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Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 Review

Ryan Hansen Avatar
Updated Jan 22, 2024 11:05 AM

True Score

90
92
4

Experts

92
87

Consumers

Product Awards

Top 10

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

Exceptional image quality with 2,500,000:1 contrast and relatively low 16.9 ms input lag makes the LS12000 a great choice for cinephiles and gamers, though brightness isn’t great and color gamut is just average.

$3,959.98

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the brand’s premium laser 3LCD home cinema projector, released in 2022. Its high bandwidth capability allows 4K content at 120Hz using pixel shift upscaling, making it one of the best projectors for cinephiles and sports fans. It uses a laser light source rated for 20,000 hours.

The LS12000 employs a 3LCD system with Epson’s 4-phase, dual-axis pixel shift technology, enabling 4K content. Connectivity options include Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 ports, USB ports, analog audio, and digital optical audio. HDMI eARC enables surround sound setup, but it lacks built-in speakers. The throw ratio is 1.18 to 2.48:1 with a 2x optical zoom, giving a 50-300 inch image size and a throw distance of 10.3 to 29.5 feet. The lens shift range is ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Epson LS12000 has great image quality, with 2700-lumen brightness and 2,500,000:1 contrast, enabling immersive gaming and cinema. Its 3LCD-based pixel shift technology displays 4K content with excellent sharpness and no noticeable rainbow artifacts. 48-Gbps HDMI bandwidth allows 4K resolution at 120Hz and supports HDR10+ and HLG formats, with 10-bit color processing. It covers 93% of the DCI-P3 color space, slightly more than most tested projectors.

The 16.9-ms input lag is better than average but not outstanding. The LS12000B lacks built-in speakers and a streaming OS. It supports Dolby Atmos via HDMI eARC. Digital keystone adjustment and a 2.1x optical zoom make setup easier. The 1.18-2.48:1 throw ratio range works well for home theater use. At 22dB, the LS12000 is quieter than most projectors.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Great image quality
    • 2,500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio is among the top 25% of tested projectors, meaning dark blacks and a cinematic home theater experience for watching movies and immersive gaming.

    • Good HDR performance, with accurate colors and no color fringing or rainbow artifacts as on cheaper DLP units

  • Low input lag and fast responses
    • 4K 120Hz capability (Using pixel shift technology) puts it ahead of most home theater projectors

    • Its 16.9 ms input lag is better than ⅔ of certified, tested projectors

Reason to Avoid

  • Brightness not outstanding
    • 2700-lumen lamp output ranks around average for all tested projectors but trails premium-priced models the LS12000 competes with.

  • Average color gamut
    • 87% DCI-P3 coverage ranks average among our certified, tested projectors.

  • No built-in smart TV OS
    • Not the most convenient TV replacement projector

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 Specs

3D Ready3D ReadyNo
Aspect RatioAspect Ratio16:9
BrightnessBrightness2700 Lumens
Contrast RatioContrast Ratio2,500,000:1.
DepthDepth17.60"
Digital KeystoneDigital KeystoneYes
Display TechnologyDisplay Technology3LCD
HDRHDRHDR10, HDR10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)
HeightHeight7.7"
Integrated SpeakersIntegrated SpeakersNo
Light SourceLight SourceLaser
Light Source LifeLight Source Life20000 hrs
Max DistanceMax Distance747.6"
Max Screen SizeMax Screen Size300"
Min DistanceMin Distance58.8"
Min Screen SizeMin Screen Size50"
Noise LevelNoise Level30 dB
PortablePortableNo
Refresh Rate120 Hz
ResolutionResolution3840 x 2160 (4k)
Smart FunctionalitySmart FunctionalityNo
Sync TechnologySync Technology
TV TunerTV TunerNo
ThrowTypeThrowTypeStandard Throw
VRRVRRn/a
Video InputsVideo InputsHDMI 2.0, RS232, USB
WeightWeight28 lbs
WidthWidth20"
Yes

All Specs

Test Results

SDR Brightness (nits)1,415
HDR Brightness (nits)0
SDR Brightness (Lumens)0
HDR Brightness (Lumens)0
SDR Color Temperature (K)0
HDR Color Temperature (K)0
Contrast Ratio (x:y)0
Color Gamut % (DCI P3 uv)93.1
Color Gamut % (Rec. 709)0
Color Gamut % (Rec. 2020)0
Color Gamut % (BT.2020)63
Color Gamut % (BT. 709)138.9
Input Lag (ms)28.9

