BenQ HT3550 Full Review (W2700) | The Affordable 4K Projector We've Been Waiting For?

The BenQ HT3550 is a 4K DLP projector with the best 4K HDR performance I have seen from a projector .
Buy it on Amazon: amzn.to/2TC1VQ8
Official BenQ Product page: goo.gl/Ed5JGi
Link to full AVS review: www.avsforum.c...
TL;DR Conclusion: 23:03
W1070 Prologue: 0:22
HT3550 Overview: 2:46
HDR Performance On-scree: 8:46
HDR Performance (Thor): 10:06
HDR Settings: 11:18
3D Performance: 15:08
Picture Modes and Settings: 17:34
USB Firmware: 21:26

[@film-maniac]

Wow. A projector review that is actually comprehensive, including 3D (which other reviewers pretend doesn't exist) picture modes, etc .Well done, and thanks!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks for the comment!

[@HendreH]

Thanks for this awesome review. I am getting mine tomorrow. Super excited. I did not even realise it has 3D as well. Where do I buy 3D glasses for this projector?@@ScottsTechandStuff

[@number1pappy]

@@HendreH .

[@project-5724]

Had to let you know I bought the HT5550 and installed it last night. 1 word...AWESOME!!!!!

[@matthewskaj9531]

Great job Scott! Could you please do a comparison video between the HT3550 and the HT5550? I'd love to see the differences to know if the HT5550 is worth the extra $1000.

[@project-5724]

Awesome - thanks for this info. You answered my main question I had regarding this projector, which is If I had an extra 1,500.00 what projector would you choose and you still recommended this unit. Placing my order Thursday with BenQ!

[@teolong9]

For those 3D haters out there, nothing like your own projector at home playing 3D movies; I have the 5030UB and love it. Great video and if not the 4010 I may go with this 3550 or wait and see what optoma does as long as they continue to support 3D. By the way f*** Samsung, LG and Sony for killing 3D, especially LG when they had mastered 3D Passive on their OLED TVs.

[@NattaTRAINS]

It might be possible that 3D might have a big come-back in the next few years. I watched Alita Battle Angel (Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron) about two months ago 3 times on 3D IMAX. I recommend watching this movie you can pre-order the "Alita: Battle Angel (4K Ultra HD + 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray) ". Disney just showed their "roadmap for upcoming movies" and Avatar 2 is sceduled for 2021 and there are more Avatar sequels planned for the future and right now they started to build the sets for Avatar 2 so they might be filming soon. James made 3D popular for mainstream it might be possible that he revives the 3D market again!

[@teolong9]

@@NattaTRAINS I hope you are right about this. I had a bunch of family and friends at the house on Saturday so I took my Epson 5030UB to the backyard and played Pets in 3D for the children projecting against a gray Walmart tarp 140" and Bluetooth speaker; needless to say, they loved it.

[@NattaTRAINS]

@@hunniebunnies Spykids by Robert Rodriguez. Alita by Robert Rodriguez. James Cameron and robert are best director buddies.

[@BillyBombastic]

3D is pants.

[@BillyBombastic]

Stop watching 3D cartoons

[@joentell]

This is the most legit home theater setup I've ever seen! Subscribed! Hope to get the BenQ HT3550 to review on my channel. I currently have the HT2050. You got me hyped up on this!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Joe N Tell thanks man!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Joe N Tell subbed ya back. I like your channel

[@boredjedi2332]

Great review and thanks for taking the time and effort showing this projector off for us and congrats on the new audience member on the way. What you forgot to mention about the W1070 is the latency of 20-30ms maybe as high as 33ms depending on who was doing the measurements. Making it a gamer cannon especially those with Nvidia 3d vision. That's what pretty much made the 1070 a breakout model for Benq. They hit two consumer targets at one time. The budget home theater consumer and the gamer consumer. Great to hear about the 3D. All we need to do now is convince the movie industry 3D content is not dead. I personally love 3D. To me it's more immersive. I originally saw Guardians of the Galaxy in its 2D form. When I saw the 3D version, it's all I watch now. Bottom line if anything is available in 3D, it's what I watch. Forgot to mention yes I'm a W1070 owner and it's primary and only projector but I'm eying this 3550 as a replacement.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks man! Yes -give me a wish list and the only thing that would be on it with this projector would be lower input lag. Re: 3D. $$$'s talk and most people weren't shelling out for 3D. The problem is that 3D sucks on TVs because you are watching a screen the size of your thumbnail. 3D was made for the big screen where he screen fills your entire FOV. Most people have TVs. I feel if everyone had projectors, then 3D would be in a very healthy place, because yes.... 3D is awesome. I think you'd be really happy with the HT3550 if you are going to be watching 4K or HDR. The brighter variant of the HT3550 is also coming out later this year. Just like the TK800 was to the HT2550 last year. Frankly, I'm really excited about that model.

[@boredjedi2332]

@@ScottsTechandStuff Yeah agree about the 3D. The brighter model planned I'm going to assume they are going to add a white segment? I have a relative that was interested in the TK800 and told him to hold off when I told him about the HT3550. Rather a funny story with that. I always busted his chops about the 3D. He was never much into it. Always saw movies in 2D and thought 3D was all hype. He has a dlp projector but it's a non 3D 1080p 2009 model and on his second bulb. It got to the point where he'd tell me to shut up already when I would say "does it come in 3D". Until, that is, I was able to show off my 1070 to him in all it's 2D and 3D glory a few months ago. He couldn't believe it. Now I've got him talking 3D. A few days later he was talking about the Tk800 for the 4k and especially the 3D. Fast forward to when I told him about this new Benq entry, He's rather sold on it as well. He's willing to wait as well though to see what near future models have to offer and to see how well this one performs from the owners. Same as for myself. I have around only 1,300 hours on the W1070 bulb so it's not even at the half life in terms of the bulb since I only use it ECO (6,000 hrs). Had it since 2015. Thought I'd be playing games on it a lot but ended up using it just for movies mostly. I should start using it more now to force myself to upgrade sooner rather than later :)

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Bored Jedi pop that thing into Normal mode and behold the glory of its brightness!

[@boredjedi2332]

@@ScottsTechandStuff I should since I'm planning to upgrade. Might as well run this projector at full power.

[@TheKrillmeisterswe]

Finally a 4K projector from BenQ with lensshift, and 3D. I have a W1300, really happy with it and the 3D is amazing on it, but i really want to upgrade to a 2160p projector. So i am probably going to get the W2700 later this year so i can watch all my 1080p, 3D movies and also all my 2160p movies with just one projector instead of having to have two hanging in the ceiling.

[@TheKrillmeisterswe]

@@darockk not when it comes to their budgetprojectors.

[@TheKrillmeisterswe]

@@darockk both the W1700 and TK800 has 3D, but they do not have lensshift: www.benq.com/en-in/projector/cinehome-home-cinema/w1700/specifications.html www.benq.com/en/projector/home-entertainment/tk800/specifications.html So you are wrong.

[@TheKrillmeisterswe]

@@darockk No the W1700 does not have any lensshift whatsoever. It has keystone correction, but that is not any form of lensshift. So you are wrong yet again.

[@dhettinger80]

Thanks for the awesome review Scott. Can't wait for the 21st. I hope Amazon ships on time. =D

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

David Hettinger thanks man!

[@quickcinemarecap]

00:02 BenQ 1070 was a category killer for 1080p 3D market 02:20 BenQ HT3550 is an affordable 4K projector with impressive features. 04:43 BenQ HT3550 consolidates processing chips, making firmware upgrades and user interface navigation easier. 07:05 BenQ HT3550 offers full bandwidth 18 gigabits per second HDMI 2.0 chipset for 4K HDR 60fps gaming 09:23 Auto tone mapping enhances brightness and contrast 11:42 Easy default settings make for a great image quality 13:59 White color gamut best for screens up to 120 inches 16:27 The BenQ HT3550 projector provides a good 3D viewing experience. 18:44 Optimal settings for BenQ HT3550 4K projector 20:49 Faster power-on time and easy firmware upgrade 22:42 BenQ HT3550 has the potential to bring 4k projection into the mainstream. 24:53 The BenQ HT3550 is a top choice for a 4K HDR projector under $1500.

[@bjoggi79]

Will be upgrading to this from the w2000 based on this review.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Björgvin Jóhannsson glad I could help!!

[@joyvillanueva9743]

So far now it works really really good.

[@GertieMusic]

I am thinking of buying this projector. Researching it now. I am debating whether or not to go from 1080P to 4K. In your opinion, do you notice a huge difference In 1080P to 4K, Especially when dealing with projectors. I currently have an epson 1080P EX9210. It does great but I'm considering upgrading to 4K. What do you think? Thank you in advance :)

[@loveshy007]

Excellent review !

[@joentell]

I mentioned this review in my recent video on the HT3550.

[@genofelice6034]

Thanks for the great review. It's making me re-think. Have been looking at the Optoma UHD60 or UHD51ALV. They seem to get a lot of great reviews and are 3000 lumen projectors. My worry is the HT3550 is only 2000 lumens. I like to watch movies in the dark but watch sports with some light. A little nervous that 2000 lumens wont cut it. (146 diagonal screen).

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Geno Felice if the majority of your viewing is in the dark then I think you will be fine. I have a 160” screen and the HT3550 performed very well. Sports viewing with some light isn’t a clear strength of the HT3550. However BenQ will be releasing a bright variant of the HT3550 that would be perfect for someone like you. I think it would be worth the wait. I will be reviewing the optoma you mentioned soon so I can offer direct comparisons.

[@Subacabra]

Great review Scott! Sweet theater too! Looking forward to finally getting mine ;)

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Subacabra ugh... I feel for you. Thank you btw :)

[@dhettinger80]

Lol right, I hope they let a unit make it to your house sooner or later. The teasing is just cruel.

[@davidfarrar2454]

I would like to see a side by side comparison with this and the HT2550.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Sadly I don't have an HT2550 on hand anymore.... but the short story is that this projector completely blows the HT2550 out of the water in every conceivable way.

[@davidfarrar2454]

@@ScottsTechandStuff. Recently i updated the firmware from 1.01 to 9.0.6 on my W1700. The picture is somewhat quite improved, but was wondering how much better the W2700 was. Also have you any idea what the update sequences addressed on the projector?. Thanks.

[@chrisp.5272]

I loved my W1070! Just picked up the BenQ TK800M.

[@jaystroud528]

Chris Piccioni how do you like over your you’re old BenQ w1070

[@Teremei]

Thanks ScottyRoo (Teremei over at AVS). I'm playing Mortal Kombat XL on my 3050 right now and it looks good. Can't wait to see the better graphics in higher detail and contrast on the 3550. It's gonna look so sick.

[@samuelphipps8449]

Your videos have been very helpful in my decision making but I need a final pick between the epson 4010 and this benq. I have a basement light controlled theater and I have to mate the projector with a acoustically transparent screen 120inches. My projector budget is 2k

[@techm0j0]

Excellent job on the review Scott! Look forward to seeing a review of the HT5550!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Slowly but surely.... working on it! I really like the HT5550... fiddling with settings.

[@jasonplotkin4478]

Can you detail the gaming experience and possibly post a video? Using the W1070 and am excited to upgrade to this unit but saw that the input lag is greater. I’m not a competitive gamer more casual and using a game pad from the recliner.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

I measured input lag on HT3550 at 58ms. Gaming is fine on it, but hardcore gamers will be able to feel that input lag. I'm also review the TK800M right now and I measured that at 42ms. That full frame faster input lag does feel faster. So for casual gaming on the couch with your controller, it'll be great. But for the more discerning hardcore gamer looking to dabble toes into 4K I would recommend TK800M

[@EvanKent]

I would of loved to seen a comparison of the HT3550 vs the HT5550 because right now im trying to decide if I should push my budget as far as possible and get the HT5550 or the HT3550 would be okay... I've never owned a projector and am building out a room now. I also would love to see you review playing games on some projectors. I am very casual so i think i'll be okay w the input lag

[@pinkusagar]

Not an amateur review. It was a very detailed one.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks!

[@wesleywitteveen]

Wow great review. What is you projector distance compared to the screen. I have the feeling that your throw distance is much higher than specifications. Thanks!

[@massivebeers]

Great overview ... been itching to make the 4K jump for a bit now. Slowly been upgrading all my tech ... AVR, PS4, PC, etc ... in anticipation but wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go. Coming from the W1070 jumping on a HT3550 is now a no brainer. Now if Best Buy could just list it so I can give them all my monies! Question, does the 4K pixel shifting make a big difference with 1080 and 720 content?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks! The difference doesn't have so much to do with pixel shifting as it does with just being a 4K UHD upscaler. With 1080p it does a decent job with upscaling, but it is not going to be and earth shattering difference. 720p is a bit harder as it is garbage in garbage out with any upscaler. Trying to recreate 8+ pixels from 1 pixel (4K is 8x the resolution as 720p) is impossible. So YMMV depending on how big your screen is. FWIW I watch a ton of 1080p content on my 160" screen and it still look fantastic at normal viewing distances. 720p.... you can tell its 720p but its still ok.

[@kelvinreid9606]

Awesome review! I have the 1070 and have just started saving...

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Its a great little projector. Thanks!

[@simonm8586]

In Australia, the same product rebadged as W2700 is near A$3000 which is price gouging. Considering the US$ exchange rate it should be retailing for A$2000

[@micko999r]

Hey Simon, I’m in aus and just bought this from justprojectors.com.au for $2499 and also bought their Grandview 120 inch screen and it is amazing. They were really easy to deal with and got the package within a few days.

[@chopperg9443]

I've finally pulled the trigger and purchased the Benq HT3550 projector, partly due to your review. This is an awesome projector. I'm looking for an tab-tensioned 100" motorized projector screen that will show off the Benq's full potential. Any recommendation?

[@EvanKent]

Are you pleased w the HT3550? Do you play video games on it at all?

[@tim19962]

Great review sir!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks!

[@ravitarakesh]

Hey Brother, I regularly watch your videos, they are filled with lots of information, it's very knowledgable, Thank you so much for your effort, Please do the comparison between 1)Benq x12000 projector vs Optoma UHZ 65 2)Sony VPL- VW5000 VS Optoma UHZ 65 3Benq x12000 projector vs Sony VPL- VW5000, Looking forward to see these amazing comparison,

[@boris3973]

Hi, thanks for the review. I have - for me - one very important question: does the BenQ support frame interpolation in 3D? I tested one of the newest Optoma projectors and for some reason it could only do FI in 2D mode, so sent it back. For me, FI in 2D doesn't make much sense whereas in 3D the smoothness helps with clarity and eye strain, especially in action scenes. Can't do without it after seeing Hobbit in 48fps. I'd appreciate hearing from you or anybody else...

[@CameronBerry]

I would love to see a review of those Episode 900 Speakers you have. I have a setup with all 700 in-room speakers and I LOVE them! I rarely see Episode reviews and I think they are very underrated as a brand.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

They are great speakers! I used to have 700 series in-walls in my last house and they put out great sound for the size.

[@Kennethstupi]

How dark of a room do you need to achieve a good quality picture with this projector

[@BillyBombastic]

Black the room out. This is for film purists. I have games with a small amount of ambient light. But my preference is to hit the lights. Then it pops and blows you away.

[@kevinfazlic7198]

Should always have lights off with projectors or use a tv

[@FatFolksProductions]

Out of all the reviews I have watched on 4k projectors. This video is what sold me on the Benq 3550. I have a 120' screen and the picture is absolutely amazing. 3d movies are great as well. Which blu ray player are you using that can be controlled by alexa?

[@eturnulrs704]

Great review. I just bought the optoma uhd51a today. Now I'm wondering if I should've waited until I watched this. Have u tried the uhd51a? And if so would you still recommend the Benq?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Bklyns louder I think I will be reviewing that one soon!

[@Gtapradeep2003]

I tried UHD 51A in my home. I liked the throw ratio and sharpness, even the color. Is HT3550 projector better than UHD 51A? I would like super sharp images. Is the production unit of HT3550 sharp ?

[@bryanp4827]

Not as sharp as the 51A

[@DerekBove]

Fantastic review (and theater!) Looking forward to seeing your reviews on the Epson 5050 and Benq HT5550.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Me too! :)

[@blackcoalboy]

Brilliant review mate, But I have a question for you can I connect a HDMI splitter to the back of the unit because as you know there are only two available, Thanks.

[@Sgt.AhmedQ8]

very good review thank you very very very much your the best man and i want to ask you about your Ceiling Mount can you give me a link for it thank you

[@edwardnyc261]

Great review. I was thinking about the Sony 4K 295ES but this seems to be a very close alternative for less than half the price! I do plan to use this for both movies and sports and was wondering how this performs in a moderately lit room? Which fixed 16:9 ALR 4K screen would you recommend in say 135” with this lower lumen projector?

[@waqasusmans]

I looked into DIY ALR screens and found one from Carl's for $144. You can buy directly from them or from Amazon. I have a 140" FlexiWhite from Carl's that I bought in 2014. I will order samples from them and then I might just get their ALR to go with BenQ 3550 or the Optoma UHD 51ALV which has 3000 lumens advertised.

[@scottphillips88]

We are both in UT -- and share the same name! LOL. I'm ~50 pages in on AVS forums on your thread regarding this projector. I'm losing sleep on whether to get the TK800m or the HT3550. Once I'm caught up on the thread, I'll ask for your opinion. #GoJazz :)

[@jccasto8894]

Great video. Beginner here looking mostly video game playback. Is the 5550 worth the extra money over the 3550. Thanks and have a great day.

[@ericyadiel123]

I have the HT2550 Awesome Projector I been using it everyday Thinking about switching to the HT3550 Because it's a shorter throw Projector But don't know if it's worth it to spend 1,500 For a couple of inches more I just love the bigger screen With the HT2550 I'm getting 110,, in 12 feet Which is not bad at all I just want to Fill up The dam wall

[@jackbee84]

Hi , Please help me choosing Sony Hw45es and BENQ HT3550. I am really confused because I found both with similar price and warranty. 1050 USD . Hw45es is 1080p and ht3550 is 4k.

[@veerayelamanchi]

Hi,Thanks for the awesome review. How would this projector perform in a basement with some ambient light or with daylight?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

This projector is going to be best suited for dark viewing rooms with minimal stray or ambient light. I am currently testing the TK800M which releases next month that will be better suited for that type of environment. BenQ also has a bright variant of the HT3550 being released later this year. For bright 4K available within the next month I would look at the TK800M or Epson 4000 (if you are ok with the reduced bandwidth HMDI)

[@sjm560]

Hi Scott, Really enjoy your reviews. Being a big 3D fan with a large 3D Blu-ray collection, I am curious what your thoughts are on this projector vs the TK850 that should be out soon? I am able to black out my viewing area, but was wondering if the extra brightness with the TK850 would be a benefit to watching 3D movies? I am also a big BenQ fan having owned the W1070 and the HT2050A.Thanks for your thoughts on this, Steve

[@souobyte]

Thanks for your review. I would like to ask you about... -Throw: I have a BENQ W1070 and my idea is to change to BENQ HT3550. Do they have the exactly throw distance and angle? -I live in a small apartment, and nowadays I use the W1070 projecting over a 70 inches diagonal, high contrast screen. I use W1070 in SmartEco mode. I think that due to not high brightness of the HT3550, the tone mapping will do a good job keeping the bright sufficient. Am I right? -What about Raimbow Effetcts of HT3550? I can see it on W1070, but just sometimes and I am not too sensitive. -What about blacks compared to W1070? -If you go very close to the screen in pause mode, can you see the DMD pixel shifting acting? -Could you use some 4K images to test resolution, like a white image with one pixel line in black to check how HT3550 shows it? Or those charts 4k test. -To watch 1080p content, you get a better image turning on the Silent mode (pixel shift turn off) or not? Thanks for your attention.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

- Yes - HT3550 is practically same offset and ratio as W1070. It will work in your setup. - This is not a bright room projector.... with that said the HT3550 will be more than sufficiently bright for a 70 inch screen.But lets talk about that 70 inch screen. THese days 100 inches is considered small. If your screen is only 70 inches, why not spend $1,500 on a really good 4k TV? You could get a used OLED 70 incher for that price. I would go bigger screen if you can. That is what projectors are for :) - Rainbow effects are improved on this projector - Blacks will be similar in 1080p content, but dynamic iris will improve very dark scenes - No, you cannot see pixel shifting happen. - You do not get a better image in silence mode because the HT3550 is actually upscaling the 1080p image. -I don't have the 4K test resolutions images, but the 4x shifting projectors all pass 4K tests with flying colors and can display every single pixel in an 8.3M pixel image indepentently at 60 fps.

[@souobyte]

@@ScottsTechandStuff Thanks for you attention. I am from Brazil (as you could perceive due to my bad english) and I like so much projected image. My 70 screen is motorized and rolls over a 55 OLED SCREEN (OLED LG B7) when I want to use projector. For the distance I use (220cm) from the screen, the 15 inches makes a huge difference. In Brazil, an OLED 65 inches costs almost 3000 USD. Too much expensive for me. And I said before, I prefer projected image. About the SILENCE, I read in the manual that in the SILENCE MENU you can turn off the pixel shift. Here is the manual info: SILENCE (page 27 of the manual HT3550) Minimizes the acoustic noise. It is suitable for the need of watching movies that requires an ultra-quiet environment so that you won't be disturbed by the noise of the projector. When this mode is used, the following menu functions will be automatically changed to the designated settings and grayed out. • Off: To turn on XPR (The display resolution will be 3840 x 2160.) • On: To turn off XPR (The display resolution will be 1920 x 1080.) Regards from Brazil. I am going to USA next month and I would like to bring one HT3550 for me.

