After waiting for several weeks I finally took the plunge into 4k projection. Last year i had moved to the LG OLED C9 and was slightly sceptical about any PJ's capability to produce good bright 4k images in the budget/ mid budget range. I was also under the impression that one cannot distinguish between a 4k and 1080p image on a projector. Yesterday I was proven wrong.
What nailed the specific model for me were 2 five star reviews (links below):
hometheaterhifi.com
The latter review (hometheaterhifi) also has detailed calibration settings available.
There is another good review by Chris Majestic on Youtube. He does a lot of reviews on YT on projectors.
Here are other reviews which put it on the "Highly Recommended" list:
https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-TK850-4K-Projector-Review.htm
www.reviewgeek.com
Form factor: The pj is actually quite small and light weight. Weighing at about 5kg it is half the weight of my earlier Epson EH TW 6100 which was 9.5 kgs. Hence mounting is easier, though I keep it on a shelf at the rear end of the room close to the ceiling. The model looks really sleek and well built with a premium feel to the finishing.
Display: this is my first DLP projector and wasnt sure how it would look after using an LCD pj for the last eight years. But the image is stunning in colors. What strikes me is the brightness. It just doesnt care that the lights are on or that there is ambient light in the room. I always thought that the Epson at 2000 lms was pretty bright but I can now see what 3000 lumens can do. The eco mode in Benq is brigher than the mormal mode in epson. While testing the projector in the evening I just didnt bother closing the curtains. During setup I switched to Cinema mode and turned the lamp to eco mode to add more hours to the lamp life. This also reduced the image brightness and made viewing more palatable.
4k content: native 4k content is mind blowing. I played a couple of clips from Youtube which were absolutely stunning. Infact the clarity was such that the images appeared 3D and had a huge pop effect to them.
1080p content: the pj does a decent job of upscaling the image. The attached Denon was also upscaling HD content to 4k. I watched "Our Planet" on Netflix in FHD on a 120 inch Grandview screen seated at ~ 10 feet and images were crisp, sharp, bright. A lot of people argue that the lack of 4k content doesnt justify a 4k pj. However we tend to forget the upscaling factor which a pj or tv can bring to a 1080p image.
Calibration: I used the calibration settings shared by the hometheaterhihifi reviewer above and could see a decent jump in colors and presentation. The image brightness was dialled down and the color accuracy improved. Benq claims 98% conformity to the Rec 709 standard.
W2700 or TK 850: After being confused for days between the 2 models I picked up the TK 850 since its a 2020 model and is for less than ideal rooms. My HT room walls and ceiling are white and not ideal for 100% Rec 709 settings ;-) In the end the brightness nailed it for me. The W 2700 is just 2000 lms (same as my Epson) and I have seen it struggle with ambient light in the room. Afternoon movie viewing with the blinds down were impossible with the Epson. A more accurate projector in a less than ideal setting is not of much use.
3D: Havent tested it yet.
Sound: In built speakers are decent for nature films or casual viewing.
Setup: Has lens shift (vertical) and auto keystone correction. Placement can be ceiling or standard.
If you have any queries do let me know...
What nailed the specific model for me were 2 five star reviews (links below):
BenQ TK850 Ultra HD DLP Projector Review - HomeTheaterHifi.com
Today, I’ll be looking at BenQ’s latest DLP projector for multi-use media rooms, the TK850. From a compact chassis with built-in speakers, it delivers...
hometheaterhifi.com
The latter review (hometheaterhifi) also has detailed calibration settings available.
There is another good review by Chris Majestic on Youtube. He does a lot of reviews on YT on projectors.
Here are other reviews which put it on the "Highly Recommended" list:
https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-TK850-4K-Projector-Review.htm
The BenQ TK850 Review: Rivals the Best
If you are looking for a bright projector that basically does everything well and excels as a daily driver, check out the BenQ TK850!
www.reviewgeek.com
Form factor: The pj is actually quite small and light weight. Weighing at about 5kg it is half the weight of my earlier Epson EH TW 6100 which was 9.5 kgs. Hence mounting is easier, though I keep it on a shelf at the rear end of the room close to the ceiling. The model looks really sleek and well built with a premium feel to the finishing.
Display: this is my first DLP projector and wasnt sure how it would look after using an LCD pj for the last eight years. But the image is stunning in colors. What strikes me is the brightness. It just doesnt care that the lights are on or that there is ambient light in the room. I always thought that the Epson at 2000 lms was pretty bright but I can now see what 3000 lumens can do. The eco mode in Benq is brigher than the mormal mode in epson. While testing the projector in the evening I just didnt bother closing the curtains. During setup I switched to Cinema mode and turned the lamp to eco mode to add more hours to the lamp life. This also reduced the image brightness and made viewing more palatable.
4k content: native 4k content is mind blowing. I played a couple of clips from Youtube which were absolutely stunning. Infact the clarity was such that the images appeared 3D and had a huge pop effect to them.
1080p content: the pj does a decent job of upscaling the image. The attached Denon was also upscaling HD content to 4k. I watched "Our Planet" on Netflix in FHD on a 120 inch Grandview screen seated at ~ 10 feet and images were crisp, sharp, bright. A lot of people argue that the lack of 4k content doesnt justify a 4k pj. However we tend to forget the upscaling factor which a pj or tv can bring to a 1080p image.
Calibration: I used the calibration settings shared by the hometheaterhihifi reviewer above and could see a decent jump in colors and presentation. The image brightness was dialled down and the color accuracy improved. Benq claims 98% conformity to the Rec 709 standard.
W2700 or TK 850: After being confused for days between the 2 models I picked up the TK 850 since its a 2020 model and is for less than ideal rooms. My HT room walls and ceiling are white and not ideal for 100% Rec 709 settings ;-) In the end the brightness nailed it for me. The W 2700 is just 2000 lms (same as my Epson) and I have seen it struggle with ambient light in the room. Afternoon movie viewing with the blinds down were impossible with the Epson. A more accurate projector in a less than ideal setting is not of much use.
3D: Havent tested it yet.
Sound: In built speakers are decent for nature films or casual viewing.
Setup: Has lens shift (vertical) and auto keystone correction. Placement can be ceiling or standard.
If you have any queries do let me know...
