BenQ's $8000 PE8720 reviewed

ProjectorReviews.com is doin' what they do best and reviewing a projector -- in this case BenQ's PE8720. In short, they love the $8000 projector, which pumps out 1000 lumens, and sports a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. It even has a 3 year warranty to calm some of your longevity concerns, and is powered by Darkchip3 DLP from TI. They ended up purchasing the unit for their own use, so if you're looking for a rawkin' projector to tide you over until those 3-chip 1080p types come down in price, this might just do the trick.

[Via HD Beat]

[TylerB @ Jan 19th 2006 8:12PM]

Excuse me? $8000 for a 1000 lumen DLP projector??? I payed $2500 for a 2600 lumen DLP that's amazing me.. aside from the ridiculous contrast ratio, what makes this one so expensive?

[Art Feierman @ Jan 19th 2006 8:19PM]

Greetings, and thanks Paul for this posting. The 8720 is truly spectacular, so for those reading, here's a direct link to the review.

http://www.projectorreviews.com/Manufacturers/benq/PE8720_final/index.asp

A heads up for readers, You will note that the page this link goes to is an update. The original review from October (five pages) is accessable from this Update. The update goes over the improvements I found with the new firmware. The original review has a great deal of extra info (physical tour, image quality, performance sections, etc.) I did, as noted, update the Summary Pros Cons page of the original review to reflect the findings in the update.

Paul, if you are out there, drop me a quick email, I couldn't figure out how to correspond with you directly - and this is my first visit to engadget.com.

PS. Folks, you'll find lots of other home theater projector reviews on my site, in all price ranges (for those of you without $8,000 for the 8720). Also, I am reviewing now, the latest update to the BenQ PE7700 (now about $1999), and expecting its competition, Optoma's new HD72, to arrive for review late next week. So lots of reviews coming (screens too). I hope this isn't too promotional.

Thanks -art

[scotius @ Jan 19th 2006 8:24PM]

I suspect that it's really expensive because of the contast ratio coupled with a good resolution. However, I don't know that because THE ARTICLE NEVER MENTIONS NATIVE RESOLUTION. Or am I missing it? I ran a 'find' on each page of the article to no avail. Isn't this one of the top 5 key things to know about a projector??!

[Chris Heinonen @ Jan 19th 2006 8:34PM]

Isn't the Sony SXRD projector (with true 1920x1080p resolution and numerous awards) that just came out only $10,000? Why would you go with DLP with it's a short step up to twice the resolution?

[Matt @ Jan 19th 2006 8:34PM]

Tyler...which projector did you buy?

[mattloaf1 @ Jan 19th 2006 8:35PM]

projectorreviews.com has $8k to spend on a projector? what is this, 1999? i think they were just paid off by BenQ to say that.

[d3 @ Jan 19th 2006 9:35PM]

#4, I was thinking the same thing, if you're going to drop $8k on this, you can probably buck up a little for a "Ruby"

[d3 @ Jan 19th 2006 9:37PM]

Link to ruby prices:

http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/OutPDir.jsp?search=vpl-vw100&x=0&y=0&node=0

[dsfads @ Jan 19th 2006 11:05PM]

haha, tyler you are funny. lumens and contrast are not the only things that matter.

[azam zaki @ Jan 19th 2006 11:20PM]

for that kind of money i rather by one big plasma TV.

[Dan @ Jan 20th 2006 12:09AM]

projectorcentral.com is my place for the best reviews and info
about projectors. They like it but are not bowled over like
this article. It seems we have less and less journalism in these blogs
and more and more "let's see what we can get out of a good headline".
And it certainly doesn't pump out 1000 ANSI for theater viewing.
Did Projector Reviews even test this? Do they know how?

Here's another opinion:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/benq_pe8720.htm

dan

[Art Feierman @ Jan 20th 2006 4:35PM]

Greetings, seems there are lots of questions, I'm going to try to address them all, quickly starting, with what is now #11, Dan.

Dan, the 1000 lumens is manufacturer spec, and most home theater projectors can only get close to their manufacturer spec in brightest (not best) mode. Most HT projectors are rated 800 - 1200 lumens, and most output bettween 200 and 400 lumens in their best modes. Most users, unless they have a fully darkened room, do not watch in "best mode".

