BenQ W5800 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector

The BenQ W5800 is BenQ's most advanced home theater projector

The BenQ W5800, which retails for $5999, is the latest addition to the company's family of 4K home cinema-focused projectors. The W5800 is designed for demanding home cinema enthusiasts who value accurate color reproduction and better optics over maximum brightness and smart features.

The projector uses a DLP (0.47” DMD) chip with XPR technology to deliver 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) on-screen resolution. Its laser light source can deliver 2600 ANSI lumens of brightness. The high-quality multi-element motorized lens assembly delivers a sharp, detailed image.

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BenQ W5800 Specs
Price	$5999 MSRP
Technology	DLP
Displayed Resolution	4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160)
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim	2600 ANSI Lumens
Light Source	Blue Laser Phosphor
Contrast	2,000,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio	Motorized 1.6x
Sound System	N/A
Dimensions	(WxHxD) 20.7" x 5.7" x 15.4" inches
Weight	23 lbs.

Overview

The W5800 is designed to meet the needs of demanding home theater enthusiasts

The BenQ W5800 is a 4K capable premium 4K UHD home theater projector that retails for $5999 and is designed to meet the demands of home theater enthusiasts. It delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience for those seeking the best in picture quality and performance BenQ has to offer.

BenQ’s top-of-the-line home theater models have not been refreshed in several years, so I have been wondering when BenQ was going to introduce a new model to meet the needs of more demanding home theater customers. This unit is designed to compete with premium home theater projectors, like the Sony XW5000ES and the Epson LS12000.

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BenQ's proven CinematicColor technology should provide accurate color reproduction whether you're watching movies or your favorite shows. When this feature is combined with DYNAMIC BLACK technology, which dynamically adjusts the laser's light output to maximize visible contrast, the result is an excellent-looking SDR and HDR picture.

The W5800 supports High-Dynamic-Range (HDR) content mastered in HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+. BenQ's HDR-PRO technology is HDR tone mapping, which does a good job of balancing details in both bright and dark scenes.

HDR-PRO technology includes a new Local Contrast Enhancer, an advanced algorithm that divides every scene into multiple zones and independently adjusts gamma for each zone. This preserves more details in bright and dark areas and enriches the depth of the 4K HDR picture.

Every BenQ W5800 is factory calibration to ensure accurate color reproduction.

To ensure maximum color accuracy, BenQ calibrates each W5800 before it leaves the factory. They even include a copy of each projector calibration report in the box. According to the calibration report included with my W5800 sample, it has an average deltaE of just 1.1. While some adjustments should still be made to suit your environment (wall color, screen material), the W5800 provides an excellent starting point.

The W5800 can reproduce 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is used to master most HDR content without using a light-robbing cinema filter.

BenQ offers a wide range of models targeted at specific users. The BenQ Home Cinema series is designed to meet the desires of Home Theater Enthusiasts who prioritize color reproduction and contrast above things like maximum brightness and built-in sound.

14-element including aspheric lens coated with low dispersion materials delivers a sharp detailed image

The W5800’s motorized lens provides 1.6X zoom and a good amount of lens shift (vertical +/-50% and horizontal +/-21%), allowing for tons of placement flexibility without compromising image quality.

While I loved the performance of the BenQ HT4550i we reviewed last year, due to its lens, it was not suitable for my environment. In my space, the projector has to be positioned 14 feet away from my 123” screen and offset two feet left of the screen’s center. The W5800 includes an upgraded lens assembly that offers a longer zoom range and more horizontal/vertical lens shift, so it is flexible enough for me to utilize it in my media room.

BenQ has always done a great job balancing performance with value. I have been impressed by the performance of BenQ models I have previously evaluated. For example, the HT3650i is a great home theater projector that retails for under $2000. The HT4550i adds the LED light source for maintenance-free operation and lens shift for more installation flexibility. Several features make the W5800 a step up from the award-winning W4000i/HT4550i we reviewed last year.

