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They say history repeats itself, but rarely does that trend apply to technology. A product that was immensely popular a few decades ago has undergone a major makeover, and today, projectors are the new must-have addition to your home theatre systems. BenQ is one of the leading manufacturers of projectors, and their new range of home theatre projectors go from basic to ultra high-end. We spent a few weeks testing the BenQ W710ST, a short-throw, HD DLP home theatre projector.
Getting started
Unlike the bulky projectors that are gathering dust in your parents' attic, the W710ST is relatively compact and lightweight. It comes pre-packed in a handy carrying case, with pockets for your connecting cables, making it easy to set it up virtually anywhere. It has a large offering of connectivity options, but unfortunately only ships with a power cord and a VGA cable.
In glossy white and dark grey, the projector is an attractive addition to your home theatre. Apart from the Computer in jack, the rear panel also has ports for Composite Video in, S-Video in, Component Video in, Audio in, Audio L/R in, Audio out, HDMI (x2), Mini USB and RS232.
The projector also has a 10W speaker, which isn't loud or powerful enough for a movie watching experience, but good enough for when you don't have another option.
Setting up
Connecting the projector was a really easy affair with most media devices. We hooked it up to a DVD player via Component, and after plugging in the power cable we were good to go. The user interface was really easy to navigate, both from the controls at the top as well as the provided remote control. We also connected it to a regular PC via the VGA cable, and although images displayed clearly, you might have to adjust the volume settings on your computer if you want to use the projector's speaker. Although there is a mini USB port at the rear, you won't be able to connect up your laptop through that, as the projector doesn't recognise the source.
The front side houses a zoom ring (upto 2x zoom) as well as a focus ring, which you can adjust to achieve clarity. We found that using the projector for extended periods caused the lens to get really hot, so you'll have to make sure that the projector has enough breathing room when you set it up.
Experience
The W710ST has a brightness of 2,500 ANSI lumens, which is one of the highest on offer in its home theatre range. Although this high brightness level means you can watch videos even where there is an external light source, you might want to reduce brightness and use it in a darkened room to conserve lamp life. The projector also offers an impressive contrast ratio of 10,000:1. There's a large range when it comes to screen size as well – 35-inch to 300-inch, depending on projection distance and zoom level. Because this is a short throw projector, you can get a screen size of about 60 inches at a distance of just one metre from the projecting surface.
The projector offers a lamplife of 4,000-6,000 hours in Normal/Economic mode, which means that you won't have to change the lamp for at least a few years, based on normal usage. Native resolution is 720p (HD), so if you're looking for a Full HD projector you might want to consider the W1200 or W1100. The projector is also 3D ready, so you can play your 3D videos and experience the effect with 3D glasses (these ship as an optional accessory).
Videos and TV soaps played through the W710ST were crisp and clear, and colour reproduction was true to life and replicated from the original source. We didn't face issues with tinted yellow or green frames, which is a problem faced with a lot of other projectors.
Our verdict
The BenQ W710ST is a great option if you're an avid movie watcher or gamer. With a good range of connectivity options, it is compatible with most devices. We played media from a TV, Blu-Ray player and a laptop. The only downside is the price tag, which at Rs 55,000, might be a big investment for your home theatre system, particularly if you are still going to be attached to your flat panel display.
Love: Compact size, good connectivity options
Hate: Pricey, not many connectivity cables included
Rs 55,000
Twitter: @ketaki86
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