Quick Summary​

This post will summarize months of research that I and others on AVSForum have conducted. What we've found:

The Issue

• The issue appears to be with how the projector handles the red color channel with BT.2020 color space content. BT.2020 color space is most frequently associated with HDR content, but it can be forced with SDR content
• This manifests as blotchy colors visible in gradients or on people's faces in cooler color temperature scenarios, leading to inaccurate and unnatural reproduction -- see images below
• This happens with any source device, at any signal settings from the lowest quality 4:2:0 8-bit YUV, to 12-bit RGB, from 24 hz to 120 hz
• This happens in any color mode
• This happens with any source, from video games, to streaming video, to UHD BDs
• I've done factory resets and the issue persists, and even the latest 2.0 firmware does not resolve this issue

Testing

• I have personally spent upwards of 20+ hours systematically testing various combinations of settings to narrow this down
• I have done the same tests with a Sony TV and projector and could not replicate the results there indicating this is truly an Epson projector issue

Support

• I first engaged Epson support about this issue May 2023 and it took several months of back and forth emails to try and explain the issue
• Epson support at one point sent me a replacement projector which exhibited the same issue
• On August 29th, 2023 support said they have assessed the issue and are working on a fix

To date (September 2024) they have not resolved the issue, and continue to sell the LS12000 (and LS11000 which is similarly affected) with this issue. Hopefully this post will shed some light on the issue.

In 2015 I had a home theater mostly built out from Craigslist finds over the years, but my pride and joy was my Infinity SW-12 subwoofer. Then Interstellar came out on Blu-ray, and I saught to replicate that epic IMAX experience at home. I queued up the rocket launch scene and went for it. The engines roared to life and my body shook as if I was in the cockpit, riding this rocket into the darkness of space with my fellow astronauts. It was truly immersive -- but then a sense I didn't expect kicked in. The acrid smell of burning filled the room, but I didn't have smell-o-vision. The shaking and rumbling stopped despite the rocket still racing through the atmosphere. My invincible Infinity SW-12 had reached its limit and fried itself.

Ugh.

DIYing The First Subwoofers​

I started researching replacements and quickly stumbled upon the Martysub. The more I read, the more I wanted to try my hand at building the subs. I didn't have quite the space necessary for the full Martysub design, so I went with the smaller Micromarty sub design, and then tweaked the plans to have a skinnier + taller cabinet width of 18" and 24" of height. I borrowed some tools from my family members, ordered the new drivers, and got to work.

My cat performs the ritual swearing in of new AV gear by sitting on it.

Background​

I'm a huge home theater nut. It drove my house buying decision, I spent years planning my build, and another 9+ months actually doing all the build. I DIY'd everything I could, and cobbled together a collection of gear that offered some excellent value, but soon wanted an upgrade.