Designed to deliver the big screen experience, the BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector is their top-of-the-line 4K HDR projector for the home entertainment market.

Find out why the BenQ TK800 won our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

 

BenQ TK800 Key Features Summarised

Here is a quick video that summarises the key features of the BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector :

 

BenQ TK800 Price + Availability

The BenQ TK800 4K HDR Projector is available at a retail price of RM 5,599 in Malaysia / US$ 1,499. Here are some online purchase links :

• Malaysia
• Singapore
• United States
• United Kingdom
• Australia

 

Unboxing The BenQ TK800

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes in an unassuming brown box, with a discreet TK800 label on the lower right corner. Let’s unbox it and see what we find inside!

Once you fully unbox it, you will find the following items :

• One BenQ TK800 4K HDR projector with lens cap
• One 3 m long power cord with localised power plug
• One BenQ RCV015 remote control
• Two Maxell AA alkaline batteries
• One CD containing the User Manual and Adobe Acrobat Reader
• One BenQ User Manual Addendum sheet
• One BenQ Quick Start Guide

Note that the package does not include any HDMI cable. While you can use HDMI 1.4 cables, it is recommended that you use HDMI 2.0a/b cables that are certified for 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.

 

The BenQ TK800 Up Close!

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is a compact projector that weighs just 4.2 kg. Its powerful 240 watt lamp allows it to create 4K HDR displays at up to 200″ in size at 3,000 lumens!

Its DLP projection system is built around a single DMD chip and a new 4-segment colour wheel that delivers 30-bit colour resolution, with a wide colour gamut of over 92% of Rec. 709!

The TK800 comes with a plethora of connectivity options – all the way from the good old VGA port to the latest HDMI 2.0 port (with HDCP 2.2).

And a combination of three adjuster feet and easy keystone correction allows you to properly align the projected image.

Next Page > The BenQ TK800 Display Capabilities

 

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4K Lens System

The BenQ TK800 features an optical system designed for 4K projection.

The lens array consists of four groups of 7 lens elements, with low-dispersion coatings to minimise chromatic aberrations.

This 4K lens system provides up to 1.2X optical zoom, with wide apertures of f/1.94 to f/2.06.

The zoom function allows you to, for example, project a 100″ image from a distance of 3.25 m to 3.9 m away.

At its widest, the TK800 lens array will provide clear focus between 1.95 m and 6.51 m away. if you dial the zoom up to 1.2X, it will provide clear focus between 2.34 m and 7.81 m away.

 

4K UHD Resolution

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is built around the 0.47″ single DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) chip from Texas Instruments.

There are over 2 million microscopic mirrors on this chip – each representing a pixel.

This DMD chip has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, so how does the TK800 project a 4K UHD display with 4X as many pixels? That’s where the XPR Technology comes in.

 

XPR Technology

What XPR does is “wriggle” the projection lens in a circular fashion at 240 Hz, so that each micromirror creates four projected pixels, instead of just one pixel.

This effectively quadruples the DMD chip’s native resolution of 1920 x 1080 into a projected image of 3840 x 2160 pixels.

XPR allows the TK800 to deliver true 4K resolution with almost 8.3 million pixels, making the projected image appear much sharper, especially in larger projections.

However, because they were generated from a DMD chip with 1920 x 1080 independent pixels, expect aliasing artifacts.

While a true 4K DMD chip with 8.3 million micro mirrors would deliver the best possible 4K projection quality, that is many more years in the making and would be prohibitively expensive.

 

4K Scaling

The single DMD chip the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) uses has just over 2 million micro mirrors, which gives it a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

This means that all 4K content will be downsampled to 1080p, and processed for 4K output by the DMD chip. The projected image is then quadrupled by XPR to the 4K resolution.

The actual image is not a true 4K output of a proper 4K DMD chip, but it’s far better than a 1080p projection. The image processing ensures that final image is perceptively close to the actual 4K image.

The good news is – XPR will also upscale your 1080p content to the 4K display resolution, giving you a perceptively sharper and more detailed image than is possible with a 1080p projector.

Next Page > Even More BenQ TK800 Features

 

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HDR With Wide Colour Gamut

DLP projectors can deliver wide colour gamuts, allowing the displayed colours to be more vivid, and more accurately reflect real world colours.

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes with a new 4-segment RGBW colour wheel which allows it to achieve 92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.

As a HDR-capable projector,  the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) supports HDR10 content, which are enhanced with their exclusive Auto HDR Natural Colour Rendition and Projector-Optimized HDR technologies.

Auto HDR Natural Colour Rendition automatically analyses the scene and adjusts the colour temperature, and compensates for oversaturated greens and reds.

Projector-Optimized HDR, on the other hand, enhances dark details by preserving details and displaying the grayscales properly.

This is probably a combination of a light dump for the micromirrors, and the DMD chip’s ability to produce 10-bits of greyscale (1024 shades).

Do note that you should use HDMI 2.0a/b cables if you plan to display HDR content. Only HDMI 2.0a/b cables are certified for 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.

 

Football + Sport Modes

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) is a home entertainment model that adds two new display modes – Football and Sport.

The Football Mode preserves natural skin tones, intensifies the vibrant colours of the lush green grass on the pitch while simultaneously enhancing the clarity of the announcer’s commentary over the loud background noise of a cheering crowd in an open-air stadium.

Sport Mode is ideal for indoor sports and prioritises realistic skin tones, enhancing wood tones as well as offering vivid reds combined with balanced green and blues.

The acoustic clarity of a sports commentator’s voice and other subtle details such as squeaking sneakers, referee whistles, and ice scraping under skates are retained and enhanced.

 

BenQ CinemaMaster Audio+ 2

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) features their improved CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 technology.

It uses a single 5 W speaker, with an aluminium driver diaphragm for better details in the mid and high frequencies, while a resonance chamber provides a more resonant bass.

The speaker also uses heat-resistant NdFeB magnets for a longer lifespan, and less distortion.

Next Page > Control, Adjustment, Connectivity Options, The BenQ TK800 In Action

 

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BenQ TK800 Control Options

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) has simple controls located on the top panel.

It consists of a Power button, arrow keys (that double as keystone and volume control keys), and other OSD function keys.

For more elaborate functions, you can use the BenQ RCV015 remote control.

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) projector has two IR receivers for this remote control – one located at the top, next to the controls, and the other is in front, next to the lens.

 

BenQ TK800 Adjustment Options

To keep the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) level on uneven surfaces, it comes with three adjustment feet, all with rubber soles.

The front adjustment foot has a quick release button with four locking steps. The two rear adjustment feet are of the screw type, which allows for finer adjustments independently.

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) also comes with easy keystone correction. Just use the vertical keystone correction function to quickly align the projected image.

This is very useful if you plan to use the TK800 (which is portable) at different locations.

 

BenQ TK800 Connectivity Options

The BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) comes with a plethora of connectivity options, all discreetly hidden at the rear panel.

From left to right, you will find the following ports :

• 3-pin 12 V power port
• 3.5 mm audio-in port
• 3.5 mm audio-out port
• 15-pin VGA port
• HDMI 1 – HDMI 2.0a (with HDCP 2.2)
• HDMI 2 – HDMI 1.4 (with HDCP 1.4)
• mini-B USB 2.0 port
• Type A USB 2.0 port (with 1.5 A power output)
• 12 V trigger port
• Kensington lock slot

Please note that while there are two HDMI ports, only HDMI 1 supports HDMI 2.0a with HDCP 2.2. You should always connect your Blu-ray player, or other sources of 4K content to HDMI 1.

You should also use a HDMI 2.0a/b cable that is certified to support 4K video at 60 Hz with HDR.

 

The BenQ TK800 In Action!

We set-up the BenQ TK800 (MY|SG|US|UK|AU) in a moderately dim room, to create an image of about 80-inches in size in a small condo

4K HDR Video – Insects

We made the hall darker in this test, so you can better assess the contrast ratio (rated at 10:000:1), and the colour gamut (rated at > 92% Rec. 709).

You can’t see it in the video, but you have to go very close to the wall to make out the individual pixels. The image may have been pixel-quadrupled from 1080p, but it is perceptually indiscernible from a true 4K image.

Note too how loud and rich its single 5 W speaker sounds. BenQ delivers on the promise promise of better details and resonant bass with its  aluminium driver diaphragm and resonance chamber.

4K HDR Video – Scenery

In this test, we let more ambient light in, to simulate the usual daytime viewing with the (non-blackout) curtains drawn.

The 3000 lumens Philips bulb did a great job of delivering more than adequate brightness to tackle the ambient light coming in from the curtains on the right.

Note how vivid the images are. That’s thanks to its 4-segment RGBW colour wheel which allows it to deliver a HDR image with true white.

It also allows the TK800 to deliver a wider colour gamut in excess of  92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.

On the audio side, note the fan noise just before the test begins. It is quite audible when nothing is running, but once you start the video, the 5 watt speaker is so powerful, it completely drowns out the fan noise.

Next Page > Our Verdict + Award, BenQ TK800 vs. BenQ W1700 / TH2550

 

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BenQ TK800 : Our Verdict + Award

The BenQ TK800 (Price Check) is a truly impressive 4K HDR projector.

There may be brighter 4K projectors (like the 3500-lumen ViewSonic PX747-4K), but it is one of the few to offer a 4-segment colour wheel to deliver true white for a vivid HDR viewing experience, and a wide colour gamut of 92% of the Rec. 709 colour space.

This allows the TK800. to stand out amongst the crowded field of affordable 4K projectors designed to provide a cinema-like experience.

Now, it does not offer a true dot-for-dot 4K resolution like a proper 4K LCD TV would, but it delivers 4K images that are perceptually indistinguishable from true 4K images. And it gives you a much larger display size at a fraction of the cost.

DLP projection technology also eliminates a pesky problem with LCD TV technology – glare from ambient light sources. Its main problem of washed-out colours in bright ambient light is largely eliminated by the much higher 3000-lumen brightness in the BenQ TK800 (Price Check)  – 36% brighter than its predecessor, the BenQ W1700 / TH2550!

It also impressed us with its audio capabilities. Powered only by a single 5 watt speaker, it delivered a surprisingly loud and rich soundscape.

For these reasons, we believe the BenQ TK800 (Price Check) deserves our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Congratulations, BenQ!

 

BenQ TK800 vs. BenQ W1700 / TH2550

The BenQ TK800 is a much brighter version of the BenQ W1700 / TH2550 launched last year, with a new 4-segment colour wheel. Here is a comparison of their key specifications, with their differences highlighted.