[@ravitarakesh]

Great review Brother, good Job, Brother, Love to see your HT tour & equipment's & speakers used for LCR & Surrounding speakers & there links

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Ravi Tarakesh go look at my TK800 Review After 8 Months. It’s all in there

[@ravitarakesh]

@@ScottsTechandStuff thanks Bro 😊

[@segaboy128]

Nice vid! How is the 3d blu ray movie experience?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Really good for an RGBRGB color wheel projector. I have my 160" screen and the improved contrast is a boon for a punchy image.

[@sajiththayappalli2043]

Thanks for the detailed review. I am planning to upgrade my HT2550 and considering HT3550 as one of the options along with Epson 3800. Do you think it's worth upgrading HT2550 for another $900 extra? Do we really get that benefit for the money? Please suggest thanks

[@HiddenXploit]

Loved the review, subscribed. Just wanted to see if you noticed any noise from the actuator like the HT2550/UHD50/PX727, and how the fan noise was.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

TheXile84 very little XPR actuation buzz! Only way I noticed it is when I put into silence mode which disables xpr. It’s vey very soft. I personally feel like the fan noise is normal for a projector this size. You can see my other first impression video where you can hear it up close. The key on these fan noises it what type of noise it makes. This makes a smooth low husshhhhhhh noise. Just air.

[@kevinfazlic7198]

Fan noise is very low, l was a bit worried by some reviewers. I sit pretty much right under it.

[@jon1913]

Hey, now that the HT4550i is out, I'll buy this off of you for $500 so you can upgrade 😜

[@brownstone43]

BenQ 3550 or Epson 3800?

[@brownstone43]

I bought the BenQ HT3550. "Native 4K" sold me. (video is incorrect) First projector for me. It is better then i expected. Very crisp image at 150". 1080p upscalling is incredible as well. Although i don't have another to compare it to. Bought a 120" screen but returned it when i found the wall was just as good. Now 150". Do the Firmware update if you get it. I don't see how you can go wrong at this price

[@bigpete8567]

Hi, GREAT REVIEW! What’s your thoughts over the sharpness of the image? I’m stuck between this and the Optoma UHD50a, not able to view either, but all I see is people mentioning about the sharpness over the Optoma’s. Thinking the sharpness is what you want for 4K, over more accurate colours? I’m happy to get either but newer model projector makes more sence over an older Optoma!

[@ricsoares8169]

Wow man great review. Definitely not amateur in any way. Question though: when you turn off and on the pixel shifting in other words when you go from 1080 to 4K is there a difference that you can see with your naked eye that would make a 4K projector Worth it? Or could we get any other projector for less money with better blacks and color that maybe is not 4k?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

I think it is definitely noticeable. Especially with the right 4k content! In terms of what picture attributes are going to make the biggest difference for overall picture quality; contrast, black levels, and color have the biggest impact on "picture quality". To answer you question I think a real world comparison would be helpful... a great 1080p black level projector is the Epson 5040UB. It has better blacks and contrast than the HT3550.... but which one would I choose? The HT3550 hands down. The 4K makes a big difference and the HDR is just sometime a 1080p projector can't do (there are 1080p HDR proejctors out there but they are budget projectors).

[@rolandrohde]

Great Review...but what does SmartEco actually do? Does it use the Dynamic Iris in a different way or not at all?

[@philiplubduck6107]

Those side/rear speakers look amazing, I have to ask how do they sound? Where can I buy a pair? Also thanks for the review.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

You're welcome! They sound amazing. Link: goo.gl/xtecLK They only sell to dealers/installers so you might have to call them or go on their website to track down a local installer.

[@BillyBombastic]

Great review cheers

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Thanks, Neil :)

[@roguewarr4662]

Will i do see light leakage out the port side of the projector ,but not un-nuff to talk about ,they all have some to a degree ,but that aside ,great video , lots of tips ,love your room....But i am one of A few that does like (love) 3D . i all so am a EPSON fan ,but i will be checking this one out , thanks again

[@FlavourFolklore]

Hey, Great Review! Im looking at this or the 5050UB, Im torn if its worth the extra money!? Im a gamer so im leaning more towards the 5050 but not sure if its worth spending that almost 1k difference in price, thanks!

[@n1ckperry]

Great review! How does the picture quality compare to the Sony VPL-VW295ES?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

I haven't seen the Sony but it is rated at 1,500 lumens. The blacks and picture quality will be better on the Sony, but my guess is the HDR image will actually be better on the BenQ because of the higher brightness and better auto tone mapping in HDR. Keep in mind that we are also comparing a $1,500 projector to a $5k projector here so there's that :) The native 4K chip on the sony will be sharper as well. So is it worth the extra $3,500? Can't say, but something to think about as you compare.

