BenQ introduces W2700 4K HDR Projector

BenQ signals 4K DLP projection at an affordable price point

by Andy Bassett
BenQ has unveiled three of their newest projectors in the CinePrime family. All are 4K DLP models which are HDR compatible and all are under an expected £2,500 price ceiling.
The rollout of affordable 4K compatible projectors has lagged behind 4K TVs, but the XPR technology of the latest DLP chips is making it more economical to create a 4K-like cinema experience at home and it is to this segment of the market that BenQ introduces the W5700, W2700 and W1720 4K DLP HDR compatible projectors at a reported cost of £2,500, £1,500 and £1,000 respectively (tbc).
BenQ introduces W2700 4K HDR Projector
The announcement concentrated on the short throw W2700, since the other projectors won’t be available for a few more months, and emphasis was made of the fact that it can represent the DCI-P3 colour gamut.

Support for DCI-P3, the American movie industry’s colour space standard for digital projection, provides a wider gamut of colours compared to Rec.709 which is the HD standard. BenQ’s CinematicColour technology, is claimed to use precise references to check the colour wheel angle and coating, and each RGBRGB colour wheel is fabricated with high-pure-colour coatings to meet Rec. 709 colour gamut requirements. With all this in place the W2700 can reproduce 100% of the Rec. 709 colour gamut and up to a claimed 95% of the DCI-P3 standard while the W5700 pushes that all the way to a claimed 100%. CinematicColour aims to reproduce colours in the original way the content creator intended.

The remainder of the image optimisation process relies on six groups of 10 glass-lens elements to help deliver 4K images crisply. While HDR formats HDR10 and HLG are supported, exclusive HDR-PRO technology ensures they are specifically optimized for projection by incorporating auto colour and tone mapping techniques since HDR is more challenging to implement effectively in a reflected light source system than it is in a direct source system. We can't wait to put these claims to the test when we get the units in for review.

Brightness figures are a claimed 2000 lumens for the W2700 and 1800 for the W5700 and contrast ratios clock in at 30,000:1 and 100,000:1 respectively.
BenQ introduces W2700 4K HDR Projector
The W2700’s short throw design means that it can be set up as close as 5 cm from a wall and still project a 90-inch diagonal image but it can also extend to a maximum size of 200-inches should you be able to provide a big enough screen or wall. It also includes built-in speakers for convenience whereas the W5700 eschews these in the assumption it will be used with an existing audio setup.

The W2700 introduces budding movie fanatics to real enthusiast-level cinema performance,” said Steve Chu, President of BenQ Europe. “Astounding 4K visuals with precise HDR colour combined with powerful image adjustability and installation flexibility to perfectly outfit small audiovisual screening and living rooms.”

The entry-level 4K HDR model in the CinePrime series, the W1720 short throw projector, forgoes the DCI-P3 colour space, instead delivering a claimed 100% of the Rec.709 gamut. Brightness is quoted at 2000 lumens and contrast is 10,000:1.

Using DLP chips to create the 4K resolution keeps the W5700 and W2700 in a price bracket that might be attractive to enthusiasts looking to get started with a 4K projector system. Black levels have been an issue for 4K DLP projectors at this price point, so it will be interesting to how these have been improved. However, the more serious cinephiles might want to look at the native 4K projectors from Sony and JVC, which incur a significant price hike - see recent AVForums reviews here for the JVC DLA-N7 and here for the Sony VPL-VW270ES.

Sources: various online resources and BenQ press release.
Follow AVforums on Google News

To share your thoughts on the above, click the Discussion tab and post a reply.

Related Content

LG set to launch CineBeam Q portable projector
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
KEF announces KC92 and four new Kube subwoofers
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
AVForums Home AV Podcast: 19th February 2024
  • By AVForums
  • Published
M&K Sound unveils new IW500 in-wall speaker
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Marantz announces the Cinema 30 AV receiver
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published

Latest Headlines

LG set to launch CineBeam Q portable projector
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
KEF announces KC92 and four new Kube subwoofers
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
AVForums Home AV Podcast: 19th February 2024
  • By AVForums
  • Published
M&K Sound unveils new IW500 in-wall speaker
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Marantz announces the Cinema 30 AV receiver
  • By Ian Collen
  • Published
Back
Top Bottom