Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons 2 Posted on September 11, 2007 By Art Feierman 1. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector Review - BenQ W500 Projector Highlights - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour3. BenQ W500: Affordable Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Skin Tones - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Black Levels and Shadow Detail4. BenQ W500: Affordable Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality 2 - BenQ W500 home theater projector: Sharpness - BenQ W500 Overall Picture Quality5. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - BenQ W500 Projector: Menus - BenQ W500 Memory Settings - BenQ W500 Remote Control6. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-2 - BenQ W500 Remote Control - BenQ W500 Projector: Lens Throw and Lens Shift7. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance 3 - BenQ W500 Screen Door and Rainbow Effects - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Light Leakage - BenQ W500 Audible Noise Levels - BenQ W500 Brightness - Measured Lumens - BenQ W500 Lamp Life and Replacement8. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance 4 - BenQ W500 Projector Screen Recommendations - BenQ W500 Image Noise9. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projectors – Warranty - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projectors - Warranty - Bottom line10. Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons - Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons11. Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons 2 - BenQ W500 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - BenQ W500 Projector: Cons - BenQ W500 Projector: Typical Capabilities - BenQ W500 Summary:12. BenQ W500 Projector Specifications BenQ W500 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical CapabilitiesBenQ W500 Projector: Pros Very bright in best mode Very good black levels Good out of the box color and image quality, requiring only minimum adjustment to further improve it (issues mentioned, notwithstanding) Vertical and Horizontal lens shift simplifies placement 12 volt screen trigger (for controlling motorized screens properly equipped) Very good (extensive) image control options on menus Good on image noise, better than most in the class Very good menu system Reasonably attractive, relatively small, projector Good price/performance BenQ W500 Projector: Cons Placement flexibility: Limited zoom lens range (1.2:1) Filter to clean (like all other LCD home theater projectors) One of the louder projectors in full power lamp mode Lamp door on bottom, requires removal from a ceiling mount, to change out Color shift in background, shift towards red at very dark (low) values Could use a 2nd (or third) HDMI input BenQ W500 Projector: Typical Capabilities Lamp Life Audible noise levels Pixel visibility (for a LCD projector) Manual BenQ W500 Summary: Inherently, we all have to figure that any “entry level” home theater projector is a compromise. Afterall, for example, the W500 is the least expensive of five 720p and 1080p projectors they offer. The W500 is one of the best when it comes to “no fuss”, as it is very easy to set up, and placing it is also straight forward, with many who can make it work in their room, expected to shelf mount, to cut back on some installation hassle and cost. If anything the W500 is really, a very good “average” projector. It’s not the best at anything, but does most things well. Several competitors that have other advantages, are very dim by comparison, while some others are noisier, (audible and image noise), and so on. The W500 is definitely more of a Ford, or Toyota, than say a BMW, or Lexus. I think the biggest problem is that where the BenQ exceeds, a couple of other LCD projectors – the Epson and Panasonic PT-AX100U, which do cost more, overall seem to be worth the not to huge difference in price. The W500 is new, and I have already suggested that BenQ take a look at their gamma settings, and recommended a minor upgrade (they’ve done it before). The other possibility, as I wait for their response, is that this particular projector may have an issue. I mention that because when I originally reviewed their PE8720 a couple of years ago, their out of the box gamma settings were horrible (much, much worse), but they quickly came up with a firmware upgrade, and turned the PE8720 into a superb projector. If BenQ agrees, and thinks that this particular projector may be at fault, no doubt I’ll have another one here to look at in the next couple of weeks. It won’t take very much improvement in shadow detail performance, plus a cure for the red shift, to change the W500 into a Hot Product Award winner. Overall, a very nice, solid projector, with good image quality, better than average brightness, and aimed at the bulk of the entry level home theater market. I always have to remind myself that most people out there are happy to just fire up their projector, pop in a DVD (or much better a hi-def DVD), or put on some HDTV/TV/Sports, and just enjoy. The BenQ W500 should serve that largest group of buyers, very well. I would also like to thank those of you owning W500s, who answered my request for feedback about the shadow detail. I heard from about a half dozen of you, and most agreed. I should also point out that most seemed very pleased overall with their W500. 1. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector Review - BenQ W500 Projector Highlights - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour3. BenQ W500: Affordable Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Skin Tones - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Black Levels and Shadow Detail4. BenQ W500: Affordable Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality 2 - BenQ W500 home theater projector: Sharpness - BenQ W500 Overall Picture Quality5. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - BenQ W500 Projector: Menus - BenQ W500 Memory Settings - BenQ W500 Remote Control6. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-2 - BenQ W500 Remote Control - BenQ W500 Projector: Lens Throw and Lens Shift7. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance 3 - BenQ W500 Screen Door and Rainbow Effects - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projector: Light Leakage - BenQ W500 Audible Noise Levels - BenQ W500 Brightness - Measured Lumens - BenQ W500 Lamp Life and Replacement8. BenQ W500 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance 4 - BenQ W500 Projector Screen Recommendations - BenQ W500 Image Noise9. BenQ W500 Home Theater Projectors – Warranty - BenQ W500 Home Theater Projectors - Warranty - Bottom line10. Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons - Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons11. Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons 2 - BenQ W500 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - BenQ W500 Projector: Cons - BenQ W500 Projector: Typical Capabilities - BenQ W500 Summary:12. BenQ W500 Projector Specifications Home Theater Projector Reviews: BenQ W500 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons BenQ W500 Projector Specifications