A home theater projector is the centerpiece for any breathtaking cinema room. Investing in a high quality 4K projector pays dividends in immersive enjoyment thanks to the sharp detailed picture and vibrant color. But like most people you want to know you're getting the best when you buy a movie room projector. And that's why you're reading this head to head comparison. Today we're pitting the Sony VPL-XW500ES vs the Epson LS12000 in a battle of new home cinema projectors.
Sony has just released its new lineup of premium home cinema projectors including the luxurious Sony VPL-XW70000ES, the mid-tier Sony VPL-XW6000ES, and of course their "low price" option, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. This new laser projector from Sony is the latest in a focus from manufacturers to release laser based units and move away from bulb based models.
Epson also switched their focus to laser based home theater with the Epson LS12000 (along with the Epson LS11000). This 4K laser projector offers outstanding visuals at a very reasonable cost. The Epson LS12000 has been our go to recommendation for people wanting an incredible picture on their screen without breaking the bank. You can read more about it in our Epson LS12000 projector review.
So how do these two stack up?
Which is better, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES or the Epson LS12000? And more importantly which projector should you get for your home cinema?
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 LS12000 |
Sony VPL-XW5000ES |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
2700 |
2000 |
The Epson LS12000 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 LS12000 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 LS12000 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 Sony VPL-XW5000ES has a small advantage when it comes to colors. |
Contrast Ratio |
1,2500,000:1 |
?:1 |
Sony claims to have an infinate:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's good but it's not infinitely good. The Epson LS12000 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 |
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The Epson LS12000 is available at a lower price point and arguably gives you a lot more bang for your buck |
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Epson LS12000
The Pros
- Super bright laser light source
- Very vibrant colors
- Great black levels and contrast
- 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
- No dynamic tone mapping.
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
The Pros
- One of the sharpest pictures we've seen
- Fantastic black levels
- Wide color gamut
- Native 4K LCoS chipset
- Can produce an image up to 300 inches
- Available in either white or black
The Cons
- Not as bright and won't work as well in a well lit room
- Higher price tag
- Aesthetically unpleasing
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
- No 3D support
So Which Projector Should You Buy, The Epson LS12000 Or The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
Both of these 4K laser projectors output absolutely incredible images. It’s honestly very tough to pick a winner.
That said, you're reading this article because you want our experts to help you decide which projector to buy for your home movie theater. So between the Sony VPL-XW5000ES and Epson LS12000, the winner is………
The Sony VPL-XW5000ES
Why Buy The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
This head to head comparison really was a tough call. The Sony VPL-XW5000ES beat the Epson LS12000 because of the overall superior image quality. This Sony home theater projector has better contrast, a wider color gamut, and a much sharper image. So those those looking for the better picture quality, the win goes to the Sony projector.
It comes down to this; if you're planning to install it in a dedicated home movie theater room and price isn't a factor then the Sony 5000ES is better than the Epson LS12000.
The option of getting either a white or black chassis is a nice little design bonus.
Why Buy The Epson LS12000?
Just because the Sony XW5000ES wins this shootout, doesn't mean it's the better choice for everyone. The all new Epson LS12000 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 2700 lumens this projector is even 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 bright room environment. The installation flexibility in terms of the horizontal and vertical offset abilities and wider throw ratio are definitely significant pluses.
But where this projector really shines is the value. If you're looking to prioritize saving money on your projector and still get a fantastic image quality , then the Epson LS12000 gets the edge to beat the Sony VPL-XW5000ES.
All that said however, if budget really isn't an issue, you should look to upgrade your projector of choice even further to the JVC NZ7 or Sony VPLXW6000ES. And if you really want the best picture possible regardless of price then the premium Sony VPL-XW7000ES and JVC NZ9 are the top projectors for home theaters.
What Do You Think?
Which home movie room projector do you think is better? Which projectors should we compare next? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
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: | 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 |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | EPSON |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2700 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,500,000:1 |
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: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |
ARC/eARC: | eARC |