Sony has just released its new lineup of home theater projectors. Their "low price" option is the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. This new laser projector from Sony is the latest in a focus from manufacturers to release laser based units.
Epson also switched their focus to laser based home theater with the Epson LS11000 (along with the Epson LS12000). This 4K laser projector offers outstanding visuals at a very reasonable price. So how do these two stack up?
Which is better, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES or the Epson LS11000? And more importantly which projector should you get for your home theater?
Check out our expert comparison of these two fantastic new 4K laser projectors for home theaters and find out who wins.
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Epson LS11000 |
Sony VPL-XW5000ES |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
2500 |
2000 |
The Epson LS11000 is significantly brighter than the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. Sony is good for home theater but if you want to use it in a room with higher levels of ambient light and/or a larger screen size, the Epson is the way to go. |
Throw Ratio |
1.35:1 - 2.84:1 |
1.38:1 - 2.21:1 |
The LS11000 has a wider throw ratio range |
Projector Lens Shift |
Horizontal +/-96.30% & Vertical +/-47.10% |
Horizontal +/- 25% & Vertical +/- 71% |
Epson gives you more installation flexibility than the new Sony projector |
Chipset |
4 way pixel-shifting 0.74” 3LCD |
Native 4K 0.61" SXRD DLP |
The Sony VPL-XW5000ES has the edge with its LCoS projector chipset. However the quad shift technology on the Epson LS11000 offers a full 8.3 million pixels just like the Sony. |
Light Source |
Single Laser w/ fixed yellow phosphor |
Single Laser |
Both new projectors utilize a single blue laser. The Epson's fixed yellow phosphor gives it an edge because it's one less moving part that makes noise and could break |
Color |
90% DCI-P3 |
95% DCI-P3 |
Both projectors cover an extremely wide color gamut but the much higher priced Sony VPL-XW5000ES has a small advantage when it comes to colors. |
Contrast Ratio |
1,2000,000:1 |
?:1 |
Sony claims to have an infinate:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's good but it's not infinitely good. The Epson LS11000 offers fantastic contrast, but despite the hyperbole the Sony has better contrast. |
Input Lag |
20 ms |
21 ms |
Epson's reported lag time is slightly better than the Sony's. That said they're pretty similar when it comes to gaming |
Price |
$3,999.99
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$5,999.99
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The Epson LS11000 is available at a much lower price point and gives you a lot more bang for your buck |
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Add to Cart
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Epson LS11000
The Pros
- Super bright laser light source
- Very vibrant colors
- Great black levels
- Best value from a home cinema projector
- Can produce an image up to 300 inches
- Lots of installation options for easier setup
- Picture looks great out of the box so you don't need much calibration
- 120 FPS 4K gaming
The Cons
- No 3D support
- Not native 4K
- Only comes in white
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
The Pros
- Fantastic black levels
- Wide color gamut
- Native 4K LCoS chipset
- Can produce an image up to 300 inches
- Available in either white or black
- 120 FPS 4K gaming
The Cons
- Not as bright and won't work as well in a well lit room
- High price tag
- Aesthetically unpleasing
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
- No 3D support
So Which Projector Should You Buy, The Epson LS11000 Or The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
Both 4K laser projectors output absolutely incredible images. It’s very hard to pick a winner.
That said, you're reading this article because you want to know the answer to help you decide which projector to get for your home theater. So between the Sony VPL-XW5000ES and Epson LS11000, the winner is………
The Epson LS11000
The all new Epson LS11000 offers an incredible picture with vibrant colors, razor sharp image and outstanding contrast. It's one of the easiest projectors to align and looks fantastic out of the box. With 2500 lumens this projector is bright enough to enjoy content with the lights on. And when you pair it with an ambient light rejecting projector screen is even capable of producing a high quality image in a well lit room. But where this projector really shines (pun intended) is the value. The price to picture quality you get on the Epson LS11000 just can't be beat. The bang for your buck you get with the Epson gives it the edge in this battle.
While the Sony VPL-XW5000ES has better contrast and a wider color gamut, it really comes down to value. Sure, the picture is better on the VPL-XW5000ES, but is it $2,000 dollars better? The answer is "maybe". We have yet to see the VPL-XW5000ES in person as it was just announced, but once it is available we will be putting it head to head against the Epson LS11000 / LS12000 to see how it stacks up.
If you want a brighter, better laser projector with dynamic tone mapping then spend the extra money and get the JVC NZ7.The lack of brightness also limits the new Sony laser projector to be relegated to a darkened home theater. Both the Epson LS11000 and JVC NZ7 work great in moderately to well lit rooms.
If you have any questions on these projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | EPSON |
Product Status: | In Stock |
Lumens: | 2500 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 1,200,000:1 |
Chipset: | LCD |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.35:1 - 2.84:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz:19.4ms | 1080p/120Hz: 28.7ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 2 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |
ARC/eARC: | eARC |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |