The BenQ Gaming Projector (HT2150ST) is one of the most popular models on the market and it won the 2016 Editor’s Choice Award from Projector Central. But is it worth the $1000 investment?
We check out the pros and cons of this machine and give unbiased information to help you decide if this projector is right for you.
PROS
- There is no noticeable lag: even hard to please Call of Duty players find that the visuals are instantly responsive to input and gaming is smooth and swift. There is no ghosting or rainbow effect.
- Gamers and movie buffs alike frequently rave about the picture quality with this projector. The pictures are sharp and the full HD resolution (1080p) is excellent. The contrast of 15000:1 combined with a brightness of 2200 ANSI Lumens show every detail and you can fine-tune the settings to suit the lighting in any room or area.
- The built-in speakers are actually really good (10W) and many gamers just use these. But, if you want the surround sound experience, there’s also a standard auxiliary port, so you can plug in you set up for a better audio/visual experience.
- Calibrating the projector to suit your space, lighting and tastes is super easy. If you’re not much of a techie and just want to plug it in and start watching and gaming, there’s very little calibration needed for great projection and picture quality. But if you like to tinker around and get things just right, you can fine-tune all of the calibrations with precision. And, if you mess something up, it’s easy to reset the settings.
- The DLP technology prevents picture decay and many users report that the image is as good after two years as it was the day they first set it up.
CONS
- As short-throw projectors go, the image quality on this one is very good. But, you do need to make sure the surface you’re projecting onto is totally flat and level, or some distortion is possible.
- It does not have a vertical/horizontal lens shift and some buyers would have liked a more powerful zoom.
Overall Impression
Size and Design
Measuring 14.98 x 4.79 x 10.91 inches, this projector is small enough to fit into cozier gaming rooms and light enough to move it around if you need to. But the small size does not seem to affect image size or performance: you only need a projection distance of 1.5 meters (just under 5 feet) to get a full 100-inch viewing area with exceptional resolution.
Performance
(pending)
Final Thoughts
Overall, this projector is a great investment for people wanting a serious gaming experience. You don’t need to have a palatial gaming room for a hardcore gaming experience – just 5 feet of projection space and the short-throw will give you an impressive 100-inch screen in high resolution. As long as your set-up is good and your surface is flat and level, this projector will not disappoint. The reasons this projector is winning awards and impressing gamers and sports fans are clear.