All Tests

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Product Comparison

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 Review

True Score

90
75
84
NR

Ranking

#

6

/

28

#

22

/

28

#

10

/

28

#

/

Market Context

The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the brand’s premium laser 3LCD home cinema projector, released in 2022. Its high bandwidth capability allows 4K content at…

The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the brand’s premium laser 3LCD home cinema projector, released in 2022. Its high bandwidth capability allows 4K content at 120Hz using pixel shift upscaling, making it one of the best projectors for cinephiles and sports fans. It uses a laser light source rated for 20,000 hours.

The LS12000 employs a 3LCD system with Epson’s 4-phase, dual-axis pixel shift technology, enabling 4K content. Connectivity options include Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 ports, USB ports, analog audio, and digital optical audio. HDMI eARC enables surround sound setup, but it lacks built-in speakers. The throw ratio is 1.18 to 2.48:1 with a 2x optical zoom, giving a 50-300 inch image size and a throw distance of 10.3 to 29.5 feet. The lens shift range is ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal.

The Epson Home Cinema LS12000 has better sharpness and shadow detail than the Epson LS800B, as the LS12000 uses a more sophisticated pixel shift system….

The Epson Home Cinema LS12000 has better sharpness and shadow detail than the Epson LS800B, as the LS12000 uses a more sophisticated pixel shift system. The LS12000 can display 4K content at 120Hz, while the LS800B is limited to 4K at 60Hz or 1080p at 120Hz. However, the LS800B is more suited to bright rooms with its 4000-lumen lamp output, whereas the LS12000 puts out 2700 lumens. The LS800B also has a much shorter throw, .16:1, compared to a range of 1.18:1 to 2.28:1 for the LS12000. For a very different Epson option, see our Epson Powerlite 810E Review.

Compared to the Epson Home Cinema 3800 projector, the laser-based LS12000 has a much higher dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1 compared to 36655:1, so dark…

Compared to the Epson Home Cinema 3800 projector, the laser-based LS12000 has a much higher dynamic contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1 compared to 36655:1, so dark scenes will look darker, and bright areas will pop more. The 3800 does have a slightly higher nominal lamp output of 3000 ANSI lumens compared to the 2700, but the LS12000 produces a much higher-quality image, worthy of its substantial price premium.

The Epson LS12000 has much better overall image quality than the Foremovie Theater projector, with more accurate colors and an average dE of .84 compared…

The Epson LS12000 has much better overall image quality than the Foremovie Theater projector, with more accurate colors and an average dE of .84 compared to the Formovie’s 3.97. The LS12000 also has a higher refresh rate of 120Hz vs. 60Hz. However, the more budget-friendly Formovie gets slightly brighter with 2800 lumens compared to the LS12000’s 2700 lumens. See our Formovie Theater Projector review for more information. For another option, check out our Cinebeam HU715QW review.

3D Ready

No

No

No, Yes

Aspect Ratio

16:9

16:9

Brightness

2700 Lumens

4000 Lumens

3000 lumens

Contrast Ratio

2,500,000:1.

2,500,000:1.

100,000:1, 200,000:1

Depth

17.60"

13.4"

13"

Digital Keystone

Yes

No

± 30° (manual)

Display Technology

3LCD

3LCD

3LCD, LCD

HDR

HDR10, HDR10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)

Yes

No, Yes

Dig Deeper

Epson LS800B Review →

Epson Home Cinema 3800 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

92

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

92

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

90

Expert Scores

  • Projector Reviews
    73.55

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    Overall, the LS12000 provides a good balance of performance and value. It proves that a… Read More

    By:

    Phil Jones
  • PC Mag
    67.6

    Category Trust Rating

    100
    The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the company’s first home theater projector to put genuine… Read More

    By:

    M. David Stone
  • Projector Central
    61.35

    Category Trust Rating

    100
    The Pro Cinema LS12000 represents the next generation of home theater projectors from Epson. While… Read More

    By:

    John Higgins
  • Techradar
    39

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 shames most other projectors with the might of its imagery… Read More

    By:

    Mark Knapp

Customer Scores