Epson Pro G7905U

Lumens: 7000      Resolution: 1920x1200 (4KE)   MSRP: $6,499

What the Epson Pro G7905U is designed for

It is ideal for:

• Versatile Large Venue Video and Data Projection. Rich, vibrant 4K enhanced video image is excellent for staging, auditorium, house of worship, casino sports books, and sports bars.

It is also good for:

• Very large screen or ambient light home theater. In video-optimized eco-mode the G7905U still delivers 3900 lumens of 4K enhanced resolution with very little fan noise. Superb solution for large scale home theater and party/entertainment rooms.

What the Epson Pro G7905U gives you

• Outstanding video quality, especially in preset Cinema mode
  
  
• 4K-enhanced resolution using pixel-shift technology with WUXGA resolution chips
  
  
• Accepts native 4K signals.
  
  
• 24/7 duty cycle
  
  
• Nine interchangeable lenses, all powered with Lens Memory
  
  
• Powered vertical/horizontal lens shift
  
  
• 360-degree installation flexibility, including Portrait Mode
  
  
• Side by side split screen from different sources.
  
  
• Built-in edge blending, image warping, curved-surface, and corner wall correction
  
  
• Crestron RoomView, AMX, Extron XTP and Control4 Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP)
  
  
• Three-year warranty includes overnight replacement service
  
  

Connection Panel Inputs:

• DVI-D
• HDMI w/ HDCP 2.2
• HDBaseT w/ HDCP 2.2
• 5-BNC
• VGA
• Monitor out (15-pin D-sub)
• RJ-45, 100 mbps network
• RS-232C
• Audio in, mini stereo (3x)
• Audio out
• USB Type A for wireless only
• USB Type B for service only

Physical attributes. The G7905U weighs 28.4 lbs with standard 1.6x zoom lens. It is slightly wider (21") than it is deep (16.7"). The connection panel is on the rear with AC power on the lower left rear panel. As viewed from the rear, fan intake and air filter are on the left side panel, the lamp compartment is on the right side panel, and the fan exhaust is out the right front corner. Both air filter and lamp replacement can be done without dismounting the projector. The controls for menu access are on the rear panel to the right of the connection inputs.

Our Lab Tests: What the Meters Say

Brightness. With the Pro G7905U's standard 1.6x zoom lens set to its widest throw angle position and lamp on Normal (full) power, our test sample measured close to its 7000 lumen rating in its brightest preset mode. The readings were as follows:

MODE	Normal Lamp	Eco Mode
Dynamic	6667	5200
Presentation	5087	3972
Cinema	5005	3904
sRGB	4880	3806
DICOM	4880	3806
Multi-projector	5357	4178

Color Light Output. Note that the numbers in this table are ANSI lumen readings which measure white light output. However, color light output (the sum of the independent red, green, and blue components) measure the same as white on three-chip projectors such as the G7905U. This is relevant if you are shopping specs and comparing single-chip DLP projectors with the same 7000 ANSI lumen rating. If they have a white segment in the color wheel they may produce reduced amounts of color luminance compared to their maximum white (ANSI) readings. This effect is not obvious in specs, and the best way to tell the actual differences is to see them in side by side comparisons.

Low Lamp Mode. Eco mode reduces lumen output by 22% in all modes and significantly reduces fan noise to a whisper.

Presentation Optimized Lumens. The Dynamic mode, which on our test sample measured 6667 lumens, is color-shifted toward green although not as egregiously as it is on most projectors we've seen. For material that does not require precise color accuracy it is functional. Few viewers would be consciously aware that the picture is pushing green. If desired, one can pull the green down a bit and end up at a compromise of about 6000 lumens.

Video Optimized Lumens. Cinema mode offers more accurate color balance and more refined detail definition compared to Dynamic. It is the choice for best quality for video at about 5000 lumens. In eco mode, fan noise is reduced and you still get a robust 3900 lumens.

Zoom Lens Effect on Brightness. The standard 1.6x zoom lens curtails light output by 16% at the telephoto end as compared to the wide angle end, which is a rather modest light loss for a 1.6x zoom range. The projector has a selection of nine lenses, and we've measured only the standard lens.

Brightness Uniformity. The measured 89% brightness uniformity is near excellent with virtually no visible variance in uniformity.

Input Lag. With the default settings and processing like frame interpolation off, we measured the input lag at 44 ms in all preset modes. With FI on, it measured 110 ms.

