In the past, BenQ's products have always been remembered for their value-for-money proposition. These have included its extensive range of affordable yet competent projectors and LCD TVs. But the company is about to release one of its most expensive projectors yet -- the AU$9,999 W20000 full-HD projector. Having said that, this latest entry is by far the most promising DLP around, combining a stylish shell and a powerful video engine.
Upside
Forget the usual fluff you read on colourful brochures and ads. As far as decent picture quality is concerned, there are only a few key factors that differentiate the real McCoy from the pretenders. The DarkChip 3 engine-based W20000 belongs to the former with a future-proofed full-HD resolution and a DLP class-leading 20,000:1 dynamic contrast. Coupled with Texas Instruments' BrilliantColor billion colour palette and a 1,200 ANSI lumens brightness, the chipset delivers plenty of "fire power" for this beamer to stand out amongst the crowd.
Another major upgrade which will put a smile on any videophiles' face is the switch from the Faroudja DCDi chipset to a higher-end Silicon Optix HQV Reon processor. This is a tried-and-proven video chip that has won accolades for its artifact- and jaggy-free deinterlacing and upscaling.
For Hollywood-tuned hues, professional colour calibration is catered for by Imaging Science Foundation Certified Calibration Controls or ISFccc. This delivers ISF Day and ISF Night picture modes tailored to compensate for your in-room lighting conditions.
Connectivity-wise, you will have access to two HDMI 1.2 terminals compatible with standard 50/60Hz 1080p signals, as well as the film-centric 24Hz flavour. For backward compatibility with older equipment, there are also dual sets of component-video sockets (one of which doubles as a PC input) and S-video and composite jacks, too.
On a separate note, this BenQ is one of the rare DLP sets to ship with a powered vertical lens-shift. This gives users the leeway to offset vertically off-centred projector-to-screen setups, including ceiling and shelf-mounting.
Downside
Though it appears to be quite expensive in other countries, the Australian pricing is actually quite reasonable at AU$6999 for a projector with its feature set. So there's not really much to complain about on that front.
However, we think BenQ could have done a better job by shortening the projector's mid-long throw distance. With the current measly 1.2x zoom, you will need at least a 4m depth -- bigger than most apartment loungerooms -- to cast a theatrical 100-inch projection.
Outlook
We're delighted with the goodies that the BenQ W20000 has to offer under its shiny white hood, and at such a comparatively reasonable price. On the other hand, it's taking us quite a while to get accustomed to the almost five-figure price ticket. If you're on the verge of upgrading your 480p projector and are on the lookout for a high-performance DLP entry, do take a look at this Taiwanese beauty with a feisty punch.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Be one of the first to rate this product!