If your budget is between $2,000 – $5,000 you are sure to find a quality 4K capable projector for your home theater. There are several projectors in this price range that will deliver excellent picture quality, good black levels, strong sharpness, and still leave room in the budget to buy quality accessories to support your total home theater experience.
Improved 4K pixel shifting, HDR compatibility combined with high brightness provided by its laser light source makes the Home Cinema LS11000, which retails for $3999, an amazing value. The Home Cinema LS11000 provides a good balance of performance and value. It proves that a good projected image doesn’t have to be overly expensive. Just add a projection screen, and for under $5000 total, you can bring a compelling home theater experience to any room.
The projector’s ability to deliver a rated 2500 lumens ensures that HDR and SDR content looks good even in rooms with higher ambient light. While the blue laser phosphor light source delivers high brightness, the 3LCD panels used in the LS11000 produce better black levels than most DLP projectors and excellent shadow detail.
PROJECTOR SPECS
Specification
Description
Price
$3,999
Technology
3LCD
Native Resolution
1920x1080x4
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2,500 Lumens
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.1:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
28 lbs.
Warranty
3 Years
Epson’s proven pixel shifting technology has been improved to deliver more visible resolution than a standard 1080P 3LCD projector. A new Precision Shift Glass Plate is quicker, so the LS11000 can reproduce 8.3 million pixels on-screen, which is double that of older Epson pixel shifting Pro Cinema projectors like the award-winning 6050UB and LS10500. The pixel shifting is so fast it is difficult from a normal viewing distance to differentiate between a native 4K projector and the LS11000.
LS11000 has dual HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps), so it can accept 4K/120fps HDR content. It can also playback not only HDR10 and HLG but also HDR10+ so that you can enjoy both prerecorded and live HDR content.
Epson’s ultimate goal is to deliver the best bang for the buck, and I believe they succeeded, Due to its performance and feature set, we highly recommend Epson Home Cinema LS11000 for anyone looking for a high-quality laser-based home theater projector for under $4000.
Like in the LS11000 (above), this projector’s improved 4K pixel shifting, HDR compatibility combined with high brightness provided by its laser light source makes the Pro Cinema LS12000 a great value. The ability to deliver a rated 2700 lumens ensures that HDR and SDR content looks good even in rooms with higher ambient light.
While the blue laser phosphor light source delivers high brightness, the high contrast 3LCD panels produce a great black level and excellent shadow detail.
LS12000 has dual HDMI 2.1 (48Gpbs) so it can accept 4K/120fps HDR content. It can also playback, not HDR10 and HLG but also HDR10+ so you can enjoy both prerecorded and live HDR content.
PROJECTOR SPECS
Specification
Description
Price
$4,999
Technology
3LCD
Native Resolution
1920x1080
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2,700 Lumens
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.00:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
28 lbs.
Warranty
3 Years
The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 includes most of the features that customers looking for a premium home theater would need at a price far lower than the competitive Sony and JVC models. Currently, you would have to spend double the price of an LS12000 for a native 4K LCoS laser projector like the DLA-NZ7. Epson’s ultimate goal is to deliver the best bang for the buck, and I believe they succeeded.
Overall, the LS12000 provides a good balance of performance and value. It proves that a good projected image doesn’t have to be overly expensive. Just add a projection screen, and for under $6000 total, you can bring a compelling home theater experience to any room.
The LG HU710PW is a 4K DLP projector that retails for $2,499 MSRP. It utilizes a single DLP (0.47″ DMD) chip to reproduce a perceived 4K UHD resolution. The HU710PW employs the new LG LED light source supported by laser technology to provide a measured 2,181 ANSI lumens of brightness for enhanced brightness and dynamic colors.
This new light source system uses a blue laser plus red and blue LEDs, providing up to 20,000 hours of operation in standard light mode, which means several years of worry-free operation. This hybrid LED laser light source is more sophisticated than the blue laser phosphor systems utilized in many home theater projectors that cost significantly more.
PROJECTOR SPECS
Specification
Description
Price
$2,499
Technology
DLP Laser and LED Hybrid
Native Resolution
1920x1080x4
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2,000 Lumens
Zoom Lens Ratio
x 1.6
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
14.3 lbs.
Warranty
1 Year Parts and Labor
The HU710PW offers accurate, out-of-the-box color reproduction, Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping, and HGiG. It is also equipped with the latest HDMI 2.1 features, including eARC and ALLM.
The HU710PW has horizontal/vertical lens shift and a combination of 4, 9, or 15 points geometry correction to provide exceptional installation flexibility.
