Epson Ensemble HD 6500UB 6100 and 720 Home Theater Systems - Mini Review
June 2009 - Art Feierman
First, what is an Ensemble HD? It's a complete, projector based home theater system, designed for easy installation.
In this review we will look at three versions: Ensemble HD 6500UB, Ensemble HD 6100, and Ensemble HD 720.
They all include projector, screen, full 5.1 surround sound (built into screen and projector cradle) with an AV receiver (which Epson calls an AV Controller), that has a built in DVD player. In addition, there's a powered subwoofer, equipment rack, a pre-programmed remote control. It comes with a number of powder coated wiring channels to be mounted to wall or ceiling to run cabling. That means no need to open up those walls or ceiling. Because they are powder coated, you can paint them over to match your ceiling or walls, making them almost invisible.
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Image above of the Ensemble HD provided by Epson, we dropped in the gymnasts image to the screen.
In summary, it's a complete almost "instant" home theater system, based around a front projector and a 100 inch diagonal screen. The concept, of this instant home theater is a great one, whether it be the Epson Ensemble HD, or products of similar designs in the future by other manufacturers who have yet to release products like this one.
It is designed to be installed in about 4-5 hours by a professional, or can be done by individuals who aren't intimidated by hanging a screen, or the projector cradle. If you can handle basic power tools a level, and perhaps a paint brush, with confidence, it should be right up your alley.
Epson recently released two new 1080p versions of the Ensemble HD to replace the original, single 1080p version of the Ensemble HD complete system, as well as dropping the price of the Ensemble HD 720 which remains in the lineup. Since we have already reviewed all three Epson projectors that are available in the three different packages, and since we have previously reviewed the older complete systems, here we will simply discuss the new models, the projectors inside them, and the value propositions, of these unique home theater solutions. In other words, no, I have not been sent any of the new versions, but am basing this "mini-review" on what we have observed with the older Ensemble HD systems, and the impact of the newer projectors and lower price points.
Epson Ensemble HD models for 2009 - Overview
There are now three versions of the Ensemble HD. From the top down, first is the Ensemble HD 6500UB. This configuration has Epson's top of the line Home Cinema projector as it's heart.
For less money (see the specs below), Epson offers a second Ensemble HD, also with a 1080p projector. This model is the Ensemble HD 6100. It most closely resembles the older Ensemble HD 1080 system.
Finally, there's the Epson Ensemble HD 720, which is essentially the same as the original Ensemble HD 720 released last year, but several hundred dollars less expensive.
OK, the good news:
- Easier to find - the previous Ensemble HD systems were available from a select group of local installing dealers. Epson continues to expand that aspect of their distribution channel. The real news, however, is for those who are Do it yourself - DIY - types, and plan to install it themselves. Also it's a solution for folks who just aren't close to one of those authorized dealers.
Epson has authorized two of the largest online resellers to sell the Ensembles. This I believe is a good thing, though some of the local dealers won't be thrilled. - The new systems are better than the old ones. That's impressive, in that we gave the original Ensemble HD 1080 our only Outstanding Product of 2008 award.
- More appeal to the serious enthusiast - last year's top of the line Ensemble HD did not offer last year's top of the line Epson Home Cinema projector (the 1080 UB). Thus, if you wanted the superb black level performance that the 1080 UB offered, you were out of luck. This year, you can have the Ensemble HD with the Home Cinema 6500UB, which is superior to the old 1080 UB. Or you can go with the Home Cinema 6100, which is an improved version of the Home Cinema 1080 that was included last year.
- Better price performance. The new package with the top of the line 6500UB costs $100 less than the old package with the Epson Home Cinema 1080 - their entry level 1080p projector. The version with the 6100 costs $900 less than last years, and the 720p package also drops in price.
The bad news:
Well there should be some, but I can only come up with two issues, neither of them could actually be considered bad:
- The AV Controller still only has a standard DVD player. They could have upgraded it to a Blu-ray player. (The price would have gone up a few hundred dollars?) Many folks already have a Sony PS3, or other Blu-ray player, however, and they can just plug them in.
- As has been put forward by a number of enthusiasts, it's definitely possible to buy a complete home theater system, piece by piece, and end up with better performance for the same dollars. (That presumes you install an individual component system yourself). I can't argue that. (On the other hand you could spend just as much or more, and not do as well.
