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5050UB vs Theater

Reddit's answer is the Epson 5050UB. Buy it if you prioritize deep blacks and overall image quality in a home theater projector. The Theater is a Stay Away — don’t buy it.

Epson 5050UB
Epson · Projectors

5050UB

Buy If$3,499.99
75% of 396 owners recommend
~1 in 8 failure rate — ~1 in 8 long-term reports mention a failure, typically appearing between 22 and 49 months in. Components cited include the projector unit, optical engine/dust blobs, and green LCD ribbon connector, among others. Of tracked warranty outcomes, more cases landed outside warranty than were resolved under it — so budget for post-warranty repair risk.

Buy it if you prioritize deep blacks and overall image quality in a home theater projector.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as a reference point other projectors get compared against for deep blacks.

− A vocal minority find the brightness insufficient, particularly in rooms that aren't fully darkened.

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Formovie Theater
Formovie · Projectors

Theater

Stay Away$1,899.99
55% of 138 owners recommend
~1 in 2 failure rate — ~1 in 2 long-term owner reports describe a hardware failure, typically within 1–14 months of ownership. The most-cited components are DLP/DMD chip failures, projector unit issues, and eARC audio problems. Of 14 tracked warranty cases, 8 were unresolved — failures here usually land outside or beyond warranty coverage.

Don’t buy it

+ Owners call the image quality a clear standout for a UST projector at this price.

− Reliability is a recurring concern — ~1 in 2 long-term reports describe a hardware failure within 14 months.

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Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the 5050UB or the Theater?

Reddit's answer is the Epson 5050UB. Buy it if you prioritize deep blacks and overall image quality in a home theater projector. The Theater is a Stay Away — don’t buy it.

Is the Epson 5050UB worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Buy If. Buy it if you prioritize deep blacks and overall image quality in a home theater projector. Outstanding contrast and image quality, but ~1 in 8 long-term reports mention a hardware failure — usually landing outside warranty.

Is the Formovie Theater worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it. Stunning image quality — but ~1 in 2 long-term owner reports describe a hardware failure, and sentiment decays sharply after the first year.