BenQ MU686 DLP Projector Preview

See the complete review of the BenQ MU686 DLP Projector

BenQ has a projector for pretty much every conceivable use. If you need a tiny portable display, they’ve got you covered. Even picky home theater enthusiasts can choose from the HT line to satisfy their need for a great picture with accurate color, high contrast and clarity.

Recently the MU686 business projector showed up at my door. Business you say? Well after unpacking it and watching a few clips, it’s clear that the lines between business and home theater displays have been blurred. This extremely-capable product can pump out 165 foot-Lamberts in its brightest mode while scaling back to a more-watchable 55fL in the good-looking Cinema preset. How good looking? My first round of measurements show that it doesn’t need a calibration to deliver a pretty accurate image with excellent contrast and more than enough output to compete with room lighting or even a window. And if you don’t have a screen, it even includes wall color compensation.

The MU686 shows its business chops with things like wireless HDMI, a VGA port and a laser pointer built into the remote. It’s not strictly a portable model but it is small and light enough to be taken on the road in a medium-sized bag. Stereo speakers are built in so you can simply hook up your phone or tablet to the MHL-compatible HDMI input and stream movies to your heart’s content. And I almost forgot, it only costs $749.

I’ll be running my usual battery of tests and spending some quality time with my Blu-ray collection as I review the BenQ MU686. It won’t receive special consideration for being called a “business projector.” When you read the full review in a couple of weeks, you’ll know if it can stand up to home theater use or not. (Hint, it probably can!)

See the complete review of the BenQ MU686 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.