Compare Projectors - BenQ W5000 vs 6500UB - 3

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Art Feierman

Picture Quality

Comparing the Projectors Picture Quality

We reviewed the W5000 just over a year ago, when it was first released. The Epson Home Cinema 6500UB was reviewed in December. As a result, we don't have any side by side images, but below you will find some of the same screen shots from both projectors. That doesn't work as well, since we can't get the exposures to match up perfectly, but still can provide some insight.

Since the BenQ review, I managed to come up with custom settings for my dSLR that are less contrasty than the older reviews. Bottom line: Older images (ie. W5000) have too much contrast (at least on my MacbookPro, and to a lesser extent on my wife's PC desktop), as well as a slight shift to blue. By comparison, the images I've shot in the last six months, if anything, are often just a little thin on contrast, and perhaps a touch too much yellow and green. I know this makes comparing tough, so best of luck.

Black level performance

Click to enlarge. So close. We were most impressed with the W5000's black levels when reviewed. In last year's report, we commented that the W5000 had very good black levels, better than any other projectors in the price class, except for the Home Cinema 1080 UB, which was replaced by the Home Cinema 6500UB. As a result, while the W5000 does the best black levels of any of the non ultra-high-contrast projectors, it can't match the newer Epson (or for that matter, the Sanyo PLV-Z3000 and Panasonic PT-AE3000.) It does come close though, to the PLV-Z3000, the projector of that group with the least great black levels. All considered, the W5000 is very good, but the Epson still wins by a real margin.

Click to enlarge. So close. This is the BenQ W5000 side by side, with the older Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB that the 6500UB replaces. Black level performance of the two Epsons is close to identical, with the newer one being very marginally better. I include these due to the lack of side-by-side images between the BenQ and the newer Epson. The BenQ is on the left:

Black Levels Comparison

BenQ W5000

Epson Home Cinema 6500UB

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Nonetheless, the BenQ has black levels that most people will find impressive. If you are really into the best black levels, the Epson scores a nice win, but for many.

The W5000's black levels are definitely good enough, as they are better than most projectors in this class and any in the entry-level class.