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BenQ W1080ST Projector Calibration and Settings

Posted on June 18, 2013 By Art Feierman

Mike calibrated the BenQ W1080ST Home Entertainment projector.  Below, we repeat a lot of the measurement results reported on the Performance page, but here we add the calibration settings Mike determined in completing his calibration of the W1080ST.

Important to note:  Mike also calibrated the individual colors via the CMS – color management system.  That means adjusting each primary and secondary color of the W1080ST for Hue and Saturation…  In the case of the W1080ST these changes further improve the color, and tend to reduce the slight oversaturation of the image.

The W1080ST projector’s advanced calibration information – CIE charts and the  adjustments to the individual colors are on the additional calibration page available to our (paid) subscribers.

BenQ W1080ST Color Temperature

Our calibration settings are below, but as always we’ll start out with the Pre calibration measurements.  These are the pre-calibration color temperatures over the grayscale range:

Color Temp over IRE Range (Various Modes):

Cinema (but Standard or User are equal)
30 IRE 6548
50 IRE 6413
80 IRE 6476
100 IRE 6508

Note, default color in these modes is almost dead on the mark.  Impressive.  The color temp appears pretty consistent from bright to dark ranges, although not quite as good if you look every 10 IRE instead of 20.  Still, great out of the box color temp.

Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom):

These numbers tell you how bright each mode is, and the measured color temperature of white, in that mode.  Note that when you switch to eco-mode, the color temp gets a bit cooler (higher number).

Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom)
Dynamic 1832 @ 7514
Standard 1659 @ 6604
Cinema 1716 @ 6508, 1041
@ 6917 with Eco lamp, 1311
@ 6319 with Normal lamp and Brilliant Color off.
User 1 1659 @ 6486
User 2 1659 @ 6488

NOTE:  Standard, User 1 and User 2 are identical, certainly within our ability to measure.  Cinema is very close to them as well.

BenQ W1080ST Basic Settings

In addition to calibrating Red Green and Blue for a correct grayscale balance (6500K), there are a number of other settings that come into play. Typically Contrast and Brightness (white balance and black balance), need to be done first. Color saturation and gamma also need adjustment. In the case of this Epson most of these default settings were fairly close to ideal.

Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis)
Dynamic Standard Cinema User 1 User 2
Contrast (50) 48 50 50 50 50
Brightness (50) 51 51 52 51 51
Color (50)* 50 50 50 50 50
Tint (50 for all) 50 50 50 50 50
Gamma BenQ 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.2

* Mike’s Comment:  You can’t adjust Color or Tint with HDMI input, but there is a CMS that can be used.
Color Temp is Normal and Brilliant Color is ON by default for all modes.  Cinema mode is in Eco lamp by default.

Lamp Mode=Normal (unless noted otherwise)
All other settings at default (untouched)

BenQ W1080ST Performance: Light Leakage
BenQ W1080ST Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode