be sacrificed when submitting it to Revain) along with numerous photos. I am extremely impressed with the quality of the projection and can only imagine how great it would look against a white background! io quality during projection is much better than i expected. While it could certainly be improved by adding a quality soundbar, the onboard audio is more than adequate for most purposes. UNRESOLVED DISAPPOINTMENTS (1) Cooling fan noise. Fan. During the installation of the updates, it was so loud it sounded like an airplane flying overhead. It wasn't as loud when streaming video; however, it was still loud enough to be distracting. I wasn't able to muffle the noise of the fan unless I turned the projector's volume up just enough to make it seem uncomfortably loud. I took one star off my overall rating because of the fan noise. It is expected that most users will place this projector in a fairly large room. If you plan to use the projector in a small space, I'd recommend considering an alternative model, as the fan noise on this projector is really distracting when you're seated within 15-20 feet of the projector. (2) Connectivity with popular applications. My initial plan was to upload the video to Netflix or Prime. However, none of the applications worked. In both cases I received a message that the apps are not compatible with the device. This is somewhat surprising, disappointing and frustrating. Later, I was able to work around the issue by connecting a Roku device. I assume a Fire Stick or streaming from another device via Chromecast would also work.