Projectors

Epson makes much of the colour output of its 3LCD projection fleet, and often with good reason – most cast images which glow with Candy Crush vibrancy. The EH-TW6600W is a good example. This latest addition to its home theatre range creates images that compete with LED TVs in terms of kaleidoscopic vibrancy. With this PJ, superheroes appear more heroic and animations more animated. Sackcloth calibration miseries may not approve, but within minutes of installing the projector I was buzzing.

This year, projection specialist Epson has rejigged its product lineup to target the bigscreen movie fan who wants to step up from a £1,000 model but isn't ready to enter the competitive mid-range market where Sony and JVC are also trading blows. The result is the EH-TW7200, its 'entry-level' 3D model that retails for approximately £1,900 – a price point that other brands often ignore. 

Having made many of our favourite projectors in recent years, Epson suffered a dip in form last year – especially in light of the improvements made by some rivals. The gentle criticism it received seems to have galvanised the world’s best-selling projector brand into action, for with the TW9200W it's right back at the top of its game.

The ubiquitous iPod has infiltrated most areas of home cinema but the projector market has always been an Apple-free zone. Until now that is. Epson’s MG-850HD is the world’s first home cinema projector with a built-in iPod dock, allowing you to watch movies and TV shows from your Apple device on a screen up to 300in in size – as well as playing music through its integrated 10W speakers.

If you're reading this magazine, you probably love a bigscreen viewing experience. You might even dream of either being able to afford a monster-sized 100in TV, or having somewhere to install a projector without messing up your day-to-day living space. And thanks to Hisense's latest Laser TV, the 100L9GTUK, you might have to dream no more. The appeal of this product is wickedly simple. It combines an ultra-short-throw laser projector, built-in 40W audio system and high reflectivity, 100in ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen to give you a TV-like experience at home cinema dimensions. It does this for £4,499, just a fraction of what a 100in TV would cost.

Usually projectors that cost less than £800 are either aimed at the business/education markets or absolutely rubbish. And there can be no hiding place for shoddiness when you’re watching a picture that’s 100in wide or more.