BenQ AW30ST vs Epson Home Cinema 980
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Choosing between the BenQ AW30ST and Epson Home Cinema 980? Both compete in the Projector segment. Here’s how they compare across the specs that matter most for your home theater.
Pricing for both models is currently unavailable. Check the retailer links below for current deals.
Looking at overall performance dimensions: The BenQ AW30ST scores higher in form factor, room fit. The Epson Home Cinema 980 leads in value, gaming performance. They score similarly in ease of use.
The Epson Home Cinema 980 offers higher brightness at 4000 ANSI lumens vs 3200, and different projection technologies (DLP vs 3LCD). More lumens means a brighter image, critical if you can't fully darken your room. Below 2000 lumens needs a dedicated dark room; 3000+ handles ambient light. In a dedicated dark room, contrast ratio and color accuracy may matter more than raw brightness.
These two Projector options trade wins across different dimensions. The right choice depends on which specs matter most for your room and listening preferences — review the detailed table below to decide.
These two are closely matched — your decision comes down to your specific room setup and speaker pairing and budget.
Performance Overview
Scores based on specs and category benchmarks (0–100 scale)
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | N/A | N/A |
| Native Resolution | WXGA | 1080p |
| Technology | DLP | 3LCD |
| Throw Ratio Min | 0.72 | 1.21 |
| Throw Ratio Max | 0.87 | 1.45 |
| Lens Shift V | — | — |
| Lens Shift H | — | — |
| ANSI Lumens | 3200 | 4000 |
| CLO Lumens | — | 4000 |
| Contrast Ratio | 20000:1 | 16000:1 |
| HDR Support | ||
| Input Lag | 33.4ms | — |
| Lamp Life | 30000hrs | 6000hrs |
| Light Source | LED | lamp |
| Lens Quality | — | — |
| Tone Mapping | — | — |
| Ultra Short Throw | No | No |
| Chip Size | — | — |
| Color Depth | 30bit | 10bit |
| Zoom Ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Zoom Type | manual | Manual |
| Focus Type | — | Manual |
| Noise (Normal) | 32dB | 37dB |
| Noise (Eco) | 28dB | 28dB |
| Power Draw | 237W | 349W |
| HDMI Inputs | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI Version | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| 3D Support | Yes | No |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Speaker Power | 10W | 2W |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Streaming Apps | Yes | No |
| Lens Memory | No | No |
| 12V Trigger | No | No |
| Ethernet | No | No |
| Frame Interpolation | No | No |
| Native Aspect | — | 16:9 |
Key Differences
- Lamp Life: BenQ AW30ST at 30000hrs vs Epson Home Cinema 980 at 6000hrs
- Speaker Power: BenQ AW30ST at 10W vs Epson Home Cinema 980 at 2W
- Native Resolution: BenQ AW30ST at WXGA vs Epson Home Cinema 980 at 1080p
- Technology: BenQ AW30ST at DLP vs Epson Home Cinema 980 at 3LCD
- Color Depth: BenQ AW30ST at 30bit vs Epson Home Cinema 980 at 10bit
Which Should You Choose?
Choose BenQ AW30ST if you want:
- + better throw ratio min
- + better contrast ratio
- + better lamp life
- + better noise (normal)
Choose Epson Home Cinema 980 if you want:
- + better ansi lumens — more lumens means a brighter image, critical if you can't fully darken your room
Specifications sourced from manufacturer datasheets and verified against retailer listings. Prices updated hourly from authorized retailers. Scoring uses our open methodology — products are never ranked, promoted, or suppressed based on affiliate commission rates.
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