Katarzyna Petru
Epson is expanding its Lifestudio projector line, introduced in September, by adding a significantly more powerful model EH-LS970. The manufacturer promises that the new design aims to "raise the bar for home, shared movie screenings," 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 portable option for home entertainment. Models such as Lifestudio Flex EF-71 and EF-72 and Lifestudio Pop EF-62B/N and EF-61W/G/R utilized RGB-LED 3LCD technology and Triple Engine, providing a bright, large image – even three times brighter than competing portable single-chip DLP projectors.
From mobility to a true home cinema
Just a few weeks after the launch of the entire line, Epson made a clear shift, presenting a significantly less mobile but definitely more powerful model, the Lifestudio Grand EH-LS670. It was an ultra-short throw projector capable of generating an image with a brightness of 3600 ISO lumens, designed for "a vivid, 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 brightness to 4000 lumens. The manufacturer also emphasizes the elimination of the so-called rainbow effect, or the annoying RGB flashes that can occur in some projectors.
True 4K and an even larger 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 at a resolution of 3840 x 2160. This means significantly better clarity 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, while the EH-LS670 was limited to 120 inches. The throw ratio is 0.16-0.4:1, and the dynamic contrast is claimed to be at a level of 5,000,000:1.
AI, Google TV and sound from Bose
Similar to the previous model, Epson heavily focuses on AI-based features. The manufacturer mentions "intelligent image optimization," which is supposed to automatically adjust the displayed image to lighting conditions. Although the details have not been disclosed, one can expect features like 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 along with other popular streaming services. Gamers will appreciate the dedicated auto low-latency mode with input lag of under 20 ms via HDMI. Sound is provided by a built-in audio system designed by Bose, which is intended to deliver a spatial, 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
At this moment, there is still no official product page, so the full specifications of the EH-LS970 remain unknown. However, it is known that the projector will go on sale in Europe in April, so just a few weeks away. It is very likely that the device will also appear in the USA – just like the EH-LS670. The price has not been revealed yet, but considering that the EH-LS670 currently costs around £1999, the new, brighter, and native 4K model will almost certainly be significantly more expensive.
