BenQ - HT2060

BenQ HT2060 is the best under $1,000 that I know of. Super reliable, good contrast, decent brightness. Keep in mind, projectors are light additive. So, if you are already putting light into a room, you are significantly impacting the on-screen image quality. Seriously hurting contrast. That's physics. In the dark, the HT2060 looks really good at 100 to 140 inches diagonal.

The BenQ HT2060 is where I would spend my money at $1,000 or so. They have refurbs for under $1,000 on the BenQ site that may be worth picking up as they look out of stock elsewhere or over $1,000 which makes less sense. Creative frame interpolation (CFI) which can create the soap opera effect, is typically adjustable on any model which offers it. This isn't a uncommon feature, but has always had some adjustment to it, from OFF to multiple levels on different projectors, regardless of price. Since it can be defeated on every projector I've used, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about it. But, you aren't getting a super high-end projector at $1,000, and the HT2060 delivers the best image for the money in my experience.

The W1090 is similar to the HT2060, but no lens shift and a color wheel and lamp instead of a solid state light source. It's a beast. Really solid for home theater use and a proper RGB/RGB color wheel. If it is in good operational condition, then anything under about $250 is a reasonable price and in good shape, it could last you 10+ years, though you will need to obtain a replacement quality lamp or two.

I was sure I saw this question elsewhere... yup! AVS. Here is a copy and paste of my answer from there... A sale BenQ HT2060 would be what I would strive for. It will deliver the best 1080p image quality you can hope for right now. I'm concerned that you think HDMI is some sort of issue. It's not. It is the standard that consumer electronics have been using for years. Some PC monitors which use DisplayPort don't have the latest and greatest HDMI ports on them, but if you're just looking for 1080p video, then any decent projector can handle that just fine at 60hz. The XGimi Halo+ is 'okay' at best. You are paying for the compact size above all else. It uses a smaller DLP chip than a full sized projector and it is only 700 lumens compared to around 1,400 calibrated lumens from the HT2060. Even in low power mode, the HT2060 will be a good deal brighter than the XGimi, and have better contrast/image quality. It's a bit over budget, but well worth it to get the 2060.

There is no difference between a 4:3 projector and a 16:9 projector when they are digital. The pixels are put up filling up the available space, and can maintain the proper aspect ratio. So, if you feed a 16:9 projector a 4:3 image, it will appear as 4:3. A projector like the BenQ W1070, or similar with the proper inputs on it are the way to go. DLP with decent input lag times is a plus. BenQ maintained analog inputs on their projector up to the HT2050a. Their newest HT2060 ditched composite video and is HDMI only. Retro gaming is always a passion more than anything else as those games were definitely designed to be used with analog displays, so the same impact you get using a LCD monitor or TV, will be what happens when using a digital projector.

Being realistic, you are going to have problems dealing with any ambient light in the room with the price point you are at. A model like the Nexigo Trivision Ultra is more in line with where you would want to be, or a BenQ HT2060. The XGimi Horizon is a nice model, but isn't super bright and will need a dark room to operate the best. With ambient light, you will have a very low contrast ratio. You want to be aware of the throw distance as well.. [https://www.projectorcentral.com/XGIMI-Horizon-projection-calculator-pro.htm](https://www.projectorcentral.com/XGIMI-Horizon-projection-calculator-pro.htm)

The BenQ HT2060 is the newer version of the HT2050a, and is the best looking 1080p projector on the market. It is bright, and has a sharp image. It's great for home theater. The Hisense C1 is nice, but it has no zoom, so you must be very careful about how you place it in your room.

