If you're looking to create a high-end home theater experience without dedicating an entire room to a traditional projector setup, Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors offer an elegant solution. Today, we're comparing two of the most compelling options: the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 ($3,499) and the Formovie Theater ($2,999).
Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far back in a room, UST projectors can create massive images from just inches away from your wall or screen. This technology has revolutionized home theater setups, making it possible to have a 100+ inch display without completely rearranging your living space.
Both of these projectors launched in late 2022, but they take quite different approaches to creating their images. The Epson LS800 uses 3LCD technology, which splits light through three separate LCD panels (one each for red, green, and blue) before recombining them into a single image. This approach eliminates the "rainbow effect" that some viewers find distracting on other projectors.
The Formovie Theater employs a triple laser DLP (Digital Light Processing) system with ALPD 4.0 technology. While some DLP projectors can show rainbow artifacts (where bright objects seem to momentarily split into rainbow colors), the triple laser system minimizes this issue while delivering exceptional color accuracy and contrast.
The LS800's 4,000 lumens make it a standout performer in bright rooms. To put this in perspective, that's bright enough to maintain a vibrant image even with sunlight in the room. The Formovie Theater's 2,800 lumens is still respectable, but it's noticeably less capable in bright conditions.
Here's where things get interesting. While the LS800 produces bright, vivid images, the Formovie Theater offers superior color accuracy and contrast. Its ability to display 107% of the Rec.2020 color space (a technical way of saying it can show more colors than most TVs) and its 3,000:1 contrast ratio result in more lifelike images, especially in darker scenes.
Both projectors handle gaming well, with low input lag (the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen). The LS800 maintains better visibility in bright rooms, while the Formovie Theater offers better contrast in dark room gaming sessions.
Both projectors run Android TV, giving you access to most streaming services. The LS800's implementation feels more polished, with fewer quirks. However, the Formovie Theater includes Dolby Vision support, which can noticeably improve picture quality on supported content.
Your room setup should heavily influence your choice. If you're creating a dedicated home theater room with controlled lighting, the Formovie Theater will give you the best image quality. The deeper blacks and better contrast really shine in dark environments.
However, if your projector will live in a multipurpose room with windows, the Epson LS800's superior brightness makes it the better choice. It's bright enough to use as a TV replacement, even during the day.
Both projectors work best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen. These special screens help maintain image quality by rejecting light coming from above while reflecting the projector's light back to viewers. They're particularly important for the Formovie Theater in brighter rooms.
At $500 less, the Formovie Theater offers better value for those with suitable viewing environments. Its superior contrast and color accuracy make it particularly appealing for movie enthusiasts who can control their room lighting.
The LS800's higher price brings significant benefits in brightness and reliability from a well-established brand. It's more versatile across different lighting conditions and might be worth the premium for many users.
Both projectors support 4K resolution and HDR content. The Formovie Theater's wider color gamut might give it a slight edge as content continues to expand in this area. However, the LS800's brightness advantage will remain relevant as long as you're dealing with ambient light.
Both projectors represent the current state of the art in UST technology, but they serve different needs. The Epson LS800 is the more versatile option, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Formovie Theater delivers superior picture quality for dedicated home theater environments.
Consider your room environment, intended use, and budget when making your choice. Either way, you'll end up with an impressive large-screen display that can transform your home entertainment experience.
Remember: proper room setup and screen selection are just as important as the projector choice itself. Take time to plan your installation and consider professional help if needed - these are significant investments that deserve proper implementation.
| Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 | Formovie Theater |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Most critical spec for daytime viewing and ambient light | |
| 4,000 ANSI lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 2,800 ANSI lumens (best in controlled lighting) |
| Contrast Ratio - Determines black level depth and image pop | |
| 2,500,000:1 dynamic (good but artificial) | 3,000:1 native (superior real-world contrast) |
| Color Gamut - Affects color richness and accuracy | |
| 77% DCI-P3 (good but not exceptional) | 107% Rec.2020 (exceptional color range) |
| Technology - Impacts image quality and viewing experience | |
| 3LCD (no rainbow effects, consistent brightness) | DLP Triple Laser (better blacks, potential rainbow effects) |
| Price - Value consideration | |
| $3,499 (premium price but versatile) | $2,999 (better value for dedicated theaters) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines how close to wall needed | |
| 0.17:1 (extremely close placement) | 0.23:1 (very close but needs more space) |
| Gaming Input Lag - Lower is better for gaming | |
| 16.7ms (excellent for gaming) | 40ms (acceptable but not ideal) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use | |
| Android TV 11 (polished implementation) | Android TV 11 (some quirks, no native Netflix) |
| HDR Support - Impacts high dynamic range content quality | |
| HDR10 (basic HDR support) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ (superior HDR processing) |
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 is significantly brighter at 4,000 lumens compared to the Formovie Theater's 2,800 lumens. This makes the LS800 better for rooms with ambient light.
Both excel at movie playback, but in different conditions. The Formovie Theater offers superior contrast and color in dark rooms, while the Epson LS800 performs better with some ambient light present.
The Epson LS800 has lower input lag at 16.7ms compared to the Formovie Theater's 40ms, making it the better choice for gaming. It also maintains better brightness during daytime gaming sessions.
Yes, both projectors work best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen for optimal performance. This is especially important for the Formovie Theater in brighter rooms.
The Formovie Theater at $2,999 offers better value for dedicated home theater spaces, while the Epson LS800 at $3,499 justifies its higher price with superior brightness and versatility.
The Epson LS800 performs significantly better in daylight due to its 4,000 lumens brightness. The Formovie Theater is best used in controlled lighting conditions.
Yes, both projectors support 4K resolution, though they use different technologies to achieve it. The Epson uses pixel-shifting 3LCD, while the Formovie uses DLP technology.
The Formovie Theater offers superior color accuracy with 107% Rec.2020 coverage, compared to the Epson LS800's 77% DCI-P3 coverage.
Both are ultra-short throw projectors, but the Epson LS800 can be placed slightly closer with a 0.17:1 throw ratio compared to the Formovie Theater's 0.23:1 ratio.
Both projectors run Android TV 11, but the Epson LS800 has a more polished implementation. The Formovie Theater lacks native Netflix support.
The Formovie Theater is superior for dedicated home theaters due to its better contrast ratio and color accuracy, assuming you have good light control.
Both handle sports well, but the Epson LS800 performs better for daytime sports viewing due to its higher brightness, while the Formovie Theater 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: 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 - techradar.com - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com
