Epson CO-W01

Introduction

The Epson CO-W01 is a compact, no-nonsense multimedia projector that offers big screen service without breaking the bank.

Part of Epson’s EpiqVision Flex range, this WXGA-resolution model has been designed with versatility uppermost in mind.

Whether you’re setting up a presentation in the office or planning a weekend sports party, the CO-W01 prioritises portability and simplicity over bells and whistles. It’s easy to like, and even easier to use, but it has its limitations…

Price

The Epson CO-W01 sells for £449 in the UK, or $399 in the US. Shop for one in Australia and it’ll set you back around AUS$538. These price tags place it squarely in the budget/mid-range for multimedia models.

A range of official accessories are available, including a soft carry case and wireless LAN adaptor. There’s also the rather fancy JiangJiangBao travel bag, designed specifically for the CO-W01. It has adjustable straps and waterproof lining, and is available in purple or grey on Amazon, for £35.99 / $39.99.

Design

• Single HDMI input
• No audio output
• Retractable tilting foot

A rather utilitarian aesthetic speaks to the projector’s intent: this is a workhorse, not a show pony.

Clad in clean white plastic and with a footprint not much larger than an A4 sheet, it’s compact enough to sit on a desk or throw into a backpack. It weighs just 2.4kg, and with a retractable foot for tilt adjustment, plus manual focus, it’s ready to go wherever it’s needed – as long as there’s mains power as there’s no battery built-in.

Connectivity is side-mounted; a single HDMI input is about as frugal as it gets, and the absence of any audio output proves a major drawback for home cinema use. There’s a USB-A port for thumb drives, while a USB-B port is available for PC connection. Wi-Fi is off the table unless you buy Epson’s ELPAP11 adapter, which sells for around a hundred quid.

The matching white remote control offers a simple, navigational menu, with one touch buttons for keystone correction, brightness, volume, and sundry menu items. It’s not backlit.

Beneath the hood is a UHE (Ultra High Efficiency) lamp, with a lifespan of 6,000 hours (depending on picture mode).

Features

• 3000 lumens brightness
• 3LCD light engine
• Built-in test patterns

There’s no smart platform onboard; the homepage is as minimalist as the hardware itself. There are quick links to input sources and keystone correction, plus a built-in test pattern to help dial in sharpness, and confirm geometry.

Image sharpness is handled manually via the lens ring. The projector benefits from careful adjustment depending on your screen size and throw distance.

To achieve an image of 100-inches you’ll need to position the projector between 274 and 370cm away from your screen or wall. The display ratio is native 16:10.

A more modest screen size of around 60-inches, which might be what you’re trying to achieve in a bedroom or den for gaming, can be had for a throw distance between 164 and 222cm.

The CO-W01 is built around Epson 3LCD technology, a known quantity that avoids the rainbow artefacts commonly seen on DLP models. Its 3,000-lumen output means it can handle reasonably bright rooms.

Operational noise is high when the projector is on maximum brightness. I certainly found it intrusive when trying to watch a TV show or movie. Drop down to Eco, and fan noise falls away significantly. Light output also drops, to around 2,000 lumens. 

A lack of Dolby Digital decoding means any streaming stick you connect (be it Fire TV or Roku) should be set to output PCM audio. This is a minor headache, but not a deal breaker.

Picture Quality

• WXGA resolution
• Limited contrast
• SDR only

With performance tightly defined by its WXGA resolution (1280 x 800 pixels), it’s fair to say the Epson CO-W01 delivers a competent image for the price. With a native 16:10 aspect ratio and no HDR support or pixel-shifting wizardry, this isn’t an object of desire for cinephiles chasing 4K clarity, but for casual viewers pictures are enjoyable enough in the right conditions.

The projector’s biggest asset is brightness. Rated at 3,000 lumens (White and Colour Light Output), the CO-W01 casts a punchy, high-visibility image in dimly lit spaces and remains reasonably watchable with ambient light. That said, daylight viewing is not its forte, as contrast quickly collapses in bright rooms, and colour vibrancy washes out. For best results, draw the curtains or wait until sundown.

Picture modes comprise Cinema, SRGB, Presentation, Blackboard, Dynamic, and Vivid. In Cinema mode, colours appear pleasingly natural.  Watching Deadpool & Wolverine, reds and blacks hold their tone nicely; Deadpool’s suit looks true to form, and Wolverine’s metallic skeleton, in that opening dance number, gleams with enough detail to impress.

But stray from the Cinema preset and things go awry. Vivid and Dynamic may be tolerable for PowerPoint slides, but for drama or film viewing, they tend to look sickly.

Black level performance is mediocre. Shadow detail is largely absent, and contrast is limited. Even in a darkened room, the CO-W01 is unable to deliver true black; what you’ll get is a dark charcoal or mid-grey at best. Letterbox bars take on a flat, charcoal hue, and fine shadow detail disappears in darker sequences. This becomes especially noticeable in low-key scenes or moody thrillers.

Still, bright, colourful content pops well, and animation looks lush. The neon glow of K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix) benefits from this inherent high brightness and colour fidelity.

It helps that Epson’s 3LCD system avoids the rainbow effect associated with single-chip DLP beamers, and offers good colour uniformity across the screen. This gives the CO-W01 a leg up in everyday usability.

Upscaling

• 1080p down to 720p
• SD as is

Or should that be downscaling? HD content is displayed at 720p, and the projector does a reasonable job translating hi-def down. Fine text or detail can look soft, but it’s still serviceable for most content. Standard def content pretty much displays as is.

Gaming

While technically possible, I wouldn’t look to use this Epson for serious gaming; input lag is very noticeable. It may be OK for casual puzzlers, but competitive shooters will be frustrated. This isn’t a projector built with joypad jockeys in mind.

Sound Quality

• 5W mono sound
• No audio upgrade path

The built-in 5W mono sound system here is strictly utilitarian. Audio is thin and boxy, and there’s zero bass presence. Worse still, there’s no audio output – no headphone jack, no HDMI ARC, no optical out. If you want better sound, you’ll need to run audio from your source device, not the projector.

Should you buy it?

FAQs