BenQ W5000 Home Theater Projector – Revisited
May 13th, 2008 Art Feierman
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Greetings all,
As all of you who read my W5000 review, I found the projector to be overall, one of the best affordable 1080p projectors out there, in terms of picture quality, except for one significant failing.
That issue is high levels of image noise. I’ve been keeping in touch with the folks at BenQ, with the hopes that a new version will solve the problem sufficiently. Here’s where things stand:
The W5000 I reviewed was one of the first to have firmware version 1.08. Since then, BenQ has released 1.12.
I asked the nice people at BenQ if 1.12 solved the problem. They report a small improvement in noise levels, but are hoping to have an even better version (in the not too distant future – we hope). In fact, here’s what one of my contacts sent to me specifically:
“What’s shipping from BenQ are 1.12, and we are working on the next version which I thought will be a more significant improvement.
The one you tested it was 1.08.
What’s shipping now is 1.12.
1.12 the overscan issue is solved, but only minor improvement done on noise. We are working on even more improvement.”
Based on that response – and their recommendation, I don’t plan to take a look at 1.12, but will hold out for the next version, which – it seems, promises a significant improvement. And that would tend to make the W5000 the best lower cost 1080p DLP around, if they can pull it off. BTW, still no ship date from them on W20000 projectors here in the US. -art
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May 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Are these firmwares user upgradeable like Infocus?
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Good question. BenQ projectors do not have field upgradable firmware. According to BenQ the projector must be sent in to have a firmware upgrade. In the US, customer pays the freight cost to get to BenQ, and BenQ pays the freight back.
Therefore, you would have a small out of pocket cost, but, depending on shipping, would likely be without the projector for a week, and maybe a few days more. -art
June 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Art: It has been over a month since your post, and still no word on a fix for the W5000’s picture noise issue. Please ask your contact at BenQ for an update on this issue. If there isn’t a fix by the end of July, I will have to look for another projector. I purchased a W5000 (1.02) from the BenQ store a few months ago, but I found the picture noise unacceptable so I returned it. Thanks in advance. Dick
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Hi Dick,
Last conversation with them was still “working on it”. However I’m meeting with one of their VP’s at Infocomm tomorrow. It is the first question on my list (ok, maybe second, after, where’s a damn W20000 for review).
June 25th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Art:
Please post an update on the W5000. What did the BenQ VP say when you asked him/her about the W5000’s picture noise issue at Infocomm???
When are you getting the W20000 for review???
Thank’s in advance. Dick
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Greetings Dick,
I think I’ve just answered your questions in the other two comments I just responded to…
Check out the blog going live in about an hour! -art
June 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Any update on the W5000 noise issue?
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Greetings Jonathan!
It seems to be chronic thing with BenQ. I’m waiting, and waiting, and waiting… They are only 18 miles from my house. They know I’ll pick up a new firmware version of the W5000 within a day of them telling me one is available, and that I’d only need it for 48 hours.
Between the W5000, and the W20000, this is getting very old. Fortunately, there’s a new champion DLP 1080p projector… Review still in progress, but I’m comfortable already to say that it is definitely a cut above the W5000 (pricewise too), and probably (only a guess) above the W20000.
I’m writing up the blog now… stay tuned! -art
July 1st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I anxiously await the BenQ W20000 review and does it have the same noise and artifacts as the W5000? Im inclinde to wait till the W20000 has newer firmware. Does Mid August 2008 sound possible/likely?
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Hi Ben,
I keep asking, and asking, and asking…. (for a W20000)
“Soon” is the response, month after month… I could borrow one from a dealer, but then that would be old firmware…
don’t know what else to tell you. But you might want to look at the blog I’m posting this afternoon.
If the W20000 doesn’t show up before late August, it will be a back burner project. I’ll be inundated with 2 dozen new HT projectors that will start shipping between late August and November. Starting September, all I review are HT projectors thru January (ok, maybe one biz projector sneaks in among 20 or so HT models.) By mid-december I usually get piles of complaints because I haven’t reviewed every home theater projector to hit the market, within 60 days of shipment. (To do that, I’d have to turn out at least 2 reviews a week, consistently – not possible.
-art
July 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Any new status on the W5000 firmware?
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Sorry, Same old, same old… Still waiting on BenQ. I’m just back from vacation, and left messages, again, this morning.
Believe me, as soon as I know there is a unit available, with newer firmware that addresses image noise, I’ll be sure to post on this blog. -art
August 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Did you try the 1.16 Firmware yet.. I’ve noticed some online vendors showing W5000 shipping with 1.16 firmware.. Please report back on the noise issue.
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Greetings Kevin,
No the firmware on the W5000 sent to me was 1.08 (or so they told me at the time), but there was some confusion, (I didn’t check the firmware at the time), so they think I might have had 1.12, but probably 1.08.
BenQ advised that 1.12 solved an overscan issue, but that any improvement in noise was “minor”. Actually to be precise, BenQ emailed me:
“Hi Art,
Sorry for all this confusion. What’s shipping from BenQ are 1.12, and we are working on the next version which I thought will be a more significant improvement.
The one you tested it was 1.08.
What’s shipping now is 1.12.
1.12 the overscan issue is solved, but only minor improvement done on noise. We are working on even more improvement.”
Now, I have heard on the forums that in Europe, 1.21 is shipping, and from what little has been relayed to me, the noise issue is still there, but whether it has been improved, I can’t say, even though what I have heard, is that it still has more image noise than other projectors, including other DLP models, from other companies.
BTW, I received a W20000 for review, and will immediately look into its image noise issue. However, I’m pretty backed up here, now, with the Epson Ensemble HD review (just has to be written up), followed by the InFocus X10 and Mitsubishi HC1600). After those two, the W20000 is next, so basically end of the month. My goal is to have it published before I leave for CEDIA on Sept. 2nd, but it’s going to be tight!
That’s all I have for now, other than to say, that the same folks at BenQ are still saying that they will get me another W5000 when they have the noise issue fully addressed. Thus, I doubt that the newest firmware in the US and Canada, has solved the problem.
Mind you, it’s not a terrible problem, but it is the W5000’s most noticeable weakness. A number of folks who have now own a W5000, have emailed that they are very pleased, even if there is a bit more noise than they hoped…
And, that, so far, is that! -art
August 30th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hi,
I have purchased this PJ, i hope it wont be too noisy
i wont be sat that far away ( 3.8-4meters meters) and will have a 78″ screen.
somebody said that noise was fixed in 1.21 update but can anyone confirm ? also is it noisy on a pc image for example or is it just very noisy on the blueray discs bringing out there inherent grain (on film) and not so bad if at all on CGI ?
what version is avaliable now please ?
cheers
January 12th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Hi Art
Can you answer if the noise problem is fixed or not? Also will there be an upgrade to HDMI 1.3 with x.v.color support?
Finally has anyone seen the famous “rainbows” on this projector?
Tar SAT
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Hi,
Yes there is substantial improvement with the image noise issue. I am pretty certain I posted a blog about it. As to 1.3 and x.v.color, Deep Color, etc., no, I just don’t know, but don’t expect an upgrade for that. BenQ will have new 1080p projectors (early?) this summer – or at least that was the buzz at CES. I’ll be talking with them this week. -art