BenQ CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector Preview

See the complete review for the BenQ CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector.

BenQ recently shipped me samples of the their new CinePrime HT3550 and HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projectors.

The first one to occupy my test stand is the HT5550. It offers True 4K resolution from a pixel-shifted single-chip DLP light engine along with HDR and DCI-P3 color. Additionally, its lens can be shifted 60% vertically in either direction and it has a generous 1.6x zoom range. With 1800 ANSI lumens, its well-suited to permanent home theater installations and can cover a screen a large as 300 inches diagonal.

Projectors in the value segment all use some sort of pixel-shift technology to achieve Ultra HD resolution. The DLP version is called XPR and in the case of the HT5550, it performs a quad-shift from 1920×1080 to 3840×2160. Of all the pixel-shifting displays I’ve reviewed, BenQ’s DLPs are my favorite. It is virtually impossible to tell the difference between them and native 4K models. With price points of $1500 to $2500, they are a compelling choice for users looking to add Ultra HD to their home theaters.

New to BenQ’s CinePrime line is the addition of DCI-P3 color. The HT5550 offers a larger gamut than last year’s HT2550. That along with a new feature called HDR-PRO promises to deliver a better Ultra HD and HDR experience than the outgoing models. I’ll be putting both projectors through their paces in the coming weeks and my review of the HT5550 will appear soon. Watch this space!

See the complete review for the BenQ CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector.

Chris Eberle

Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. He retired from the Army in 2013 and is now writing full time and performing as a freelance musician in Central Florida. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. Dissatisfied with the image quality of his new acquisition, Chris trained with the Imaging Science Foundation in 2006 and became a professional display calibrator. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. Chris is extremely fortunate that his need for quality audio and video is shared and supported by his wife of over 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. Chris enjoys bringing his observations and discoveries about every kind of home theater product to as many curious and well-informed readers as possible. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest.