The Epson EH-TW840 is a mid-range home theater projector that aims to deliver a solid performance for both movie enthusiasts and casual viewers.
Epson EH-TW840
Design and Build Quality
The EH-TW840 features a compact and sleek design with a white finish that blends well in most home environments. It is relatively lightweight and easy to set up.
The lens is located centrally with manual focus and zoom rings, providing straightforward adjustment. The build quality feels robust, typical of Epson’s reliable manufacturing standards.
Image Quality
Resolution: The projector offers Full HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080), which is standard for its class and suitable for detailed and sharp images.
Brightness: It boasts 3300 lumens of brightness, making it capable of performing well in rooms with ambient light. This brightness level ensures vibrant colors and clear images even without complete darkness, although for the best cinematic experience, some light control is recommended.
Contrast Ratio: With a dynamic contrast ratio around 35,000:1, blacks can appear reasonably deep, and shadow details are preserved, although it’s not the best in class for contrast.
Color Performance: Epson’s 3LCD technology delivers rich and accurate colors with good saturation and natural skin tones. The color wheel and lamp technology help reduce rainbow effects common in some DLP projectors.
Performance
Input Lag: The EH-TW840 has moderate input lag, making it more suitable for watching movies and TV shows rather than competitive gaming. Casual gamers will find it acceptable, but hardcore gamers might notice some delay.
Lens Shift and Keystone Correction: It offers vertical lens shift and keystone correction, which helps in flexible placement and easy setup without image distortion. However, horizontal lens shift is absent, limiting side-to-side adjustment.
Lamp Life: The lamp life is rated at approximately 4500 hours in normal mode and up to 10,000 hours in eco mode, which is decent and helps reduce maintenance costs over time.
Connectivity
The projector includes two HDMI ports, a VGA input, USB Type-A for power and media, and a 3.5mm audio out port.
This range of inputs covers most common devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and streaming sticks.
It lacks built-in smart features or wireless connectivity, so an external streaming device is necessary for smart TV functionality.
Sound
The EH-TW840 has a built-in 10W speaker that delivers adequate sound for small rooms or casual viewing. However, for a true home theater experience, connecting to an external audio system is advisable.
Noise Level
The fan noise is moderate; it’s noticeable in very quiet scenes but generally not disruptive during typical viewing conditions.
Pros
Bright and vibrant image suitable for various lighting conditions.
Full HD resolution with good color accuracy thanks to 3LCD technology.
Flexible vertical lens shift and keystone correction for easier installation.
Multiple HDMI ports for versatile connectivity.
Decent lamp life reducing long-term costs.
Cons
No horizontal lens shift limits placement options.
Moderate input lag not ideal for competitive gaming.
Lacks built-in smart features or wireless connectivity.
Fan noise can be noticeable in quiet scenes.
Summary
The Epson EH-TW840 projector is a solid choice for those seeking an affordable Full HD projector with bright and colorful image quality suitable for home cinema and casual gaming.
Its flexible installation options and multiple inputs make it user-friendly, though the lack of horizontal lens shift and smart features might be a drawback for some.
Overall, it offers good value for users prioritizing image quality and brightness over advanced features.