The thing is, while many hard core enthusiasts will love the whole package, they aren't the market that the Ensemble HD is really targeted at.
The whole concept was to make building a projector based home theater in your house to be not significantly more complicated than installing one of those tiny 50 inch LCDTVs and surround sound system, and maybe less so.
Image below taken with the Home Cinema 720 projector (that goes in the Ensemble HD 720).
That's the core reason I'm so enthusiastic about the concept. Most non-hard core enthusiasts prefer to avoid having to figure out their room, separately selecting projector, screen, AV receiver, DVD/Blu-ray player, speakers, subwoofer, a programmable remote (and programming it), and the much longer times it would take for all the individual components to be assembled and installed.
If Epson can move some serious quantities of the Ensemble systems, it won't be long before you see similar products from the other major manufacturers.
I should point out, that like with the older systems, the Epson Ensemble HD is actually a collaboration between Epson, and home theater speaker company, Atlantic Technologies. Afterall, video is Epson's thing, not audio. Makes sense to bring in a well respected speaker company.
In other words, the Ensemble HD is real home theater, for the masses. (OK, not all of the masses, as the Ensemble's start at $4699.)
Image below taken with the Epson Home Cinema 6500UB.
Hot Product Awards: Those of you who are paying attention will note that I have given the 720 and 6500UB versions of the Ensemble HD, our Hot Product Award.
The Ensemble HD720 was a slam dunk - it's the lowest priced of the solutions, a very good value, and, as I point out elsewhere, can be used as a stepping stone to even better performance, allowing an owner to upgrade the projector later, and still not end up spending much more than just buying the top of the line Ensemble HD 6500UB right away.
The Ensemble HD 6500UB, on the other hand, is the flagship, and in my opinion, has at its heart, the best under $3500 projector around. It provides true enthusiast performance, at a reasonable price, without the hassles associated with selecting components piece by piece, and a complicated installation.
Finally, there's the Ensemble HD 6100. I was very tempted to give it a Hot Product Award too, but I can't go around giving the award to every version. Since it's priced in the middle, many will choose to go the 720 route, and many others, the 6500UB. All considered, distinguishing itself is always a challenge for a product boxed in by similar products that are more expensive/better, and less expensive/not quite as good.
The ultimate reason I almost gave the Ensemble HD 6100 the award too, is that is is probably the best value and performer for those who see sports and general HDTV viewing as their primary use. For such content, the extra black level performance the 6500UB provides provides little benefit. Bottom line: Sports fans - despite the lack of the award, the Ensemble HD 6100 may well be the best of the three for your viewing pleasure and value!
Specs for Epson Ensemble HD 720
Complete Package MSRP: $4699
Technology: 3LCD projector, motorized 100" screen with built-in speakers, subwoofer, 5.1 surround sound and video AV Controller universal remote control, wiring and mounting hardware
Projector Native Resolution: 720p
Projector Brightness: 1600 lumens
Projector Contrast: 10,000:1
Projector Zoom Lens ratio: 2.1:1
Lens shift: Vertical and Horizontal
Lamp life: 3000 hours low power (theater black), 2000 hours at full lamp power
Warranty: 2 Years Parts and Labor
Image above taken with the Home Cinema 1080 projector during the original Ensemble HD 1080 review.
