BenQ HT2050A

amazon BenQ HT2050A reviews

The BenQ HT2050A is a home entertainment projector that delivers high-quality 2D and 3D performance, superb contrast, accurate colors, and solid features that make it our favorite under-$1,000 projector.

The BenQ HT2050A projector is a bit heavier than its closest competitors, which might give you pause if all you want is an affordable 1080p 2D and 3D home entertainment projector affordable that you bring. Whatever it takes to lose portability, however, it makes for a more aesthetically pleasing, curved design with better color and contrast ratio, producing the best visuals we’ve ever seen in the range price.

If you decide to spend your money on a BenQ HT2050A projector, just keep in mind that you’re investing in great picture performance and less movement. This DLP projector punches through its weight with darker blacks, combined with bright whites, all with accurate color as a result and that produces stunning images.

The HT2050A also has a small amount of vertical lens shift, which is rare at this price range and almost unheard of in a single-chip DLP projector. This means that many people will be able to fit the BenQ HT2050A in their homes.

But even with all these features, for under $1000, the BenQ HT2050A is one of the best projectors you can buy. Compared to other home theater projectors in the sub-$1,000 range, including the Optoma HD28HDR, Epson Home Cinema 2150, and BenQ’s TH685, the HT2050A remains our favorite and won the award-winning Choice of Editor.

Like all other projectors in this price range, the BenQ HT2050A projector does not support 4K and HDR, but it is 3D capable, although glasses are not included in the package. BenQ claims 2,220 ANSI lumens, but the measured values ​​are approximately 1,596 – which is normal for projectors to measure below the manufacturer’s published specifications. Still, it’s a bright image, with the same level of clarity you get with the Epson HC2150.

Again, lens shift at this price range is rare and even rarer with DLP projectors, so its inclusion here could easily prove to be the HT2050A’s main selling point even if it doesn’t look as good. That said, the lens shift is pretty basic. BenQ claims it adjusts vertical range by 10%, which means, depending on where you place the projector, you’ll get a few inches of vertical distance; it’s better than nothing.

The zoom range is average, losing to Epson. So you won’t place it near or far from the screen like the HC2150.

Specifications

Original resolution: 1080p

HDR compatible: No

4K compatible: No

3D Compatible: Yes

Lumens parameter: 2,200

Zoom: Manual (1.3)

Lens shift: Manual

Lamp life (Normal mode): 3,500 hours

Lamp life is also average, rated at 3,500 hours in Normal mode and up to 7,000 hours in SmartEco mode, maintaining normal mode maximum brightness but reducing lamp output in scenes dark for better black levels. While you’ll see it happen from time to time, it’s fast enough and you should leave it in this mode.

Design

The HT2050A is a single-chip DLP using TI’s DarkChip3 DMD device at 1920 x 1080 resolution. It’s pretty simple; just a 1080p native monitor with Rec.709 COLOR (96% according to BenQ), capable of 60Hz operation over its HDMI 1.4a input. The 240-watt UHP lamp has claimed a lifespan of 3500-7000 hours depending on the mode. Instead of the traditional automatic iris, it increases the brightness through the SmartEco setting for better contrast.

The lens features focus and zoom along with vertical shift, 10% already mentioned. It may not be much, but it makes for a slick installation, especially in the living room. The offset starts at 105% so regardless, you’ll have to mount the HT2050A above or below the edge of the display. The projector’s zoom range is 1.3x and the distance is a bit short. Well, it’s not a true short-throw projector, but will display a 100″ image just over 8 feet away.

The BenQ HT2050A projector is ventilated through generous mesh panels at the front and sides, and light leakage is minimal but you will need to close the sliding door on the lens once the installation is complete. At the top, there are buttons for source, power, and menu navigation along with three navigation lights. The infrared sensor is located here and on the front for easy control.

On the back, you get nearly all the ports you’ll need on a projector: two HDMI 1.4a ports, separate components, a composite jack, and a VGA connector. There are also two ports for powering accessories and a service interface. Control includes 12v trigger output and RS-232 input. The oven on the back is for two speakers, but it’s a clever bevel-cutting system that expands the soundstage of a single driver.

The audio option is powered by a 10-watt amplifier and delivers great sound for its size thanks to innovative fine-tuning. BenQ calls it CineMaster Audio + 2 and it involves careful balancing and the use of quality materials like magnesium and produces surprisingly deep bass. Audio is further supported by RCA and 3.5mm inputs and 3.5mm outputs.

Compact and backlit remote control. Given its small size, not all discrete functions are suitable, but you do get access to most projector options including power on and off, image and keystone erasing calibration, and keystone settings for HDMI CEC source.

Elsewhere, setup is pretty easy, and I believe it’s one thing BenQ does better in each model release. It is well-designed and the menu system is very intuitive. When you turn on the BenQ HT2050A for the first time, it takes you through a brief setup where you specify the projection type (table, ceiling, front or rear), keystone correction, and several other options. You can then choose basic settings or advanced menus. For 3D viewing, you will need a pair of DLP-Link glasses that BenQ provides, or you can also choose from different models.

where can you get a BenQ HT2050A online

BenQ HT2050A 1080P Home Theater Projector | 2200 Lumens | 96% Rec.709 for Accurate Colors | Low Input Lag Ideal for Gaming | 2D Keystone for Flexible Setup: Buy it now

BenQ HT2050A 1080P DLP Home Theater Projector, 2200 Lumens, 96% Rec.709, 3D, 16ms Low Input Lag, 2D Keystone, HDMI (Renewed): Buy it now

Image quality

The HT2050A sits in the same chassis as both the Epson HC2150 and the ViewSonic PX727HD. The latter, like the BenQ, is DLP while the former is LCD, like the majority of Epson projectors. So, in this review, we will compare the image quality of the HT2050A against the Epson, as they have almost similar features and prices.

Both projectors are much brighter than some high-end projectors from a few years ago. What’s more obvious than the numbers would suggest is good black levels, and that produces an even better contrast ratio on the BenQ. This is evident when watching widescreen movies, so the black bars have some darker shades on the BenQ. Since their light output is almost the same, BenQ has more dimension and a more visible depth to the image.

The color performance of the BenQ HT2050A is also excellent. It’s a bit richer than Epson’s and more realistic. The green looks especially natural, and the grass color in Infinity War, for example, has a more vivid and realistic green. The blue in the retaining wall is a more solid, vivid blue, without the sky looking like candy.

Another aspect where BenQ shines is motion resolution. All LCD-based displays have some degree of motion blur, but that problem isn’t present in DLP-based projectors thanks to the way they produce images. As a result, BenQ maintains consistent detail even when everything moves. That means you can use it for movies, and it might even suffice for gaming, though you won’t get the exact level of fidelity you get with high-resolution gaming monitors.

Recommended Image Settings

Before calibration, the HT2050A’s most accurate picture setting was Cinema, which is fine, but its grayscale isn’t close to that of the D65, especially on bright images. However, all of these are highly adjustable and you can tweak them for more precision. On the other hand, color is accurate when it comes to appearance, and like temperature, color can also be adjusted. Although the BenQ 2050A does not have an Iris feature, it does have a variable light

Here are our recommended settings for the HT2050A, you can still tinker to see which setting delivers the best picture quality.

Best Picture Mode:

Cinema Expert Settings (recommended):

Brightness: 51

Contrast: 41

Sharpness: 7

Color: N / A

Tone (G / R): N / A

Color temperature: Normal

Gamma selection: 2.2

Vibrant color: On

Noise reduction: 7

Quick mode: Off