Scenario:

You can get a 55" Mitsubishi HD1080 Rear Projection set for about $3,500,
OR,
You can get an HDTV-compatible BenQ PB6100 with a 100" diagonal screen for half as much.
What would you do?

Review:

I mentioned in my review of the Da-Lite screen that I am into BIG screens. After searching through the options (Plasma, LCD, Rear Projection), I was despairing at the thought of the maximum image size in my budget. With an approximate spending cap of $2000, I had a choice between a truly dinky plasma screen, a medium sized LCD, or a bulky monster in rear projection. I just didn’t want to settle, so I kept researching and discovered the front projection system.

For $1700, I purchased this BenQ 6100 projector, the Da-Lite screen, a ceiling projector mount, and a Kenwood receiver. The projector provides clear, sharp images from 27” all the way up to 150+”, all for significantly less than any of the other big screen options.

Image:
The image is both larger and much easier to view from a wide angle than the rear projection, plasma and LCD screens I looked at. Color, contrast, and brightness do not shift perceptibly when you view the picture from different locations in the room.
Color accuracy and saturation are well above average. While there are better color decoders in more expensive units, there are no obvious errors that would distract the viewer. Contrast, black level, and shadow detail on the unit is as good as it gets in this price range. From my research, there are no other projectors under $2,000 that exceed the performance of the 6100 in these areas.
The 6100 seems to perform best with component progressive scan DVD input. DVD always looks better than standard TV on any television, but the performance gap between the two is slightly more noticeable on this unit than it is on higher performance projectors. Visible pixelation is not a problem, it disappears completely at a viewing distance of about 1.9 times the screen width.

Portability and Flexibility:
Another big advantage to the BenQ is its size and portability. A rear projection tv is a large box that will stand out from the wall about three feet and dominate the room, and don’t even try carrying it with only one person. The 6100 projector can be picked up in one hand and moved anywhere, and the tightly consolidated inputs on the projector mean that you will never have to drag a trunk full of cords around with you. I have a total of three cords (Video, S-Video and Power) running to my unit, and this allows me to place it conveniently anwhere in my home, as well as making it easy to take along to other places.
With the BenQ 6100, the image is projected on a screen or, less optimally, on the wall. Therefore it lets you use the full room depth for viewing. The screen can be retracted when not in use, and it uses no floorspace. Even when projeced on a standard white wall, the image looks clean and crisp, very high quality.

Product Basics:

1500 ANSI lumens, 800x600 resolution, 2000:1 contrast, native 4:3 aspect ratio (16:9 material from DVD or HDTV can be displayed with black bars top and bottom or stretched to fit 4:3 format).
Single-chip DLP with 4-segment, 3x wheel rotation speed.
HDTV 1080i, 1035i, 720p, 575i, 480p, 480i, and computer resolutions up to SXGA (1280x1024). NTSC, PAL, SECAM.
Manual zoom/focus lens with a 1.2x zoom range.
100" diagonal 4:3 image is achieved from a distance of 14 to 17 feet.
200W NSH lamp with 2000 hours of life in normal mode and 3000 hours in economy mode. Retail price of a replacement lamp is ~$400.
One 15-pin VGA port for component and HDTV signals, one S-video port, and one composite video jack.
The warranty includes three years parts/labor, with "hot swap" the first year (if warranty service is required within the first year of purchase, a new or refurbished replacement will be sent to the customer.)

Conclusion:

If you plan to use your projector for DVD and television viewing only, the PB6100 is a beautiful and highly cost effective option. You get an outstanding picture for the money. However, if you plan to use your projector for computer video games and your computer outputs an XGA signal, then you should opt for the PB6200 in order to match native resolutions.
Regardless of model, with a front projection system you will end up with exceptional image quality and size for the investment you make.


Recommended: Yes

Purchase Price (if leased, monthly payment): 999