Specs for Epson Ensemble HD 6100
Complete Package MSRP: $5899
Technology: 3LCD projector, motorized 100" screen with built-in speakers, subwoofer, 5.1 surround sound and video AV Controller universal remote control, wiring and mounting hardware
Projector Native Resolution: 1080p
Projector Brightness: 1800 lumens
Projector Contrast: 18,000:1
Projector Zoom Lens ratio: 2.1:1
Lens shift: Vertical and Horizontal
Lamp life: 4000 hours whether in high brightness or eco-mode
Warranty: 2 Years Parts and Labor
Specs for Epson Ensemble HD 6500UB
Complete Package MSRP: $6999
Technology: 3LCD projector, motorized 100" screen with built-in speakers, subwoofer, 5.1 surround sound and video AV Controller universal remote control, wiring and mounting hardware
Projector Native Resolution: 1080p
Projector Brightness: 1600 lumens
Projector Contrast: 75,000:1
Projector Zoom Lens ratio: 2.1:1
Lens shift: Vertical and Horizontal
Lamp life: 4000 hours whether in high brightness or eco-mode
Warranty: 2 Years Parts and Labor
Epson Ensemble HD Special Features
Projector Lamp Life
Epson is pushing their E-Torl lamp, as being both more efficient. It draws only 170 watts, (less than most home theater projector lamps which are typically 200 to 250 watts). While it is nice to be green, I doubt that saving 30 watts will overly excite many. More significant, though, is Epson's lamp life claim for the Ensemble HD systems. Epson is claiming 4000 hours in full or low power modes. Very few projectors (home theater or business) claim more than 2000 hours in full power, athough a couple of others do offer lamps in low power mode of 4000 or 5000 hours. (3000 is the "standard" for low power operation). Interestingly, of the other brands, the projector that comes to mind with the 5000 hour rating (at low power) is one of the least bright home theater projectors, and therefore least likely to be used in low power. That same projector is rated only 2000 hours with the lamp operating at full power. Note please: The Ensemble HD 720 still uses the older Home Cinema 720 projector which as a lamp life of 1700 hours at full power, and 3000 in low power.
If you figure a $360 cost for a replacement lamp, with a 4000 hour lamp life, that's $.09 per hour - or about eighteen cents cost to watch a 2 hour movie. Now consider the cost of one package of micro-wave popcorn, and you have to concede that the cost of operation is pretty low.
Another way to look at it is this: One lamp - good for 2000 two hour movies costs about $350 - $370 (I'll use $360 for calculations.) One trip to the movie theater (we'll skip the cost of gasoline), with one ticket, and $5.50 for food (that's one medium soda, OR one medium popcorn, where I live), works out to less than 23 movies with a $5.50 snack for each person - although matinee performances, seniors, and students pay a little less for the tickets, so maybe 25 or 26 movies.
Image immediately below taken with Epson Home Cinema 6500UB.
If you can hold back your enthusiasm for most movies that hit the theaters, and wait until they are out on Blu-ray, you'll get a better movie experience, and save a bundle in the long run.
The bottom line, the 1080p projectors in the Ensemble HD systems provide big savings compared to going out for movies, and lower cost of operation than other projectors, thanks to the longer lamp life.
Creative Frame Interpolation
Creative Frame Interpolation, which smooths out panning somewhat in movies, as well as some fast action is available only on the Ensemble HD 6500UB, as that is the only one of the Epson projectors used in the Ensemble HD systems, to offer CFI.
CFI is just starting to become popular on LCDTV and Plasma TV products, and is just starting to appear in home theater projectors. As of this writing, there are only a handful of projectors offering it, including the Epson "UB"s, the Sanyo PLV-Z3000 and the Panasonic PT-AE3000. While less than 10% of home theater projectors offer CFI, those that do are some of the most popular. I wouldn't be surprised if, among the 1080p projectors, more than half of the units sold this year have CFI. Even if you have a projector with CFI, you won't necessarily engage it for all your viewing. It's most popular for sports viewing, but there are more trade-offs when viewing movies.
Image immediately below taken using the Home Cinema 6500UB.
Impressive Audio Performance
All Ensemble HD packages include the same audio capabilities. The 100 inch diagonal 16:9 motorized screen contains the front left, center, and right speakers in the screen's housing. The cradle for the projector also houses the rear left and right speakers. Finally, there's a hefty powered sub-woofer provided with the Ensemble HD systems. As an added bonus, for those who really want to "rock the house", the AV Controller has a second sub-woofer output, so you can add a second subwoofer.
Programmable Remote Control
The Ensemble HD systems all come with the same, Universal brand remote control. It comes partially programmed. I say that, because it does not have all the projector's controls programmed into it (you can add them), since they provide the projector's remote as well. You'll likely also want to program in your cable or satellite box as well as any other devices. The Universal remote allows you to add any devices that they have codes for (thousands), and in the event you have a device that they don't have in their database, the remote can learn the codes. All considered, it works great. The fact that the sensor for the remote is high up on your wall (center of the screen housing) makes for great operation, as "line of sight" is going to be good from virtually anywhere in your room. I've added my cable box to the remote of my own Ensemble. It was about as straight forward as one could hope for, and works fine.
