Owning the DLP Optoma HD66 for 3-years was such a lousy experience, with its fuzzy picture and color chip defects, to the point of wanting a LCD technology like the Epson 8350. But after going to Best Buy to see the 8350, I was surprised how big the projector was, especially for my small 11'x11' room.
The one feature I really needed was the zoom lens for not only a short throw distance, but, also, the projector would be moved to a living room when entertaining company. So after a long period of hesitation and research, I bought the BenQ W1500 when its price dramatically dropped on Memorial Day. It was the best decision I could have made.
The picture quality is breathtaking. It's absolutely, breathtaking, especially after a few minor adjustments. Let me first describe the unit and then go over some of its major features.
The BenQ W1500 has a solidly built plastic casing with a good amount of heft of nearly 10-pounds. It stays firmly planted on top of my 24-inch high table. Its dimension is 13.3" wide and 9.8" deep which fits comfortably on a 15"x15" table top. The zoom lens and vertical offset are easily adjusted manually. Power switch and picture adjustment controls are on the top of the unit, so one does not have to use the remote control. The remote is backlit for nighttime use.
The rear of the W1500 has two HDMI inputs, one mini USB, PC inputs composite video RCA inputs, S-video in, RCA audio in stereo, audio in mini jack, audio out mini jack, 12v trigger and removable power cord. There are four adjustable footings under the unit's casing. This has proven to be immeasurably useful for a proper square alignment of the picture to the screen.
When turning the unit on, it takes around 30-seconds for the projector's light to glow. My projector sits back only 6.5-feet away from the screen, but it does fill a six-foot diagonal screen (72") with the zoom lens nearly maximized out. The images are bright, sharp with well-saturated colors no matter where the zoom lens is set. While the brightness is a bit softer with a maximum zoom setting, it actually makes for a better viewing experience at night.
Each source input has its own picture adjustments, so that if I changed HDMI-1, it does not affect HDMI-2, the wireless source or 3D settings. The wireless works well within my small room, but I did not experiment in a larger space. The wireless dongle does get hot to touch after a prolong use, but that is not true for the top of BenQ's plastic casing, as it remains at room temperature even after 7-hours of use. There is no light leakage at the exhaust vent, but there is a very small amount from the side of the lens. The zoom lens is large and will stand out of the casing, so a bit of light leakage does happen, but it's small and never comes close to the screen.
The projector's fan noise at the standard picture setting can be heard, but it's no louder than my laptop and no irritating noises like rattles or whining. When in the cinema picture mode, the speed lowers to a whisper quiet. It's very pleasant indeed.
In all the years of owning televisions, I have found fault with their color tones and hues. The reds may be pinkish or too dark, the greens may appear yellowish; but, with the W1500, its color performance is perfect to my eyes. It's stunningly real life. The BenQ's 6-segment, 6x color wheel speed and REC. 709 color gamut delivers a lot of "wow" moments for its picture quality. Its new DLP DarkChip3 technology really lives up to the hype.
The W1500's 2,200 ANSI lumens provide plenty of brightness during the daytime. I watch CNN or CNBC during the day and the studio shots are good. Of course, trying to watch a movie during bright daylight will require light control measures as it would on my LCD Samsung television.
I don't play video games, so I can't write about the strengths or weakness of the W1500 for that purpose, but I have been using its 3D capability sourcing the cable box. I'm a big fan of the IMAX experience. Whenever there was a blockbuster special effect movie, I'd go to the IMAX Theater. To my surprise, the BenQ W1500 creates the same 3D visual effect as I had experienced at the IMAX Theater. I really did not expect that. Images seem to float from the screen into my room with amazing reality. The W1500's frame interpolation provides a smooth, stable 3D picture experience. I'm using EStar America ESG601 DLP link glasses that are available through Amazon. They are terrific. The EStar provides very good color correction and allows plenty of picture brightness to come through. Since I'm sourcing a cable box, I cannot speak to the W1500's performance when using a 3D Blu-ray disc.
The W1500 also has a function to convert 2D into 3D. At first, I dismissed this feature as a novelty; but now, I've changed my mind. Let me explain. BenQ's 2D-3D conversion does not give a viewer the same in the room 3D experience as being in an IMAX Theater; instead, it creates 3D holographic images from the plane of the screen and projects the depth of the images way back behind the screen.
I was missing the full effect of the 3D conversions because when I sat directly in front of the screen, the holographic effect was less apparent. But, when I moved to view the screen at an angle, the "wow" factor arrived as the hologram became more visible. 2D-3D conversion is a very cool feature. It feels much more theater like than watching movies on a flat 2D screen, and the best part is you can use it for all cable movies too. Also, Comcast, Starz and HBO have true 3D channels, so buying a 3D Blu-ray movie is no longer necessary.
Finally, at least for me, one of the best features the BenQ W1500 has, but is not written about much, is its SRS WOW HD audio system. For those who do not have a home theater audio processor, this fabulous feature makes for a good substitute. The HDMI audio is processed and converted into a quasi-surround sound making two external speakers sound huge, clear with dynamic bass response. Just plug-in a mini stereo jack into the audio output, use a y-adapter for the right and left channel speaker wires and plug them into powered monitors like my 100-watt Mackie studio speakers and subwoofer. Wow! You'll shake up the neighborhood.
So, I'm all good with my BenQ W1500. Well, at least until the 4K projectors deeply drop their prices. I'll place some picture adjustment data in the comment section of this review. It may be helpful to some readers.
UPDATE: October 6, 2014
I finally bought a 3D Blu-ray player, the Samsung BD-H5900 ($89), because I wanted to own Godzilla 3D and Gravity 3D. The movies looked great and I am not having any of the reported issues that other reviewers have had even with the frame interpolation set at low. I have firmware version 1.02. So their problem could be about equipment compatibility. It something to be aware of.
| Brand Name | BenQ |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 8.6 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 9.8 x 13.3 x 4.7 inches |
| Item model number | W1500 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | White |
| Special Features | speakers |
| Speaker Type | Built-In |
