Epson PowerLite 99W WXGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Bright. Lightweight. Long lamp life. Excellent quality for data images. Better-than-typical video for a data projector.

Cons No 3D support. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite 99W WXGA 3LCD Projector is lightweight, and offers a bright image, excellent quality for data screens, and better video quality than most data projectors.

By M. David Stone

The Epson PowerLite 99W WXGA 3LCD Projector ($749) fits neatly in Epson's line above the Epson EX6220 WXGA 3LCD Projector and below the Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector, our Editors' Choice for lightweight WXGA (1,280-by-800) projectors for a small to midsize room. More importantly, like the Epson 955W, it offers high-quality images for data screens, along with better-than-typical video quality. Depending on your needs, it could easily be the projector you want.

As a step up from the Epson EX6220, the 99W delivers several extras, the most important of which being much better connectivity and audio. As a step down from the Epson 955W, however, it differs primarily in having a 1.2x, rather than 1.6x, zoom lens. If you don't need the additional zoom capability, it lets you get essentially the same projector as the Epson 955W without having to pay for an expensive lens you don't need.

Basics
The 99W is built around a three-chip WXGA LCD engine, a feature that it shares with both of the other Epson models, as well as the NEC NP-M311W.

The three-chip design gives all of these projectors the advantage over single-chip DLP projectors of not displaying rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, and blue). It also gives them the advantage of offering the same color brightness as white brightness. That means you don't have to worry about a difference between the two affecting brightness or color quality. (For more on color brightness, see Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.)

The key disadvantage for all of these models is that, unlike almost all recent DLP models, they don't support 3D. Fortunately, this won't be an issue for most applications, but if you want 3D, consider a DLP projector, like the BenQ MW523.

Setup and Brightness
The 99W weighs just 6 pounds and measures 3.5 by 11.6 by 9.7 inches (HWD), including its feet, making it small and light enough to carry with you. However, it's also suitable for permanent installation or for a cart, for room-to-room portability.

Setup is standard, with manual controls for focus and zoom. Connectors on the back panel include an HDMI port, a VGA port, and both S-video and composite video ports. In addition, there's a USB Type B port for direct USB display and for controlling the computer mouse from the projector's remote, a LAN port for sending images and audio, as well as for controlling the projector over a network, and a USB Type A port for reading files directly from a USB memory key or for connecting an optional ($99) Wi-Fi dongle.

Epson rates the projector at 3,000 lumens, which is in the typical range for projectors meant for small to midsize rooms. Assuming a 1.0-gain screen, that makes the 99W bright enough for roughly a 210- to 280-inch (diagonal) image in theater-dark lighting, according to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommendations. With moderate ambient light, it's bright enough for a 140-inch (diagonal) image. You can also lower the brightness for smaller screen sizes by switching to the projector's Eco mode, one of its lower-brightness preset modes, or both.

Image Quality, Lamp Life, and Audio
The 99W did an excellent job with data images in my tests, sailing through our standard suite of DisplayMate tests without any serious problems. Colors were suitably vibrant, eye-catching, and well-saturated in all modes. Even better, the projector did well with detail. White text on black was crisp and readable at sizes as small as 7.5 points, and black text on white was easily readable at 6.8 points.

See How We Test Projectors

As with any 1,280-by-800 projector, the video quality is limited by the native resolution to a maximum of 720p HD video without having to scale the image. In addition, the contrast was a little low, as is typical for data projectors. However, the video quality overall is basically at the low end of what you might expect from a home entertainment projector, or at least close to it, which makes the video much better than most data projectors can manage.

The 99W also earns some points for its audio system. The 16-watt mono speaker offers good sound quality and enough volume to fill a midsize room. You can also connect an external sound system to the audio output as an alternative. As a final plus, Epson claims a longer-than-typical lamp life for the projector, at 5,000 hours in Normal mode and 6,000 hours in Eco mode. The long life, combined with a low cost for the replacement lamp, at $99, translates to a promised low total cost of ownership.

If you need 3D, you'll want to look at a DLP projector like the BenQ MW523. And if you need the flexibility of a zoom lens with a greater range, you'll want to consider the Epson 955W or NEC NP-M311W. Alternatively, if you don't need all the connection choices the Epson PowerLite 99W WXGA 3LCD Projector offers, you can save some money by getting the Epson EX6220. But if the 99W's 1.2x zoom lens is sufficient for your needs, and you also need its connectivity, its balance of image quality, features, and price make it a highly attractive choice.

