Projector Reviews

As a short-term experiment to see how this was affecting overall image quality, I modeled an “O-ring” collar around the lens barrel from a black piece of common RJ-11 telephone hook-up wire whose thickness was just enough to effectively seal off perhaps 95% of the leaking light. No more than a 5 cent fix, this noticeably boosted contrast and changed the BenQ from a Mercedes A-Class into Lewis Hamilton’s championship F1 drive. What was left—a slight glow of light reflecting off the gold trim in the conical lens recess and hitting floor—was eliminated by applying a bit of the self-sticking black “velvet” material (the kind screen manufacturers use for wrapping frame pieces). This improved the black level and contrast a few extra ticks. (Should you already own an HT3050, be advised that such a modification is not endorsed by S&V nor BenQ and while not likely, may in some manner affect the air-exchange design of the unit.) With the problem assessed, I removed the temporary modifications and continued my evaluation of the projector in its unshrouded factory condition. But absent these issues, all due, as noted, to flawed mechanical design, the HT3050 would have easily qualified as a nominee for best projector at its price point while earning Top Pick honors.

2D Viewing
Out of the box and through 123 hours prior to calibration, the HT-3050’s impressive, natural-looking default colorimetry remained solid during the lamp wear-in period. Fortunately, the expensive light-rejecting screen I used (a Seymour Screen Excellence Ambient Visionaire Black 1.2, reviewed here) helped minimize the aforementioned “halo” affect. During this evaluation, I toggled the DLP Brilliant Color mode on and off to activate and deactivate the color-brightening circuitry, eventually finding it addictive, ultimately desirable, and leaving it active. I was particularly keen to determine if the absence of white color wheel segments were a “trick” that reduced total light output and white brightness, allowing color brightness to appear more nearly equal, or equal in lumens. But the BenQ presented plenty of firepower to disprove that, especially for its low asking price: It dialed-in easily using controls in the consumer menu, with the post-calibration result unveiling a stunning, bright picture (25 foot-Lamberts or more) from a projector spec'd at 2,000 ANSI lumens light output (see Test Bench for calibration data).

Turning first to broadcast and the Chicago Blackhawks battling rival St. Louis, I was spellbound. Close-ups of the iconic Indian head crest adorning the front of the ‘Hawks sweaters revealed the stitching intricacy to such an extreme I felt I could easily count individual threads, a testament to the purity of the optics path. With Brilliant Color enabled, Chicago’s white, away uniforms dynamically stood apart against the backdrop of the ice, demonstrating how effective the software managing the color wheel timing is. Despite the color wheel’s design implementation using only RGB segments to make a pure grayscale, there were no hints of wandering hues or color haze. Nor did I see any sign of the well-known rainbow effect which can occur with color wheel-based single chip DLP projectors (though your mileage may vary).

Eager to explore the promised color brightness enhancement, I summoned my Oppo BDP-103 to attention and into the tray for a few laps went Speed Racer. The HD direct digital transfer for this digitally-shot movie is flawless and opulently lush with every color hue imaginable. In the office of E.P. Arnold Royalton (chapters 10&11), Speed learns the Grand Prix serves as little more than a vehicle for corporate “power and the unassailable might of money” as Royalton delivers his version of the “greed is good” speech. During this passage, I toggled Brilliant Color on/off. When enabled, the powder blue pinstripes of Royalton’s grape-colored suit were acutely accentuated, revealing dimensionality and complexity to the fabric. The tie is intricately textured as the gold pin securing it looks hewn, not plated, via Brilliant Color, thus lending the impression the image feels easier to watch. Subtle hues usher minute details forward in a way that I can only describe as possessing a presence that feels less fatiguing to view (a sort of Mini-Me version of HDR). Your brain needn’t concentrate on filling in details…they are just there, composing a logical sense of completion.

Putting aside the detectable issues related to the light leakage, the HT3050 offered an effective and wholly acceptable black level. My calibration measurements were taken without my field modification, thus representing the unit’s performance as delivered from the manufacturer. Still, more to quell curiosity than to self-anoint myself a mechanical engineer, I compared the pre-mod and post-mod image on a few scenes from The Dark Knight , hoping to present some darker material that might be particularly affected by spurious light

As Ch. 7 starts, Dent is on the roof, peering at the Bat Signal slicing into the gloomy Gotham night, unaware Batman looms behind him. Gordon enters and the camera circles around them as the murky city skyline provides backdrop. With only the O-ring lens barrel mod in place (not the black felt on the lens surround), no stems of light cast artifacts onto the wall or the ceiling, but hot-spotting (rather, more light is concentrated to this area) becomes noticeable as mentioned above. Weighted within the middle third of the screen, the cause is isolated and directly attributable to the gold color of the conically-shaped lens recess, and it’s unmistakable. This roof scene was pronouncedly penalized from this reflective scatter, and this was augmented as the makeshift “O-ring” was removed, causing the ceiling and wall to the left of the screen to become energized.

3D Viewing
I'm not a big fan of 3D, but for 3D evaluation I located a pair of DLP-Link glasses (none are included with the HT3050, though these are available now from third-party providers on Amazon for less than $20 each). Among the few 3D discs I have, Brave got the tap on the shoulder. 3D elements on this disc are restrained, not excessive or over the top. No hint of ghosting or exaggerated edging marred the multi-dimensional experience. The HT-3050 went beyond due diligence, delivering a heaping wisp of sheen to the image. Extra punch from the Brilliant Color turbo on the ALR screen I was using didn’t leave me lamenting for more lumens, as often happens with 3D projection. I would sum up the 3D experience with the HT3050 in a light-controlled environment as adequate, which should not be taken as a negative. Its generous light output combined with Brilliant Color actually had me note that “this 3D audition isn’t the chore I expected it to be.”

Summary
Casting aside its obvious light leakage, the BenQ HT3050 is a highly capable contender to similarly priced machines, whether 3LCD or DLP. It offers remarkable picture fidelity with a robust, digital cinema-level of light delivery (25 -32 ft-L) and excellent color science engineering with ISF certification, and its fan is church-mouse quiet. Aided by a ridiculously good lens that stitches out an image that's 99.5% free of the detail-blurring chromatic aberrations often seen in this price range, and following a color calibration to compensate for initial lamp wear-in, I was immensely pleased with the result. Leaving the Bright Color function enabled provided a controlled yet highly addictive, vividly etched color palette that never appeared over-saturated or artificial. The somewhat curious marketing emphasis given to relatively close screen placement and use in high ambient light environments suggests to me that BenQ is targeting a large cross section of the market with this projector. The performance is eminently appealing to consumers who may set the HT3050 upon the living room coffee table for special occasions, while, without the light leakage, videophiles would easily seek its employment for dedicated home cinema.

But then, there's that nagging issue. It's possible that if you're just using the projector for light duty or in environments with elevated ambient light levels, the lens light leakage might go largely or wholly undetected. But discerning Sound&Vision readers who plan to use the HT3050 for a dark-room home theater may elect to audition the unit at a dealer or purchase with a money-back guarantee to assess any potential consequences to intended image fidelity before mounting it up.