Benq Pe7800???????

[Doop]

I'm seeing this machine at around $2K, give or take. The specs look good. I'd been figuring on an Infocus 4805. This sounds like it would be a better deal.

Reviews/information seems to be scarce. Can anybody fill in the blanks?

I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a projector. Just have to finish my taxes and see what Uncle Sam leaves me for my HT. :twisted:

[George Bellefontaine]

The BenQ PE7800 is a WSVGA 1024 x 576 dlp projector with a 5x color wheel and 800 lumens brightness. It's sort of a medium throw PJ. It projects a 100" diagonal image at 11.4 to 13.9 feet. If it's available for 2K or less that is certainly a good price as the msrp on this when it first came out was just under 5500K. Thus far I have not seen a review on it but the other BenQ models 8700/6200, etc., all seem to get good reviews.

[JonMarsh]

This Benq uses the Matterhon DLP engine, so it's what you would call widescreen PAL resolution (576P). No info on scaling engine, so it probably doesn't have Faroudja DCDi built in. Scaler performance will be critical to DVD quality (going from 480P to 576 can result in artefacts or softening). Downcoverted HDTV should look pretty good.

It DOES indicate DVI-I input for RGB compatibility, as well as HDCP, so it should support HDCP encrypted soruces if this spec is correct. Comes with a DVI-D cable.

The PDF is pretty low res, which is a shame, as the input panel photo is not very legible- specs indicate BNC inputs, (good) for progressive component and RGB-HV, in addition to DVI port and RCA component inputs (apparently for 480i interlaced).

Sometimes the Matterhorn based projectors do best with an HTPC or external scaler- that may be one point to check out. Runco offers some nice (read, "expensive") Matterhorn based projectors, but put a fair amount of effort into the scaler.

As always, an audition before a purchase is very recommended to avoid buyer's remorse.

~Jon