EPSON / LASER PROJECTOR

Epson LS12000 / LS11000 + Vertex

The LS12000 and LS11000 do not decode Dolby Vision, but they show LLDV from the Vertex as an HDR10 picture. This guide covers the Signal I/O settings and both ways to trigger HDR.

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 and Home Cinema LS11000 (US, 2021/2022); in Europe EH-LS12000B and EH-LS11000W. Menus differ slightly between the US and EU manuals (see Video Range).

DOLBY VISION WITH THIS SETUP

No native Dolby Vision; LLDV from the Vertex works as HDR10 when Dynamic Range is on Auto with the Vertex HDR InfoFrame, or forced to HDR10/HDR10+.

Native Dolby Vision: NOHDR10, HDR10+ and HLG only; no Dolby Vision.
LLDV via the Vertex: YESIn Auto the projector needs an HDR InfoFrame, which LLDV does not carry. Epson lets you force Dynamic Range = HDR10/HDR10+, so the Vertex InfoFrame is optional.
HDR10: YESHDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. Both HDMI inputs accept up to 4K 120 Hz (40 Gbps), but through the Vertex the chain is limited to 18 Gbps (up to 4K 60 Hz).

Before you start

The Vertex passes up to 18 Gbps: 4K120 10-bit HDR and other HDMI 2.1 modes will not pass, even though the projector supports them.
Make sure plain HDR10 already shows as HDR before you try LLDV.

1. Basic signal and picture settings

Black levelMenu → Signal I/O → Signal Format → Video RangeAuto if your menu has it; otherwise Limited (16-235) or Full (0-255) to match your sourceThe US guide lists Auto; the EU EH-LS12000B guide v1.10 lists only Limited and Full.
Colour spaceMenu → Signal I/O → Signal Format → Color SpaceAuto (other options: BT.709, BT.2020)Epson: Auto for most cases.
HDR switchingMenu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → Dynamic RangeAuto (other options: SDR, HDR10/HDR10+, HLG)Epson recommends Auto.
HDMI input levelMenu → Signal I/O → HDMI IN EQ LevelAuto (other options: Low, Medium, High)Only change it if you see noise or get no picture.
Image processingMenu → Signal I/O → Image ProcessingFineEpson: Frame Interpolation is only shown when Image Processing is Fine.

2. Settings for LLDV from the Vertex

Choose one of the two ways to get the projector into HDR10 (PQ) mode.

Way A (recommended): Auto + Vertex HDR InfoFrameMenu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → Dynamic RangeAutoThe projector switches to HDR10 by itself when the Vertex adds the InfoFrame.
Way B: force HDR10Menu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → Dynamic RangeHDR10/HDR10+, and Signal I/O → Signal Format → Color Space = BT.2020Forces PQ without an InfoFrame; set both back to Auto before you watch SDR.
Check what the projector detectsMenu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → Signal StatusRead only: should show HDR10 while LLDV playsDisplays the detected input signal.
Tune HDR brightnessMenu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → HDR10/HDR10+ SettingAdjust for your screen and roomEpson: only shown when Signal Status is HDR10/HDR10+ or Dynamic Range is set to HDR10/HDR10+.

THE VERTEX PART

Vertex settings for this setup

LLDV: either force HDR on the display (see the steps above) or let the Vertex send an HDR10 InfoFrame with Enable Custom HDR (part B2). Use one of the two, and undo it for SDR.
Connect the projector to a Vertex output; if a Dolby Vision TV is also connected, the TV must use the BOTTOM output, so put the projector on TOP.
The Vertex HDR InfoFrame is optional because Dynamic Range can be forced to HDR10/HDR10+; with the InfoFrame, Auto switches for you.
The Vertex 'Enable Custom HDR' setting stays on until you switch it off, so SDR content is then also flagged as HDR (Vertex manual p.32, p.77).
Keep the Vertex scaler in passthrough (No Scaling) for LLDV; the projector does the 4K processing.

VERTEX DOLBY VISION SETUP — ALL STEPS →

Switch these off

Forced Dynamic Range = HDR10/HDR10+ and Color Space = BT.2020 (Way B) when watching SDRSDR will look wrong; return both to Auto.

How you know it works

Menu → Signal I/O → Dynamic Range → Signal Status shows HDR10 while LLDV plays.
The HDR10/HDR10+ Setting item appears in the Dynamic Range menu once HDR10 is detected or forced.

Problems and fixes

LLDV looks grey and washed out.

Signal Status shows SDR: enable the HDR InfoFrame on the Vertex, or force Dynamic Range = HDR10/HDR10+.

Sparkles, noise or no picture.

Try Signal I/O → HDMI IN EQ Level = Low, Medium or High, and check the cable.

NOT CONFIRMED BY THE MANUFACTURER

Epson has EDID (HDMI1) / EDID (HDMI2) → EDID Mode and an HDR10+ On/Off item, but the available EDID Mode values were not confirmed for this guide; check your manual before changing them.
Epson does not document whether forcing HDR10 without an HDR InfoFrame gives exactly correct colour.

CHECKED AGAINST

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