BenQ W6000 Projector Calibration and Settings Posted on September 21, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. BenQ W6000 Projector Review - BenQ W6000 Projector Overview - W6000 Projector Highlights2. BenQ W6000 Projector Review-2 - BenQ W6000 Frame Interpolation - W6000 Picture In Picture - 280 Watt Lamp3. BenQ W6000 Projector – Physical Tour - BenQ W6000 Projector - Appearance - W6000 Control Panel - Input/Output - W6000 Menus - BenQ W6000 Remote Control - BenQ W6000 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 1 - BenQ W6000 Projector - Image Quality - BenQ W6000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - BenQ W6000 Projector - Flesh Tones5. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - BenQ W6000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Dynamic Iris6. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 37. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Comparision - Comparision8. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 49. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 5 - Comparision - Comparision - BenQ W6000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - A mix of additional images to show off the BenQ W6000:10. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 6 - A mix of additional images to show off the BenQ W6000:11. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - From the DVE-HD test disc - Here are a few assorted, additional images, some of which can be found on other recent reviews: - BenQ W6000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - BenQ W6000 Bottom Line on HDTV Sports12. BenQ W6000 Projector – Performance 1 - BenQ W6000 Brightness - First, here are the default brightness and color temp measurements: - Pre-calibration we measured these color temperatures (target is 6500K) over the grayscale range: - BenQ W6000 Sharpness13. BenQ W6000 Projector – Performance 2 - BenQ W6000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise14. BenQ W6000 Projector Calibration and Settings - BenQ W6000 Color Temperature - BenQ W6000 Basic Settings - Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis): - BenQ W6000 Post Calibration Grayscale:Cinema Mode(stored on User 1) - The measurements below were taken with Brilliant Color on: - RGB Settings - To get the color temp settings above, the following adjustments were made to gain and bias: - Brightest Modes:15. BenQ W6000 – Projector Screens - BenQ W6000 Projector Screen Recommendations16. BenQ W6000 – Competitors 1 - W6000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB and Home Cinema 8500UB - BenQ W6000 vs. Mitsubishi HC3800, HC6800, HC7000 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - BenQ W6000 vs. BenQ W5000 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sharp XV-Z1500017. BenQ W6000 – Competitors 2 - W6000 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 and DLA-RS15 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - BenQ W6000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300018. BenQ W6000 Projector – Warranty19. BenQ W6000 – Review Summary 1 - BenQ W6000 Projector - The Bottom Line20. BenQ W6000 – Review Summary 2 - BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros - BenQ W6000 Projector: Cons - BenQ W6000 Projector: Typical Capabilities21. BenQ W6000 Projector Specifications We calibrate each home theater that is reviewed. It is a pretty standard calibration, there’s always more that can be done by some of the “hi-end” calibrators. Our calibrations, including the W6000, are normally limited to a grayscale calibration, along with brightness, contrast, color saturation, etc. 9/9/09 – Art Feierman BenQ W6000 Color TemperatureOut of the box measurements for “best” mode – Cinema: Shown below are separate measurements. The first column is with the Color Temp set to Warm, and Brilliant Color turned off. The overall color temp looks very good, close to the ideal 6500K (but in reality has slightly too much green). The second column is with Brilliant Color turned on, and the Color Temp set to Normal. Note that overall, this setup measures a little warm (strong on reds). Cinema, Warm, BC off Cinema, Normal, BC on 30 IRE 6470 6293 50 IRE 6603 6464 80 IRE 6672 6466 100 IRE 6624 6416 Below you’ll find final color temp measurements, post calibration. BenQ W6000 Basic SettingsIn 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. Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis): Cinema Dynamic Standard Contrast (50) 47 47 40 Brightness (50) 52 52 52 Color 55(51) -50 -55 Tint (0) Color Temp (Warm) (Lamp Native) (Cool) Gamma -2.2 -2.2 (BenQ 1) Dynamic Black Off Lamp Mode Normal (unless noted otherwise) Brilliant Color (BC) On (unless noted otherwise) All other settings at default (untouched). BenQ W6000 Post Calibration Grayscale:Cinema Mode(stored on User 1)The measurements below were taken with Brilliant Color on: 20 IRE 6436K (very dark gray) 30 IRE 6523K 40 IRE 6511K 50 IRE 6631K (medium gray) 60 IRE 6624K 70 IRE 6634K 80 IRE 6578K (light gray) 90 IRE 6573K 100 IRE 6561K (white) Overall that’s a nice tight set of color temps across the entire range. Gamma: Set for 2.2, it measured across its range, an average of 2.16, close to the desired 2.2. The 2.4 setting measured 2.34, which is a touch dark in the mid brightness areas. RGB SettingsAbout the W6000. Its three Preset modes – Cinema Standard and Dynamic, are simply combinations of Color Temp and Gamma settings. In other words, you can start with Cinema, with Warm as the Color Temp, and 2.2 as the gamma, but if you just change the Color Temp to Normal, then you end up with the same output as starting with Standard, and using the Normal Color Temp. One nice thing is that when creating a User Savable mode, you can choose which preset is your starting point. To get the color temp settings above, the following adjustments were made to gain and bias: Gain R = 48 G = 50 B = 49 Offset R = 48 G = 50 B = 49 Note, I found the overall color to be better using Cinema mode, with the Color Temp set to Warm and Brilliant Color off, than the calibrated settings with Brilliant Color On, which still had a bit too much green. In eyeballing it, after Mike’s calibration, I find the picture to be slightly improved with the Green Gain, set to 49, instead of 50. Reducing the Green offset to 49 as well, may be preferred by some. Mike’s settings are pretty good. Even a sight change in a gain or offset (of one) does make a visible difference. You will want to do your own settings for Brightness, Contrast and Color Saturation, based on your screen surface type, and room conditions. I generally find that Mike’s saturation measurements tend to end up a little more saturated than most people will find ideal, so I find myself dialing Color (saturation) down when viewing on my high contrast gray Firehawk G3. Brightest Modes:Yes, the BenQ W6000 has lots of lumens available. Unfortunately, when the projector is at its brightest (which is Dynamic mode), or for that matter, anytime you select Native Lamp for the color temp, you will get an image too strong on greens (and blues). In Native Lamp, the projector does not let you adjust Gain and Offset so there is no way to improve the overall color balance, other than to definitely recommend that you use Brilliant Color on, with Native Lamp, as it does add some more red. That said, any setup with Native Lamp will still be too green, and you’ll likely only use it if you absolutely need every last lumen. Otherwise you will be much better off using Standard mode, with Normal Color Temp, or its own set of Gain and Offset numbers (we didn’t do one.) I’ve been using that setup, – Standard, with Normal, for all my sports viewing. 1. BenQ W6000 Projector Review - BenQ W6000 Projector Overview - W6000 Projector Highlights2. BenQ W6000 Projector Review-2 - BenQ W6000 Frame Interpolation - W6000 Picture In Picture - 280 Watt Lamp3. BenQ W6000 Projector – Physical Tour - BenQ W6000 Projector - Appearance - W6000 Control Panel - Input/Output - W6000 Menus - BenQ W6000 Remote Control - BenQ W6000 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens4. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 1 - BenQ W6000 Projector - Image Quality - BenQ W6000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - BenQ W6000 Projector - Flesh Tones5. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - BenQ W6000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Dynamic Iris6. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 37. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance - Comparision - Comparision8. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 49. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 5 - Comparision - Comparision - BenQ W6000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - A mix of additional images to show off the BenQ W6000:10. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 6 - A mix of additional images to show off the BenQ W6000:11. BenQ W6000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - From the DVE-HD test disc - Here are a few assorted, additional images, some of which can be found on other recent reviews: - BenQ W6000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - BenQ W6000 Bottom Line on HDTV Sports12. BenQ W6000 Projector – Performance 1 - BenQ W6000 Brightness - First, here are the default brightness and color temp measurements: - Pre-calibration we measured these color temperatures (target is 6500K) over the grayscale range: - BenQ W6000 Sharpness13. BenQ W6000 Projector – Performance 2 - BenQ W6000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise14. BenQ W6000 Projector Calibration and Settings - BenQ W6000 Color Temperature - BenQ W6000 Basic Settings - Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis): - BenQ W6000 Post Calibration Grayscale:Cinema Mode(stored on User 1) - The measurements below were taken with Brilliant Color on: - RGB Settings - To get the color temp settings above, the following adjustments were made to gain and bias: - Brightest Modes:15. BenQ W6000 – Projector Screens - BenQ W6000 Projector Screen Recommendations16. BenQ W6000 – Competitors 1 - W6000 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB and Home Cinema 8500UB - BenQ W6000 vs. Mitsubishi HC3800, HC6800, HC7000 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - BenQ W6000 vs. BenQ W5000 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sharp XV-Z1500017. BenQ W6000 – Competitors 2 - W6000 vs. JVC DLA-RS10 and DLA-RS15 - BenQ W6000 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - BenQ W6000 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300018. BenQ W6000 Projector – Warranty19. BenQ W6000 – Review Summary 1 - BenQ W6000 Projector - The Bottom Line20. BenQ W6000 – Review Summary 2 - BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros - BenQ W6000 Projector: Cons - BenQ W6000 Projector: Typical Capabilities21. BenQ W6000 Projector Specifications BenQ W6000 Projector – Performance 2 BenQ W6000 – Projector Screens