[@n1ckperry]

Scott's Tech and Stuff haha, that’s true. What is the HT-5550, and how is it different from the HT-3550?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

@@n1ckperry Better color for critical viewing, better lens, better contrast... things that make projectors more spendy :) www.avsforum.com/forum/68-digital-projectors-under-3-000-usd-msrp/3050402-benq-w5700-ht5550-4k-100-dci-p3-projector-announcement-ownera-s-thread-3.html#post57797836

[@gavinburt3750]

Great review on this projector. I have the BENQ W2000 but finding myself buying more 4K / HDR content to watch which my projector doesn’t support. How are the black levels on the W2700 please (especially letterboxes in 16:9 ratio) as my W2000 produces grey bars which are extremely distracting along with crushed-blacks in very dark scenes? I’m torn between the W2700 (£1400) and the Epson 9400 (£2540) but wondering if the price difference is worth it. My room is extremely dark with black ceilings / walls and black-out blinds.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Black levels are decent. They aren't really poor like last years' W1700. I have both the 2700 and the Epson 9400. The only reason I stuck with the Epson is the input lag for gaming. If you don't game, stick with the 2700.... its currently the best value in 4K.

[@Teremei]

So I don't have this projector yet. But I booted up Avengers end game on my Sony 740e which is a great TV. But even with a 1080p Projector I just can't stand the TV any more. The 125" Screen makes my 75" TV look tiny.

[@kevinfrench9798]

Sounds an amazing projector. Any real point getting for 1080p playback. I guess contrast will be improved coming from a HT3050. Looking to future proof but might hang on until really needed for 4k unless there would be a real point for 1080p. Thanks

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Yeah - the native contrast on the 3050 is actually a bit better than the 3550 due to the lower native contrast on the .47" TI DLP chips that do the XPR shifting. Dynamic iris on the 3550 is really good though. If you are ONLY viewing 1080p content I would stick with the 3050 TBH.. But if you have the 4K itch... I'd recommend the 3550. It will be about on par with the HT3050 in 1080p content but the 4K HDR implementation makes the decision easy if you are viewing anything in 4K or HDR.

[@DhasseLOL]

Great review! Only thing I'm still worried about is the lumens. I have a 104 inch high contrast gray screen in a bright livingroom. Would this projector be too weak? I know the Epson TW7400 has a reputation for being very bright, would it be better in my case?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

The HT3550 will be plenty bright for a 104" gray screen. I really like gray screens at that screen size because 104" is small enough to really create a bright image and the extra lumens added to the gray screen helps out with contrast even further. If you are viewing in broad daylight, then yes this would be too weak. But so would any other projector. I think you'll be stoked on this projector for that screen.

[@DhasseLOL]

@@ScottsTechandStuff Great to hear! Really excited for when this lands in Europe then. My room has bright walls and a white ceiling, but the incoming light from windows etc. is controlled quite well so it is still decently dark when we use the projector. Sounds like this model will be a good fit for my setup. Thanks for helping out! Gave you a like and a sub. :)

[@ricardoabh3242]

A really like your reviews, it would be great if you could film with a better camera and upload at 1440+ Continue the great job (with more subs maybe :) )

[@Jarkeler]

Thanks for the review! I have a w1070 and it always pains me to spend $250-$280 every time the lamp had to be replaced since 2013 (replaced around 4 times now) Any idea what the lamp life is looking like on this model, and any idea what sort of price point we're looking at to replace the bulb on this bad boy?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

My guess is the lamp price will be similar. Probably $250 for an OEM part from BenQ and approx $99 for knock offs on eBay and Amazon. I had the W1070 for 2-3 years and never had to replace the bulb. I had a friend who had the W1070 and he was replacing his bulb twice as often as I was relative to the hours. One thing we noticed with the W1070 is that when you put it into SmartEco it would keep the image the same brightness but cut fan speed by half which also made it quieter. This sounds great in practice. Brighter image? Less fan noise? WINNING. But what happened with the increased heat in the projector is 1) the fan lubricant in the bearings evaporated and caused a rattle and 2) his bulb needed to be replaced more often. I think BenQ has fixed it since then, but we just found it odd that me, keeping my projector in Normal mode (full fan power) was outlasting the supposedly lamp-extending SmartEco mode.

[@Jarkeler]

@@ScottsTechandStuff Oh really? We've been using SmartEco this whole time, but we are extreme power users I would say... we use this projector like a TV, almost 6-8 hours a day. Most lamps would be around 5500 hours before poppings. I'll give the normal setting a try this time around!

[@ihumanity7]

I know I'm late but that's a crazy price. After my manufacturer lamp exploded in my w1070 I bought a third party bulb for like $30 and it's lasted so far for over 12,000 hours.

[@bryankessler2155]

Would you buy the 3550 Vs the Xgima Horizon Pro 4K at the end of 2021?

[@Jimmy7aidar]

Thank you so much for this review and I will get one for my home theatre! I had only 1 question can you please tell me what system sound you using ? do you prefer some?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Here is my sound setup. I went with equipment through SnapAV. Denon X6300H | 9.4.4 (7.2.4 Discrete) | 9x Episode 900 Series LCR/Surrounds | 4x Episode 1700 Series ATMOS Heights | 4x Episode 12" Evo Subs

[@Evolver10]

Thanks for this detailed review. You sold me on this over the TK850. The only thing I was concerned about was 3D brightness, but based on what I’m seeing here this is more than bright enough and has better color to boot!

[@acergd711]

What an amazing cinema room! Whats the size of it?

[@petermunivrana668]

Hello Scott, hows the HT3550 in Gaming mode, given my kids will be playing Fortnight Also, how watching HD sports like NBA and NFL?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

This isn't a gaming projector as input lag is a paltry 60ms.Most people won't notice, but more discerning gamers will notice. Sports look great though.

