Today we reviewed the BenQ V6050 HDR 4K HDR laser video projector, an ultra-short throw focal length model intended to replace a TV in a living room (this type of projector is also known as a laser TV). The BenQ V6050 can project an image between 70″ (177.8cm) and 120″ (304.8cm) in diagonal at a distance between 7.3 and 33cm from the wall or projection screen.
The BenQ V6050 stands out from its competitors by its motorized protective cover that opens and closes automatically, protecting the projection system when not in use. It is also equipped with two retractable rulers on the back to set it at the appropriate distance for the desired image size.
The BenQ V6050 is sold for €3990, which puts it in direct competition with the Optoma CinemaX UHZ65UST which won the EISA Best Product Award in its category and the Samsung The Premiere LSP7T which we recently tested (see the test of the Samsung LSP7T). Will the BenQ V6050 stand out from its rivals?
BenQ V6050: the brand
The Taiwanese manufacturer BenQ is known worldwide for its video projectors but also produces computer monitors, interactive flat screens for businesses and schools, digital cameras and office lighting.
BenQ has built a solid reputation in consumer video projection by shaking up this market with very affordable 1080p HD video projectors. We remember the famous BenQ W1070, and its successors the BenQ W1080 and BenQ W1090, both hailed by the specialized press and acclaimed by home theater enthusiasts with a limited budget. BenQ excels at providing affordable DLP projectors with outstanding image quality and accurate colorimetry, thanks to precise factory calibration. More recently, the manufacturer has democratized 4K projectors with references such as the BenQ W2700 and BenQ W5700, both rewarded by an EISA Award 2019-2020 and unanimously acclaimed by the specialized press (read the test of the BenQ W2700).
The BenQ V6050 we tested here and its white version, the BenQ V6000, are the first ultra-short throw 4K laser projectors from the manufacturer.
BenQ V6050: packaging & accessories
The BenQ V6050 4K laser projector comes with a remote control, 2 AAA batteries, a quick start guide and a technical booklet. The projector is meticulously placed inside the box and protected by foam pads.
The brushed aluminum sliding cover is protected by a plastic film and held in place by tape. Its left and right sides are also protected by silicone elements that must be removed before using the projector.
The remote control that comes with the BenQ V6050 projector is very elegant and has a two-tone finish. Its upper part is matt black and contrasts with its lower part which features a slightly shiny silver finish. The keys are fairly large, well arranged and backlit in orange when pressing the “key light” button located on the right side of the remote control.
BenQ V6050: presentation
The BenQ V6050 is an ultra-short throw 4K laser video projector that can project an image measuring up to 120″ (304.8cm) in diagonal at only 33cm from the projection screen. Simply connect it to the HDMI port of an internet TV set-top box or to a 4K Blu-ray player and a network AV player and it will replace the TV in a living room. This laser TV can project a very large image and deliver stereo sound thanks to its integrated sound bar.
Laser TV
Some manufacturers refer to their ultra-short throw laser projectors as Laser TVs. This term is used because they are a good substitute for a TV and have the ability to project a very large image with very little recoil, even in broad daylight, and their laser lamp has a very long lifespan.
Thanks to its very bright laser lamp (3000 lumens), the BenQ V6050 can project a legible image in the middle of the day, provided that you draw the curtains a little or project on a technical screen such as the Lumene Movie Palace UHD 4K Extra Bright projection screen.
In return for the BenQ V6050’s laser lamp’s very high brightness level, the projector requires good ventilation. While the ventilation noise is relatively quiet (we measured 41 dB at 1m…) in eco mode (lowering the brightness), it is very noticeable in normal mode (bright lamp for daytime use) as we measured it between 44 and 45 dB.
This significant noise is explained by the presence of four fans in charge of extracting the heat released by the lamp and the electronic components from the chassis once it has been captured by the network of passive radiators and heat pipes (see the slideshow below).
The other advantage of the BenQ V6050’s laser lamp is its longevity, which reaches 20,000 hours in normal mode, or 4 hours of projection per day for more than 13 years. This exceptional longevity can even be increased by using the projector in eco mode.
Sliding cover and eye protection
Like all ultra-short throw projectors, the BenQ V6050 4K laser projector must be placed on a TV stand that is not too high up so that the projected image is at the ideal height for the viewers. This means that it is accessible to small hands as well as to our feline friends! That’s why the manufacturer has equipped this ultra-short throw projector with a sliding protective cover that opens automatically when the power is turned on and closes by itself when the projector is turned off. As a result, the most sensitive part of the projector is protected from dust but also from curious little fingers.
