irich
03-29-07, 05:34 AM
I chose the Benq as my first projector after a couple of weeks of intense net sifting and comparison.
I'm an expat working in the Middle East so available choice is limited. Currently have a large CRT TV. Hardly any HDTV here at the moment whether DVD or TV.
Large HDTV LCD and plasma TV is the big thing in the showrooms here (despite the aformentioned lack of availability of HD sources) but I was looking for something I can take with me in a years time if needed. I am also happy to wait a year or so for 1080 format display technology to be debugged and prices to level out. There are a lot of 'buggy' products out there I think (nearly bought an MT700 but luckily read the posts on this forum)
So, I chose the Benq as a low cost 'stand in' and bought one new and unseen from a large local retailer at a low price. Took a chance on the rainbow effect (none visible by either my wife or I, or our friends so far). The 4x 7 segment colour wheel appears to work.
Set it up last night in a darkened room (easy here, always dark in the evening!)
Connected to a Denon 1930 DVD player via a progressive scan component connection. Still trying to work out what signal the Denon is feeding the Benq as the upscaling stuff all appears to be on the Denon HDMI connector, which is not available on the Benq.
Anyway, my wife thought it was amazing so that is the first and most important comment.
Projecting onto a white wall as I have not mounted the screen yet (todays job).
I thought that the 480p native resolution would mean a relatively poor image compared to 720p but this is not the case. DVD appears bright, rich and very sharp out of the box. I have the projector on a low coffee table about 10' or so from the wall and I am getting a 70" widescreen, which is about the optimum size from initial viewing. We sit about 12 feet from the screen
Colour and contrast is very good, although bright whites seem to wash out a little (I've not tried any adjustment yet however, still reading the manual). I may have the brightness too high judging from the amount of reflective ambient light in the room.
Ran a couple of scenes from the Matrix and Lord of the Rings and the scenes were cinematic. Very impressive. Some minor blurring at times in some fast action but not a problem. My wife was very impressed with the image given the price.
There is some audible noise from the unit which I think must be the colour wheel, but this is a low level 'whirr' and not an issue when watching a film. Ceiliing mounting will get rid of this I think.
There is also some light spill from below the unit but given the amount of light this thing throws out at the screen this is not an issue.
All in all, very good value and I am more than happy with the choice. And I'll get a 1080 format in a couple of years for the same price ..
I'm an expat working in the Middle East so available choice is limited. Currently have a large CRT TV. Hardly any HDTV here at the moment whether DVD or TV.
Large HDTV LCD and plasma TV is the big thing in the showrooms here (despite the aformentioned lack of availability of HD sources) but I was looking for something I can take with me in a years time if needed. I am also happy to wait a year or so for 1080 format display technology to be debugged and prices to level out. There are a lot of 'buggy' products out there I think (nearly bought an MT700 but luckily read the posts on this forum)
So, I chose the Benq as a low cost 'stand in' and bought one new and unseen from a large local retailer at a low price. Took a chance on the rainbow effect (none visible by either my wife or I, or our friends so far). The 4x 7 segment colour wheel appears to work.
Set it up last night in a darkened room (easy here, always dark in the evening!)
Connected to a Denon 1930 DVD player via a progressive scan component connection. Still trying to work out what signal the Denon is feeding the Benq as the upscaling stuff all appears to be on the Denon HDMI connector, which is not available on the Benq.
Anyway, my wife thought it was amazing so that is the first and most important comment.
Projecting onto a white wall as I have not mounted the screen yet (todays job).
I thought that the 480p native resolution would mean a relatively poor image compared to 720p but this is not the case. DVD appears bright, rich and very sharp out of the box. I have the projector on a low coffee table about 10' or so from the wall and I am getting a 70" widescreen, which is about the optimum size from initial viewing. We sit about 12 feet from the screen
Colour and contrast is very good, although bright whites seem to wash out a little (I've not tried any adjustment yet however, still reading the manual). I may have the brightness too high judging from the amount of reflective ambient light in the room.
Ran a couple of scenes from the Matrix and Lord of the Rings and the scenes were cinematic. Very impressive. Some minor blurring at times in some fast action but not a problem. My wife was very impressed with the image given the price.
There is some audible noise from the unit which I think must be the colour wheel, but this is a low level 'whirr' and not an issue when watching a film. Ceiliing mounting will get rid of this I think.
There is also some light spill from below the unit but given the amount of light this thing throws out at the screen this is not an issue.
All in all, very good value and I am more than happy with the choice. And I'll get a 1080 format in a couple of years for the same price ..