Specifications	BenQ TK800	BenQ W1700 / TH2550
Projection System	0.47” single DMD DLP	0.47” single DMD DLP
Display Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels with XPR 1920 x 1080 pixels without XPR	3840 x 2160 pixels with XPR 1920 x 1080 pixels without XPR
Native Aspect Raio	16:9	16:9
Colour Resolution	30-bits (1.07 billion colours)	30-bits (1.07 billion colours)
Colour Gamut	> 92% Rec. 709	> 96% Rec. 709
Maximum Brightness	3000 ANSI Lumens	2200 ANSI lumens
Contrast Ratio (FOFO)	10,000:1	10,000:1
HDR Capable	Yes, HDR10	Yes, HDR10
3D Compatibility	Frame Sequential: Up to 1280x720 120 Hz Frame Packing: Up to 1080p 24 Hz Side by Side: Up to 1080i 60 Hz Top Bottom: Up to 1080p 24 Hz	Frame Sequential: Up to 1280x720 120 Hz Frame Packing: Up to 1080p 24 Hz Side by Side: Up to 1080i 60 Hz Top Bottom: Up to 1080p 24 Hz
Light Source	Philips UHP E20.7 Fusion Air Lamp - 170 W to 240 W	Philips UHP E20.7 Fusion Air Lamp - 170 W to 240 W
Light Source Lifespan	Normal : 4,000 hours SmartEco : 8,000 hours Economic : 10,000 hours	Normal : 4,000 hours SmartEco : 8,000 hours Economic : 10,000 hours
Color Wheel	4 Segments - RGBW	6 Segments - RGBRGB
Throw Ratio	1.47 to 1.76 (100" display @ 3.25 m)	1.47 to 1.76 (100" display @ 3.25 m)
Zoom Ratio	1.2X	1.2X
Lens	7 elements in 4 lens groups f/1.94 to f/2.06	7 elements in 4 lens groups f/1.94 to f/2.06
Clear Focus Range	1.95 to 6.51 m @ Wide 2.34 to 7.81 m @ Tele	1.95 to 6.51 m @ Wide 2.34 to 7.81 m @ Tele
Keystone Adjustment	1D, Vertical ± 40 degrees	1D, Vertical ± 40 degrees
Projection Offset	110 % ± 2.5 %	110 % ± 2.5 %
Clear Image Size (Diagonal)	60" ~ 200"	60" ~ 200"
Max. Image Size Range	30" ~ 300"	30" ~ 300"
Horizontal Frequency	15 kHz - 102 kHz	15 kHz - 102 kHz
Vertical Scan Rate	23 Hz - 120 Hz	23 Hz - 120 Hz
Available Picture Modes	Bright / Vivid TV / Cinema / Sport / Football / User1 / User2 / (3D)	Bright / Vivid / Cinema / Sport / User 1 / User 2 / ISF Night / ISF Day
Audio	CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 1 x 5 W speaker	CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 1 x 5 W speaker
Available Ports	1 x VGA (15-pin D-Sub) 1 x HDMI 2.0a (HDCP 2.2) 1 x HDMI 1.4a (HDCP 1.4) 1 x USB 2.0 Type A 1 x USB 2.0 Type mini B 1 x 3.5 mm Audio in 1 x 3.5 mm Audio out 1 x 9-pin RS-232 serial port 1 x 3.5 mm DC 12V trigger	1 x VGA (15-pin D-Sub) 1 x HDMI 2.0a (HDCP 2.2) 1 x HDMI 1.4a (HDCP 1.4) 1 x USB 2.0 Type A 1 x USB 2.0 Type mini B 1 x 3.5 mm Audio in 1 x 3.5 mm Audio out 1 x 9-pin RS-232 serial port 1 x 3.5 mm DC 12V trigger
IR Receivers	2, one in front, one on top	2, one in front, one on top
Power Supply	100 to 240 VAC (50 / 60 Hz)	100 to 240 VAC (50 / 60 Hz)
Power Consumption	385 W (Maximum) 330 W (Typical) 0.5 W (Standby)	385 W (Maximum) 330 W (Typical) 0.5 W (Standby)
Acoustics	33 dB (Typical) 29 dB (Silent Mode)	33 dB (Typical) 29 dB (Silent Mode)
Operating Temperature	0 ~ 40 ℃	0 ~ 40 ℃
Dimensions	355 mm wide x 272 mm deep x 135 mm high	355 mm wide x 272 mm deep x 135 mm high
Weight	4.2 kg	4.2 kg

 

Recommended Reading

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• The BenQ Eye-Care Monitor Technologies Explained!
• The BenQ W1700 4K HDR Projector Revealed!
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• The 2018 Epson Laser Projectors & Smart Glasses Revealed!
• The 2018 Samsung QLED TV Range Revealed!
• The 2018 LG Electronics Home Technology Showcase
• The Samsung QLED TV Technology Explained

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