The DX4, DX5, DX6, and DX7 are four generations of Epson piezo printheads used across eco-solvent and solvent wide-format printers β Roland, Mimaki, Mutoh, and others. They're not interchangeable, and one common source of confusion is the DX6: it's not a performance upgrade over the DX5, it's essentially the same internal technology in a smaller, vertically-oriented housing built to fit specific printer models. If you're trying to identify which head your printer actually uses before ordering, here's what separates them.
π DX4 β The Legacy Workhorse
The oldest of the four, dating back to the early 2000s. Each DX4 head is a single-color printhead β most printers run two to four of them together, one per ink channel, rather than one integrated multi-color head.
2 rows of 180 nozzles per head
4pl minimum droplet size
Found in older Mimaki, Roland, and Mutoh eco-solvent printers
Still widely supported due to a long production run and broad ink compatibility (dye, pigment, and eco-solvent inks)
πΆοΈ DX5 β The Industry Standard
The most widely recognized and used head in this lineup. Unlike the DX4, the DX5 is a single integrated head covering multiple colors.
8 rows of 180 nozzles = 1,440 nozzles total
4pl minimum droplet size
Solvent and eco-solvent compatible
Known for reliability and broad printer support β the head most commonly referenced as the "standard" for this generation of wide-format printing
π¦ DX6 β Same Technology, Different Package
This is the one people most often get wrong. The DX6 isn't a newer or faster head than the DX5 β it uses essentially the same internal print technology, repackaged into a smaller, vertically-oriented housing so it physically fits into printer models the horizontal DX5 housing doesn't fit. If your printer specifically calls for a DX6, it's almost always about physical compatibility with that machine, not a performance difference from the DX5.
β‘ DX7 β The Refinement
The newest generation, built to reduce banding and improve ink delivery consistency rather than dramatically increase raw speed.
8 rows of 180 nozzles = 1,440 nozzles total (same nozzle count as DX5)
Finer minimum droplet size than the DX5, with a wider variable-drop range for smoother gradients
New automatic circulating ink supply system, designed to reduce ink starvation and banding compared to the DX5
Generally regarded as offering lower running costs than the DX5, though not necessarily faster raw print speed β this varies by machine and RIP configuration, so treat speed claims (including this one) as machine-dependent rather than a fixed spec
π Quick Comparison
| Head | Nozzles | Min. Droplet | Format | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DX4 | 2 Γ 180 (per color) | 4pl | Separate head per color | Oldest, still widely supported |
| DX5 | 8 Γ 180 = 1,440 | 4pl | Integrated multi-color | Industry standard |
| DX6 | 8 Γ 180 = 1,440 | 4pl | Integrated, compact vertical housing | Same tech as DX5, different form factor |
| DX7 | 8 Γ 180 = 1,440 | Finer, variable | Integrated multi-color | Reduced banding, lower running cost |
π οΈ Not Sure Which One You Need?
These heads aren't interchangeable across printer models, and the same generation name can map to different exact part numbers depending on your specific machine. Send us your printer make and model and we'll confirm the exact printhead before you order.
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