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Epson PowerLite 585W WXGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Ultra-short throw. Bright. WXGA (1,280-by-800) native resolution. Excellent quality for data images. Wall mount included.

Cons No 3D support. Harder than much of the competition to set up on a flat surface below the screen. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite 585W WXGA 3LCD Projector offers WXGA (1,280-by-800) native resolution and an ultra-short throw that delivers a big, bright, high-quality image from only inches away.

By M. David Stone

As a group, ultra-short-throw projectors like the Epson PowerLite 585W WXGA 3LCD Projector ($1,499) stand out by being able to project a big image from an impressively short distance, making it easy to avoid shadows even in tight spaces. With the 585W for example, I measured a 92-inch (diagonal) image at its native WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution with the projector 10 inches from the screen. Even better, the 585W offers a level of image quality that's equally impressive for data and better than typical for video. That's easily enough to make it our Editors' Choice for ultra-short-throw WXGA (1,280-by-800) projectors.

One of the advantages the 585W has over much of its competition is that, like the Hitachi CP-AX2503, our Editors' Choice for XGA (1,024-by-768) ultra-short-throw projectors, it's built around three LCD chips rather than a single DLP chip, like the Canon LV-8235 UST.

The three-chip design means that the 585W is guaranteed not to show the rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, and blue) that most DLP projectors show, particularly with video. And without rainbow artifacts, video tends to be much more watchable. The design also ensures that white brightness and color brightness are the same—which often isn't true for DLP projectors—so you don't have to worry about differences between the two affecting color quality. (For more on color brightness, see Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.)

The one disadvantage of the LCD-based design is that, like most LCD data projectors, the 585W doesn't support 3D at all. For most people, this won't be an issue. If you need 3D, however, you should be looking at DLP-based models like the Canon LV-8235 UST or the Ricoh PJ WX4130N, which is our Editors' Choice for lightweight ultra-short-throw projectors.

Basics, Setup, and Throw Distance
The 585W is small and light enough—at 6.1 by 14.4 by 14.8 inches (HWD) and 11 pounds 11 ounces—to keep on a cart or even carry by hand from room to room. However, it's meant primarily for mounting permanently just above the screen. Epson even includes a wall mount in the box, and doesn't sell the projector without one. That said, if you need to put the unit on a desk or table, with the image projecting up to the screen, you can. The only problem you'll run into is that the case isn't designed to stay level if you simply place it on a flat surface. If you want to use it that way,you'll have to prop it up with whatever you have handy.

Whether you use the wall mount or not, setup is otherwise standard fare for an ultra-short-throw projector, with a focus control and no optical zoom. For my tests, I used a 92-inch (diagonal) image at the projector's native 1,280-by-800 resolution. I measured the front of the projector at roughly 10 inches from the screen, and the window that serves as a lens near the back of the projector at 11 inches farther away. According to Epson, you can use the projector for image sizes from 60 to 100 inches, with the window at the back of the projector 13.7 to 23.5 inches from the screen.

Choices for image input on the side panel include two HDMI ports, composite video and S-video ports, and two VGA ports for a computer or component video, one of which can also serve as a monitor-out port. There's also a USB Type A connector for a document camera or for reading files directly from a USB memory key, a USB Type B port for direct USB display complete with audio and for giving mouse commands from the projector's remote, and a LAN port for sending images and audio, as well as controlling the projector, over a network.

Finally, you can get an optional Wi-Fi dongle ($99), which will let you connect to a network by Wi-Fi to send images and audio to the projector. You can also connect directly to the projector from iOS and Android devices to send images only.

Brightness, Image Quality, and Audio
Epson rates the 585W at 3,300 lumens. According to recommendations from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and assuming a 1.0 gain screen, that makes the projector bright enough for roughly a 220- to 295-inch (diagonal) image size in theater-dark lighting. For moderate ambient light, it's bright enough for a roughly 145-inch image. For smaller screen sizes you can switch to Eco mode, one of the lower brightness preset modes, or both.

