Upgrading from a beloved BenQ W1070 projector, I recently made the switch to the new BenQ HT3550i after a significant portion of my movie collection transitioned to 4K UHD. With a dedicated theater space and a short throw distance of about 10 feet to the screen due to the ceiling mount, my options for an upgrade were limited. Luckily, the BenQ HT3550i emerged as an ideal solution, designed specifically as a short throw upgrade for projectors like my previous W1070.
The BenQ HT3550i has been a fantastic upgrade overall. The image quality is stunning, with exceptional color accuracy and contrast. Thanks to BenQ’s CinematicColor technology, the colors achieve a super-wide 95% DCI-P3 color space, exceeding the industry standard. This translates to incredibly vivid and realistic colors that stay true to the director’s vision. The user interface powered by Android TV is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it a breeze to access all your favorite streaming services and entertainment. Calibration is refreshingly fast as well, since the out-of-the-box color is already close to perfect.
While not without a minor hitch (the GoogleVideo app not displaying 4K properly, a common issue apparently), the BenQ HT3550i remains an exceptional home theater projector. It’s important to note that this projector might not be the best choice for gamers due to some input lag. While the lag might be negligible in slower paced games, fast-paced titles like FPS and sports games that rely on precise timing could be impacted. Overall, for anyone seeking a flawless upgrade to a true 4K UHD home theater experience, with a focus on excellent value, the BenQ HT3550i is a top contender. Read more…
