BenQ LK953ST 4K UHD Laser Projector Review- Hardware

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Nikki Zelinger

BenQ LK953ST 4K UHD Laser Projector Review – Hardware: Overview, Inputs and Connectors, The Lens

Overview

The BenQ LK953ST can be ceiling mounted close to the screen, due to its short throw design.

The front of the BenQ LK953ST has the lens and IR sensor for the remote control.

The right side of the BenQ LK953ST has the control panel and the cool air intake vents.

The left side of the BenQ LK953ST has the hot air exhaust vent.

The back of the projector has the inputs and connectors panel.

The speaker is located on the bottom of the BenQ LK953ST.

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The BenQ LK953 is a 4K UHD laser projector designed for installation in a variety of business and education environments. It is compact compared to many competing laser projectors, measuring 19.3 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and 6.3 inches tall and weighing just over 20 pounds, due in part to its DLP technology. It can be mounted in all the usual ways – table top (front or rear) and ceiling (front or rear).

The front of this BenQ houses the lens, positioned on the far right, with its manual zoom and focus controls. Opposite the lens, there is an IR sensor for the remote control. The hot air exhaust vent is on the left side of the projector, while the cool air intake vent, a simple control panel, and three indicator lights are on the left.

The LK953ST has the same chasey as the LU950 I reviewed late last year. Like the LU950, the LK953ST has a center of gravity marker on the bottom for easier installation, along with its 10-watt speaker. The inputs and connectors panel is on the back of the projector – speaking of, let’s talk about that in detail in the following section.

Inputs and Connectors

The BenQ LU953ST has great connectivity – everything you need for your business and education applications, and then some. The inputs and connectors panel is split into two rows. The top row, starting at the left, has a port for a wired remote control, a RS232 connector for old-school command and control, two USB ports (Mini-B and Type-A), a LAN connector for local area networking, and an HDBaseT port for running AV signals over long distances.

Next to that are a pair of HDMIs, old school S-Video and Component Video ports, two VGAs (one for PC In, one for Monitor Out) and Audio In and Out ports. The bottom row consists of the third HDMI input, next to an HDMI Out. These are intended for use in multi-projector setups, such as what was discussed on the Special Features Page. The signal goes in on the left (HDMI 3) and out on the right.

The Lens

The BenQ LK953ST has a 1.10:1 manual zoom lens and lens shift.

The lens shift knobs are located on the top of the projector and are manual.

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The LU953ST, being a short throw projector with a 1.10:1 zoom lens, wouldn’t have good placement flexibility on its own. Short throw projectors need to be installed close to the screen (around five feet for a 100” screen in the case of the LK953ST), and that 1.10:1 zoom ration doesn’t give a lot to work with. However, BenQ’s design includes lens shift controls and that HDBaseT, making the LK953ST a projector with good placement flexibility.

It has a manual zoom lens and manual lens shift controls. Those lens shift controls are accessible via a small door on the top of the projector, and are knobs that can be turned to shift 60% vertically, and 23% horizontally. I have provided a lens throw chart below to use during installation so that you can see how far back to place the projector for your screen size.