Epson Home Cinema 3020 review
Epson 3020 — a Bright and Contrast Full HD Projector with 3D
If you want a universal projector that will fit multiple tasks of the home theater — follow up this Epson 3020 review. This model has good brightness and contrast to provide a consistent picture in different light conditions and on different screen sizes. It’s quite versatile, has preset modes, and lets you regulate color parameters. 3D is displayed by the 3020 on a high level, and there are separate modes for that.
The Epson 3020 is offered at a not so high price. For the price, you get good portability, decent sound, and versatile connectivity. However, this unit lacks wireless options represented in the more expensive projectors. Still, the 3020 model connects to multiple sources with different connectors, so the absence of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mightn’t be crucial for the stationary home setup.
Setup
The Epson Home Cinema 3020 can be put in various positions: tabletop, on a shelf, ceiling-mounted. There’s no lens shift but the focus and angle correction let do the job for slightly off-center placement. The projector has the zoom function and the medium throw so that it can be placed at 32ft or farther from the screen.
The sources can be hooked up via the HDMI 1.4a ports (with full 3D and Blu-Ray compatibility), composite and component video, and composite (stereo) audio inputs, the analog PC connector, and the RS-232 port, the type A USB.
Features
The brightness of the Epson HC 3020 makes 2,300 lumens and is solid in all formats including 3D. Together with the good contrast rate (40,000:1) and dynamic iris, this 1080p 3LCD projector provides the picture with deep blacks and diverse colors, pure whites, and consistent grays. The image looks balanced and sharp in different light settings.
The projector has four preset modes for 2D format and two for 3D one, with the ability to customize the color representation and memorize the settings (there are ten user slots for that). The supplied 3D RF glasses feature a quick recharge system. The unit integrates the stereo speakers with 10W output.
The Epson 3020 manual states the minimum lag makes 50 ms in the “economy” mode. This means all the gamma controls and other picture improvement techs (like interpolation) should be off. The lag is slightly higher in the 3D gaming mode.
The remote control is functional, with the backlit buttons and a wide range of actions. It sends the signal well at different angles and features the specific buttons for menus like Color, SplitScreen, etc. The minor drawback is that the backlight is activated through a separate button located in the top right corner, which isn't always handy to reach.
Design
The external appearance of the Epson 3020 projector doesn't separate it from other Epson models. All the controls are located on the top, connections — on the back. The lens focus and zoom controls are performed by the relevant slider and dial on the top. The lens is situated in the center of the front panel, with two ventilation openings on the sides. The speakers are located on the back.
Conclusion
The 3020 model of the Epson projector is a solid Full HD and 3D option for movies and gaming. While lacking wireless functionality, its physical interface is quite rich to match the medium-class home theater. The integrated speakers and high brightness let use it in different rooms and settings.
