Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus review: Rich colors and Gemini support

Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors. Provides greater flexibility than traditional (long throw) models. No one can stand in front of one and block the view, since the unit doesn’t require distance and can sit close to the screen instead of at the back of the room. This also allows all your streaming devices, speaker, and gaming console to connect close to the screen.

At $3,800, the Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus (LS970) short-throw projector has a higher price tag than the Epson Lifestudio Grand released last year. The Grand Plus’ specs are a big leap forward over that model, too: 150-inch picture instead of 120, and 4,000 lumens of brightness instead of 3,600.

A few quibbles aside, it’s a solid home cinema projector, but Epson also offers a better option, the long-range Pro Cinema LS9000, which costs just $200 and is easier to configure. The Leica Cine Play 1, another long-throw projector, also produces more vibrant colors. Ultimately, it’s a matter of choosing between short throw and long throw, and the Grand Plus certainly has its quirks, including deflection and casting issues. On the plus side, the Grand Plus offers great image quality and supports Google Gemini, which is a nice feature.

Get everything configured

I won’t mince words: the setup process is confusing. The Grand Plus is big, heavy, and picky about where you put it—usually about a foot from a wall or screen. I had to experiment with the placement until it was just right, and even then, setting up the image was cumbersome and time-consuming. In comparison, the Leica Cine Play 1 and Soundcore Nebula P1’s auto key adjustment software adjusts the image instantly with almost no manual setup – turn it on, and you’re done. The Grand Plus’s software feels dated, and I also didn’t like how easy it was to press the power button on the side on and off.

Photo: John Brandon