In addition, the BenQ V650 4K laser projector features a detection system that turns off the laser lamp as soon as the projection field is “obstructed”, so as to avoid the risk of glare and even eye damage.
Easy installation
The BenQ V6050 video projector is equipped with two retractable rulers directly integrated into the back of the chassis for easy installation. They are graduated to indicate how far from the wall the projector should be placed according to the desired image size.
Once the BenQ V6050 projector is turned on, automatic keystone correction ensures that vertical lines are “straightened”. Finally, the electric focus makes it very easy to sharpen the image using the remote control.
4K HDR10, DCI-P3, Rec.709
The BenQ V6050 projects a 4K UHD image using a 0.47″ DLP chip with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. To achieve the ultra high definition of 3840 x 2160 pixels, each pixel in the matrix displays four different pixels of the 4K image in succession, shifting them slightly so they don’t overlap. As this process is carried out extremely quickly, it is imperceptible, the brain thus perceives the projected image as if it were displayed in one go (phenomenon of persistence of vision).
The BenQ V6050 4K laser projector covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space used in digital cinema and 96% of the Rec.709 color space used in HDTV. This guarantees rich, realistic and well nuanced colors.
The BenQ V6050 ultra-short throw projector is compatible with HDR10 and HLG content and optimizes the display of HDR10 and HLG content using exclusive HDR-PRO technology. HDR-PRO technology provides accurate color and grayscale mapping for high-contrast images with realistic colors.
Stereo sound
To replace a TV, an ultra-short throw projector must also offer an efficient audio section. The BenQ V6050 features a stereo soundbar which is integrated in the front panel and consists of 4 speaker drivers hidden behind an acoustic fabric grille.
The soundbar is driven by a 2 x 5 watts amplification stage, which may seem limited but is satisfactory for everyday use. An audio processing feature offers several modes that allows the user to adjust the sound rendering according to the kind of content being watched (cinema, music, games, sports). The cinema mode, for example, widens the sound stage to enhance spectator immersion. It’s quite efficient and better than many TVs, even if we would have liked the sound stage to be even wider.
Of course, it is possible to use an external soundbar, an AV receiver or a pair of active speakers by connecting them to the optical output of the video projector.
HDMI 2.0 & USB
The BenQ V6050 ultra-short throw projector features two HDMI 2.0 inputs whose EDID can be changed in the menu to connect an HDMI 1.4 source (such as a DVD/Blu-ray player or an older AV receiver). It also features three USB ports: one specifically for multimedia playback, one for connecting a BenQ wireless transmitter such as the BenQ Dongle QCast QP01 and the third outputting a 5V/1.5A current to power a Google ChromeCast Ultra, for example.
The BenQ V6050’s range of connectors includes two HDMI jacks, three USB ports and an optical audio output.
BenQ V6050: key specs
Display
- Projection system: DLP
- DMD chip type: 0,47″
- Native Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
- Brightness (ANSI lumens): 3,000 ANSI lumens
- Contrast ratio (FOFO): 3,000,000:1** (with dynamic iris engaged)
- Display colors: 30-bit (1.07 billion colors)
- Native Image Ratio: 16:9 (4:3 compatible)
- Lighting: laser + phosphor
- Lifespan of the light source**: 20,000 hours (normal mode, only for the light source)
Optics
- Projection ratio: 0.252 (90″ diagonal +/-3% @ 0.503m)
- Keystone Correction Adjustment: Vertical ± 30 degrees, Auto Keystone Function (Switchable)
- Sharp image size (diagonal): 70″~120″
- Horizontal frequency: 15-135kHz
- Vertical Refresh Rate: 23-120Hz
Image
- Picture Mode: Bright / Living Room / Cinema / DCI-P3 / User / Silent / 3D / HDR10 / HLG
- Color wheel: 4 segments (RGBJ)
- Color wheel speed: 1x
- Color space Rec.709: 96%.
- DCI-P3 color space: 98%.
