Epson releases new brighter Home Cinema 980 projector

Epson has launched the Home Cinema 980 3LCD 1080p Projector in the US. This new model arrives alongside the Home Cinema 1100, with the two devices sharing many features.

The Home Cinema 980 has a native 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 px) resolution. It uses 3LCD technology, with the light source said to deliver up to 4,000 lumens brightness (color brightness IDMS rated and white brightness ISO rated). It is worth noting that the 230W UHE lamp module has a shorter typical life expectancy of 6,000 hours, or 12,000 hours in Eco mode. While the native aspect ratio is 16:9, this can be adjusted to 16:10 or 4:3, and the dynamic contrast ratio is listed as 16,000:1.

According to Epson, the maximum projected image size is 337 inches, and the projector’s throw ratio range is 1.21 to 1.45. Image-perfecting tools include automatic vertical and manual horizontal keystone correction. Plus, there is a built-in 2W speaker and ports like HDMI, USB-A and a 3.5mm audio jack. While this model is almost 20% brighter than the Home Cinema 1100, it lacks support for wireless screensharing via Miracast and Apple AirPlay.

You can now buy the Epson Home Cinema 980 3LCD 1080p Projector in the US at retailers like Amazon for $799. Whether or when it could be released in other regions like Europe is unclear.