Benq W1080ST Projector Review
Right out of the box, the Benq W1080ST is easy to set up. Coming in a carry bag with all the cables ready to go, this is a good thing, because it feels as though it has been designed part to be in the home cinema enthusiast’s spacious room, and part to be carried to meetings and used in close quarters.
The idea behind this model is that Benq don’t want to only sell their projectors to people who live in mansions, they want to create the cinema feel in a smaller room – and it’s a noble idea; one that works pretty well, meaning you don’t need a specialist setup, and can just pop it onto a small table to use it. What this means in the real world, according to Benq’s official wording is: “up to 65″ at 1m”, which is bloody impressive.
Importantly, the picture quality is excellent wherever you end up using it. Throwing games up via a projector is a glorious thing, one that few can afford, and movies, well… you get the picture. Modern setups dictate that most of us are using HDMI cables, and the unit has two inputs, so if you want to have it set up permanently, you’ll either have to switch cables out regularly, or invest in a switcher. Two inputs on a unit this size actually feels generous, though. Elsewhere you’ll find component inputs, S-Video and PC input.
One of the few major negatives is that, although this model is 3D capable, it doesn’t come with any glasses, and they cost a premium to buy. It’s an odd one, because anyone spending this kind of cash on a projector is, in theory, fairly well off, and may not even care. But that’s just not how the world works, and therefore it’s a noteworthy exclusion.
Back to the positives, then. The Eco lamp settings mean that you shouldn’t be burning out your bulb in a rush. Benq suggest that you’ll save 70% of the lamp power by using this mode, and while I couldn’t test that fully (simply due to the length you’d need to spend with it to do that), it’s these “dynamic power saving features” that may sway you into going for the unit. Saving yet more money? Yes please. Best yet, it doesn’t seem to affect the picture quality negatively at all.
Aesthetically it’s functional looking. Whites and greys, with a grill next to the lens. It’s not going to win any awards for looks, but let’s face it, what projector does? The buttons on the top of the unit mean you don’t always need to use the remote (which is fine, by the way), too.
This is an affordable (comparatively) unit that gives off deep blacks and excellent colour. Your mileage may vary based on settings and setup, and few of us have the exact home cinema room required to get the best out of any projector at a distance, but the excellent short throw means you don’t need a huge room for this one. Equally at home on an office desk throwing the sound out from the onboard speakers, this is a jack of all trades projector. If you’re in the market for your first projector, this might just be the one for you, because for what it does at this price, there’s few finer. A stunning projector.
