Epson Home Cinema 5010e Projector - with WirelessHD

Epson's Home Cinema 5010e is in all ways identical to the 5010, except that the HC5010e will additionally have WirelessHD, a really nice plus.

9/6/2011 - Art Feierman

Epson Home Cinema 5010e

Epson's new Home Cinema 5010e, scheduled to ship next month (October), is Epson's flagship 3D capable projector, in the Home Cinema series. Epson also offers a near identical projector (with black finish) in their Pro Cinema series. That would be the Pro Cinema 6010, which will only be sold by Epson's authorized local, installing dealers.

For the great many people, though, including DIY types, but also anyone that wants to save a few bucks, the Home Cinema 5010e is your ticket. The Home Cinema 5010e will likely sell for $200 to $300 more than the non "e" version. I would expect $200 more, based on the known pricing of the lower cost 3010 and 3010e projectors.

Pro Cinema 5010e Specs and Features

  • Brightness: 2400 lumens (both color lumens and white lumens, as Epson measures and claims both)
  • Contrast 200,000:1 - same as last year's 8700UB, which means stunning black level performance
  • 3D and 2D viewing
  • WirelessHD !!!
  • 480hz LCD panels for a brighter image (and other benefits)
  • Split screen capability
  • New Fine-Frame CFI, for improved smooth motion, plus various other dynamic features
  • THX and ISF certified, with pre-calibrated THX mode
  • 2 year warranty with replacement program
  • Full anamorphic lens support (two modes)
  • Comes with a spare lamp, ceiling mount, and cable cover
  • Includes 2 pair of 3D glasses (active shutter) 3rd party glasses available
  • 13.2 pounds

Epson Home Cinema 5010e Picture Quality

I never saw a Home Cinema 5010e or, for that matter, the 5010 in action, however, I got a good look at the Pro Cinema 6010, and they should perform exactly the same. Let's assume that. The THX modes in 2D and 3D (two different THX modes), offer some of the best color you will ever see, "right out of the box". Past experience says that those THX certified modes will be excellent, in fact already look really great.

Black levels, of course, are excellent. True, not up to some $7,000+ JVC projectors, but little else, below that price, can give the older Epson 8700UB a run for the money. The Home Cinema 5010e, should be at least as good as the UB. Remember, Epson's got some shiny new, D9 480hz LCD panels, so I'd expect some improvement. We don't worry about published contrast ratios, because they are no longer good indications of black level performance.

The Home Cinema 5010e projector is scheduled to ship in November (no, don't ask me when in November).

Epson Home Cinema 5010e 3D performance.

As with the Home Cinema 5010, these assumptions are based on my viewing of the Pro Cinema 6010 at Epson. There should be no differences in performance, including 3D, between the two.

As mentioned in the other first looks, 3D still needs work, but they've got plenty of time before the anticipated November date. I trust they won't disappoint us, but then, that's why we review projectors.

As with the 5010e, the brightness of the 3D will be a dramatic improvement over the LCoS projectors we've reviewed. That may not be true in the THX 3D mode, but there is also a 3D Dynamic mode.

As noted in the my announcement blog, the 5010 is the 2D and 3D version, while this Home Cinema 5010e offers WirelessHD in addition to 3D. Pricing is still not determined, but I'm sure they will announce that at CEDIA in two days. I'm meeting with Epson on 9/8, and will update this "First Look" with the pricing, from the show.

Stay tuned. This looks like just one more of a bunch of extremely interesting new projectors this fall.

I assume Epson will ship me this Home Cinema 5010e, for review (rather than the standard 5010), so that we can see the WirelessHD in action. I can't wait!

^ Back to Top For the links to the other new Epson's and the blog overview.