The Epson PowerLite X9 is a 3LCD projector with many of the same features as its PowerLite brother. However, it does lack an HDMI port and a smaller audio package, but it still tacks on an extra $100 in the price. One of the main features that Epson, touts, is one that the X12 does not have -- built-in closed captioning.
Dimensions
The PowerLite X9 measures 11.6 inches wide by 9.0 inches in diameter by 3.1 inches high when the feet are taken into consideration, and lowering the feet drops the height down to 3 inches, so it has the same exact dimensions as the Epson PowerLite X12. (Read the full overview for the PowerLite X12 here.) It also weighs in at 5.1 pounds -- again, the same as the X12 and also the same as the VS-200.
Display Specs
The PowerLite X9 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, with a native XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. The resolution can be resized to the following formats, depending on your needs:
- 640 x 480 (VGA)
- 800 x 600 (SVGA)
- 1152 x 864 (SXGA1)
- 1280 X 800 (WXGA)
- 1440 x 900 (WSXGA)
- 1280 X 960 (SXGA2)
- 1280 X 1024 (SXGA3)
- 1280 X 768 (WXGA60-1)
- 1360 X 768 (WXGA60-2)
- 1400 X 1050 (SXGA+)
The throw ratio range is listed as 1.45 - 1.96. It can project from a distance of 30 inches to 350 inches. This is an extra 50 inches than the PowerLite X12.
Light output for the X9 is listed at 2,500 lumens for both color and white light, which is 300 less than the X12. It uses a 200-watt UHE E-TORL lamp (Epson's own lamp technology), so it has the same lamp as Epson's MegaPlex models and as the X12. The company states that this lamp lasts up to 5,000 hours in ECO Mode and 4,000 hours in Normal Mode.
When purchasing a projector, the lamp lifetime is an important concern because replacing the lamp can get extremely costly. A quick check of several online shopping sites showed that the replacement for this lamp can cost anywhere from around $150 to $250. Since this can be about a third to almost a half of the cost of the projector, you'll definitely want to keep this figure in mind if you plan to be a heavy user. Luckily, 5,000 hours is still a very long time for most people.
Audio Specs
The X9 comes with one 1-watt speaker, so it falls short of the two 1-speakers of the X12. It also comes well short of the two 10-watt speakers that are in the MegaPlex projectors. However, the smaller speaker does help keep the weight down, which can be beneficial if you're planning on toting this around. You should consider having an external audio source if you're going to use this in a large environment, such as a large lecture hall.
The fan noise for the PowerLite X9 is listed at 29 dB in Low Light Output Mode and 37 dB in High Light Output Mode. This is the same as the X12 but slightly higher than the VS-200.
Inputs
The inputs include D-sub 15-pin component video, D-sub 15-pin monitor, S-Video, RCA composite video, stereo mini audio in and audio out, and Type B USB connector. The biggest difference from the PowerLite X12 is shown here. There is no HDMI input and there is no USB A connector, so you can't use this as a standalone projector.
Power
The power consumption for the PowerLite X9 is listed at 280 watts, which is slightly less than the X12.
Security
The projector comes with Kensington's lock provision (a commonly found hole meant for use with Kensington's popular locking systems). There is no mention of the password protection that the VS-200 has.
Lens
The lens for the PowerLite X9 has a manual focus with an optical zoom. Check out this article for an explanation of the difference between optical and digital zooms.
The zoom ratio is listed at 1.0 - 1.2, the same as the X12.
Closed Captioning
One of the features that Epson highlights in this model is the built-in closed captioning. This is something that can be extremely useful if you're going to operate this in an education setting.
What You Get
Included in the box with the PowerLite X9 is: power cord, VGA cable, a remote control with batteries, and the user's guide on a CD. This remote can also be used at a distance of up to 19 feet, according to the company (just slightly less than the X12), and it features the following functions: source search, computer, video, USB, power, aspect, color mode, volume, e-zoom, A/V mute, freeze, menu, enter, page up and down, ESC, help, auto, mouse functions, user, number and pointer.
The inclusion of a Color Mode option on the remote is interesting because Epson doesn't mention on its website how many Color Modes are available for the PowerLite X9 (the same thing as with the X12). Color Modes can be extremely helpful if you plan to project onto something other than a projection screen, such as a blackboard or a whiteboard.
Takeaway
The PowerLite X9 is curiously an extra $100 over the X12, although it had nearly identical features and actually drops a few (such as HDMI, USB and about 300 lumens, not to mention a speaker). Despite this, it's possible the closed captioning feature is a crucial one for you to have, in which case, the X9 is your projector. Otherwise, it would probably be best to check out the X12 instead.
