BenQ MP512-ST Short-Throw Projector - bit-tech.net Forums

Claave · 29th Mar 2009, 07:48

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/mon...ector-review/1

Fancing something a little bigger than your usual 24" or even 30" monitor? This BenQ short throw projector will display a 50" image at less than a meter from the wall! With a HDMI input and an attractive price - could it be the answer to big screen gaming and movies?

C-Sniper · 29th Mar 2009, 08:13

never heard of a libing room before

Interesting projector though. However i can only see them for use in Movies theaters and Classrooms. Somehow the idea of watching TV over a projector just hasn't appealed to me.

notatoad · 29th Mar 2009, 09:06

it seems pretty silly of them to include HDMI and not component. i'd think on a unit that couldn't do HD you'd be a lot more likely to want component inputs.

perplekks45 · 29th Mar 2009, 13:41

No HD? Not interesting for me then. You can get 1080p projector for roughly double that price and to be honest, I think it's worth it.

Dr. Strangelove · 29th Mar 2009, 13:59

Funny enough a few days ago I was planing to start a thread and ask why you guys had not reviewed any projectors, since it seems a likely component of a home theatre setup (and then forgot to do it). Are you going to look at any true HD projectors?

Also I might have missed it but I didn't see any mention of how noisy the projector is, which I think is one of the major issues with projectors? also might be a good idea to include average bulb life and replacement price, since often the bulbs are bloody expensive to replace.

Grimloon · 29th Mar 2009, 16:12

Another who hasn't heard of a "libing room" - is this somewhere you have "libations" or simply ad lib?

I agree with Dr Strangelove here - what's the cooling fan noise level? Bulb life? Replacement cost? Details please!

A friend of mine runs a full HD projector on a 96" screen and it's truly glorious, the prior incarnation was as limited as this one as far as resolution is concerned, it just didn't have any inputs other than component or VGA. What's the point of a projector that will accept an HDMI input if it simply can't display it? The current one is 720P (1080I signals accepted but downscaled, 1080P wasn't within his budget ) and a joy to use (especially if you're console gaming on split screen). Let's just say that a lot of LAN sessions get held at his gaff and leave it at that.

As far as audio goes, why on earth would you want internal speakers? If you have the cash for a projector then you can usually afford halfway decent speakers so why not use them? Most would so why bother adding them in the first place?

whisperwolf · 29th Mar 2009, 16:50

is there some part of this review missing because the first page really doesn't seem to flow onto the second page? if there isn't it seems lacking in a few details for a review, the first page is mostly about your projector, TV licensing and how people think projectors aren't HD, and then the second page goes on about how this isn't a HD projector.

Flibblebot · 29th Mar 2009, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Also I might have missed it but I didn't see any mention of how noisy the projector is, which I think is one of the major issues with projectors? also might be a good idea to include average bulb life and replacement price, since often the bulbs are bloody expensive to replace.

Most projectors designed for home use are fairly quiet, you certainly wouldn't be able to hear them over a game or movie. According to BenQ's website, quiet mode fan noise is 26dB, which wouldn't be that noticeable when watching or playing.

Most projector bulbs will last for somewhere around the 2,500-3000 hour mark - BenQ themselves quote 4000 hours, but it will start to deteriorate around 3-3500 hours in real world usage.

The bulbs cost around £200 RRP to replace.

The real problem with projectors sold as cheap home projectors tend to be repurposed office projectors, so they invariably have none of the resolution or colour gamut of a proper HD cinema projector. Save your pennies up for a real HD projector, the difference between something like this and a "proper" projector is worlds apart.

Xir · 29th Mar 2009, 20:11

Quote:

That said, you're not going to find a decent HD-capable projector for under £400.

Well this one isn't HD capable...but over 400pounds...

So which one would you recommend as a cheap entry into HD?

Jasio · 29th Mar 2009, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by perplekks45

No HD? Not interesting for me then. You can get 1080p projector for roughly double that price and to be honest, I think it's worth it.