I continue to be impressed with BenQ projectors. The unit's picture quality and competitive features make it a strong contender in the premium projector market, appealing to home theater enthusiasts seeking superior performance and value

BenQ Home Cinema Model Comparison
Model	W5800	HT5550	W4000i/HT4550i	HT3560
Price	$5999.95	$1999	$2999	$1199
Resolution	4K UHD	4K UHD	4K UHD	4K UHD
Light Source	Laser Phosphor	Lamp	4LED	Lamp
Brightness	2600 ANSI lumens	1800 ANSI lumens	3200 ANSI lumens	2200 ANSI lumens
Dynamic Contrast	2,000,000:1	100,000:1	2,000,000:1	50,000:1
Zoom Ratio	1.6X	1.6X	1.3X	1.3X
Throw Ratio	1.52 - 2:45	1.36 - 2;18	1.15 - 1.50	1.13 - 1.47
Lens Shift	±50% Vertical/ ±21% Hortizontal	± 60% Vertical/ ± 23% Hortizontal	0%-60% Vertical /±15% Hortizontal	+10% Vertical

HIGHLIGHTS

4K (3,840 x 2,160p) displayed resolution
Texas Instruments 0.47 DLP with XPR technology
Blue Laser + Phosphor light engine
2600 ANSI lumens of brightness
Up 25,000 hours of light-source life (ECO mode)
2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
Motorized 1.6X optical zoom lens with horizontal/vertical lens shift
Can reproduce 100% DCI-P3 color space
HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ support
Dynamic tone mapping for better HDR detail
Dedicated FILMMAKER and ISF picture modes
Factory-calibrated to deliver accurate color reproduction
Advanced calibration adjustments including White Balance and Color Management System (CMS)

HARDWARE

CHASSIS

Measuring 20.7 x 5.7 x 15.4 inches and weighing 23.1 lbs, the W5800 is larger and heavier than most DLP-based home theater projectors. The larger chassis is worth it for the benefit of better black levels, a motorized lens with horizontal/vertical shift, and quieter operation.

The lens is located in the center front of the chassis, along with an IR sensor, LED indicators, and intake vents. There are exhaust vents located on both sides of the unit. A control panel on the rear of the chassis allows you to access the menu and make setting adjustments when the remote is unavailable.

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The inputs and connections are located on the left rear of the unit. The W5800 features two HDMI 2.1 inputs, and HDMI #1 supports Enhanced Audio Return (eARC) functionality. There are also two USB 2.0 ports. While the W5800 is not a smart projector, it does include a USB media player, which supports a wide variety of photo and video formats. Other available connections include a LAN port, an optical-digital RS323 port, and a 3D Sync Signal port.

The W5800 has a backlit remote control that is bigger than many projector remotes, but the buttons are large and well-spaced. There are several dedicated buttons to quickly access picture settings, like picture modes, Color Temp, Gamma and HDR brightness. This is nice because you don't need to dig through multplr pages of menu to find popular adjustments.

THE LENS

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The BenQ W5800 is equipped with a high-quality motorized lens assembly. It is made up of 14 elements, including an aspheric lens coated with low-dispersion materials and it is designed to deliver a clear and sharp image from corner to corner.

The 1.6x zoom lens on this projector has a throw ratio of 1.50:1 - 2.41:1 (f/2.1-3.0). For enhanced install flexibility, the W5800 has a good amount of lens shift (vertical +/-50% and horizontal +/-21%). It lets you move the projected image up and down and from side to side to fit the screen without losing quality.

The projector can project a 100” image from approximately 10 feet. Many BenQ projectors like HT4550i utilize a shorter throw lens. This is great if you want to project a large image from a few feet away, but it doesn’t work in a space like mine where the projector needs to be positioned in the back of the room. The 1.6 zoom lens in the W5800 has a standard throw, so it worked perfectly with my 120-inch screen positioned about 14 feet away from the projector.

MENUS

The menu system is well laid out and easily read from a distance. To simplify use, the projector includes an Advanced and a Basic menu. The Advanced menu contains all the settings needed to adjust the picture quality, while the Basic menu gives you quick access to primary menu functions.

The remote also offers several dedicated picture setting buttons so you can directly access picture adjustments without having to search through several pages of menus. The BenQ W5800 is not a smart projector but includes a USB media player, which supports a wide range of photo and video formats.

PERFORMANCE

COLOR REPRODUCTION

The most accurate preset picture modes were CINEMA, USER and FILMMAKER. The main difference between the picture modes was not the color temperature or white balance but the gamma, brightness and contrast. The BRIGHT CINEMA worked well in rooms with higher ambient light and was still very accurate. In addition to the preset factory remotes, you could also enable two additional ISF picture modes, called ISF DAY and ISF NIGHT. Their default image quality was identical to the user mode.

Like all Home Entertainment-focused projectors, I took the time to calibrate the W5800. I used Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software along with a Klein K10A colorimeter and Murideo 8K Seven Generator to measure the color accuracy of the W5800 before and after adjustment.

Since your room and screen material significantly impact the overall picture, we don't recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments. If your room is brighter/darker or your walls are a different color, your settings would probably be different. Also, the color characteristics of different individual projectors can vary. Therefore, copying someone else's results can actually be detrimental to the picture quality rather than improving it. However, I am including my specific room before and after calibration results.

If you want to make quick BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS adjustments to improve the picture quality of your projector in your room, there are several free test patterns available on t the Murideo website and their YouTube channel. Murideo also has written instructions in the resource section of its website. Also, check out our YouTube video on utilizing several test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns

Pre-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

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While several accurate picture modes exist, I opted to adjust the USER Mode. When measured, the color temperature was very close to my target of 6500K, and the gamma also measured close to my target of 2.2.

Regarding Grayscale (RGB balance), the projector’s pre-calibrated measurements were better than many projectors that I have measured even after being calibrated.

The Grayscale dE was less than 2, so while you can make fine adjustments to improve the unit’s white balance further, it would be nearly impossible for you to see the difference.

The W5800 color tracking was average. The Saturation Sweep measurements showed that several colors were oversaturated and there was some hue shift.These color tracking issues can be corrected using the projectors COLOR MANAGEMENT (CMS) adjustments.

Picture Mode: USER
Gamma: 2.15
Color Temperature: 6868K
Average Grayscale dE: 1.7
Average Color Tracking dE: 2.45

Post-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

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Since the W5800’s color temperature was very close to my target of 6500K, I left the color temperature setting at it’s the fault of normal, as I mentioned, the projectors RGB balance was excellent out of the box because the projector was pre-calibrated at the factory.

You could make some slight improvements utilizing the 2-point or 20-point grayscale adjustments, but the difference in picture quality would probably not be noticeable.

The fault gamma was higher than my target of 2.2, resulting in elevated black levels. I switched the gamma setting to 2.3 and reduced the brightness setting slightly to get closer to my gamma target.

There was an opportunity to improve the projector's color tracking. I reduced the projector's COLOR ENHANCEMENT setting and utilized the COLOR MANAGEMENT (CMS) controls to correct the oversaturation and hue shift.

Picture Mode: USER
Gamma: 2.17
Color Temperature: 6569K
Average Grayscale dE: 1.1
Average Color Tracking dE: 1.2

When evaluating color reproduction, a Delta E measurement of 3 or less is considered ‘Excellent’ and imperceptible by the human eye. Even before any adjustment, the Grayscale Delta E was less than 2, which is excellent. The W5800 also did a good job tracking colors, but some brighter colors remained oversaturated even after adjustment.

There are only few premium home theater projectors that could match the units out of the box color accuracy. This is because each W5800 projector is pre-calibrated by BenQ before it leaves the factory,

While the default color reproduction is very good, there are stiill benefits in having the W5800 professionally calibrated to optimize the units performance in your specific application. Overall most customers would be more than satisfied with the W5800 default picture quality.

BRIGHTNESS

According to the manufacturer, the BenQ W5800 projector produces 2600 ANSI lumens of brightness. To measure the projector’s maximum brightness, I selected the BRIGHT picture mode to see how bright a measurement I could get and set the Laser Light source power output to NORMAL, the highest setting.

At wide zoom, the BenQ W5800 produced a brightness of 2,627 ANSI lumens. which exceeds the projector's rated brightness. For the other modes available on the W5800, I've compiled the results of my measurements below for your reference.

BenQ W5800 Preset Mode's Brightness
Picture Modes	Brightness Measured (Lumens)
BRIGHT	2627
BRIGHT CINEMA	2007
CINEMA	2107
FILMMAKER	2158
USER	2070
ISF DAY	2066
ISF NIGHT	2068
HDR10	2034
HDR FILMMAKER	2124

While brightness is important, premium home cinema projectors like W5800 are utilized in dark spaces, so 2600 lumens is more than enough brightness to deliver a good-looking SDR or HDR on a 150-inch screen in a dark room.The projector's laser light source power output can be adjusted. Setting it to NORMAL delivers maximum brightness with a lifespan of up to 20,000 hours.

Switching the Laser to ECO mode reduces the brightness by approximately 30% it but extends the laser light source life to 30,000 hours while reducing audible fan noise. When set to CUSTOM mode, you can adjust the light source output manually from 50% to 100% in 1% increments.

BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL

While the black levels delivered by the W5800 was not as good as a premium 3LCD or a LCOS Projector, they we’re better than most single-chip DLP projectors that I have reviewed. To get deeper black levels in a dark space, I did have to reduce the brightness setting and increase the gamma the gamma setting.

While the W5800 can not produce dark inky blacks,it did a good job display shadow details in the darker areas of the screen. For example, you could make out the details of of someone wearing black clothing standing in the shadows. To further enhance the unit’s dynamic contrast, the projector is equipped with a dynamic laser dimming which is called Dynamic Black.

While the projector could not match the deep blacks delivered by LCOS Projector, I was still pleased contrast and blacks considering it was a single chip DLP.

HDR (HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE)

The BenQ W5800 supports HDR10, HLG and HDR10+. In general, projectors usually have a hard time doing HDR justice, but the BenQ HDR-Pro technology help maximize the playback of HDR content. This BenQ technology combines effective tone mapping algorithm with Dynamic Black technology to deliver a good looking HDR image.

The W5800 does reduce overall scene brightness to preserve more highlight detail but the w5800 is a fairly bright projector so the compromise in brightness was worth it. For those who want to manually adjust HDR tone mapping, the W5800 you can use the HDR BRIGHTNESS to change the onscreen brightness level but at the higher setting you will sacfrice some bright highlight detail.

HDR Pre and Post-Calibration Measurements

The out-of-the-box HDR10 Grayscale (RGB Balance) was excellent.
The out-of-the-box HDR10 Grayscale (RGB Balance) was too cool.

The W5800 supports HDR10+. This format is based on HDR10 but in HDR10+ content, the luminance information for each scene is embedded into the content as dynamic metadata, so tone mapping can be performed according to the specific scene. This helps the projector faithfully reproduce the HDR images as intended by the creators.

The BenQ W5800 also supports HLG—Hybrid Log-Gamma—which is the broadcast HDR standard developed for live broadcasting. so you're good to go when networks start broadcasting sports and award shows in HDR.

Based on our measurements the Hisense can reproduce 98% of the DCI-P3 color space used to master most HDR content. The W5800 includes two HDR preset picture mode which are HDR10 and HDR FILMMAKER. Like their SDR counterparts, these modes delivered excellent out-of-the-box grayscale. If desired, you can use the projector’s WHITE BALANCE to fine-tune the RGB further, but it is really not necessary.

Due to it effective HDR tonemapping and excellent out of the box color accuracy, the W5800 HDR picture quality was better than most DLP projectors that I have reviewed.

SOUND QUALITY

The W5800 doesn't have a built-in speaker system, but this is fine because the unit will be utilized in home theaters, which usually include a large sound system. The W5800 ventilation system is designed to prevent overheating during extended use, reduce audible fan noise, and minimize distractions during viewing sessions.

Since the BenQ W5800i is designed for home cinema applications, it needs to be quiet. We don't measure noise level, but BenQ states that it produces 30dB in Normal mode and 27dB in Eco Mode. The fan noise produced by W5800 is a little less than that of other BenQ projectors I've reviewed. The W5800 was positioned a few feet above my head in my media room, and I never found the fan noise distracting, even when watching quiet scenes.

SUMMARY

The BenQ W5800 combines excellent picture quality with installation flexibility to deliver a premium viewing experience. Color Accuracy, high native contrast, fine optics, and low audible noise separate a premium projector like the W5800 from other home entertainment projectors. While BenQ makes several great lifestyle projectors with smart features and excellent built-in sound systems, the W5800 focuses solely on picture quality.

Color accuracy is another area where the BenQ W5800 excels. The projector supports BenQ's CinematicColor technology, which covers a wide color gamut and reproduces colors accurately. This feature is particularly important for movie enthusiasts who want to experience films as the directors intended.

BenQ also factory calibrates every W5800 to ensure the best picture possible. Few projectors can match the W5800 color accuracy, and most cost significantly more. Our pre-calibrated measurements were better than many projectors' post-calibrated measurements.

Ease of installation and setup is another strong point of the BenQ W5800. It features a motorized 1.6x zoom lens with a horizontal/vertical lens shift, allowing for flexible placement and adjustment. Whether you're mounting it on the ceiling or placing it on a shelf, the W5800 can be easily aligned to produce a perfect image.

While the W5800 does not include many smart features, it includes multiple connectivity options, including HDMI, USB, and audio out, making it compatible with a wide range of sources.

If you want a projector with tons of smart features and built-in speakers, BenQ has tons of them. This projector is focused on those who are looking for the best visual experience they can get in a home theater environment. A customer interested in the W5800 already has a big sound system and range of video sources so those types of features carry little weight with them.

What home theater enthusiasts care about color reproduction, good black levels and a sharp detailed image. They also don’t want to be distracted by light leakage coming from the projector's chassis or excessive fan noise. Since the projector might be mounted on the ceiling or in the back of the room, feaures like zoom range and horizontal and vertical lens shift are also important features.

The BenQ W5800 is also full HD 3D-ready, allowing you to enjoy 3D movies, videos, sporting events, and games with enhanced depth when wearing compatible 3D glasses.

Check out our review of Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire to see how this projector handled the latest films.

COMPETITION

There are a few projectors that I would compare this model to, one of which would be the Epson LS12000 ($4999 MSRP). Due to the Epson projector’s 3LCD imaging system, I thought the Epson’s black level was slightly better than the W5800. The Epson LS12000 is also brighter, and its motorized lens offers even more zoom and horizontal and vertical lens shift.

However, the BenQ's color reproduction out of the box is better, and the DLP chip with XPR technology delivered a sharper on-screen image than the pixel-shifted 4K PRO-UHD system utilized in the Epson. I would also give the BenQ an edge regarding HDR tone mapping.

Another Projector I would compare the BenQ W5800ES to is the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, which is currently selling for $4999. The Sony is equipped with native 4K SXRD panels that deliver a sharp, detailed image and excellent black levels. However, the XW5000ES utilizes a lower-quality manual lens system and the unit is not as bright.

The JVC DLA-RS1100/DLA-NP5 is an excellent premium projector that retails around the same price point as the W5800. It offers exceptional picture quality and arguably the best black level and contrast in its class.

However, the JVC RS1100 is bigger and heavier and lacks the brightness of the BenQ. Also, the unit still utilizes a lamp, while the W5800 utilizes a solid-state light source to deliver years of maintenance-free operation. You must spend several thousand dollars more if you want a solid source and a JVC.

Overall, the BenQ, Epson, Sony, and JVC are all great projectors, so it really comes down to your use case and personal taste.

When it comes to premium projectors under $10,000, three major manufacturers have dominated the marketplace: Sony, JVC, and Epson. All these brands have earned their reputations as premium projector manufacturers by building models that deliver excellent color accuracy, optics, exceptional quality installation, and flexibility in a beautifully designed chassis.

BenQ has always made great projectors that perform above their price point, but the W5800 is designed to compete head-to-head with the models from these three brand powerhouses. BenQ did an excellent job balancing the features, focusing on the features their target customers want and eliminating the features video enthusiasts probably don’t use. The result is a projector That delivers high performance at an approachable price.

With a retail price of $5999, the W5800 is one of BenQ's most expensive consumer projectors, but its picture quality make it worth every penny. It you are in the market for a premium home theater, you should definitely consider the BenQ W5800. It is highly recomended.

PROS

Excellent out of the box color reproduced
HDR10+ support
100% DCI P3 color gamut coverage
High quality lens delivers a sharp image
Motorized zoom lens with hortizontal/vertical lens shift.
Laser Light source will deliver years of nearly mainetnce free operation
Low audible noise
Support for 3D

CONS

More brightness would be helpfulm when viewing HDR
Black level and native contrast could be better
Anamorphic lenses are not supported
Lack a low lag game mode

BENQ W5800 – SPECIFICATIONS

BenQ W5800 Full Specifications
Projector Model	W5800
Price	$5999 MSRP
Imager Type	DLP (0.47" DMD)
Displayed Resolution	3,840 x 2,160 pixels (4K UHD)
Native Resolution	1,920 x 1,080
Brightness	2600 ANSI Lumens
Light Source Type	Blue Laser Phosphor
Light Source Life	25,000+ hours (ECO mode)
Contrast Ratio	2,000,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.6X
Power Zoom/Focus	Yes - Focus/Zoom
Lens Shift	Yes
Interchangeable Lens	No
Ultra-Short Throw	No
Native Aspect Ratio	16:9
HDR Support	HDR, HLG, HDR10+
DVI or HDMI	HDMI
3D	Yes
Blu-Ray 3D	Yes
Sound System	None
Noise Level (-dB)	30 dB (Normal) 27dB (ECO)
Low Lag Gaming	No
Smart Functionality	No
Business	No
Classroom	No
Portable	No
Special Features	USB Reader, HDR10+
Networking	None
Dimensions (HxWxD)	(WxHxD) 20.7" x 5.7" x 15.4"
Weight	23.1 lbs.
Warranty	Limited Two (2) Year