BenQ W6000 - Review Summary 2

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Art Feierman

BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities

BenQ W6000 Projector: Pros

Pretty good "out of the box" picture quality (with Brilliant Color off)
Really good color accuracy post calibration in "best" mode
Very good black levels, but not up to the very best under $3500 projectors
Razor sharp image
Extremely bright, as under $5000 home theater projectors go, and the brightest in "best" mode! One of the brightest, in brightest mode.
Two HDMI 1.3 inputs, full support for 24 fps, Deep Color, CEC etc.
ISF certified, with ISF Day and ISF Night lockable settings areas for calibrators

Good menu system
Good Dynamic iris performance with the updated firmware
Picture in Picture
Very good remote, good backlite, good layout, better than average range
Respectable styling, not exceptional (for those who care)
Projector lamp can be changed without unmounting the projector
Full support for an anamorphic lens
12 volt screen trigger
An excellent blend of features and performance, for the money

BenQ W6000 Projector: Cons

Dynamic iris is rough at times, could use some improvement (not a deal breaker, but a point of consideration/trade-off) NOTE: This point is now replaced (11/23) with a positive comment about the iris, in the Pros section above.
Can't fully adjust the color of the Native Lamp (brightest mode), where the projector is exceptionally bright
Relatively short throw zoom lens, may prevent a significant number of potential owners from rear shelf mounting
While black levels really are very good, it is likely that several new direct competitors will be even better
Only a one year warranty - shorter than most at this price point
Picture in Picture requires that one of the sources be S-video or composite video

BenQ W6000 Projector: Typical Capabilities

Just above average brightness in "brightest" mode (with decent color)
Audible noise (fan noise) for a DLP projector
Lamp life - strictly average
Shadow detail performance - very good, but typical

BenQ's built another really fine projector, with an excellent set of strengths. Truly it's a top contender in its price range, and, I believe, the strongest player among the similarly priced DLP home theater projectors. With the further improved dynamic iris, it just got even better.