Epson Home Cinema 980: Specs, Throw Distance & Alternatives
A bright 1080p 3LCD lamp projector with a 1.2x manual zoom. Epson rates it at 4,000 lumens for both white and color brightness. It has no lens shift and no built-in streaming (a USB port powers a streaming stick), and Epson publishes no input lag figure.
Is the Epson Home Cinema 980 right for you?
Good for
- Rooms with some light: 4,000 lumens rated for both white and color brightness
- Placement flexibility from a 1.2x manual zoom: a 100-inch image from about 8.8 to 10.6 ft
- Streaming with a stick of your own: the USB port supplies 5 V / 2 A
- Easy to move for a lamp projector at 6.8 lb
What to plan for
- No built-in streaming: Epson says the streaming stick is not included
- No lens shift and a fixed offset, so the mount or table height has to be right
- No input lag figure is published, and no game mode is documented
- HDMI audio is PCM only, audio out is 3.5 mm, and there is a single 2 W speaker
- Lamp rated for 6,000 hours in High Power mode (12,000 in ECO)
Based on manufacturer specifications and published reviews (sources below). We don't do hands-on testing.
Epson Home Cinema 980 specs
| Resolution | 1080p (1920 × 1080 native 3LCD) |
|---|---|
| Brightness | 4,000 lumens white (ISO) and color (IDMS) (Epson rating) |
| Display technology | LCD |
| Light source | Lamp (230 W) |
| Lamp life (High Power mode) | 6,000 hours |
| Contrast ratio | Up to 16,000:1 dynamic (Epson rating) |
| Throw ratio | 1.21-1.45:1 |
| Lens shift | None (fixed offset) |
| HDMI ports | 2 |
| Speakers | 2 W |
| Weight | 6.8 lb |
How far from the screen?
Lens-to-screen distance for a 16:9 image, calculated from its 1.21-1.45:1 throw ratio. The zoom lets you place it anywhere in the range.
| Screen | Closest | Farthest |
|---|---|---|
| 80″ | 7' 0" | 8' 5" |
| 100″ | 8' 9" | 10' 6" |
| 120″ | 10' 7" | 12' 8" |
| 150″ | 13' 2" | 15' 10" |
Epson Home Cinema 980 alternatives at a similar price
In-stock 1080p projectors priced closest to it on Amazon today.
| Model | Price today | Amazon rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson Home Cinema 980 (this one) | $800 | 4.5★ | — |
| Optoma GT1080HDR Short Throw Gaming Projector | $799 | 4.3★ | — |
| BenQ TH671ST 1080p Short Throw Gaming Projector | $849 | 4.5★ | — |
| Optoma HZ41 4600-Lumen Full HD Laser DLP Home Theater and Ga | $899 | 3.5★ | — |
| Optoma EH401 Compact Standard Throw Professional Projector | $699 | 5.0★ | — |
Epson Home Cinema 980 head-to-head comparisons
- Epson 980 vs Epson Pro EX9270
Epson 980 vs Pro EX9270 — what the wireless step-up actually buys
- Epson 980 vs Optoma HD28HDR
Budget 1080p duel: Epson’s color brightness vs Optoma’s gaming speed
Where it fits
Epson Home Cinema 980 FAQ
- How far from the screen should the Epson Home Cinema 980 be for a 100-inch image?
- Between 8' 9" and 10' 6" from lens to screen, depending on the zoom setting (throw ratio 1.21-1.45:1).
- Does the Epson Home Cinema 980 have lens shift?
- No. It has no lens shift and a fixed offset, with a 1.2x manual zoom, so the image position is set by where the projector sits.
Sources
- Epson Home Cinema 980 product page
- Epson Home Cinema 980 general specifications
- ProjectorCentral: Epson Home Cinema 980
Price, stock and rating come from Amazon and update automatically (last checked Nov 14, 2026, 8:00 PM).
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