Home theater has changed dramatically in recent years. While massive TVs used to be the only way to get a huge screen at home, ultra short throw projectors like the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro and Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 have revolutionized what's possible in our living rooms.
These projectors sit just inches from your wall, creating massive 100"+ images without the traditional projector setup hassles. No more ceiling mounts, no more walking through the projector beam - just stunning big-screen entertainment that works more like a TV.
Both projectors use laser light sources, which is a huge improvement over traditional lamp-based projectors. Lasers last longer (20,000+ hours compared to 3-4,000 for lamps), turn on instantly, and maintain their brightness better over time.
The $5,999 AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro uses a triple laser system (separate red, green, and blue lasers) combined with DLP technology. This helps it achieve incredibly rich colors - covering 107% of the professional BT.2020 color standard that even many high-end TVs can't match.
The $3,448 Epson LS800 takes a different approach, using Epson's proven 3LCD technology with a blue laser and phosphor wheel. While this might sound more basic, it actually produces excellent results with some unique advantages, particularly in brightness.
Having tested both projectors in various lighting conditions, the Epson's 4,000 lumens gives it a clear advantage for daytime viewing. The AWOL's 3,500 lumens is still impressive, but if you have a bright room with lots of windows, that extra brightness makes a noticeable difference.
The AWOL Vision truly shines when watching HDR content (videos with enhanced contrast and color range). It supports all major HDR formats including Dolby Vision, which is still rare in projectors. Colors are stunning, and the image has a depth that really draws you in.
The Epson doesn't support Dolby Vision but still handles HDR10 content well. Its higher contrast ratio (2,500,000:1 vs the AWOL's 1,000,000:1) helps deliver deeper blacks, though both look great in a dark room.
Both projectors have made serious improvements in gaming performance compared to older UST models. The AWOL Vision really impresses here with just 8ms input lag when running at 1080p/120Hz - that's fast enough for competitive gaming. At 4K, it maintains a respectable 15ms.
The Epson isn't far behind at 16.7ms, and includes a dedicated gaming HDMI port that bypasses some processing for better performance. Both support 4K/60Hz gaming, though neither has HDMI 2.1 for 4K/120Hz.
The Epson's 0.16:1 throw ratio means it can sit slightly closer to the wall than the AWOL's 0.25:1 ratio. In practical terms, for a 100" image:
Both projectors have powered focus and geometric correction to help get the image perfectly aligned. From personal experience, I've found the Epson slightly easier to set up, but both are manageable for a careful DIYer.
Released in late 2023, the AWOL Vision includes more recent smart features, running Android 9.0 with built-in streaming capability. It also works with home automation systems like Control4.
The Epson, while slightly older (mid-2023), includes Android TV and comes with streaming capabilities built-in. Both offer similar connectivity options with multiple HDMI ports (including eARC for sound systems), but the AWOL's newer release gives it a slight edge in terms of features.
The $2,500 price difference between these projectors is significant. The AWOL Vision justifies its premium price with better HDR support, gaming performance, and color accuracy. However, the Epson's lower price point combined with higher brightness makes it an incredibly compelling value, especially for bright room viewing.
In a dedicated home theater setting, both projectors excel but for different reasons:
The AWOL Vision's superior HDR handling and color accuracy make it ideal for movie enthusiasts who want the best possible picture quality. Its lower fan noise (28dB vs the Epson's 32dB) also helps maintain that theater atmosphere.
The Epson's built-in Yamaha 2.1 sound system is surprisingly capable, though serious home theater setups will likely use external speakers with either projector.
Both the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro and Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 represent the current state of the art in UST projectors, just optimized for slightly different use cases. The AWOL Vision is the better pure home theater projector, while the Epson is more versatile for bright room viewing while still delivering excellent picture quality.
My personal take? If budget allows and you're building a dedicated home theater, the AWOL Vision's superior picture quality makes it worth the premium. For a multi-purpose living room where you'll often watch with some ambient light, save the money and go with the Epson's higher brightness and excellent value.
| AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ($5,999) | Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 ($3,448) |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Critical for daytime viewing and ambient light performance | |
| 3,500 ANSI lumens (good for moderate lighting) | 4,000 ANSI lumens (excellent for bright rooms) |
| HDR Support - Impacts color and contrast quality in high-end content | |
| HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG (premium complete support) | HDR10, HLG (good but basic HDR support) |
| Gaming Input Lag - Lower numbers mean better gaming responsiveness | |
| 8ms @ 1080p/120Hz, 15ms @ 4K/60Hz (excellent for gaming) | 16.7ms @ 4K/60Hz (good for casual gaming) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines how close to wall the projector needs to be | |
| 0.25:1 (needs 16" for 100" screen) | 0.16:1 (needs only 10" for 100" screen) |
| Color Gamut - Wider coverage means more vivid, accurate colors | |
| 107% BT.2020 (exceptional color range) | Not specified (good but likely lower) |
| Sound System - Built-in audio quality matters if not using external speakers | |
| 36W stereo system (good) | 2.1 Yamaha system with subwoofer (better) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and streaming capabilities | |
| Android 9.0, Control4 ready (more premium features) | Android TV, basic smart features (good everyday use) |
| Light Source Lifespan - How long before significant brightness loss | |
| 25,000 hours (about 8-10 years typical use) | 20,000 hours (about 6-8 years typical use) |
| Contrast Ratio - Higher numbers mean better black levels | |
| 1,000,000:1 dynamic | 2,500,000:1 dynamic (noticeably better blacks) |
| Price-Performance Value - Overall worth considering features vs cost | |
| Premium price, premium features (best for enthusiasts) | Better value, excellent brightness (best for most users) |
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ($5,999) is better suited for dedicated home theaters due to its superior HDR support, including Dolby Vision, and better color accuracy. Its lower fan noise (28dB) also creates a more theater-like experience.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 ($3,448) is brighter with 4,000 ANSI lumens compared to the AWOL Vision's 3,500 lumens, making it better for rooms with ambient light.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro has better gaming performance with 8ms input lag at 1080p/120Hz and 15ms at 4K/60Hz, compared to the Epson's 16.7ms lag time.
For a 100-inch screen, the Epson LS800 needs only 10 inches from the wall, while the AWOL Vision requires 16 inches due to different throw ratios.
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 features a superior Yamaha 2.1 sound system with subwoofer, though for home theater use, external speakers are recommended for both projectors.
The Epson LS800 provides better value at $3,448 with excellent brightness and good features, while the AWOL Vision justifies its higher price with premium features and better picture quality.
Both projectors can handle ambient light, but the Epson LS800 performs better in bright conditions with its 4,000 lumens brightness.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro offers superior HDR support with HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, while the Epson only supports basic HDR10 and HLG.
The AWOL Vision has a 25,000-hour laser life, while the Epson offers 20,000 hours. Both should last 6-10 years with typical use.
Both projectors work best with ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screens, especially in rooms with ambient light. These screens help maintain picture quality and contrast.
The Epson LS800 is slightly easier to set up due to its shorter throw ratio and user-friendly interface, though both projectors offer powered focus and geometric correction.
Both handle motion well, but the Epson LS800's higher brightness makes it better for daytime sports viewing, while the AWOL Vision offers better picture quality for evening viewing.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: projectorjunkies.com - digitaltrends.com - youtube.com - avsforum.com - dreamediaav.com - awolvision.de - projectorreviews.com - bhphotovideo.com - youtube.com - projectorjunkies.com - techradar.com - danamic.org - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - epson.com - dreamediaav.com - dell.com - rtings.com - avsforum.com - audiogeneral.com - news.epson.com - projectorcentral.com
