Big-Screen Enjoyment at Short Range

Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 16, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

BenQ is expanding its professional product line with the MP522ST short-throw projector, whose specially developed lens projects large, brilliant images even from a very short distance. This allows the DLP™ projector with XGA resolution (1,024 x 768) to be used flexibly even in small rooms, while its quiet operating noise of 26 dB does not disrupt presentations. The device also offers a bright 2,000 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and an integrated 5-watt stereo speaker, making it an ideal companion for the SMB, SOHO, and education sectors. The BenQ MP522ST will be available from specialist retailers from August 2008 at a recommended retail price of 800 euros including VAT.

Compared with conventional devices, the MP522ST requires only a very short projection distance thanks to its aspherical lens, producing a 140 cm (55-inch) image diagonal from a distance of approximately one meter. The model is particularly effective in small meeting rooms or classrooms because presenters can move around much more freely without interrupting the projected light beam or casting a distracting shadow on the image.

Weighing 2.5 kg, the MP522ST is ideally equipped for use both in offices and schools. Wall-color correction enables projection onto colored surfaces without a special screen. Up to six colors can be set on the device, allowing the projection to be adjusted to produce a faithful image without a color cast. Thanks to its rapid-cooling function, the projector can be switched off and packed away immediately after a presentation—the device takes around 30 seconds to cool down. A presentation timer helps presenters keep track of their time and maintain the right pace.

The MP522ST is equipped with a five-segment color wheel and DLP BrilliantColor™, delivering excellent image quality in the office or classroom. The technology ensures that colors within the sRGB color space appear significantly more vivid and accurate at high brightness, especially mixed colors of 50 percent or more. Independent color management also allows users to control colors individually and coordinate hue and saturation.