[@Scottyl35]

Why cant u buy this unit anymore?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

They are getting low yield from the production line due to higher QC controls... kind of a weird go stop go stop go launch. Hopefully production will start ramping up more

[@ElliotsBike]

How's it been holding up after a few months?

[@ElieZ]

Thank you for this review. It will only work in my setup as a short throw / table top projector. Given that limitation (unable to ceiling mount), would you still recommend it over an Optoma UHL55 ($999 now) or a Viewsonic X10-4k, both of which are in a more portable format? Thanks.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

YES 100% over the uhl55. I had the uhl55 in my theater to review for projectorreviews.com but didn't have the time to wrap it up so I passed it on to David to review. I just struggle to ssee the point of it. Optoma marketplace is really terrible and only comes with netflix. I have more thoughts but in short, thHT3550's performance is much better and actually has better portability due to the fact that it doesn't have an external powerbrick and has much better placement flexability since the lens is not fixed like the UHK55.

[@cybergeek02748]

How does it handle a bit more ambient light? Is the 2000 enough to have the lights on and still be casually watchable? I have an Optoma GT1080Darbee, and have been biding my time, hoping for a good affordable 4k to come out...pretty excited about this. Love BenQ

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

what size and gain of screen?

[@cybergeek02748]

@@ScottsTechandStuff 1.1, 92", may increase to 100". I'm looking at either this or the "gaming" model, as it's cheaper and brighter, although I know it would sacrifice some contrast sadly... Your reviews are amazing. Thank you for all the detailed info.

[@biggdoggg372]

My screen would be 140 width would this work?

[@AnontheGOAT]

The W1070 shipped at the end of 2012.

[@GenoFelice]

Love this projector but can't get 3D to work with any media file. Works fine with 3D Bluray but can't get it to work with my Plex server. No format seems to be acceptable to projector. Anyone have this working?

[@07blackfx4]

Ive had the W1070 for 6 years. Thinking its time to possibly upgrade. Who has made the switch? Is it worth it?

[@adrianbaldwin8832]

Did you get it I'm looking in to it what's your thought's

[@ayset.w.2671]

Come on! Someone produce short throw 4k projectors! I have been waiting for years!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

this is the semi short throw? 100" at 8'2". You'll see more VERY short throw stuff come out by year's end.

[@moe4772]

Hi Scott, is it true the RBE is non-existant on these RGBRGB models? I have a fairly dark movie room (you have to almost certainly turn on the light to read anything in there even during the day). Based on that do you suggest this HT3550 or the TK800M? Those are my two choices :)

[@vwnutter75]

Hey I have enjoyed your reviews. Sorry if I missed it. But did you say this was not good for gaming?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Its good for gaming, but its not a gaming projector. Input lag is 58ms and some serious gamers might find that offensive. However many people on the forums say "Hey what the heck! this is actually really fun to game on!" ...... sooo YMMV and it depends on perception. Casual gamers should be fine with it though.

[@vwnutter75]

Thanks so much for your response. This will be my first projector. I am a causal gamer more movies and sports. So I have been in a dilemma I liked your review of the tk800. But don't really like the firm ware update system on those. And I like some of the features on that. So was torn between this one the tk800m

[@pobrien21]

I had planned to get the 3550 to use with a 140" or 150" ALR 0.8 gain screen, but now that plan makes me nervous after watching this. Do you think the 3550 could handle it?

[@Evolver10]

What did you end up doing?

[@GizmoMaltese]

Some people are saying the lumens is low and it's just not bright enough. What's your opinion?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

I have a 160" screen that needs all the lumens it can take to get a properly bright image. So I would know whether its bright enough or not. And my opinion is that it is plenty bright IF you are in a dark viewing room. I would even say this is plenty bright enough for a 120" gray screen if a small amount of ambient light was present. However if watching in a living room in daylight or lots of ambient light, consider the TK800M or the bright variant of this projector which will be released later this year.

[@matthewrous3573]

Thanks for the review. Overall a great projector. But I'm having lots of problems with HDR from my PS4 Pro. It washes the colors with a lot of yellow and merging of colors and some of the definition/sharpness is lost. I have to turn HDR off on that HDMI port. Have you or others seen this issue? Lots of people say HDR works great with the PS4 Pro but I can't get it to work.

[@2Drezik]

It's a setting in the ps4 that has to ne changed if my memory is right. Or even on your receiver. ( Full rgb mode something )

[@Mrtscrp30]

Does this projector really give a realisric 4k image? And how much better is benq vs. Epson home cinema 8350? At 1080p?

[@RobertsRestorations]

I like your tricky wording at the end when you mention that its "user upgradeable firmware" and then in the next sentence mention" this is things that other projectors have". ????? This is NOT user upgradeable. Unless your meaning that the owner can send it in to the manufacture in CA and have them update it and ship it back. That is what you need to do. This is the only negative thing for me about their projectors. Guess I need to go back over this review and listen more carefully........

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

RobertsRestorations sorry didn’t notice that.... it is user usb upgradable.

[@manuelmadrid3396]

HI scotty, great review! I have a question, where can I see it running? Its there a store in L.A. that I can see it working? This is my setup, I have a 110" fixed screen it's in the living room, bright wall (no windows), right now I have a optoma hd131xe, with that said, what projector would you recommend me? This benq, or the TK800M?forgot to mention that I play videogames(no a pro gamer) and see lots movies, ando I am torn between this two models, btw AMAZING your home theater!

