BenQ PE7700

The Short Form

$2,000 ($3,000 list) / 15 x 4.5 x 11.8 IN / 10 LBS / benq.us / 949-255-9500

Plus

•Bright image •Accurate grayscale

Minus

•Weaker blacks •Limited controls

Key Features

•1,280 x 720-pixel DLP Projector •Inputs 1 HDMI; 1 component-video; 1 S-video, 1 composite-video; 1 RGB/VGA/component-video (5xBNC), 1 RS-232C control •PRICE $2,000 ($3,000 List) Full Lab Results

With its squarish design, the DLP-based BenQ PE7700 looks retro, but there's nothing low-tech about it. Among its features are a control for picture-in-picture on its oversized remote, and a second component-video input - rarities on a projector.

CONTRAST The DVD of the sci-fi thriller The Island offers up a lot of white and black and in-between, making it a great choice for testing black level, picture uniformity, and grayscale accuracy. The BenQ PE7700 strutted its stuff on this disc with one of the brightest pictures of the group (along with the Optoma), but its black level was the least impressive. Yes, dim scenes, such as when Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) visits Tech Services, still had plenty of impact. But when compared with some other projectors - the InFocus, for example -the blacks were just a bit lighter. Good shadow detail was evident among the pipes in the background in a scene where Lincoln shares a drink with McCord (Steve Buscemi).

COLOR After calibration, the BenQ's grayscale accuracy - which has a big impact on overall color fidelity - was tied for second-best of the eight projectors. The numerous shots of white and off-white hallways looked as natural as I expected, and skin tones had a nice vibrancy. As Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) looked up at a knock on her door, I appreciated how her face showed a good range of tones from pinkish to darker tan.

DETAIL Almost all of the PE7700's aspect modes failed to show all the detail in 720p-resolution test patterns, but happily the "Real" mode did not. Fine details in the DVD, such as Jordan's long blonde hair, looked crisp, and HDTV programs I watched exhibited characteristic sharpness. The Fox show 24 was a good example - as Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Kim Bauer (Elisha Cuthbert) discussed the show's hero, Jack (Kiefer Sutherland), I could easily see the small links in the chain Chloe wore and the creases in Kim's bottom lip. Like most of the projectors in the shootout, the BenQ PE7700 had excellent focus, and no color fringing or edge enhancement was visible along fine lines.