See How We Test Projectors

Image quality is a strong point, particularly for data images. The 585W sailed through our standard set of DisplayMate tests without any serious problems. Color balance was good, with suitably neutral grays at all levels from black to white in all but the brightest preset mode, and colors were well-saturated, vibrant, and eye-catching in all modes. The projector also held detail well, with white text on black crisp and readable at 9 points, and black text on white easily readable at 7.5 points.

Video quality was better than many data projectors can manage. Colors were a little oversaturated using some preset modes and washed out in others, but still within an acceptable range, as long as you're not too much of a perfectionist. The image is no match for what you'd see with a typical home-theater projector, but it's at least watchable for long sessions.

The audio system also counts as a plus, with the 16-watt mono speaker offering good sound quality along with enough volume to fill a midsize to large room. You can also plug an external system into the stereo audio output

If you need a WXGA ultra-short-throw projector that you can carry around easily, you should be looking at the Editors' Choice Ricoh PJ WX4130N. Similarly, if you need 3D, you'll want to focus on a DLP-based projector like the Ricoh model or the Canon LV-8235 UST. For the more common need of a projector for permanent installation and for 2D only, however, the Epson PowerLite 585W WXGA 3LCD Projector's combination of brightness, high-quality data images, and watchable video makes it the model to beat, and our Editors' Choice for a WXGA ultra-short-throw projector.

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Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Bright. Native WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution. Excellent quality for data images. Far-better-than-typical video for a data projector.

Cons No 3D support. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector delivers high-quality data images and far-better-than-typical video quality for a data projector.

By M. David Stone

The Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector ($899) offers the same WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution and the same 3,000-lumen brightness rating as the Epson EX6220 WXGA 3LCD Projector that I recently reviewed. Just like its less-expensive cousin, it delivers excellent quality for data images and better-than-typical video for a data projector. The biggest difference is that it substitutes a 1.6x zoom lens for a 1.2x zoom, which justifies the higher price, and helps make the 955W our Editors' Choice for WXGA projectors for a small to midsize room.

The 1.6x zoom makes the 955W a head-to-head competitor with the Editors' Choice NEC NP-M311W. The NEC projector offers the same resolution as both Epson models and essentially the same brightness, but outdoes the 955W's zoom slightly, with its 1.7x, rather than 1.6x, zoom. That gives you even more flexibility in how far you can put the projector from the screen for a given size image. Overall, the two are so closely matched that although the 955W delivers enough to make it Editors' Choice for the category, it shares that distinction with the NEC projector rather than replaces it.

Basics
Like both the NEC NP-M311W and the Epson EX6220, the 955W is built around a 3-chip WXGA LCD engine. That gives all three the advantage over single-chip DLP projectors of being guaranteed to be free of rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, and blue). Another advantage LCD projectors offer over most DLP projectors is that they offer the same color brightness as white brightness, so you don't have to worry about a difference between the two affecting image brightness or color quality. (For more on color brightness, see Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.)

The disadvantage that comes with the LCD engine is the lack of 3D support, a feature that almost all recent DLP projectors offer, including, for example, the BenQ MW523, which can show 3D content with video devices like Blu-ray players. This will obviously be an issue if you want 3D, but irrelevant otherwise.

Setup and Brightness
Weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, the 955W is light enough to carry if you need to. However, projectors in this weight class are more likely to wind up permanently installed or on a cart.

Setup is standard, with manual controls for focus and zoom. The back panel offers all the most common choices for image inputs, including an HDMI port, a VGA port , and a composite video port. There's also an S-video port, a USB Type B port for direct USB display and for controlling the computer mouse from the projector's remote, a LAN port for sending images and audio as well as for controlling the projector over a network, and a USB Type A port for reading files directly from a USB memory key or for connecting an optional ($99) Wi-Fi dongle.

The 3,000-lumen rating is typical for projectors meant for small to midsize rooms. Using the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommendations, and assuming a 1.0-gain screen, 3,000 lumens is suitable for roughly a 210- to 280-inch (diagonal) image in theater-dark lighting. Even with moderate ambient light, it's bright enough for a 140-inch (diagonal) image. If you need a smaller image, you can lower the brightness by switching to the projector's Eco mode, one of its lower-brightness preset modes, or both.

Image Quality, Lamp Life, and Audio
Image quality is excellent for data images and better than typical for video. The only issues I turned up in our standard suite of DisplayMate tests are so minor that they're hardly worth mentioning. Red, for example, was a touch on the orange side in some preset modes, but colors in general were eye-catching, vibrant, and well saturated in all modes. Very much on the plus side, the 955W did a good job holding detail. With text, for example, white text on black was crisp and highly readable at sizes as small as 7.5 points, and black text on white was highly readable even at 6 points.

Video quality is necessarily limited by the native 1,280-by-800 resolution, which translates to a maximum of 720p HD video without having to scale the image. Despite any issues related to resolution, however, the quality is far better than typical for a data projector and easily watchable for long sessions.

As with the Epson EX6220, the 955W promises a low running cost, with a longer than usual lamp life—at 5,000 hours in Normal mode or 6,000 hours in Eco mode—combined with the fact that the replacement lamp costs just $99. As a final plus, the 16-watt speaker offers suitable sound quality and enough volume to fill a midsize room. If you need still better quality, stereo, or more volume, you can connect an external sound system to the audio output.

Unless you need 3D, the Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector should be on your short list for a WXGA projector, along with the NEC NP-M311W. It delivers essentially the same level of brightness and image quality as the NEC model, better audio, nearly the same zoom level, and a lamp life that's somewhat longer in Normal mode, but shorter in Eco mode. Neither is clearly better than the other in any important way, to the point where you could almost flip a coin to choose between them. Heads or tails, you'll wind up with an excellent projector, and an Editors' Choice.

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Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Bright. Native WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution. Excellent quality for data images. Far-better-than-typical video for a data projector.

Cons No 3D support. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector delivers high-quality data images and far-better-than-typical video quality for a data projector.

By M. David Stone

The Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector ($899) offers the same WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution and the same 3,000-lumen brightness rating as the Epson EX6220 WXGA 3LCD Projector that I recently reviewed. Just like its less-expensive cousin, it delivers excellent quality for data images and better-than-typical video for a data projector. The biggest difference is that it substitutes a 1.6x zoom lens for a 1.2x zoom, which justifies the higher price, and helps make the 955W our Editors' Choice for WXGA projectors for a small to midsize room.

The 1.6x zoom makes the 955W a head-to-head competitor with the Editors' Choice NEC NP-M311W. The NEC projector offers the same resolution as both Epson models and essentially the same brightness, but outdoes the 955W's zoom slightly, with its 1.7x, rather than 1.6x, zoom. That gives you even more flexibility in how far you can put the projector from the screen for a given size image. Overall, the two are so closely matched that although the 955W delivers enough to make it Editors' Choice for the category, it shares that distinction with the NEC projector rather than replaces it.

Basics
Like both the NEC NP-M311W and the Epson EX6220, the 955W is built around a 3-chip WXGA LCD engine. That gives all three the advantage over single-chip DLP projectors of being guaranteed to be free of rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, and blue). Another advantage LCD projectors offer over most DLP projectors is that they offer the same color brightness as white brightness, so you don't have to worry about a difference between the two affecting image brightness or color quality. (For more on color brightness, see Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.)

The disadvantage that comes with the LCD engine is the lack of 3D support, a feature that almost all recent DLP projectors offer, including, for example, the BenQ MW523, which can show 3D content with video devices like Blu-ray players. This will obviously be an issue if you want 3D, but irrelevant otherwise.

Setup and Brightness
Weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, the 955W is light enough to carry if you need to. However, projectors in this weight class are more likely to wind up permanently installed or on a cart.

Setup is standard, with manual controls for focus and zoom. The back panel offers all the most common choices for image inputs, including an HDMI port, a VGA port , and a composite video port. There's also an S-video port, a USB Type B port for direct USB display and for controlling the computer mouse from the projector's remote, a LAN port for sending images and audio as well as for controlling the projector over a network, and a USB Type A port for reading files directly from a USB memory key or for connecting an optional ($99) Wi-Fi dongle.

The 3,000-lumen rating is typical for projectors meant for small to midsize rooms. Using the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommendations, and assuming a 1.0-gain screen, 3,000 lumens is suitable for roughly a 210- to 280-inch (diagonal) image in theater-dark lighting. Even with moderate ambient light, it's bright enough for a 140-inch (diagonal) image. If you need a smaller image, you can lower the brightness by switching to the projector's Eco mode, one of its lower-brightness preset modes, or both.

