When you look at them both from a features standpoint, the Home Cinema 2040 and Home Cinema 2045 projectors from Epson are basically identical. The only real difference is the fact that the 2045 has Miracast, which allows you to talk to the projector wirelessly from devices compatible with Miracast, including tablets, computers, and smartphones. With that being said, whatever you want to accomplish on one projector can be completed on the other thanks to the built-in MHL on one of the HDMI ports. This allows you to use a streaming stick or connect directly to a tablet or other device. The only benefit to Miracast on the 2045 is that this connection is wireless, which does have its own advantages.
The 2040 has a lot to brag about, especially where its image processing is concerned. The 2040, to nobody’s surprise, does 3D and, even on a 100″ screen, the 3D remains bright. A lot of projectors that are focused on being a “theater room” projector usually lack in overall brightness but try to make the same claim. Epson has a pretty nice detail enhancement feature that is pretty good though it isn’t as fancy as the full Super-Resolution package. Super-Resolution does show up on some of Epson’s projectors though they are about 3x the price of the 2040.
One good thing about both of these projectors is that they both have Creative Frame Interpolation (CFI), otherwise known as smooth motion, which is terribly hard to find on a projector that costs less than $1,000. CFI is usually used on sports more than general TV, and a lot of projector fans don’t like CFI on their 24fps movies. So you can imagine that a projector like the 2040 will most likely be used for watching sports or general HDTV as opposed to in a dark room for watching movies. Regardless, you’d rather have CFI on something like the 2040 instead of a projector that costs you $3,000. The 2040 also comes with rather good color right out of the box. In most cases, you’re using Cinema or Bright Cinema modes or their 3D projector equivalents. This projector is also good at revealing dark shadow details though the black levels are not as good as the color.
When it comes to the warranty, you’re getting a pretty good deal, especially for the price. The warranty for the 2040 is 2 years with 2 years of rapid replacement service. A lot of projectors at this price range only have 1-year parts and labor warranties, though ViewSonic beats out everyone with a 3-year warranty. In terms of hardware, there is a manual zoom lens with an expected amount of zooming capabilities and keystone correction. In addition to that, this projector only weighs 5.7 pounds, so you can easily transport it wherever you want, and there is also a built-in speaker and audio out.
These projectors are good, all-around projectors for the family. If you want a nice little projector that comes with no hassles, an easy setup, and a warranty that is better than most others than the Home Cinema 2040 or Home Cinema 2045 may be the projectors you’re looking for. The feature sets are great and these projectors are perfect for simple plug-and-play operations, and the CFI is an added bonus. Oh, and did I mention that they both won Best in Class – Value awards? You can get the Home Cinema 2040 from Epson for $799 and the Home Cinema 2045 for $849.
Content originally published here
Sharing this story on Social Media? Use these hashtags! #Epson #HomeCinema2040 #HomeCinema2045 #3DProjectors