Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 725HD Overview
The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 725HD is one of the more entry-level projectors in Epson's home theater category.
Dimensions
The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 725HD is a 3LCD projector. It measures 11.69 inches wide by 9.21 inches in diameter by 3.11 inches high when the feet are not taken into consideration.
This model weighs in at 5.29 pounds. If portability is a chief concern, take a look at pico projectors, which are roughly the size and weight of an iPod.
Display Specs
The native aspect ratio is listed at 16:10, which means it is ideal for widescreen viewing. It can also resize the ratio to 4:3 and 16:9.
The native resolution is WXGA (1280 x 800). Resize resolutions aren't listed, which is extremely unusual. This is mostly just indicates that Epson neglected to include the information, not that the projector isn't capable of resizing. It can project content up to 720p.
The contrast ratio is 12,000:1.
The throw ratio range is listed as 1.30 (zoom: wide) - 1.56 (zoom: tele). (Click here to read more about throw ratios.) The Home Cinema 725HD can project from a distance of 33 inches to 318 inches.
Light output is listed at 2,800 lumens for both color and white light. This is a slight decrease from the Home Cinema 600, which features 3,000 lumens and is listed as the step-down model in Epson's Home Theater category.
Color and white light are measured using the IDMS 15.4 and ISO 21118 standards, respectively, according to Epson.
The projector uses a 200-watt UHE E-TORL lamp (Epson's own lamp technology).
The company says this lamp lasts up to 6,000 hours in ECO Mode and 6,000 in Normal Mode. The lamp life is 1,000-hour improvement over previous models and falls more in line with Epson's current standards.
Which, as always, brings us to this: When purchasing a projector, the lamp lifetime is an important concern because replacing the lamp can be pricey (this is no ordinary light bulb). Replacement lamps can run the gamut depending on the type you need, but expect to spend between $100 and $200 for one.
Lamp life can also vary based on the type of viewing modes used and in what type of setting it's used. As the company points out in its product literature, the lamp brightness will decrease over time.
At the time of this writing (January 2015), the cost of a lamp at Staples.com was $127.89.
Audio Specs
The Home Cinema 725HD comes with one 2-watt speaker. If you're going to use this projector in a large environment like a lecture hall or a large place of worship, and will require audio, consider using an external audio source.
The fan noise is 29 dB in ECO Mode and 37 dB in Normal Mode, according to Epson. This is about standard for the company's PowerLite models.
Wireless Capabilities
There are no wireless capabilities mentioned for the PowerLite Home Cinema 725HD.
Inputs
There are several inputs: one HDMI, two RCA (one audio L/R), one S Video, one VGA D-sub 15-pin (computer input), one USB Type A, and one USB Type B.
If you're not sure of the differences between Type A and Type B USB ports, here is a brief lesson on the difference between the two inputs: Type A looks like a rectangle and is the kind that you'll use with a memory stick (also called a portable flash drive). Type B looks like a square and is used for connecting other computer peripherals, such as a mouse or keyboard.
Because the Home Cinema 725HD does have the Type A connector, you will not be required to use a computer for presentations. You can store your files on a memory stick or hard drive, connect it to the projector, and carry on.
Power
The power consumption is listed at 283 watts in Normal Mode and 207 in ECO Mode. This is about average for Epson projectors with this feature set.
Security
The Home Cinema 725HD comes with Kensington's lock provision (a commonly found hole meant for use with Kensington's popular locking systems), which is found in most Epson projectors. There is no mention of password protection for this model.
Lens
The lens has a manual zoom. This article from About.com's Camcorder site explains the differences between optical and digital zooms.
The zoom ratio is listed at 1.0 - 1.2, which is the same as the former model.
Warranty
A one-year limited warranty is included for the projector. The lamp is under a 90-day warranty. There is no mention of being covered under Epson's Road Service program.
What You Get
Included in the box: projector, power cable, component-to-VGA cable, remote control with batteries, the software and user manual CDs. There's no mention of the soft carrying case that typically accompanies Epson projectors.
The remote can also be used at a distance of up to 19.6, which is pretty typical for Epson projectors. The remote features the following functions: Source search selection, power, volume, e-zoom, A/V mute, freeze, menu, page up and down, help, auto, and mouse functions.
There are built-in color modes for this model, although Epson doesn't detail them.
This model feature automatic vertical keystone correction. Horizontal keystone correction is done manually.
Other features of the projector include a Sleep Mode that can be set from one to 30 minutes of inactivity; and Direct Power On/Off, which lets you set it so you can turn the projector on and off with a wall switch. Other Epson projectors also have these features including the PowerLite 1771W.
There is also a Power Button Lock for parents who want to prevent the projector being turned on.