On-board Audio. The single 10-watt mono speaker delivers acceptable audio quality for short video presentations in a medium size conference room, but it is obviously not intended to stand up to the projector's robust video capability.

Fan Noise. The fan noise, rated at 39 dB in Normal mode and 31dB in Eco mode, is very low in pitch and surprisingly unobtrusive for its dB rating. High Altitude mode is required for operation above 1500 meters elevation. Fan noise is elevated in this mode and much more noticeable, but still relatively low in pitch and less distracting than many other projectors we've tested.

Setting it up

Throw distance. The standard 1.6x zoom provides some modest variance for throw distance placement. To fill a 180" diagonal 16:10 screen, the unit can be placed anywhere from 18.5' to 30'. For the screen size you want, see the Projection Calculator for details. Consult Epson resellers who carry this model for details on other lens options.

Lens shift. When the horizontal lens shift is in the middle, neutral position the vertical lens shift range is about 2.5 picture heights. At the extreme ends of the vertical lens shift range the horizontal shift latitude drops to zero. If the vertical lens shift is in the neutral position, the horizontal shift range is about 1/3 the picture width in either directly from neutral.

Our take on the Epson Pro G7905U

In the Epson Pro G7905U, two projector worlds merge. It is engineered for large venue installation and rental/staging needs, so it combines features required by that market -- high lumen output, HDBaseT, 360 degree and portrait mode installation, nine powered lens options, edge blending, curved surface, corner wall projection, extensive connectivity, and compatibility with all major network control systems. However, beyond its array of installation features, it also sports all of Epson's high performance video processing systems that have been ported over from the home theater world -- 4K-enhancement, native 4K signal processing, powered lens memory, frame interpolation, and super resolution. Bottom line, you might think of it as a commercial installation projector with outstanding video. Or you could think of it as a home theater projector on steroids.

In Cinema mode the G7905U puts out 5000 lumens of exceptionally clean, smooth, well integrated video. And even in eco-mode with the fan noise dropped to a low pitched whisper it cranks out almost 4000 lumens and extends lamp life in the process. The picture is very rich in color saturation, and we actually dropped the saturation control from its default of 50 to 45 to achieve a more natural display of the materials we were watching. As one would expect from a 5000 lumen picture, black levels are not as deep and shadow detail separation is not as crisp as it is on a very good home theater projector. But the G7905 is far brighter than a home theater projector and in low to moderate ambient light the brilliance of the image takes command and gives the picture the sparkle and snap everyone wants.

If you need the full lumen power of the G7905U, you can switch to Dynamic mode and get close to 7000 lumens -- our sample measured 6667. In Dynamic mode the picture is not quite as silky smooth as it is in Cinema mode and the color balance is shifted toward green. But the color shift is not as obvious as it is on many projectors. Without a color-correct standard to compare it against the color looks reasonably natural. So unlike some competing products, Dynamic mode on the G7905U is a functional option for presentation use or for the display of any subject matter that does not require precise color accuracy.

The only flaw we noticed during our testing was that the auto iris response was slower than expected when there is a significant change in average picture level in a dark scene. When a bright element suddenly appears in a dark scene (say, a white title appearing against a black background) it will cause a visible adjustment in the black level that takes about half a second. This phenomenon does not happen often in typical video material so the action of the auto iris is something the viewer is normally unaware of, but it can become visible in the sequential presentation of credits.

The most noteworthy new feature in this class of product is its 4K-enhancement, achieved by pixel-shift technology that doubles the number of addressable pixels on the screen from 2 million in standard HD 1080p to 4 million. The effect substantially sharpens 1080p source material, and allows for an impressively close approximation of native 4K when the projector is fed a native 4K signal. Practically speaking it is difficult to tell the difference between this approximated 4K and native 4K display except when displaying very detailed high resolution graphics. Where video is concerned it looks pretty much like native 4K from most viewing distances.

The combination of superb video quality, high brightness and the array of installation features makes the Epson G7905U a formidable offering for a variety of large venue applications. (I've actually been using it as a home theater projector for the past week and I'm not looking forward to packing it up and returning it.) We are happy to give it our strongest recommendation and our Road Test Certified award.

For more detailed specifications and connections, check out our Epson Pro G7905U projector page.

The Epson Pro G7905U is also sold outside of the United States of America as the Epson EB-G7905U. Some specifications may be slightly different. Check with Epson for complete specifications.