Are you interested in the BenQ HT2050A projector? Want to know whether this model fits your own personal needs? Of course you are! But there are many important factors to consider when picking out a projector for yourself, and there are some things you may not even think about. We’ll review as many technical aspects as possible to help fill your mind with some essential knowledge.
If you aren’t aware, the BenQ HT2050A is a traditional bulb model with a brilliantly bright 2,200 ANSI lumens. This makes it at least 6-10x+ brighter than LED-based models. The price fits accordingly but if you want something that you can freely use during the daylight, this could be a nice choice. There are a ton of hidden features here as well so let’s jump into everything.
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Are You A Gamer?
BenQ is heavily leaning into marketing the HT2050A projector towards gamers. This is because of the super low 16ms response time the projector is capable of. It means you’ll have less lag input when you’re controlling fast-paced games such as FPS or racing titles. Watch the following YouTube video to see Mario Kart 8 being played at 110″.
Imagine playing your favorite games on the side of your wall. It’s an exciting way to enjoy older content along with the newest games. Bust out some Mario Kart 64 or Smash Brothers for intense matches with your friends. Plug the latest consoles in and see everything at 100″ or larger. This model has a somewhat short throw, which means you’ll see a 100″ image when the projector is just over 8 feet, or 2.5 meters, from the wall.
What Are The Connectivity Options?
The BenQ HT2050A has an extensive amount of ports located on the rear. This is where you’ll plug all your favorite devices into the projector. It’s important to have a good variety of ports in order to handle everything you own. I’ll quickly mention that I’m going to leave out the RS232 serial data port, as that’s really just for advanced technical or service purposes.
HDMI
There are two HDMI inputs available. This is the type of port for your video game consoles, your Blu-Ray or DVD player, and media sticks such as the Amazon FireStick or Roku. Since there are two ports included, you won’t need to switch between devices all the time. For example, you could keep a media stick plugged in at all times to easily watch Netflix, Hulu, and more. The other HDMI input could be for your shiny new XBOX, PS5, or Nintendo Switch.
I’ll quickly mention that they’re both HDCP 1.4a ports, for anyone that wants the technical info. This model is also CEC compatible, so after setting things up with a CEC device, whenever you turn on your device it would automatically turn the projector on as well.
12V Trigger
Now this is a port you’ve probably never heard of. Some projection screens you can buy are more advanced and motorized. If your projector has a 12V Trigger, you can link them together so that when your projector turns on, it’ll also automatically lower the screen. Hence why it’s called a “trigger“. Likewise, when you turn off your projector the screen would then automatically close.
USB
You’re probably familiar with USB ports. It’s very common to be able to view media files from a flash drive, but the BenQ HT2050A does not support this feature. The USB input is only there to provide power to your media sticks.
VGA
Here’s a pretty ancient port for people with older computers. Most modern PCs have HDMI ports which would be superior, since they pass audio through in one cable. With a VGA input you would also need to use a separate cable for sound. But if you have an old PC and want to turn it into a media hub, maybe this port would be perfect for you.
Component/Composite
The component port is somewhat similar to HDMI but is analog instead of being digital. Some XBOX 360 consoles shipped with this cable at launch and some DVD players used it too. It might be the best port you can use for older devices. This port can also be used for RCA or composite video and audio. That means classic gaming systems like the N64, GameCube, or PS2 would work here.
Audio In/Out
To get audio out to external speakers or headphones you can use the 3.5mm audio jack. This is the typical headphone port found on all sorts of devices since forever. You could also consider buying an additional accessory called an “audio extractor”. This takes an HDMI source and splits it so you can use S/PDIF or optical audio, red/white audio out, along with passing the HDMI source through. There’s a 10-watt speaker inside the projector which does a fine job but having an audio extractor can be a really versatile way to extend your audio options.
Is There 3D Movie Support?
Are you a person that still loves 3D movies? Well, the BenQ HT2050A projector actually has the ability to playback 3D content. There’s even a dedicated picture preset mode that optimizes the 3D effects for 3D movies. Obviously you’ll need to purchase the special shutter glasses or already have some; you’ll also need some sort of Blu-Ray player that can play 3D movies too because not all of them can. It’s a nice addition for anyone interested in the functionality. Check this YouTube video out for a demonstration of its movie playing ability.
