Epson's LS100 ultra-short-throw laser projector competes against truly gigantic TVs.
In the 15-odd years I've been reviewing TVs, one thing has remained the same: Bigger is always better. And TVs have grown in size and shrunk in price over the years, but maybe they can always get bigger, and more affordable, right?
OK, technically the LS100 is a projector, because Epson doesn't make TVs (anymore). And it still needs a screen, sold separately, or at least a big swath of blank wall. But it's a special kind of projector called ultra-short-throw, meaning it's designed to sit right below that screen or wall, not halfway across the room like a typical projector -- so you can walk around without casting shadows on the screen. It's also really bright, so you don't need a dark room to get a watchable picture.
With a price of $3,000 the LS100 is a lot more expensive than a typical TV, and that's before you buy a screen. It's not aimed at people who want a typical TV, or even those seeking a high-end, high-performance set like a 65-inch LG OLED (also $3,000). The LS100 target audience is people who prioritize sheer size above all else, to the extent than a perfectly good 80-inch LCD TV like the Vizio E80-E3 ($2,800) still isn't big enough.
How big is big enough? Let's ask Rodrigo Catalan, senior product manager for projectors at Epson America. "The Home Cinema LS100 Digital Laser Display is designed to allow people to enjoy life-size images in Full HD up to 10 feet diagonal with the lights on and the shades open – all at a fraction of the cost of a 120-inch traditional flat panel display."