Agreed. The fantastic Panasonic AE2000/3000U can be had for about $2500 USD, a fantastic price for what's considered to be a projector that bests even $6k-8k range projectors.

Bindibadgi · 29th Mar 2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flibblebot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Also I might have missed it but I didn't see any mention of how noisy the projector is, which I think is one of the major issues with projectors? also might be a good idea to include average bulb life and replacement price, since often the bulbs are bloody expensive to replace.

Most projectors designed for home use are fairly quiet, you certainly wouldn't be able to hear them over a game or movie. According to BenQ's website, quiet mode fan noise is 26dB, which wouldn't be that noticeable when watching or playing.

Most projector bulbs will last for somewhere around the 2,500-3000 hour mark - BenQ themselves quote 4000 hours, but it will start to deteriorate around 3-3500 hours in real world usage.

The bulbs cost around £200 RRP to replace.

The real problem with projectors sold as cheap home projectors tend to be repurposed office projectors, so they invariably have none of the resolution or colour gamut of a proper HD cinema projector. Save your pennies up for a real HD projector, the difference between something like this and a "proper" projector is worlds apart.

Cheers!

It has a surprisingly good colour gamut and white quality, but I won't pretend to know how it compares against real HTPC projectors. Projectors aren't really my field, but Benq asked us to take a look at it - and it's cheap, so we thought our readers might want to know.

A lot of you will want TrueHD anyway, it's only of interest if you particularly need a short throw and MUST have a huge screen.

Faulk_Wulf · 29th Mar 2009, 22:35

Wait wait wait... I'm confused by something here.
You says it has HDMI port, but go on to say it isn't an HD projector?
Doesn't an HDMI port automatically mean it supports HD content?

Bindibadgi · 29th Mar 2009, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faulk_Wulf

Wait wait wait... I'm confused by something here.
You says it has HDMI port, but go on to say it isn't an HD projector?
Doesn't an HDMI port automatically mean it supports HD content?

It does support HD content. Plug any HD devise into it like a PS3 and the PS3 will set itself to 1080p but the projector will downscale it to 800x600 (or appropriate 16:9). It looks fine - surprisingly so - it's just not "TrueHD"

perplekks45 · 29th Mar 2009, 23:22

Any chance of you taking a picture of the quality, Bindi?

Bindibadgi · 29th Mar 2009, 23:38

Benq had it taken back a few weeks ago: we literally had it for a couple of weeks. I finished the review last month.

I tried shooting it but they didn't turn out so well

It's difficult because you can't appreciate the black level and colour is dependent on the camera CCD/grain-ISO factor.

Veles · 30th Mar 2009, 00:34

I think you guys should definitely do more projector reviews

perplekks45 · 30th Mar 2009, 04:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veles

I think you guys should definitely do more projector reviews

Agreed.

Shame about the quality-showing pictures.

Faulk_Wulf · 30th Mar 2009, 05:23

Thanks for the explanation! I agree: More projectors!

Da_Rude_Baboon · 30th Mar 2009, 10:38

Quote:

Shame about the quality-showing pictures.

Whats the point as it will not be representative of the real thing? The camera alters the image and its then compressed into a web friendly jpeg. Thats why all the pictures of displays in magazines and advertisements use simulated images.

Stickeh · 30th Mar 2009, 10:50

5-50k televisions?
i've picked up a 50" for 700, and a 52 for a little over 9.

29th Mar 2009, 07:48	#1
Claave You Rebel scum Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: London Posts: 210	BenQ MP512-ST Short-Throw Projector http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/mon...ector-review/1 Fancing something a little bigger than your usual 24" or even 30" monitor? This BenQ short throw projector will display a 50" image at less than a meter from the wall! With a HDMI input and an attractive price - could it be the answer to big screen gaming and movies?