- CinemaMaster function: 4K upscaling / MEMC moving image fluidity / detail optimization
- HDR-PRO (HDR10/HLG)
Built-in speaker
- Trevolo Speaker
- 4-speaker stereo system
- Amplification: 2 x 5 watts
Special features
- User safety with proximity sensors (laser off)
- Motorized protective cover
Connectors
- HDMI x 2 (2.0a/HDCP2.2)
- USB type A x 3 (including 1 media player)
- Optical audio output x 1
- RS232 (DB 9-pin) x1 (D-sub 9-pin, male)
Compatibility
- Supported Resolutions: VGA (640 x 480) to 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160)
- 3D Compatibility
Power
- Mains voltage VAC 100 ~ 240 (50 / 60Hz)
- Standard power consumption :
– Max.: 500W
– Normal: 375W- Eco: 220W
- Standby Power Consumption: 0.5W max. at 100 ~ 240VAC
Environment
- Acoustic noise level (standard/Eco): 34/29 dBA
- Operating Temperature: 0~40 degrees Celsius
General
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 157 x 500 x 388mm
- Weight: 10kg
Accessories
- Remote control with batteries x 1 (RCV024)
- Power cable x 1 (3m)
- User manual
BenQ V6050: testing conditions
We tested the BenQ V6050 ultra-short throw laser 4K projector by projecting the image onto a white electric projection screen and a grey wall. We connected it to a 4K Blu-ray player using an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable, and we also associated it with a network AV player to access our digital video library using Plex, as well as a USB hard drive containing several Ultra HD 4K HDR movies.
As with all ultra short throw projectors, installation is quick and easy if you want to project directly onto the wall. However, it is a little longer and trickier if you’re using a projection screen. You need to adjust both the height of the video projector and its distance from the screen without forgetting to center it to adjust the size of the image and the height at which it is projected. While the integrated rulers of the BenQ V6050 make managing the distance much easier, the height depends mainly on the height of the TV cabinet, as the adjustable feet of the projector only provide a few extra centimeters.
With a fixed screen, the screen’s mounting height should be adjusted according to the height of the image projected by the projector. With an electric projection screen, there is a little bit more flexibility since the height of the screen can be adjusted quite precisely.
BenQ V6050: our impressions
For this test of the BenQ V6050 4K laser projector, we watched several 4K HDR movies, including Le Mans 66, Mad Max: Fury Road and Avatar.
Brightness and contrast
The Taiwanese manufacturer announces a maximum brightness of 3000 lumens to allow projection in comfortable conditions in the middle of the day. In practice, unless one uses a projection screen with a technical fabric like the Lumene Movie Palace UHD 4K Extra Bright screen, it is difficult to obtain a high-contrast image with bright colors without at least partially drawing the curtains (dark and relatively opaque in our case). This is the case with all ultra-short focal length video projectors, so it’s not a flaw of the projetor.
In the pictures of the following slideshow, we can clearly see the difference with the curtains open (picture 1), partially closed (picture 2) or completely closed (picture 3).
By projecting on a gray wall, the contrast rises without affecting the luminosity or resulting in washed out whites. On Avatar, we were able to enjoy a pleasant image quality simply by pulling the (black) curtains, although the best results were obtained in a dark room, as can be seen in the following slideshow.
Once the room was in full darkness, the color saturation and the contrast increased significantly, much to our delight. In the dark, the brightness in normal mode even felt too high, with blacks that weren’t deep enough. By switching the lamp setting to eco mode, we obtained a more cinematographic image, with deeper blacks and less intense but no less nuanced brightness.
With the James Mangold film Le Mans 66 and its particularly intricate photography, the BenQ V6050 delivered beautiful images. The colors were a little less intense and saturated than with the Samsung but they were much more natural, which added to the realism of the visual experience.
Acutance and accuracy
DLP video projection technology is known to provide greater accuracy and superior image sharpness to LCD projectors, be it with Sony SXRD, Epson Tri-LCD or JVC D-ILA models. This is mainly due to the fact that the interstitial space between the micro-mirrors of DMD chips (one mirror = one pixel) is much smaller than that between the pixels of an LCD array. Moreover, LCD technology uses three LCD arrays (one red, one green and one blue) each crossed by the luminous flux of the lamp previously separated by a prism. The three luminous fluxes are then brought together before passing through the lens. This system requires perfect alignment of the three images generated by these three matrices, the slightest shift having an impact on image quality, especially its sharpness.
With the BenQ V6050, the rendering is more detailed and the contours are more defined than with the LCD projectors we tested previously, and the image appears a little “softer” in comparison. However, with the BenQ, we did not find the same level of definition that won us over with the BenQ W2700 or even with the Samsung LSP7T. Although it is not a deal-breaker, we would have liked more precise contours and more substance and texture on the screen.
