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Epson projector handles 4K and HDR for less than three grand

The 5040UB isn't a 4K projector, but it can take in 4K sources and display them in its native 1080p resolution, complete with improved color and contrast of high dynamic range.

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech

David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.

Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials

Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.

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David Katzmaier

June 21, 2016 12:01 a.m. PT

2 min read

True 4K projectors are coming down in price at a glacial pace, but lower-resolution units that claim to benefit from being fed 4K TV shows and movies are much more affordable.

Epson's Home Cinema 5040UB is the latest example, coming this August for $2,999.

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$2,773 at Amazon

It three LCD chips have a native resolution of 1080p, but it can accept 4K resolution sources via its HDMI and convert them for display. Epson says its 4K Enhancement technology, which shifts each pixel diagonally 0.5 pixels, can "double the resolution to 3,840x2,160 and surpass Full HD image quality." I tested the feature on last year's Epson LS1000 laser projector and the improvement was negligible.

HDR, on the other hand, delivers a much more visible improvement than 4K, and the 5040 can handle it too. Epson claims an impressive 2500 lumens and improved black levels for better contrast compared to previous units like the 5030 we reviewed. The company also says the 5040 can render all of the DCI color gamut used for today's HDR TV shows and movies.

The projector has a pair of HDMI inputs that work with the HDMI 2.0a transmission and HDCP 2.2 copy protection standards, so it work can handle the full capabilities of playback units like the Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Blu-ray player.

Epson is also selling a version of the projector, model 5040UBe ($3,299) that uses an outboard HDMI connection box that communicates with the projector via the WirelessHD standard.

Epson gave me a demo of the new 5040UB projector with the "Kingsman: The Secret Service" 4K Blu-ray, and it compared well to a much more-expensive native 4K projector from Sony. Of course I'll reserve full judgment for a CNET review.

In the meantime, here are some other specs and features for the 5040UB.

1080p native resolution with 4K Enhancement Technology
2500 lumens brightness
Full DCI color gamut
Auto Iris
Power zoom, focus and lens shift (10 memories)
± 96.3 percent vertical axis, ±47.1 percent horizontal axis lens shift
Supports 3D (active glasses not included)
Wireless HDMI (5040UBe only)

A pair of related models will also arrive in August as part of Epson's Pro Cinema line for the custom installation market. The 6040UB ($3,999) has basically the same specs as the 5040UB, but with a black instead of white body, and built-in ISF calibration tools as well as SF Day and ISF Night picture memory modes. The company will also release the Pro Cinema 4040 for ($2,699), which is dimmer than the other three at 2,300 lumens, but is otherwise similar to the 5040UB.