BenQ W1200 ISF-Certified DLP Projector (TPV 104)

BenQ’s very affordable W1200 is capable of putting out a great looking picture, but getting there is a major chore

The connectivity package that the W1200 provides, however, suggests that BenQ is aiming outside the home theater market. In addition to the unexpected built-in in stereo speakers that I already mentioned above, the projector also provides not one but two RGB PC video connections, one of which is a video input while the other is a monitor output. That’s typical of what one might find with a commercial or boardroom projector and not one destined for the home theater market. There’s a USB port, but that’s for external control and not for connecting a USB thumb drive or other device to view still pictures or videos.

Still, there are two HDMI inputs, and a component video input along with an S-video input and a composite video input, and the W1200 can accept up to a 1920x1200 WUXGA signal via the RGB PC input. There’s also a 12V trigger output, which can be used to activate a drop-down screen, for example.

User Interface

On Screen Display

The OSD itself is reasonably well designed, and can be shifted from the default center position to any of the screen corners, and the display’s “on time” can be adjusted upward from the default five seconds up to thirty seconds, which aids in making adjustments.

But, here’s where things get quirky. Ordinarily, you’d be able to fine-tune the various picture settings in the default picture modes, but the W1200’s designers have decided that you shouldn’t deviate from their settings. With some of the picture modes, certain adjustments can’t be made, meaning that the settings bar for many of them is simply grayed out.

Some other settings can be adjusted when in one of the three user modes, but only when the Brilliant Color function is activated. Brilliant Color is Texas Instruments’ color punch-up feature, which some people like but purists typically don’t. So, the procedure to adjust certain settings is to activate BC, make an adjustment, turn off BC, evaluate the result, and then—if further adjustment proves necessary—to repeat the whole process, which is quite tedious.

Remote Control

The remote is better than you would expect for this price class. It features discrete source buttons for the various inputs, which is a plus. It’s backlit, which is another plus. It also features discrete buttons for making various picture adjustments, but they’re only available for use when in one of the three user modes.

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS

The best way to optimize the picture is to activate the ISF calibration function. To do that, enter Up, Down, Up, Down, Left then Right on the remote. Once there, adjustments can be made and saved to either of the two available ISF modes—Day or Night.

• Color: -15
• Tint: 0
• Sharpness: 0
•  Picture Mode: ISF Day or Night
• Color Temperature: Warm
• Gamma: 2.2
• Brilliant Color: Off
•  White Peaking: 1
• Frame Interpolation: Low or Off
• Clarity Control: NR Off; Detail Enhance 0
• 1:1 (pixel-for-pixel) Mode: Real
• Color Wheel Sequence: 1