BenQ Front Projector Ithaca NY

Review Note: Two different firmware versions of the product were reviewed and tested. This review reflects the current version and differences between them are noted when applicable. To update a projector to the current firmware requires an exchange by BenQ. The new version replaces USER 2 and USER 3 presets with ISF Day and ISF Night on the remote and is noted in some portions of the technical section. After the final conclusion, you will find a quick synopsis of the main differences between the two versions.

1080p DLP front projection is slowly starting to dribble into the market but pricing has been high. BenQ is providing the W10000 for the street price of just under $6000, providing a full 1920x1080 DLP Dark Chip3 DMD far closer in price range with other recently released 1080p technology at $5k and below.

As noted, this is a full 1920x1080 chip and does not use wobulation. The advantage here is the potential for a pixel perfect response. Bear in mind this also means pixels are going to be more visible but whether or not that is a problem is a matter of viewing distance. This is a single chip display utilizing an 8 segment color wheel, which also means rainbows are possible. The "rainbow effect", as its known, is a byproduct of using a color wheel to rapidly flash alternating red, green, and blue picture elements to the screen. For a small segment of the population, this can create a visible "rainbow" artifact when projected content features bright objects on a dark background (movie credits, for example). While greatly reduced over the years by adding more sections and increasing rotational speed, they are still perceptible by some viewers.

Common Features

• White cabinet finish
• One HDMI, BNC RGBHV, component RCA, S-video and composite input
• Accepts 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p and that new magic number, 1080p 24 frame
• Serial RS232 port for external control of the projector
• 12V trigger output
  
• Fairly good size remote that was comfortable in the hand, easy to use and includes an orange backlighting button providing great clarity for reading buttons in the dark
• Aspect controls work with all scan rates providing 4:3 and LETTERBOX screen modes, a non-linear stretch for 4:3 content to fill out your screen called WIDE, ANAMORPHIC to fill out your screen with 720p or SD 16:9 sources
• 3 color space presets and 2 grayscale presets
• first version: 3 user presets
• second version: 1 user preset, ISF Day and ISF Night presets
• PIP/POP feature limited to 480i with HD sources only. Does not support two HD sources or two 480i sources
• 10 bit digital vid...