Rarely do projectors of quality go on a great sale on holidays. It's just not that common. These cheap models tend to be somewhat size limited because their brightness isn't that great. They can be fine at 100" to maybe 120" diagonal, but beyond that, their low brightness tends to be insufficient. Better quality projectors, like those using DLP technology, tend to cost more overall and not necessarily deliver better image quality or brightness compared to the single LCD options out there. One thing The Hook Up really doesn't stress enough is that single LCD projectors tend to come from a lot of no-name manufacturers and have very poor support. So, if you have an issue, you live with it. Period. If it breaks, good luck on the warranty. Some may help you out, others will not. Sucks to be you. Plenty of posts in this group from people turning to the Internet to solve their problem with the HY300 projector (or similar) because the manufacturer won't help them out. The single LCD models are likely to have better contrast, and will generally be brighter as is measured in the videos by The Hook Up. But, I wouldn't spend more than about $250 on any no-name single chip LCD projector. Instead, I'd go to the used market and get a BenQ W1070 (10+ years old now) which will likely last longer and be brighter. Or, some other 1080p home theater designed DLP projector of quality. Of course, those models use lamps, and may not be what you are after, but we haven't seen 1080p DLP projectors which are properly bright drop below $500 from what I've seen. None of the laser/led ones either. A shame really. The best looking projector, under $1,000, with outstanding build quality, good contrast, and solid brightness, is the BenQ HT2060. Which now has jumped above $1,200 for a new model in the USA. But, refurbs can be had for around $800. IMO, the way to go if you can swing it. [https://electronics.woot.com/offers/benq-ht2060-1080p-hdr-home-theater-led-projector-factory-reconditioned-2](https://electronics.woot.com/offers/benq-ht2060-1080p-hdr-home-theater-led-projector-factory-reconditioned-2)

The HT2060 has better color rendition, better black levels, and is designed for being a quality 1080p model for home theater use. The TH575 is a decent entry level model, but has a higher chance of RBE due to a slower color wheel speed, and won't have the same color saturation or contrast. That ignores the LED vs. lamp issue completely. The HT2060 is not just a LED version of the TH575. It's a significant step up in overall quality.

The best home theater model under $1,000 is the BenQ HT2060. That said, there are several good models and decent brands around that price point. Their TH575 is nice, but uses a lamp and doesn't have the color saturation or quality of the 2060. There are more portable models, like those reviewed at The Hook Up (youtube) that you should check out (link below). The only thing I would completely avoid is ANY single panel LCD projector. They can look quite good, but their reliability tends to be quite poor and they can be super buggy. [https://youtu.be/jmmGQOSAReI?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/jmmGQOSAReI?feature=shared) Portable models tend to be much dimmer than full sized models like the HT2060 is. One of the few problems I have with The Hook Up is that he isn't here every day listening to the constant complaints (and I do mean constant) that people have about their cheap no-name single panel LCD projectors. So, I absolutely will call those a DO NOT BUY!!! I do own one, but bought it as a toy to play with, not as a serious projector for regular use in my home. It works fine for casual use.

I can’t say enough good about the Benq HT2060. I picked it up in June as my third projector in ten years. First I had a Benq WT770 ST (short throw, 720p resolution) followed by a very used Optoma HD146x (1080, standard throw, facebook marketplace). The short throw Benq still works well to this day and I use it for outdoor movie nights, having replaced the bulb once in its 7 year daily service. Albeit 720p resolution, the color balance and contrast are still really good for a ten+ year old projector which cost a scant $750 at the time of purchase. The Optoma came with a broken color wheel, which I replaced initially, then it broke again 10 months later. Luckily they are $30 on eBay, so I replaced it again. I’m also on my second bulb on that one, but it’s been sidelined for the time being, pending selling it off cheap to a friend, with full disclosure and a color wheel service warrantee, ha. No let me rant and rave and postulate and praise the Benq HT2060! I went with the HT2060 after researching the heck out of a sub $1500 projector. After my time and energy spent on bulbs and color wheels, I was very interested in LED or laser as a “permenant” light source. The added benefit of led running cooler (less hot) and no added warm up/cool down cycle were also perks that I didn’t realize how much I’d appreciate. The resolution is 1080p, downcoded 4k, but it looks somehow better than 1080 and not quite 4k… there’s something going on with this projector. I feel like they got half way, knew they couldn’t claim it as native 4k, and just settled on calling it 1080p. It looks GREAT. The thing people write about with this model that got me across the “purchase” line, is the depth of contrast/black levels, the 96% color gamut, and HDR functionality. The picture on this bad boy puts the optoma 146x out to pasture. Everything is crispy, life-like, and even dark scenes are well-balanced and defined. The TRex attack in Jurassic Park is alive and well, and you can see every detail. I picked it up through Amazon, purchased from Adorama. Because they are a verified seller or whatever, I was still able to buy a warranty from Amazon. I paid $1250 plus $200 (war) and tax. Two weeks later the price was adjusted on Amazon down to $949 for a sale, and I was able to get the difference refunded. Great! My experience so far is summed up in two concrete statements: 1) I know now that contrast and color matter more to me than native 4k. I have a buddy who bought a comparable 4k bulb projector - viewsonic brand. It’s shape and bright as hell! But… my set up looks better, by a combination of factors. 2) I’ll never go back to bulbs. The LED color balance, brightness, lack of heat production, instant (3-5 seconds, comparable to a tv) on/off cycles were something I didn’t know I was getting, and love. The life-cycle being 20k-30k hours instead of 3k-8k… that’s the clincher right there, for me at least. Edit: native autocorrected to booked in the next to last paragraph.