What’s Your Wall Color?
One really cool feature is the ability to select what color wall you have. The projector will then adjust the coloring to give you a more accurate and pleasing image. You can choose between light, yellow, pink, light green, and blue. If you plan on shining your projector right onto your wall, and your wall is a weird color, this may be super handy for you.
How Bright Is It?
Brightness is quite important in terms of making your projector useful all day. The BenQ HT2050A pumps out 2,200 ANSI lumens, which is very bright in comparison to some alternatives. LED models have a longer lamp life but these regular bulb varieties are multiple of times brighter. This means you’re able to more freely use your projector during the day when there’s light in your room. It may not be as important to you if you only plan on using the projector at night, but it’s nice to have some versatility here.
With 3D movies it’s also important to have a high brightness since they tend to get darker when you activate the 3D mode. Even on the SmartEco mode this projector would still be brighter than many LED-based models. On this mode the lamp would also last around 7,000 hours. That means if you used the BenQ HT2050A 20 hours per week, every week, the lamp should last up to 6.7 years.
Can It Produce Good Colors?
The contrast ratio of this model is 15,000:1 which is just how many times brighter the color white is versus the color black. So you can say the color white is 15,000 times brighter than the color black in this scenario. This high rating will give you strikingly colorful images that really shine in all types of media. Movies and video games will be saturated with vivid color that’s also accurate thanks to the over 96% Rec. 709 color accuracy rating.
How Clear Is The Picture?
Having a clear picture partially comes down to the native resolution of your projector. This model can output full HD content at 1920×1080 resolution. It’s what much of the media is, though 4K content will work with the projector. It’ll just be downscaled to fit the native resolution. Overall things will look sharp and crisp due to the high resolution and quality of the optics.
When you first set your BenQ HT2050A projector up you’ll also need to adjust the alignment and focus settings to dial in the sharpness. If you plan on leaving your projector in one spot you should only have to do this once. But once it’s moved it will require readjustment.
BenQ HT2050A Summary
Native Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p)
Brightness: 2,200 ANSI Lumens DLP
Contrast: 15,000:1
Input Latency: 16.67ms (60Hz)
Lamp Life: up to 7K hours
Image Size: 40″ to 120″
Throw Distance: 100″ at 8~ feet
Zoom: 1.30x
Keystone: 2D, Vertical/Horizontal ±30°
96% Rec. 709 color certified
10W Chamber speaker
Connectivity: 2x HDMI, 12V Trigger, USB-A, Mini-B USB, VGA, RS232 Serial, Component/Composite, 3.5mm Audio In/Out
Dimensions: 15″ x 4.8″ x 10.9″
Weight: 7.28~ lbs
Alias: W1120, ht 2050a
Noise Level: 29 Typical / 27 ECO Mode
Warranty: Up to 3-years
BenQ HT2050A User Manual
Final Thoughts
I think it’s clear the BenQ HT2050A projector seems to be a top-tier choice because of its visual performance and versatile connectivity, especially at this price point. The wide range of inputs allow you to plug in basically all of your media devices. If you’re a gamer or cinephile it provides you with something a regular TV just doesn’t really match.
I’ll also mention that this model is not only powerful, but also pretty quiet at only 29 decibels typically, and 27 decibels under ECO mode. This means you can enjoy watching your content without as much of a distraction.
Overall the BenQ HT2050A seems to be a very competitive product that has the features that the majority of consumers may be looking for. How do you feel about the lamp life? Is the visual performance enough for you? In the end the decision will come down to you and whether everything fits your wants and needs. If it does seem like a match, I’d suggest you visit the following Amazon links below to read more about the product and check the latest offers since prices do tend to change.
BenQ HT2050A Projector Offers
I’d highly recommend you add the projector directly to your shopping cart in order to view a more complete total.
If you’re interested in saving a bit more money, consider getting a certified renewed model instead of brand new. The projector is professionally inspected and even comes with a 90-day guarantee if you’re unhappy. Click the following button to see the offer on Amazon.
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