Image Quality, Lamp Life, and Audio
Image quality is excellent for data images and better than typical for video. The only issues I turned up in our standard suite of DisplayMate tests are so minor that they're hardly worth mentioning. Red, for example, was a touch on the orange side in some preset modes, but colors in general were eye-catching, vibrant, and well saturated in all modes. Very much on the plus side, the 955W did a good job holding detail. With text, for example, white text on black was crisp and highly readable at sizes as small as 7.5 points, and black text on white was highly readable even at 6 points.

Video quality is necessarily limited by the native 1,280-by-800 resolution, which translates to a maximum of 720p HD video without having to scale the image. Despite any issues related to resolution, however, the quality is far better than typical for a data projector and easily watchable for long sessions.

As with the Epson EX6220, the 955W promises a low running cost, with a longer than usual lamp life—at 5,000 hours in Normal mode or 6,000 hours in Eco mode—combined with the fact that the replacement lamp costs just $99. As a final plus, the 16-watt speaker offers suitable sound quality and enough volume to fill a midsize room. If you need still better quality, stereo, or more volume, you can connect an external sound system to the audio output.

Unless you need 3D, the Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector should be on your short list for a WXGA projector, along with the NEC NP-M311W. It delivers essentially the same level of brightness and image quality as the NEC model, better audio, nearly the same zoom level, and a lamp life that's somewhat longer in Normal mode, but shorter in Eco mode. Neither is clearly better than the other in any important way, to the point where you could almost flip a coin to choose between them. Heads or tails, you'll wind up with an excellent projector, and an Editors' Choice.

View the original article here

Epson PowerLite 965 XGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Bright. Native XGA (1,024-by-768) resolution. Excellent quality for data images. Better video quality than most XGA projectors.

Cons No 3D support. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite 965 XGA 3LCD Projector delivers a bright image, high quality for data images, and better video than most XGA data projectors can manage.

By M. David Stone

Almost identical to the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 955W WXGA 3LCD Projector, but with XGA (1,024-by-768) rather than WXGA (1,280-by-800) resolution, the Epson PowerLite 965 XGA 3LCD Projector ($899) offers the same size, weight, and conveniences—from its selection of connectors to its 1.6x zoom lens to the 16-watt speaker in its audio system. More importantly, the Epson 965 delivers similarly high-quality data images and video. The combination makes it an easy pick for Editors' Choice as an XGA data projector for a mid-size room.

Compared with the Epson PowerLite 1835 XGA 3LCD Projector that it replaces as Editors' Choice for this category, the 965 offers a lighter weight and better audio quality. It shares the same 3,500-lumen brightness rating, and, like the Epson 1835, it's built around a three-chip LCD engine. That gives it two advantages over DLP projectors and one disadvantage.

On the plus side, it's guaranteed to be free of the rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, and blue) that are always a potential problem for DLP models. It's also guaranteed to offer the same color brightness as white brightness, so you don't have to worry about differences between the two affecting color quality or the brightness of color images. (For a discussion of color brightness, see "Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.")

Like most LCD data projectors, however, the 965 doesn't offer 3D support, which is standard on today's DLP models, like the BenQ MX600. If you don't need 3D, however, that won't be an issue.

Setup, Connections, and Brightness
Setting up the 965 is standard fare, with manual controls for focus and the 1.6x zoom. The back panel offers all the choices for image input that you're likely to need, including an HDMI port, a VGA port, and a composite video port. There's also an S-video port, a USB Type B port for direct USB display and for controlling the computer mouse from the projector's remote, a LAN port, and a USB Type A port for reading files directly from a USB memory key or for connecting an optional ($99) Wi-Fi dongle.

For my tests, I used a 78-inch-wide (98-inch-diagonal) image, which was easily bright enough to stand up to the ambient light in a typical conference room or classroom. As a point of reference, using recommendations developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), 3,500 lumens is bright enough with a 1.0 gain screen for roughly a 220- to 295-inch (diagonal) image in theater-dark lighting. With moderate ambient light, the suitable size drops to about 145 inches. For smaller screen sizes, you can lower the projector's brightness by using Eco mode, one of the lower-brightness preset modes, or both.

