The Epson 5050UB is a high-end 4K home theater projector that promises an immersive cinema-like experience. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the features and performance of this projector to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your home theater setup.
Contents
Design and Build Quality:
The Epson 5050UB has a sleek, modern design with a matte black finish. It measures 20.5 x 17.7 x 7.6 inches and weighs 24.7 pounds, making it a fairly large and heavy projector. However, it’s still easy to handle and install thanks to the included adjustable feet and a wide zoom and lens shift range. The build quality is excellent, with sturdy construction and smooth, precise controls for the lens shift, focus, and zoom.
Connectivity:
The Epson 5050UB offers a variety of connectivity options, including two HDMI ports, one VGA port, one RS-232C port, and one Ethernet port. The HDMI ports support HDCP 2.2, HDR10, and HLG, which means you can easily connect your 4K Blu-ray player, gaming console, or streaming device to the projector. The projector also supports wireless connectivity via an optional Wi-Fi module (sold separately).
Image Quality:
The Epson 5050UB uses a 3LCD technology that delivers a bright and vibrant image with accurate colors and excellent contrast. The projector has a brightness of 2,600 lumens and a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1, which means it can deliver vivid colors and deep blacks even in a brightly lit room. The projector also supports HDR content and can display a wide color gamut, which makes the image look more lifelike and immersive.
The projector has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, but it uses pixel-shifting technology to display 4K content. This means that the projector alternates the position of the pixels between frames to create a 4K-like image. The pixel-shifting technology works well, and the image looks sharp and detailed even when viewed up close.
One of the standout features of the Epson 5050UB is its lens. The projector uses a 15-element glass lens that delivers a sharp and clear image with minimal distortion. The lens has a wide zoom range of 2.1x and a lens shift of up to ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal, which means you can easily adjust the image to fit your screen and room size.
The projector also has a motorized lens memory feature that allows you to save up to 10 different lens settings for different aspect ratios. This means you can easily switch between 16:9 and 2.35:1 aspect ratios without having to manually adjust the lens shift and zoom.
Another impressive feature of the Epson 5050UB is its advanced image processing technology. The projector uses a 12-bit digital processing chip that can enhance the image by reducing noise, sharpening edges, and improving the color accuracy. The projector also has a Super Resolution feature that can enhance the detail and sharpness of the image, especially in lower-resolution content.
Overall, the image quality of the Epson 5050UB is excellent. It delivers a bright, vibrant, and immersive image that can rival some of the best TVs and projectors on the market.
Performance:
The Epson 5050UB has a lamp life of up to 5,000 hours in normal mode and up to 10,000 hours in eco mode. The projector has a low fan noise of 20 dB in eco mode and 24 dB in normal mode, which means it’s relatively quiet and won’t distract you from your movie or gaming experience. The projector also has a quick startup time of around 10 seconds and a quick shutdown time of around 5 seconds.
The Epson 5050UB has a few different picture modes to choose from, including Dynamic, Bright Cinema, Natural, Cinema, and Digital Cinema. Each mode is designed to optimize the image for different types of content and lighting conditions. For example, the Dynamic mode is best for bright rooms with ambient light, while the Cinema mode is best for dark rooms with controlled lighting.
The projector also has a 3D mode that allows you to watch 3D content with compatible glasses. The 3D performance is good, with bright and vivid colors and minimal crosstalk.
One area where the Epson 5050UB falls a bit short is its input lag. The projector has a lag time of around 28 ms in 1080p and around 46 ms in 4K HDR. This might not be an issue for most people, but if you’re a serious gamer who needs the lowest input lag possible, there are other projectors on the market that offer better performance in this regard.
Conclusion:
The Epson 5050UB is a high-end home theater projector that offers excellent image quality and a range of advanced features. The projector delivers a bright and vibrant image with accurate colors and excellent contrast, and it supports HDR content and a wide color gamut. The lens is a standout feature, with a wide zoom range and lens shift that make it easy to adjust the image to fit your screen and room size.
The advanced image processing technology and motorized lens memory feature are also impressive, as they can enhance the detail and sharpness of the image and make it easy to switch between different aspect ratios.
The Epson 5050UB does have a few downsides, such as its input lag, but overall it’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants a high-quality home theater experience. The projector is a bit pricey, but if you’re willing to invest in a top-of-the-line projector, the Epson 5050UB is definitely worth considering.
FAQs
- What is the resolution of the Epson 5050UB?
The Epson 5050UB has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (also known as Full HD), but it also has pixel-shifting technology that can display 4K content with improved detail and clarity. - How bright is the Epson 5050UB?
The Epson 5050UB has a brightness rating of 2,600 lumens, which is bright enough to use in a variety of lighting conditions. - What is the contrast ratio of the Epson 5050UB?
The Epson 5050UB has a contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1, which means it can display deep blacks and bright whites for an immersive viewing experience. - What type of inputs does the Epson 5050UB have?
The Epson 5050UB has a variety of inputs, including two HDMI ports, one USB Type-A port, one RS-232c port, and one Ethernet port. - Can the Epson 5050UB be ceiling-mounted?
Yes, the Epson 5050UB can be ceiling-mounted using a compatible mount (sold separately). - Is the Epson 5050UB compatible with HDR content?
Yes, the Epson 5050UB is compatible with HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, which provides a wider range of colors and brightness levels for a more immersive viewing experience. - Does the Epson 5050UB have built-in speakers?
No, the Epson 5050UB does not have built-in speakers. You will need to connect external speakers to the projector to hear audio. - How long do the Epson 5050UB’s lamp and air filter last?
The Epson 5050UB’s lamp has a lifespan of up to 5,000 hours in normal mode and up to 10,000 hours in eco mode. The air filter needs to be replaced approximately every 10,000 hours. - What is the warranty on the Epson 5050UB?
The Epson 5050UB comes with a 2-year limited warranty, which includes free technical support for the life of the product. - Can the Epson 5050UB be used for gaming?
Yes, the Epson 5050UB can be used for gaming. It has a low input lag and a fast refresh rate, which makes it suitable for gaming.