BenQ MX662 Review

Physically identical to the BenQ MW663 but with a lower resolution, the BenQ MX662 ($1,069.04 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) is a bright, capable data projector with a good range of connection choices, including the ability to run presentations off of a USB thumb drive and wireless connectivity using an optional Wi-Fi dongle. Its data and video quality is fine for typical business or school use.

The DLP-based MX662 has XGA (1,024-by-768) native resolution, and a rated brightness of 3,500 lumens. It is glossy black on the top and the base, with white sides and rounded corners. Metal focus and zoom rings (a useful 1.3:1 ratio) are inset behind the lens, the zoom lever is thin and hard to manipulate. The projector is quite portable at 4.9 by 12.3 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and a weight of 6.1 pounds; it comes with a soft carrying case.

The MX662 has a solid range of connectivity choices, including HDMI; 2 VGA ports (which can double as component video); monitor-out; S-video; 3 RCA jacks for composite video/audio; audio-in; audio-out; serial, a mini-USB type B port for connecting with a computer for USB Display (which emulates what’s on your computer screen) as well as for downloads, and a USB type A port for running a presentation from a USB thumb drive. (File types supported are JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF and TIFF). An optional Wi-Fi adapter, which plugs into the USB A port, is available for $50.

Data Image Testing
The MX662 projected an image large enough to fill our test screen, about 60 inches on a diagonal, from about 6 feet away. The image stood up to a good amount of ambient light without notable degradation.

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In data image testing,using the DisplayMate(Opens in a new window) suite, the BenQ MX662’s image quality proved suitable for typical presentations. Yellows and reds tended to be on the dull side, there was some mild yellow fringing in a few images, and some grays looked slightly green. When using a VGA connection, there was heavy pixel jitter in some images that I eliminated by adjusting the phase setting. In our text testing, black on white text was sharp down to our smallest size; white-on-black text showed blurring at the two smallest type sizes, with the smallest size barely readable. Switching from a VGA to an HDMI connection had little effect on image quality.

All single-chip DLP projectors are potentially subject to the rainbow effect, the appearance of little red-green-blue flashes, usually in bright areas against dark backgrounds. Although such rainbow artifacts were evident with the MX662 in a few images, they are seldom a problem in data images, even to people sensitive to the effect.

Video and Audio
Video quality was suitable for showing shorter clips as part of a presentation. I noticed rainbow artifacts in scenes that tend to bring them out, and although the effect wasn’t particularly severe, it’s likely they would be distracting a fair percentage of viewers. There was considerable loss of detail in some bright scenes. Also, pixilation (which shows as traces of a fine grid or hatching) was more pronounced than is usual for an XGA projector.

Audio from its two-watt speaker was of modest volume, loud enough for a smaller room, and of reasonably good quality.

The MX662’s expected lamp life is up to 6,500 hours. EcoBlank mode lets presenters easily take a break, blanking the screen out and lowering energy consumption up to 70% while it’s paused. The projector also enters EcoBlank mode after 3 minutes without a signal. SmartEco mode automatically adjusts lamp brightness, depending on lighting conditions.

This projector is 3D-capable, with HDMI support for 3D Blu-ray as well as Nvidia 3DTV Play, enabling it to display 3D content from NVIDIA 3D Vision. You’ll need to buy active-shutter 3D glasses separately. BenQ’s own glasses can cost more than $70 per pair, but although you can get compatible glasses elsewhere for considerably less, they still can run into a lot of money if you’re trying to outfit a classroom or business.

Two Editors’ Choice XGA projectors, the Epson PowerLite 1835 XGA 3LCD Projector ($988.98 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , and the Epson PowerLite 93+ lack 3D capability. The MX662 matches the Epson 1835’s 3,500-lumen brightness and exceeds that of the Epson 93+ (2,600 lumens). Both offer somewhat better data and video image quality than the MX662, and as LCD projectors they’re free of rainbow artifacts.

The BenQ MX662 is a little lighter than the BenQ MX661 ( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , a 3,000-lumen XGA projector. The MX662 couldn’t match its sibling’s video image quality, and has a slightly sparser selection of ports, lacking USB type B, Ethernet, and a microphone jack. But the BenQ MX662 is brighter, and it’s more than up to the task of handling most business or classroom presentations.