BenQ HT6050 DLP Home Theater Projector Preview

See the complete review of the BenQ HT6050 DLP Projector Review

It offers a claimed output of 2000 lumens, interchangeable lenses, THX and ISFccc certification, 3D support and a single-chip DLP light engine. At $3799, it looks like a great choice for DIY enthusiasts and installers alike.

BenQ is well-known for its portable and boardroom-ready projectors but they boast some serious home theater chops too. In the past, 2008 to be exact, enthusiasts sought out models like the W20000 for high output, 1080p native resolution and a sharp image. Recently, the $3000-$4000 price segment has become dominated by capable LCD and LCoS products but DLP still has many fans, and even a few technical advantages.

For starters, LCD and LCoS displays employ three imaging chips which must be precisely aligned to avoid convergence errors. Even the slightest error can destroy brightness and color uniformity across the screen and soften the picture in the process. DLPs like the HT6050 use only one chip, the tried-and-true digital micro-mirror device from Texas Instruments. From pocket calculators to a leading manufacturer of micro-display imaging technology, who’d have thought? Anyway, that single chip means no convergence problems, ever.

The HT6050 doesn’t stop there however. Almost unheard of at this price point is an interchangeable lens feature. Five options are available with throw ratios starting at .778:1 and topping out at 5:1. That’s some serious flexibility and it means more light output with lenses that have larger apertures. You also get lens shift to the tune of -15 to +55 percent of screen height. That’s quite a lot. Horizontal shift is also available, five percent in either direction.

Also of major note is THX certification, a first for BenQ. This ensures accurate color, grayscale and gamma right out of the box with no additional calibration necessary. ISF-trained technicians can also access additional Day and Night picture modes with an unlock code.

Unpacking the box reveals a sleek and simple-looking chassis about the size of an Epson 3LCD model. The lens arrived separately and is of the standard type with a 1.54-1.93 throw ratio; perfect for my small theater space. Initial measurements indicate around 30fL peak output in THX mode. I’m looking forward to trying out the various lamp modes and the auto-iris. Even though it’s unlikely to need major adjustments, I’ll perform a full calibration with before and after data for the full review.

That article should appear in this space in a few weeks. In the meantime though, I’m going to spend some time at my favorite activity, watching movies!

See the complete review of the BenQ HT6050 DLP Projector Review