Introduction
Previously televisions and home theaters were the most popular home cinema set up you could find, but lately projectors have become an equally important part of home cinema set-ups as more people embrace them. The 2100 and 2150 are two home cinema projectors by Epson that were introduced into the market as replacements for their predecessors the HC 2040 and HC 2045. It is easy to mistake the Espon 2100 and 2150 at first glance as they look pretty much alike however, nothing could be further from the truth as these projectors are completely different. We take a deep dive into the projector specifications to see what makes them different and which one is better than the other and delivers value for money.
Specifications of the Epson 2100 Vs 2150 Home Cinema Projectors
In comparison to their predecessors, the 2100 and 2150 projectors are much improved in almost every single aspect. They offer a great plug and play experience that users will easily enjoy. As previously mentioned, they have the same design, and this similarity trickles down all the way to the dimension of the projectors.
Both measure 12.2 inches x 11.2 inches x 4.8 inches with the key differentiator being the weight where the Epson 2150 weight an additional 0.2 pounds more than the Epson 2100. This difference in weight can however easily go unnoticed. Both projectors have a white housing with vent holes on the side, and it is the housing that holds the internal components of the projectors.
The vent holes are intended to promote air circulation and ensure that the projectors do not overheat while they are being used. Both projectors have vertical lens shift, 1.6x zoom lens and 2,500 lumens of white brightness and equal color and can be used in different lighting conditions without a user having to worry about visibility issues due to ambient light.
As far as mounting goes, Epson provided the same mounting option for both projectors, and they can be mounted on to a user’s ceiling or wall using their respective brackets. Most but not all universal brackets that are used on a lot of other projectors can actually be used on both the Epson 2100 and 2150 projectors.
The slight discrepancy with other brackets is due to the fact that the mounting holes of the Epson 2100 and 2150 were put really close to each other and as such users must pay close attention when purchasing the projector mounting brackets.
The connectivity options of the two options differ slightly as the Epson 2150 has inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity with Miracast. Aside from that, they the same input and output ports. The Epson 2100 is fitted with a VGA connector, USB Type-A port, a Service port and two HDMI ports on its rear panel.
One of the HDMI ports on the 2100 facilitates direct connectivity with a compatible mobile device as it designed to support MHL. On the lower row of the panel you will find an audio output port, a power port and an infrared receiver that facilitates remote control use. The lack of Wi-Fi connectivity with the Epson 2100 means that it cannot be connected to a user’s wireless network while the 2150 can be connected and it can also mirror a user’s smart device screen.
The feature set on the two projectors are also pretty much the same; a 60% maximum lens shift, Creative Frame Interpolation, inbuilt media player, 3D projection capabilities amongst others. The only downside of the 3D projection capabilities is that the projectors work with active-shutter non-polarized 3D glasses which are rather expensive.
However, once can opt to use Samsung’s 3D glasses which are relatively cheaper than the Epson ones. Their user interfaces are also quite alike, and they also have the same plain but simple remote controls.
Advantages of the Epson 2100
- It costs less than the Epson 2150.
- The lens shift on the Epson 2100 is quite generous in comparison to other projector in the same range that only offers 5% lens shift.
- Projected images are sharp.
- Disadvantages of the 2100
- Has a lower contrast ratio.
- The white projector casing requires frequent cleaning as it attracts dust easily.
- Its black levels could be much better to ensure that more details are seen and captured in images.
Advantages of the Epson 2150
- Equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity and wireless Miracast screen mirroring
- Has a better contrast ratio
- The projectors lamp life is quite decent as it manages to last for 7000 hours while in Eco Mode and 4,000 Hours while being used continuously in full power.
- The projectors wireless connectivity allows for PC- free use and presentation.
- It can be used for gaming as its input lag is quite decent at 29.2 milliseconds
Disadvantages of the 2150
- It is more expensive than the 2100.
- The white projector casing requires frequent cleaning as it attracts dust easily.
- The noise produced by the projectors fan is still noticeable, but it will not necessarily ruin your viewing experience.
Which Is the Better Option?
If blindly given the two projectors without any labels or boxes, it would be impossible to tell them apart. However, for us, the Epson 2150 is the better of the two projectors for two simple reasons. The first being the Wi-Fi connectivity discussed above and the second being its performance. While both projectors perform exceptionally well and have great image quality, the Epson 2150 has a 60,000:1 contrast ratio in comparison to the 35,000:1 that is provided by the Epson 2100.
We tested this difference on films, TV shows, and video games and while it could easily go unnoticed an up-close look at the images reveals that the images displayed by the 2150 are vivid, sharper, vibrant and more detailed. Nevertheless, the final decision comes down to your preferences as the user and if you’re willing to spend a couple hundred dollars more for details that you may have probably not noticed if you had not read this post.