BenQ W7000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports, including 3D
For virtually all my watching of HDTV content, I never had to leave the BenQ W7000 projector's "best" calibrated mode, and could still enjoy a really bright picture with over 1500 lumens behind it.
Below shows my theater with the back shutters opened only part way. The rear down facing lights are also on, and the door open. The sports images were taken with the room like this. For the other HDTV images, the shutters and door were closed.
Sure, there's about 400 additional lumens available, by going to an uncalibrated Dynamic mode. Consider that you are going to either need a huge screen, or a desire to deal with a whole lot of ambient light, to need that extra brightness in 2D, so enjoy beautifully calibrated color with brightness as good as the other few bright projectors, none of which can match the W7000 projector's color when at these lumen levels.
3D is reasonably bright, unless, of course, if you've gone out and gotten yourself a huge screen - say 140" diagonal. The W7000 may be up to that in 2D, but while that might buy you decent brightness at that size (with a typical screen), the W7000 looks reasonably bright on 100 and 110" diagonal screens, and can be pushed further without feeling dim.
I watched a recorded 3D football game (NCAA), at about 100" and I did not feel lumen deprived.
I've scattered several DirecTV Sunday NFL Mix images in this review. Sunday Mix alone is justification for buying a projector if you are a football fan. When they are only showing 4 games at once, each is the size of a pretty large plasma (or LCDTV) display.
BenQ W7000 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports, and also 3D HDTV content
For sports, the CFI (True Video) works very well for those wanting motion smoothing, as a single chip DLP projector, the W7000 provides a very sharp image which you can really appreciate with all digital content like HDTV sports, concerts and other high quality programming.
Above, another image from the Victoria Secret Fashion Show (above), and (below), the band Vampire Weekend performing at an Isle of Wight concert festival.
Overall, the BenQ is rather exceptional for HDTV and sports thanks to the combination of really great color and tons of brightness.