The HU710PW is built around the latest LG webOS 6.0 operating system. Smart features are incorporated seamlessly, and the menus are easy to navigate and well laid-out. The HU710PW is loaded with many of the most popular streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and many more.
The HU710PW has all the smart features customers expect from a smart TV. You can use the smart remote for voice control with its built-in microphone to control basic projector features and control a wide variety of compatible smart devices via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It also provides comprehensive support for the iOS platform, including Airplay and Homekit.
The HU710PW supports HGiG, which enhances HDR gaming, a nice feature to have.
The LG AU810PB is a 4K DLP Laser Smart projector with a suggested retail price of $3999. This projector offers a great deal of performance and numerous advanced features for its price. It has a rated brightness of 2700 Lumens, and its Laser-light source is rated to last up to 20,000 hours.
The LG AU810PB combines all the Smart capabilities of flat-panel TVs but with the high-quality, maintenance-free Laser-light engine and 4K resolution to make it a true flat panel TV replacement.
The LG AU810PB delivered a great picture and is packed with firsts, which is why we gave it a Projector Reviews Hot Product Award.
The AU810PB offered accurate out-of-the-box color reproduction, and it is one of a few projectors with Dynamic HDR Tone mapping and HGiG. It is also one of the first projectors equipped with the latest HDMI 2.1 features, including eARC and ALLM.
Since the AU810PB was designed to replace a flat panel TV, it has all the Smart features customers expect from a Smart TV. You can use the Smart remote for voice control with its built-in microphone to control basic projector features and control a wide variety of compatible Smart devices via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The AU810PB is also the first projector we have reviewed that is WiSA-compatible so that it can broadcast sound to multiple wireless speakers. This eliminates the wires and the A/V receiver, so it is easier for anyone to set up a stereo or a full surround system.
The BenQ HT5550 is a 4K DLP projector part of BenQ CinePrime series projectors designed for home theater applications where deep blacks and accurate colors are more important than maximizing brightness.
It is also one of the least expensive 4K HDR-compatible projectors to sport a dynamic iris to improve black levels and optical lens shift. The HT3550 won one of our Best Value Awards due to its good black levels and accurate color reproduction at an affordable price
If you are looking for a good HT projector under $3000, like the DLP look and feel, have excellent color, and have a good room where you can appreciate how much better dark scenes look when a projector has really good black level performance, this might be the projector for you!
The projector’s six-segment RGBRGB color wheel combined with a built-in cinema filter can reproduce 100% Rec.709 color gamut and 95% DCI-P3. The HT5550 supports both HDR10 and HLG, using auto HDR tone mapping to maximize the projector’s brightness.
This BenQ is a top candidate for the best bang for the bucks in terms of picture quality. You can find great color elsewhere, but not combined with impressive black level performance.
The HT5550 is geared toward serious movie enthusiasts who care about picture quality enough to optimize their rooms for the best picture. The HT5550, like all BenQ CinePrime projectors, works best in rooms with little or no ambient light. The unit’s cinema filter expands the color gamut at the expense of some brightness, but the HT5550 can project some colors that other projectors in its price point simply cannot.
The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB offers capabilities rivaling many much higher-priced competitors. And, they offer dramatically more capabilities than any 4K capable projectors currently listing less than $3,000.
Great in a dedicated home theater, and it works well in media rooms, living rooms, dens, and family rooms (thanks to 2600 max lumens) as long as you have some reasonable lighting control. With its expansive and capable feature set, few projectors anywhere near the price can take on this Epson feature for feature.
We reviewed this projector in May of 2019 and were impressed by its high performance at an affordable price point. The HC5050UB had good color reproduction “right out of the box”. The black levels were better than most competitive home theater projectors.
The HC5050UB supports HDR (high dynamic range) both the HDR10 standard for 4K UHD Blu-ray discs and streaming as well as HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) which is optimized for live broadcast.
When it comes to placement flexibility, you will be hard-pressed to find any projector offering more vertical and horizontal lens shift even at twice the price.
These Epson projectors are great examples of getting the biggest bang for your buck. Razor-sharp 4K content, stunning P3 color, HDR reproduction, and an extensive feature set, truly sets the 5050UB apart from the competition. For a list price of $2999, owners will get to enjoy some excellent picture quality, with best in class black levels for great handling of really dark scenes.
With proprietary dedicated processors for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – the result is incredible brightness, color accuracy, and image detail – faithfully displaying all your favorite content from the classics to the latest blockbusters.
