Pros:
- Fantastic colour, brightness and clarity with full 1080p
- Near silent in ECO mode
- Very little lag in game mode, without any noticeable decrease in image quality
- Long lamp rating and inexpensive replacement bulbs
- Easy to adjust
- Can make a big display
Cons:
- Only 2 HDMI ports
- Black levels could be better
- A little noisy in regular brightness mode
- Quiet built in speaker
Summary: In the market for a home theater projector that doesn’t break the bank? Although a few years old at this point, the Epson HC2040 (aka HC2045) is a few years old at this point but has solid reviews, is quiet in eco, bright and should last a long time to come. Projector technology does not change very quick and if you want a bright image, at the expense of deep blacks, this projector is the way to go. Especially if you can find it second hand (check the hours used) or at half off retail!
If you’re the type of person who wants to game on a budget projector, the Epson 2040 is the projector to buy. The picture quality is fantastic and there is almost no lag in high speed mode. Gaming on a 150-inch screen is unbelievably cool and I don’t notice the lag at all – it’s more than a normal computer screen but lower than almost every other projector currently on the market. While the black level could be better, the picture is more than acceptable, and there are no rainbow artifacts to speak of. The only reason it loses that 0.5 stars is because I wish that it had more HDMI ports! After connecting my computer and my game console, that was it, and for everything else I’ll either have to buy a switch or just change them out when I change devices. It’s not that big of an issue though, just a nitpicky detail. Overall, I’m very happy with this purchase, and I would highly recommend it as a home theater/gaming projector.
Where to Buy
Epson Home Cinema 2040:
Amazon U.S.A. | Amazon Canada
Price at time of review: $649.99