BTW I use Avia Pro calibration software, and an Optic One light meter for measurements, but there are so many variables that any claimed output is completely dependent on using the exact settings. The BenQ has 3 major modes x 2 lamp settings, x many other variables - each will give significantly different lumens measurements. More important - is how large a screen can it handle, with no ambient lighting, and with some ambient lighting... That's practical, not specs for specs sake.

BTW projector central focuses primarily on fairly entry level ($9999 to $$5000 street priced projectors. If you saw a side by side with anything available under $5K, this machine is significantly better. It's like comparing a Honda Civic to a Lexus. Both provide transportation. People who want the best, pay more. (and there are far better projectors than even the BenQ - going up to 4-5x the price.
And as usual, you get incremental improvement. $2000 is a lot better than $1000 spent, $4000 is not as great an improvement over $2000, and by the time you get to $8000..or $20K the improvements continue. Lots of people want premium product. This BenQ, blows away any $2000 projector, even though, those do a pretty good job.

10. Azam, $8K will buy you a 60 - 65 inch plasma. People buying projectors almost all, use screens of 92" to 130" diagonal. Its a theater, not a large TV feel.
4. Sony "Ruby" VW100. Several of you mentioned that. Couple of things, first, $8K is the list price, not selling price. The Sony is a couple thousand more. And the higher resolution is a plus. But watch out, instead of a $400 replacement lamp that supposedly lasts 2000-3000 hours (depending on use) on the BenQ, you are looking at $1000 a lamp, rated a maximum of 1500 hours, NON-USER replacable, , so figure an extra $250-$500 to have it removed, and the new lamp correctly alligned, and reinstalled. Over a 3-4 year life, fairly heavy users may spend as much as $2000 more just for replacemet lamps.

I am scheduled to review the Ruby late next month. I have seen it. Excellent, although at the shows (CEDIA) it looked great, but SXRD (LCOS) can't match the shadow detail of DLP's which is why very few LCOS projectors have succeeded in home theater. Still, the Sony is a great machine, but its one budget size larger.
3. Native resolution is 720p (1280x720). You are right, I could have made it more visible, you can infer from the 2nd paragraph on the review page where I mention, the "other BenQ 720p" projectors, I'll add something to the review, to make it more obvious. Thanks, for the heads up.

#1 Paul, Your 2600 lumen projector no doubt does a respectable job on HT (an NEC perhaps?), but its not an Home theater projector. It's 4:3 native resolution, so when you watch widescreen DVD's half your screen (top and bottom, are dark gray). People needing bright projectors have almost no option in the home theater catagory.

But the real difference you would see, is more pixels in use, a much sharper image (in part to a much better lens), better scaling from DVD, and a whole lot more "shadow detail" and better "black levels" two of the three "holy grails" of great home theater projectors.

Sorry for the long response, but there were a lot of questions and issues. -art

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Jan 21st 2006 3:55PM]

Hi Art,

Could you explain to me, a long time unanswered question: What is it about projectors that makes them so much more expensive than rear-projection TVs with similar technology (DLP, LCOS, or LCD)?

[Foggy @ Jan 22nd 2006 11:13PM]

Thanks for the detailed review Art. I actually find your reviews to be much more accurate and less biased than those on ProjectorCentral, keep up the good work.

I have seen the Benq PE8720 side by side against the 1280x720 LCD projectors, and it had it all over them in every aspect.

The announcement of the price drop at CES2006 to US$5000 should make this projector great value, regardless of market segment.

[Neil Kusens @ Mar 6th 2006 4:01AM]

For those of you who live in the SoCal market and are interested, BENQ and TVAuthority Have Announced a Special Event featuring the flagship PE8720 DLP Projector on Saturday, March 11th, 2006 at TVAuthority�s Santa Monica, CA showroom.

The event, held at TVAuthority�s 8000 square foot, state-of-the-art showroom, will include a variety of specials and they are giving away a Control 4 Home Automation System valued at over $1200 to one lucky person who RSVPs and attends the event.

This unique event will allow customers the chance to see the PE8720 in multiple environments and will afford attendees the rare opportunity to speak directly with top Benq executives and technicians.

PE8720 Demo Event Details
When: Saturday, March 11, 2006 (12:00-8:00PM)
Where: TVAuthority, 408 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
What: See the PE8720 complete demonstration covering HD content, DVDs, Gaming and more. Meet with BenQ executives and discuss the latest in theater installation.