The JVC LX-NZ3 is an HDR-compatible DLP home theater projector that can deliver true 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160). With a retail price of $3,699, its 4K resolution combined with its laser light engine results in a great amount of performance at a reasonable price.
JVC claims it has 3,000 lumens, which is quite respectable. The laser engine is rated for 20,000 hours in HIGH POWER Mode, allowing for several hours a day, every day for a decade.
While all JVC NX Series projectors utilize JVC’s new 3rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices, the NZ3 is a DLP based projector. By utilizing a DLP chip, JVC can deliver 4K resolution with a laser light engine’s low maintenance at a price point below their NX Series models. While NX Series projectors offer deeper blacks and higher contrast, the LX-NZ3 is noticeable brighter, which probably makes it a better solution for a room with higher ambient light. We reviewed the JVC LX-NZ3W, which is the white model. However, there is an identical black unit available called the JVC LX-NZ3B.
JVC has also added a couple of 4K DLP-based projectors to their lineup, starting with the LX-UH1 and now the new LX-NZ3. Now, JVC offers two different 4K projection options that fit different price points and the needs of a wider variety of consumers. Except for the DLA-RS4500K, which retails for $29,999, the LX-NZ3 is the only laser projector in JVC’s current lineup.
Another notable thing about the LX-NZ3 is its HDR performance. On a lot of projectors, HDR video can appear dull due to a lack of brightness. The LX-NZ3’s AUTO TONE MAPPING feature tries to eliminate this problem by automatically adjusting the LX-NZ3’s settings to deliver the best HDR picture possible.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB is one of the most versatile and capable projectors around. Excellent color – best in class (by far) black levels, great placement flexibility is why the Pro Cinema 6050UB, or the less expensive HC5050UB will remain our top recommendations in this price range.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB is Epson’s flagship home theater projector. Black levels are excellent for the price. Of lower-cost projectors, nothing but the 5050UB comes close to the 6050UB’s black levels. The great blacks truly enhance those really dark scenes and separate “serious” projectors from merely “home entertainment.”
Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB includes a spare lamp, a ceiling mount, a cable cover, and a loner 3-year replacement warranty are not included with the HC5050UB.
Epson’s UB series (Ultra Black) projectors use special high contrast 3LCD panels that aren’t used in any of Epson’s other home or commercial projectors, except the near-identical Home Cinema 5050UB. Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB includes a spare lamp, a ceiling mount, and a cable cover, and those goodies are not included with the HC5050UB. The Pro Cinema 6050UB also gets an upgraded warranty – three years parts and labor with a rapid replacement program.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB had good color reproduction “right out of the box.” The black levels were better than most competitive home theater projectors. The PC6050UB supports HDR (high dynamic range), both the HDR10 standard for 4K UHD Blu-ray discs and streaming, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), which is optimized for live broadcast.
When it comes to placement flexibility, you will be hard-pressed to find any projector offering more vertical and horizontal lens shift even at twice the price.
These Epson projectors are great examples of getting the biggest bang for your buck. Razor-sharp 4K content, stunning P3 color, HDR reproduction, and an extensive feature set truly sets the 6050UB apart from the competition. For a list price of $3999, owners will get to enjoy some excellent picture quality, with best in class black levels for great handling of really dark scenes.
With proprietary dedicated processors for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – the result is incredible brightness, color accuracy, and image detail – faithfully displaying all your favorite content from the classics to the latest blockbusters.
Due to its performance and feature set, the Pro Cinema 6050UB or the less expensive HC5050UB will remain our top recommendations in this price range.
The LG GRU510N is an HDR-compatible DLP home theater laser projector that retails for $3999. It utilizes a single DLP (0.47” DMD) chip to reproduce 4K UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160). The unit’s laser phosphor light engine can deliver 5,000 ANSI lumens of light output and has a rated life of 20,000 hours in Standard (high power) mode.
The GRU510N is part of LG’s ProBeam series of projectors, which were initially developed for professional applications. The GRU510N is nearly identical to the LG BU50NST business projector we reviewed earlier this year. The only difference between the two units is the model number, and the BU50NST has a longer 3-year warranty.
The LG GRU510N is a 5000-lumen UHD (3840 x 2160) DLP projector with laser-phosphor illumination rated to deliver 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation with no lamp replacements. It offered accurate out-of-the-box color reproduction, and it is one of a few projectors with Dynamic HDR Tonemapping.
The combination of high output, high resolution, and smart wireless capabilities present a great value along with a very pleasing and flexible image. Compact size, HDBaseT, horizontal and vertical lens shift backed up by 12-point geometry correction combine to provide exceptional installation flexibility in this projector class.
