The Epson PowerLite 1776W Multimedia Projector, an ultra-light data projector, is a modest upgrade to the Epson PowerLite 1775W Multimedia Projector, a PCMag Editors' Choice, which it is replacing in Epson's lineup. The 1776W comes in at a slightly lower price, and adds auto horizontal keystone correction. It inherits its predecessor's slim and light form factor, very good data and video image quality, and the connectivity ports that count in a portable data projector. It might have become Editors' Choice itself, if it weren't for a similar yet lower-priced model that Epson introduced at the same time: the Epson PowerLite 1761W Multimedia Projector .

The 1776W has a rated brightness of 3,000 lumens, and has native WXGA (1,280 by 800) resolution, compatible with widescreen laptops with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This projector’s light engine uses 3LCD technology, which Epson helped to develop.

This projector measures a slim 2.1 by 11.5 by 8.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.8 pounds. It’s reminiscent in form to the Casio Slim XJ-A246 , which has almost identical dimensions but is a little heavier, at 5 pounds.

The 1776W has a zoom wheel but no focus wheel. Instead, you use left and right arrow buttons, either from the projector or the remote control, to focus. This changes the focus in precise increments and is good enough to get a sharp image. The projector comes with a soft carrying case replete with several pouches.

The 1776W has the ports that count for a portable data projector: VGA, HDMI, RCA video, audio in; a type B USB port for keyboard and mouse control; and a type A USB port for running a presentation off a USB thumb drive. It has a second type A USB port, behind a screw-off cover, specifically for a wireless LAN module. The included Quick Connect USB thumb drive can be plugged into a PC to provide quick ad-hoc network setup.

Data Testing

I tested the 1776W from about seven feet away, where the image filled our test screen (about 70 inches diagonal). It was bright enough to stand up to a fair amount of ambient light without notable degradation.

Our data and video tests are done in theater-dark conditions. Data image quality, as tested using the DisplayMate suite, was above average for a business projector. In our text test, the type was readable at all sizes, though slightly blurred at the smallest. I noticed some tinting in white and gray backgrounds; though not severe, it was a bit more apparent than with the Epson 1761W. Still, the tinting was milder than what I saw with the Casio XJ-A246, and few people are likely to be bothered by it.

Video and Sound

Video quality was very good for a data projector. It's fine for video clips of any length as part of a presentation, or even to show movies with. It did well in dark scenes; there was a slight loss of detail in some very bright scenes. As an LCD-based projector, it avoids the rainbow artifacts that plague video from some DLP projectors.

Audio, though modest in volume, is louder than many projectors we've seen with similar 1-watt speakers, and sound quality is decent. It should be adequate for use in a small room, and perhaps a mid-sized one.

Bulb Life

The Casio XJ-A246 is equipped with Casio's hybrid LED-laser light engine. Its bulb can last up to 20,000 hours, essentially the lifetime of the projector, while the 1776W's is rated for just 4,000 hours.  The Epson, though, offers better data and video image quality (the latter free of rainbow artifacts), and comes in at a lower price.

The Epson PowerLite 1776W Multimedia Projector is brighter than the Epson 1761W, rated at 2,600 lumens, but its data image quality wasn't quite as good in our testing due to slightly more tinting. Although the 1761W can connect via Wi-Fi, the 1776W's USB dongle provides easier ad-hoc wireless connectivity. The 1776W adds auto horizontal keystone correction and Auto Screen Fit to the 1761W's automatic vertical keystone correction.

If you need a slightly brighter projector or if these extra features are important, the 1776W may be a better choice. If not, you can save a good bit of money with the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 1761W. In either case, you get a supremely capable ultra-light projector with above-average data and video quality and connectivity options including Wi-Fi, HDMI, and the ability to run presentations computer-free off a USB thumb drive.

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