Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD 3LCD Video Projector - Product Review

Using a video projector in the daytime? With 2,500 maximum lumens output output capability (it must be noted that the average lumen output is lower than the stated output, as it is with almost all video projectors), the Home Cinema 705HD projects an image of exceptional brightness. However, as result of increased brightness, the black level/contrast range is not as good as most dedicated home theater projectors.

On the other hand, the increased lumens output of the 705HD does allow more flexibility in terms of differing room lighting environments, such as classrooms or meeting rooms where ambient light may be present.

For a visual example of how well the Espon 705HD can project an image with ambient light present, check out two photos that I took while running the projector in the middle of the afternoon in a semi-darkened room with ambient light present. You will notice that color and overall integrity of image is actually pretty good, but also notice the lack of deep blacks (photo one), (photo 2).

Video Performance - High Definition Home Theater

With regards to true high definition source material, projected in normal home theater conditions (in a darkened room with no ambient light) the Epson does fairly good, with consistent color and detail, but falls a little short with black level/contrast range.

It must be noted that the Home Cinema 705HD can accept the maximum 1080p output from a Blu-ray Disc player or similar high definition source, but the displayed image on the screen is 720p.

The Blu-ray disc of The Dark Knight which has a lot of black level content, was acceptable, but not as good as on other projectors I have reviewed with higher contrast ratios. Blu-ray discs that stood out in terms of color consistency were Hairspray and Transporter 3, which showed both good detail and color reproduction.

Video Performance - Deinterlacing and Upscaling of Standard Definition Material

In a further evaluation, with regards to its scaling capabilities, tests were conducted using Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD. In order to conduct an accurate projector upscaling test, I set the Helios H4000 to 480i output and, using the Composite, and, alternately, the Component video connection, between the player and the projector. By doing this, all of the upscaling was done by the projector from the lowest possible resolution input.

The test results showed that the Home Cinema 705HD did a below average job with regards to deinterlacing and scaling of 480i input signals.

On rotating and bouncing diagonal lines, as well as a waving flag, the Home Cinema 705HD exhibited noticeable jaggedness. Also, moire pattern elimination, video noise reduction, and complex film cadence detection could definitely use some improvement. On the other hand, the Home Cinema 705HD did well with color bars and horizontal and vertical video title overlays with film content, producing stable results in both cases.

For more details, check out my Epson Home Cinema 705HD Video Performance Test Results.

1. Good image quality from HD source material for the price.

2. Accepts HD input resolutions up to 1080p (including 1080p/24). However all input signals are scaled to 720p for display. The 720p image was acceptable and the LCD screen door effect was minimal. However, the larger the projected image is, the more the screen door effect is visible.

3. High lumen output produces bright images for large rooms and screen sizes. This makes this projector very flexible for both living room and business/educational room uses. I also feel that the Home Cinema 705HD would be a good choice for use as an outdoor projector on those warm Summer nights.

4. Very fast turn-on and shut-off time. I wish all video projectors had this fast a response time when powering up or shutting down.

5. Compact Remote Control that is easy to hold in your hand.

6. Some additional nice touches, such as a built-in speaker for business/classroom presentations, and a USB port for access media content stored on flash drives add some interesting flexibility.

7. Included carrying bag is a nice touch for added portability.

What I Didn't Like About the Epson Home Cinema 705HD

1. Below average deinterlacing/scaling performance from standard resolution (480i) analog video sources (see test result examples)

2. Black level performance is just average.

3. No Motorized Zoom or Focus Function. Focus and Zoom adjustments must be done manually at the lens. This is not a problem if the projector is table mounted, but cumbersome if the projector is ceiling mounted.

4. No separate Component Video inputs - Must use Component-to-VGA adapter cable (adapter cable included in box).

5. Fan noise is noticeable when using High Light Output mode.

6. Remote Control not backlit. Although the remote control is compact and easy to use, not having it backlit makes it cumbersome to use in darkened room.

Final Take

Setting up and using the Epson Home Cinema 705HD is easy. The inputs are clearly labeled and spaced out, and the on-unit control buttons, remote control, and menu are easy to use.

Also, with high lumens output, the Epson 705HD projects a bright image.

The Epson 705HD cannot project a native 1080p image, but the detail from 1080p sources, scaled to 720p, was good. However, the 705HD didn't seem to cut it with deinterlacing/scaling of 480i source material.

It must be noted that although the Home Cinema 705HD does not have the best upscaling capability for standard resolution video signals, if you are using your own upscaling DVD player, this is not as much of a negative issue, especially if your upscaling DVD player performs well.

If an upscaling DVD player is set to output 720p, it bypasses the scaler of the 705HD.

If you are in the market for your first projector, or a second video projector that you can travel with, or use in a second room, or even outdoors on those warm Summer nights, the Epson Home Cinema 705HD is worth a look, especially at its extremely reasonable $749.99 price point.

For a closer look at the features and video performance of Home Cinema 705HD, check out both my Video Performance Tests and supplementary Photo Gallery.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.