29th Mar 2009, 09:06	#3
notatoad pretty fing wonderful Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: alberta, canada Special:very Posts: 3,180	it seems pretty silly of them to include HDMI and not component. i'd think on a unit that couldn't do HD you'd be a lot more likely to want component inputs. __________________ the old: gigabyte P35, e4300@2.8GHz, 4GB DDR3-1333, 8800gts 512, win7 the new: DFI M3H5 Jr, phenom 810, 4GB DDR-1600, OCZ Vertex, debian notatoad.net fdo eff

29th Mar 2009, 13:41	#4
perplekks45 BSc... finally Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,350	No HD? Not interesting for me then. You can get 1080p projector for roughly double that price and to be honest, I think it's worth it. __________________ "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far." Blame it on Cheaps! [now a social group]

29th Mar 2009, 13:59	#5
Dr. Strangelove Supermodder Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dundee Posts: 306	Funny enough a few days ago I was planing to start a thread and ask why you guys had not reviewed any projectors, since it seems a likely component of a home theatre setup (and then forgot to do it). Are you going to look at any true HD projectors? Also I might have missed it but I didn't see any mention of how noisy the projector is, which I think is one of the major issues with projectors? also might be a good idea to include average bulb life and replacement price, since often the bulbs are bloody expensive to replace. __________________ If it isn’t broken, fix it. If it is broken, mod it till it looks like it's meant to be broken.

29th Mar 2009, 16:50	#7
whisperwolf Ultramodder Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,194	is there some part of this review missing because the first page really doesn't seem to flow onto the second page? if there isn't it seems lacking in a few details for a review, the first page is mostly about your projector, TV licensing and how people think projectors aren't HD, and then the second page goes on about how this isn't a HD projector. __________________ "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. " Voltaire. My Flickr

29th Mar 2009, 16:12	#6
Grimloon Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Licolnshire, UK Posts: 73	Another who hasn't heard of a "libing room" - is this somewhere you have "libations" or simply ad lib? I agree with Dr Strangelove here - what's the cooling fan noise level? Bulb life? Replacement cost? Details please! A friend of mine runs a full HD projector on a 96" screen and it's truly glorious, the prior incarnation was as limited as this one as far as resolution is concerned, it just didn't have any inputs other than component or VGA. What's the point of a projector that will accept an HDMI input if it simply can't display it? The current one is 720P (1080I signals accepted but downscaled, 1080P wasn't within his budget ) and a joy to use (especially if you're console gaming on split screen). Let's just say that a lot of LAN sessions get held at his gaff and leave it at that. As far as audio goes, why on earth would you want internal speakers? If you have the cash for a projector then you can usually afford halfway decent speakers so why not use them? Most would so why bother adding them in the first place?

29th Mar 2009, 22:35	#12
Faulk_Wulf Internet Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 280	Wait wait wait... I'm confused by something here. You says it has HDMI port, but go on to say it isn't an HD projector? Doesn't an HDMI port automatically mean it supports HD content? __________________ -- Faulken S. Wulf "Under the Willow, he sleeps and dreams, of Heaven." Attempting to post intelligently since the year 2000!

29th Mar 2009, 23:22	#14
perplekks45 BSc... finally Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,350	Any chance of you taking a picture of the quality, Bindi? __________________ "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far." Blame it on Cheaps! [now a social group]

29th Mar 2009, 23:38	#15
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,274	Benq had it taken back a few weeks ago: we literally had it for a couple of weeks. I finished the review last month. I tried shooting it but they didn't turn out so well It's difficult because you can't appreciate the black level and colour is dependent on the camera CCD/grain-ISO factor. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

30th Mar 2009, 05:23	#18
Faulk_Wulf Internet Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 280	Thanks for the explanation! I agree: More projectors! __________________ -- Faulken S. Wulf "Under the Willow, he sleeps and dreams, of Heaven." Attempting to post intelligently since the year 2000!

30th Mar 2009, 10:50	#20
Stickeh Help me , Help you. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottingham Posts: 2,574	5-50k televisions? i've picked up a 50" for 700, and a 52 for a little over 9. __________________ Guns don't kill people, kids who play videogames kill people.