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Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

post #1 of 6
3/25/08 at 1:15pm
Thread Starter 
The great people at BenQ have set up a special promo for our members only towards the purchase of a model W5000 or W20000 projector.

W5000
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The BenQ W5000 offers the highest standard of cinema class viewing. It supports multiple video formats including 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. From HDTV or blu-ray DVD to video games such as Xbox or PS3, you can enjoy the latest video formats in Full HD, the new standard of video performance. HD isn’t just the latest thing. It’s the only thing. 1080p Full HD delivers 5x more detail than traditional 480p projectors.

W2000
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When you are watching a really great movie, there are certain times when high contrast ratio can make all the difference, places like: the darkest reaches of outer-space, the skies high above the battlefield, a haunted house or inside an Egyptian pyramid. With high contrast ratio, everything is clear. You can see all of the details. Without it, you’re just in the dark. In order to provide you with the most detailed image possible, the BenQ W20000 enhances image contrast via its Dual Iris technology. Here’s how dual iris technology works:

  • Step One: Advanced Continuous Electronic Iris – An Electronic Iris with Different Preset Modes.
    For optimal viewing, the BenQ W20000 comes with 4 viewing modes (Cinema, Dynamic, Standard, and Photo) that you can select, plus 3 memory slots that you can calibrate to your own preferred settings.
    The advanced continuous electronic iris works like your own eye. It widens and narrows, letting out as much light as necessary to match the selected contrast range.

  • Step Two: DynamicBlack™
    Together with Texas Instruments’ DynamicBlack™, BenQ contrast technology provides a second level of Iris control that enhances contrast based on the exact image being shown. Darkened scenes? No problem. DynamicBlack™ digitally examines source video to determine the appropriate iris aperture for the level of light present in a given scene and open and close the projector iris accordingly. When it’s darker, the iris closes to boost contrast. When it’s lighter, the iris will open. So, you’ll see everything.

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    The promo code for the W5000 & W20000 is "BENQ549". Go to the BenQ store at Benq - Online Store and put in the promo code at check out. $549 will be taken off the price.

    They are also giving a great promo for our membership on a complete set up using the W5000, DVDO iScan VP50 Video Processor and projector mount for $3999.

    If you have any specific questions about the products or the deal let me know and I will find out and get an answer for you.

    These promos are only good through HTF and BenQ.

    So if you have been waiting around for a great deal on a great front projection system now is the time.

    Thanks,
    BenQ
    Parker, Ron and HTF Staff
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post #2 of 6
3/25/08 at 1:54pm

Re: Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

Thanks for the heads up, I may take the plunge earlier than expected now
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post #3 of 6
3/26/08 at 7:48am

Re: Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

the W 20000 is showing a lot of potential.

There is a CCA menu system in the service menu. If this is workable, then the display will be capable of perfect color.
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post #4 of 6
3/29/08 at 2:03am
Thread Starter 

Re: Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

Doug:

If you get one post some pictures here on the forum.

Gregg:

Let us know what you think about it after you get your hands on one and can play around
with it some.
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post #5 of 6
3/29/08 at 7:12am

Re: Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

Greetings

I've done a calibrated head to head comparison of the two units ... as well as compare it to an older PE8700 BenQ unit.

We were trying to determine the real difference between the two as the specifications are very similar. Well the results are in ... after professional level calibration, the W20000 has a contrast ratio that is about 30% greater than the W5000.

Is this noticeable?

Actually, yes it is quite noticeable. Flipping back and forth between the W5000 and the W20000, the better blacks were noticed immediately.

Now whether 30% improvement is worth the upgraded cost is something only the end user can decide. It seems to be in line with most higher end units when taking the next leap in performance.

The CCA in the service menu works very similar to what is found in the Samsung DLP units. (We are trying to determine how to get the unit to save these CCA changes at the moment ... as it reverts to the preset values. Small hurdle.)

When comparing it to the much older PE8700+ unit that is a 720p unit, the differences became even more apparent. First off, the 8700 had 3 to 4% overscan that could not be undone ... versus the 0% on the W20000/5000 units. More picture real estate.

Second point, text from 1080 test patterns was razor sharp on the 1080p units as one would expect but the 720 down conversion noticeably blurs this text ... a lot too.

Third point, the contrast ratio differences. The blacks on even the W5000 were noticeably blacker than the 8700 unit, but even more pronounced, the whites were far brighter than the 8700 ... really accounting for most of the jump in contrast ratio/dynamic range. (The bulb in the 8700 was recently replaced at under 60 hours)

The experience between the older versus the newer unit was startling. Like putting on new prescription glasses after 20 years with an older pair while the eyes got worse and worse. Suddenly all the blemishes and the imperfections of the films were now clearly apparent on screen. It is disconcerting at times.

My friend (Who took the W20000 ... and I kept the W5000) thought the image was too crisp and started to see film grain ... so much so that he was obsessed over it. I had to calm him down by saying that is what the stuff looks like. It always looked like that ... as TVs are not smart enough to be "BROKEN" on some movies we watch versus others. It's all or nothing.

Suggested defocusing the image to make the grain go away ... in an effort to knock sense into him.

So that in a nutshell is how the two units compare to each other and to an older unit. The projectors share the same engine as it is possible to change a W5000 into a W20000 graphically in the service mode. We can't change the Dark Chip though...

Regards
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post #6 of 6
3/30/08 at 9:46pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Special HTF only pricing on BenQ W5000 and W20000.

Well...the extra $549 off their normal price will make the W2000 a little easier on your wallet.

Thanks for the feedback on the unit Michael. Do you and your friend think you could post a review of the projectors on the forum? I know a lot of people that are thinking of getting one of these would appreciate both of your thoughts on the units in question as you use them in day to day practice.
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