Data and Video Image Quality
The 965 garnered an excellent score for quality for data images, with no noteworthy problems in our standard suite of DisplayMate tests. Colors were well saturated and suitably vibrant in all modes, and color balance was excellent, with suitably neutral shades of gray at all levels from black to white in most preset modes. More important for data images is that the 965 handled detail well. With text, for example, white text on black was highly readable at sizes as small as 9 points, and black text on white was highly readable even at 6.8 points.

Video quality is watchable for long sessions. The quality is limited by the projector's native XGA resolution, but compared with other XGA projectors, the 965 offers better video than most.

The audio system counts as another plus, with the 16-watt speaker delivering good sound quality and enough volume to easily fill a mid-size room. For stereo, higher volume, or better quality, you can connect an external sound system to the audio output. Epson rates the 965's lamp at a longer than usual 5,000 hours in Normal mode and 6,000 hours in Eco mode. The long life, combined with a low replacement cost for the lamp ($99), should translate to a low running cost as well.

If you need an XGA-resolution model with 3D capabilities, you'll need to bypass the 965 and consider a DLP projector like the BenQ MX600. However, if, like most data-projector users, you don't need 3D, the Epson PowerLite 965 XGA 3LCD Projector should be high on your short list. The combination of brightness, excellent quality for data images, and above-par video quality is enough to make it a strong contender. Niceties like the 1.6x zoom, the better-than-typical audio, and the long lamp life, make it even more attractive, and an easy pick for our Editors' Choice as an XGA projector for a mid-size room.

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Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Wide range of connection choices. Good text quality. Strong audio.

Cons Lacks carrying case. No 3D capabilities. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD offers a nice mix of connectivity, features, and image quality in a low-price classroom projector.

By Tony Hoffman

The Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector ($449) is a capable low-price data projector geared primarily to classroom use. As the lower-resolution cousin to the Epson PowerLite W17 WXGA 3LCD Projector, it offers similar features and performance for less money.

A little below the norm for today's data projectors, the X17 is rated at 2,700 lumens (for both white light and colored light brightness). Its light source is based on the 3LCD technology developed by Epson. The projector provides XGA (1,024-by-768 pixel) native resolution, at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

White and gray with rounded corners, the projector is reasonably portable at 3.5 by 11.6 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and 5.8 pounds. It lacks a soft carrying case, though one is available as a $30 option. The projector has a manual focus and 1.2x zoom ring. Behind the lens, you'll also find a slider for horizontal-image correction, which allows you to get a straight image despite off-center positioning of the projector.

You get a good selection of ports for a low-priced projector: two VGA ports (which double as component video ports) for connecting to computers; a monitor-out port; audio-in and audio-out ports; an HDMI port; an S-video port; three RCA jacks for composite video/audio; a USB Type B port for USB plug-and-play, which provides easy connectivity with Windows and Mac computers; and a USB Type A port. The latter lets you connect a USB thumb drive. It also fits either of Epson's two wireless adapters ($99 each): the Wireless LAN Module, which lets you connect via Wi-Fi, and project from a mobile device when Epson's iProjection app is installed; and the Quick Wireless Connection USB Key, which lets you make a direct ad-hoc wireless connection with a PC.

Data-Image Testing
From a distance of about 6 feet away, the projector was able to fill our test screen with an image measuring about 56 inches (diagonal). The image was bright enough to stand up to ambient light, and should be fine for small to midsize classrooms or conference rooms.

In data-image testing using the DisplayMate suite, the X17's image quality proved good, thanks largely to its text quality. Black text on white was reasonably sharp down to the smallest size (6.8 points), while white text on black was fuzzy but readable at the smallest size. Colors looked bright and well saturated; I did notice, in most color modes, some greenish tinting in white or gray backgrounds. Still, image quality should be fine for typical classroom or business presentations.

Video and Audio
The X17's video is suitable for showing shorter clips as part of a presentation. As an LCD projector, it is free of the potential for the rainbow artifacts that affect many DLP-based projectors. Posterization—the tendency for abrupt rather than gradual changes in color or shading—was evident in some of my test scenes. Colors, though bright and punchy, seemed off in some places, mostly with too much red.

Audio from the 5-watt speaker is strong, if a bit crackly at the highest volumes. It should easily fill a smaller room.

