Katarzyna Petru
Epson is expanding its Lifestudio projector line, showcased in September, by adding a significantly more powerful model, the EH-LS970. The manufacturer announces that the new design aims to "raise the bar for home, shared cinema sessions," offering higher brightness and much better detail in 4K images.
The company, which has been the best-selling projector manufacturer in the world for over 25 years, initially positioned the Lifestudio series as a more affordable and mobile option for home entertainment. Models such as the Lifestudio Flex EF-71 and EF-72, as well as the Lifestudio Pop EF-62B/N and EF-61W/G/R, utilised RGB-LED 3LCD technology and Triple Engine, providing a bright, large image – even three times brighter than competing portable DLP projectors with a single chip.
From Mobility to a Genuine Home Cinema
Just a few weeks after the launch of the entire range, Epson made a clear shift by presenting a significantly less mobile but definitely more powerful model, the Lifestudio Grand EH-LS670. This was an ultra short throw projector capable of generating an image with a brightness of 3600 ISO lumens, designed for a “vibrant, realistic image both day and night.”
Now Epson is going even further. The new Lifestudio Grand EH-LS970 also uses a 3LCD laser light source but increases the brightness to 4000 lumens. The manufacturer also emphasises the elimination of the so-called rainbow effect, which refers to the annoying RGB flashes that can occur in some projectors.
True 4K and an even bigger image
The key difference compared to the EH-LS670 is the resolution. The older model used pixel shifting technology, while the EH-LS970 offers native 4K UHD – a full 8.3 million pixels in a resolution of 3840 x 2160. This means significantly better sharpness and more detail, especially on large diagonals.
And there will be no shortage of those. Epson's new projector can display an image with a diagonal of up to 150 inches, whereas the EH-LS670 topped out at 120 inches. The throw ratio is 0.16-0.4:1, and the dynamic contrast is declared at 5,000,000:1.
AI, Google TV and sound from Bose
Similar to the previous model, Epson places a strong emphasis on AI-based features. The manufacturer mentions "intelligent image optimisation," which is supposed to automatically adjust the displayed image to the lighting conditions. Although the details have not been disclosed, one can expect features such as autofocus, geometry correction, object avoidance, and automatic image fitting to the screen.
The EH-LS970 operates under Google TV and offers a pre-installed Netflix app as well as other popular streaming services. Gamers will appreciate the dedicated auto low-latency mode with input latency below 20 ms over HDMI. Sound is provided by a built-in audio system designed by Bose, which is intended to deliver immersive, room-filling sound. Dolby Audio is supported, and although Epson has not confirmed this directly, one can assume the presence of one of the HDR formats.
Premiere coming soon, price remains a mystery
Currently, there is no official product page, so the full specification of the EH-LS970 remains unknown. However, it is known that the projector will be available for sale in Europe in April, which is just a few weeks away. It is very likely that the device will also appear in the USA – similar to the EH-LS670. The price has not been disclosed yet, but considering the fact that the EH-LS670 currently costs around £1999, the new, brighter, and native 4K model will almost certainly be significantly more expensive.