I just did! Ive just rounded out my first month with the Benq ht2060 and I feel vindicated that 1080 has never looked so good, haha. The depth of color, the rich contrast and wealth of hdr10 content (thanks Disney+) have been a treat. I was really worried I would feel the lack of 4k content but so far it’s smooth sailing.

I got my benq HT2060 for $700 on adorama. it came with about 36 hours on it. I thoroughly enjoy it. I watch in a completely dark room on a 106" screen from about 9 feet. I don't mind not having 4k or DV, and have invested more in my sound than anything else. So, sub 800, and in a completely dark room, I think the Benq HT2060 is a good choice.

I have a 106 inch screen in my theater room. The room is 3.8m x 3.5m. The screen is on the 3.8 m wall. I could easily upgrade to a 110 inch screen, and probably should have just started with that. However I would hate projecting onto a white wall. I have the room color treated, made a huge difference. For 1,000, you're not getting 70/80 inch OLED. More like a 65 inch or you need to spend like 1500. my Ben Q HT2060 was $750 open box and the screen was $225. Room treatment was another $200. That's around $1200 and I really enjoy the look of projected films. I'm sitting 9+ish feet from the screen, so the FOV is about right. Like I said, 110 inch screen would be better.

That’s gonna be so sweet. I’d say keep the screen, grab a nicer projector, and enjoy the big screen experience. The Valerion is considered a steal right now, but if you wanna keep the price sub 1000, the benq HT2060 does NOT disappoint. Obviously no projector is going to have the black levels of an OLED, but imo the much larger theatrical screen of a projector makes it so worth it. You have the space, you’re planning on controlling the light with black paint anyway, you might as well make the most of that space and keep the projector setup.

if you can extend the budget a tiny bit i'd recommend the refurbished benq ht2060 for $830

I think the led and laser models are best for ease of use and longevity. Benq has some of the cheaper ones: the ht2060 is 1080p but seems pretty solid and the cheapest option id go for. The x3100i (i have an older model of this one, lots of hours no issues yet) and the x500 are the two that are a step up. There is a laser one too I think that is between those but I don’t remember the model off the top of my head. Whatever you do make sure it fits your intended space, these models have limited image adjustment and keystone takes away a lot of the positives of these models. I also recommend a quality seller NOT amazon just in case you do need to deal with replacement/warranty stuff. A dedicated projector site will help you compare models easier too.

I went with the 1080p Benq Ht2060 because the better black levels, contrast, and color. It’s also LED and not lamp based. The 3550 was one I was contemplating over, but I’ve heard it’s not as good as the 2060 at the things I mentioned. I’ve seen videos of the 3550 and in a light controlled room it looked pretty great for the price. I think you’d be happy with it.

The 2060 is very similar to the 2050 but doesn’t need bumbs and has hdr and will accept 4k input (I believe). Both are very good. The 3550 has 4k pixels. It’s not as bright so only good to 120” in a dim room. All three are solid options

the BenQ HT2060 is very, very good and can usually be found for around $1,000.

This projector has served me for many years and is fantastic. Probably the best sub 1k projector you can get. Just keep in mind you need space for it, like 8 feet at least to project.