Conclusion
The X17 offers the same features as the Epson W17, but with lower resolution and marginally lower brightness. If the higher WXGA resolution isn't important, you can get what's otherwise essentially the same projector for less money. The X17 is similar to the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 93+, but its image quality for both data and video fall short. The 93+ has been discontinued by Epson, but is still available through various etailers.

As is the case with most LCD projectors, the X17 and the Epson 93+ lack 3D capability. If you need 3D support, a good alternative is the BenQ MX522, a budget XGA projector with excellent data-image quality that lets you connect to a Blu-ray player or other data source to show 3D content.

In the end, the Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector offers a good mix of connectivity, features, and image quality. It's a capable choice that should easily fit into most schools' budgets.

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Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector

Pros Wide range of connection choices. Good text quality. Strong audio.

Cons Lacks carrying case. No 3D capabilities. Bottom Line The Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD offers a nice mix of connectivity, features, and image quality in a low-price classroom projector.

By Tony Hoffman

The Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector ($449) is a capable low-price data projector geared primarily to classroom use. As the lower-resolution cousin to the Epson PowerLite W17 WXGA 3LCD Projector, it offers similar features and performance for less money.

A little below the norm for today's data projectors, the X17 is rated at 2,700 lumens (for both white light and colored light brightness). Its light source is based on the 3LCD technology developed by Epson. The projector provides XGA (1,024-by-768 pixel) native resolution, at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

White and gray with rounded corners, the projector is reasonably portable at 3.5 by 11.6 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and 5.8 pounds. It lacks a soft carrying case, though one is available as a $30 option. The projector has a manual focus and 1.2x zoom ring. Behind the lens, you'll also find a slider for horizontal-image correction, which allows you to get a straight image despite off-center positioning of the projector.

You get a good selection of ports for a low-priced projector: two VGA ports (which double as component video ports) for connecting to computers; a monitor-out port; audio-in and audio-out ports; an HDMI port; an S-video port; three RCA jacks for composite video/audio; a USB Type B port for USB plug-and-play, which provides easy connectivity with Windows and Mac computers; and a USB Type A port. The latter lets you connect a USB thumb drive. It also fits either of Epson's two wireless adapters ($99 each): the Wireless LAN Module, which lets you connect via Wi-Fi, and project from a mobile device when Epson's iProjection app is installed; and the Quick Wireless Connection USB Key, which lets you make a direct ad-hoc wireless connection with a PC.

Data-Image Testing
From a distance of about 6 feet away, the projector was able to fill our test screen with an image measuring about 56 inches (diagonal). The image was bright enough to stand up to ambient light, and should be fine for small to midsize classrooms or conference rooms.

In data-image testing using the DisplayMate suite, the X17's image quality proved good, thanks largely to its text quality. Black text on white was reasonably sharp down to the smallest size (6.8 points), while white text on black was fuzzy but readable at the smallest size. Colors looked bright and well saturated; I did notice, in most color modes, some greenish tinting in white or gray backgrounds. Still, image quality should be fine for typical classroom or business presentations.

Video and Audio
The X17's video is suitable for showing shorter clips as part of a presentation. As an LCD projector, it is free of the potential for the rainbow artifacts that affect many DLP-based projectors. Posterization—the tendency for abrupt rather than gradual changes in color or shading—was evident in some of my test scenes. Colors, though bright and punchy, seemed off in some places, mostly with too much red.

Audio from the 5-watt speaker is strong, if a bit crackly at the highest volumes. It should easily fill a smaller room.

Conclusion
The X17 offers the same features as the Epson W17, but with lower resolution and marginally lower brightness. If the higher WXGA resolution isn't important, you can get what's otherwise essentially the same projector for less money. The X17 is similar to the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 93+, but its image quality for both data and video fall short. The 93+ has been discontinued by Epson, but is still available through various etailers.

As is the case with most LCD projectors, the X17 and the Epson 93+ lack 3D capability. If you need 3D support, a good alternative is the BenQ MX522, a budget XGA projector with excellent data-image quality that lets you connect to a Blu-ray player or other data source to show 3D content.

In the end, the Epson PowerLite X17 XGA 3LCD Projector offers a good mix of connectivity, features, and image quality. It's a capable choice that should easily fit into most schools' budgets.

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