Epson Announces The Pro Cinema LS9000
Epson announces the Pro Cinema LS9000 projector, and it’s stepping into the shoes of their beloved 6050UB. It borrows the sleek black chassis from the LS12000 and swaps out the old-school lamp for a modern laser light engine. The best part? MSRP stays put at $4,000. Let’s discuss!
What You Lose (Slightly)
The first thing we see is that the light output drops to 2,200 lumens (white and color), down from the 6050UB’s 2,600 lumens. But that older number required High lamp mode and came with color accuracy compromises. In real-world calibrated use, the LS9000 isn’t noticeably dimmer.
Secondly, horizontal lens shift is trimmed to 24% (from 47% on the 6050UB and LS12000). Vertical shift remains generous at 96%. That does limit flexibility in adjustment, but most projectors are set and forget.
Lastly, there is no ceiling mount or cable cover in the box. And no spare lamp—because, well, lasers. Expect ~20,000 hours to half brightness, regardless of mode. Let’s put that in perspective. If you ran your projector eight hours a day, it would take you 2500 days, or close to seven years to hit 1/2 brightness. Not bad at all!
How It Stacks Up
Here’s how Epson’s Pro Cinema lineup compares:
| Model | Lumens | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS9000 | 2,200 | $4,000 | New kid on the block |
| LS12000 | 2,700 | $6,000 | More brightness, same features |
| QB1000 | 3,300 | $8,000 | Adds dynamic tone mapping |
All three use Epson’s triple-LCD laser system: blue laser + yellow phosphor → RGB light → three 1080p panels.
What You Gain
- 480 Hz panel refresh with pixel shifting = full 4K/120 support
- Same 2.5M:1 contrast ratio as the LS12000
- Sub-20 ms gaming response (that’s fast for a projector!)
- Dual HDMI 2.1 ports, one with eARC (Dolby Atmos & DTS:X passthrough)
- HDR10+ support (but no Dolby Vision) (can’t win ’em all!)
- Manual HDR slider (16 steps), just like the 6050UB and LS12000. Want dynamic tone mapping? You’ll need the QB1000 or higher
Our Take
For $4,000, the LS9000 delivers 4K/120, laser light, and motorized lens controls—a combo that’s basically nonexistent at this price point. Sure, it skimps on a few niceties like a ceiling mount and dynamic tone mapping, but you’re still getting flagship-level performance without needing to smash the piggy bank.
Still clinging to lamps? The 5050UB is waving at you from yesteryear. No white Home Cinema equivalent yet, but maybe Epson’s saving that reveal for when disco makes a comeback.
Thanks to Rob H. of the AV Rant Podcast for his help with this article
So is Andrew going to be installing a new projection system in his theater?
No – but…Andrew is saving up for an 83″ LG OLED!
I sit 6′ away from my screen, so I will never need anything that big!
Nice, Man. I tried to move the couch closer to our 77″ screen, but the ‘Committee of No’ shot that one down.
I’d love to try out an LG model, but we get NEXTGEN TV signals by me, and LG doesn’t have the ATSC 3.0 tuner in them while my Sony OLED does…but…the 83″ G3 does, and I last saw it for under $3K (USD) on Amazon a few days ago.
Do you get NEXTGEN signals out by you?
I’d love to say I would go for it, but we just bought a bunch of kitchen appliances, and that wiped out our fun purchase money.
I am lucky. My basement is mine to do with as I please. So I will be sitting 6’ from a 83” OLED!
I’ve never tried my tuner, I just use the free apps from my local providers to get TV.