Colorimetry and HDR
This is the major strength of this 4K ultra-short throw laser BenQ V6050 projector. The calibration of the images in Cinema mode is particularly successful with very realistic rendering. Much less “demonstrative” than the Samsung on this point, this BenQ 4K laser projector will surely please people who like cinematographic images. On the Blu-ray version of Mad Max: Fury Road, the color and HDR management was exemplary. The colors were accurate, the highlights were intense without over-exposure, the dark areas were detailed enough without being too bright.
During the desert car chase scenes, during the day before Max escaped and at night when he joined Furiosa’s team, the light management is impressive. The entire gray scale is perfectly harnessed to provide a very nuanced image. The manufacturer’s HDR Pro technology, which is responsible for tone mapping (matching the HDR shades of the recording with the projector’s HDR capabilities) is particularly effective here.
Audio section
As with the Samsung The Premiere LSP7T, it’s a shame that the audio section of the BenQ V6050 4K 4K laser projector only provides stereo sound and doesn’t offer more advanced sound spatialization as is the case with many sound bars capable of producing a fairly immersive surround sound.
The sound performance of the BenQ is not all that bad, however. The rather limited power of its amplification (2 x 5 watts) proves to be sufficient to offer a well-dimensioned soundtrack. The stereo rendering is not extremely wide, but the Cinema mode provides more pronounced side effects while still bringing sufficient clarity to the dialogue.
For those who wish to combine the BenQ V6050 with an AV receiver and speaker package for a more powerful and enveloping sound experience, the BenQ V6050 can be used with either the optical audio output or the HDMI ARC connector.
Finally, like many of its competitors, the BenQ does not decode DTS for USB playback. What a shame!
BenQ V6050: compared to…
Samsung The Premiere LSP7T
The model by Samsung projects an overall more flattering image with brighter, more saturated colors, even in cinema mode. Whether you like it or not is a matter of taste… The audio section of the Samsung projector also offers a wider stereo rendering for a more immersive sound. But it is especially in the field of connectivity that the Samsung LSP7T stands out, with all the functions of a SMART TV and even Bluetooth transmission. This is all the more remarkable as it is €500 cheaper…
Where the BenQ V6050 has a clear advantage is in the quality of the projected image. The colors are more accurate and more realistic and the rendering on HDR images is extremely well managed, with very good contrast and readability. We find qualities common to many video projectors from the Taiwanese manufacturer who are known for their cinematic rendering.
The higher brightness level of the BenQ V6050 also makes it more efficient in the middle of the day, with an image that is a little more readable than that of the Samsung.
Optoma CinemaX UHZ65UST
More affordable than the Samsung and the BenQ, the Optoma CinemaX UHZ65UST projector offers more than the V6050, with three HDMI inputs and network and Internet connectivity with an Android interface. What’s more, its higher maximum brightness (3500 lumens) makes it more comfortable for daytime projection.
However, when projecting in a dark room or in the dark, the BenQ offers an equally satisfying experience, with a better color balance right out of the box in Cinema mode when the lamp is set to eco mode.
BenQ V6050: conclusion
The BenQ V6050 ultra-short throw 4K laser projector is particularly appealing because of its cinematic image that works wonders with HDR content. The colors are accurate and balanced, the contrast is high enough to provide good readability, and the sharpness of the image, although perfectible, remains satisfactory. Obviously, it delivers its best performance in a half-lit room or even in full darkness with a very convincing cinematic image.
During daytime, one will have to be satisfied with an image that is a little less “dynamic”, unless one uses a technical screen with a canvas capable of limiting ambient light pollution, which is not different from competing models.
On a daily basis, the BenQ V6050 ultra short focal length 4K laser video projector proves to be pleasant to use. It is fairly easy to install, automatic source detection is efficient with both HDMI and USB sources. The manual EDID setting for both HDMI ports (HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 1.4) is an asset for people who own older generation sources and amplifiers.
As on the Samsung LSP7T, the navigation through USB files seems graphically outdated but it has the merit of being effective if not aesthetically appealing. Too bad the DTS audio format is not supported on this input.
One of the drawbacks is high noise when using the projector, especially when the lamp is set to normal mode, which is essential for projecting a sufficiently bright image during the day. Finally, the main flaw of this BenQ V6050 is that it overlooks the connected functions its main competitors offer. We would gladly excuse this shortcoming if it were a bit more affordable…
What we liked
- The rulers for easy installation
- The motorized protective cover
- The very accurate color calibration in “Cinema” mode
- The overall image quality in HDR
- The remote control
We would have liked
- The integration of Android TV, WiFi and Bluetooth transmission!
- More precision and details in 4K
- Quieter operation
- DTS support for USB playback
- A lower price