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Can you wait a few months for the brighter version of the HT3550? I think that one is going to be awesome. If not, I would recommend the HT3550.

[@manuelmadrid3396]

@@ScottsTechandStuff thanks a lo for your response, I didnt know there were going to be a brighter version of the ht3550! I'll wait then, but when that happens I think the tk800M will get a lower price, could that happen?

[@jaycarneygiants]

How does this compare to the UHD50 as far as sharpness is concerned? The HT2550 was much worse in this category.

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

I haven't tested the UHD50 before but I've heard it is good. The final production units of the HT3550 that are now shipping got an upgrade in lens quality compared to my engineering unit (and Majestechs). I haven't seen the production units yet but I've heard they are great in sharpness

[@ricardoabh3242]

Any new replacement for this model this year?

[@derekr5327]

Purchased this after watching and reading your review. On my unit and many others (look at 1-3 star reviews on amazon) the HDR image is crap. I processed an amazon return and will be getting a new unit this week. Another thing to note is BENQ has terrible customer service. They basically dont answer calls. You get a voicemail asking to leave a name and number but they do not call back. I have been very ptient with them coz of my picky setup requirements - 120 inch screen thrown from 10.5 feet away. All other projectors I have crossshopped require I move my mount at least 1 foot back. Since i have my mount prewired and screwed to a ceiling joist, it is not simple to just move it. But benq is really trying my patience...

[@kevinfazlic7198]

Hdrcand overall image is 4/5 , but it needs to be viewed in a cave with a great player like a Panasonic ub820 with projector tone mapping

[@hemanthr7294]

@scott, which screen are u using in this demo..

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

160" Dragonfly 1.0 gain acoustiweave screen

[@fredericodejaschack7149]

Hello Scott, can you tell us which settings you're using either on the x700 and the Benq for 1080; 4k contents ?

[@thefunplace4269]

So this projector is a good choice, for apartment dwellers, where space is at a premium? I had a Benq w1080st projector, but got tired of having to replace the bulb quite often. So, after becoming tired of waiting for Benq, come to market with a 4K short throw projector, I purchased a View Sonic 727 DLP 4k UHD projector. How does this projector compare to my View Sonic?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

The ViewSonic is another RGBRGB projector very similar to the HT2550 of last year. The HT3550 is appreciably better the 727 in every measurable way with the exception of about 10ms of input lag. Compared to the 727, the HT3550 has no gray border, has better color accuracy, has better HDR tone mapping, has user-upgradable firmware, does CFI, does 3D better, and has noticeably better contrast and black levels. The HT3550 does better where space is a premium, yes... but just beware of ambient light.

[@thefunplace4269]

@@ScottsTechandStuff Actually, my ViewSonic doesn't due 3D at all. And because it's not a short throw projector, I 'm getting a lot smaller projected image. Major bummer!!! So after your review and other online reviews, including those on Amazon, I'm leaning heavily to upgrading to the HT3550. Thanks again for your review.

[@TheLordstrider]

@@thefunplace4269 did you upgrade? was it worth it? i am in the same boat as you. please answer as soon as possible thinking to do the same upgrade.

[@Mysoor_talkies]

Hi Scottyroo, which is the best screen for this Projector, mine is light controlled room Silvered colour or white coloured screen?

[@dbiagas210]

You've seen and directly compared a few projectors to this now. How does this compare to the 6050ub and ht5550? How far back is it mounted? I can only mount a projector about 11' from the screen (my current projector is 10.5' from the screen)..... The throw distance on the others is just too far so hoping the 3550 will suffice.

[@TheLordstrider]

god, i wish someone would compare Viewsonic px727-4k to HT3550. unable to decide :(

[@AndrewWong08]

I need short throw. I am using a 1080ST for my set up. Will there be a 4K HDR ST projector from BenQ anytime soon?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

My guess is we will see something by the end of the year for very short throw 4K by the end of this year. However, this is a relatively short throw projector projecting a 100" image at 8'2" from the screen

[@AndrewWong08]

Scott's Tech and Stuff well I need 175” from 11ft to match the 1080ST. I really hope you are right.

[@bubbab2057]

Hi, Haven´t seen all of this long review but I will buy a new projector soon and thinking of buying the Optoma UHD51 because of the lens. The w1700(HT2550) had a 1080P lens and it can't show a 4K picuture because it´s not sharp enough, so the 4k is useless. I wonder if the lens on HT3550(w2700) is as bad it was on the HT2550 = 1080P lens?

[@ScottsTechandStuff]

Yes... long review. Sorry about that. :) It has a new and improved lens compared to the HT2550/W1700... However I don't think that lenses are officially categorized as "4k" or "1080p" lenses. There are better and worse lenses though, absolutely. I haven't spent time with the UHD51 but I've heard it is a good lens that offers sharp focus. Chris Majestic has a review that mentions this and his comment on his review was that the UHD51 had a sharper image but the HT3550 had a better overall picture quality. Also - here is a user submitted screenshot of the HT3550 in its 1080p mode compared to normal 4K mode. goo.gl/Ca7xvq You can't even read "Academy Award" in the 1080 version. The lens of the HT3550 probably isn't the sharpest in the industry, but it very sharp nonetheless, and it offers better contrast and color than last year's W1700.

[@bubbab2057]

Thanks for the Answer, tomorrow i will see the whole review :) Yeah 1080P was perhaps a little exaggerated. Let's say that the old HT2550 could show a 6MB picture (4k = 8Mb)