BenQ MS517 Pro Reviews

The colour palette isn't accurate, and the native pixel count is too low for much computer-based use. But the attractively styled BenQ can handle light-filled rooms, and generally does a proficient job of projecting images.

The MS517's strongest features are its low price and how much it delivers for that price, including near-excellent data image quality, usable video quality, portability, and a long lamp life. You can get a more capable projector if you spend more, but it will be hard to find one this capable as this price. On the minus side, if you need good quality 3D you'll want to look elsewhere, and the issues with audio mean that if you need sound you'll need an external audio system. However, 3D support tends to be limited in most projectors, and low volume audio is typical, so neither is a major strike against the MS517. Similarly, if you're sensitive to rainbow artifacts, or worried that someone in your audience may be, the MS517 is the wrong choice for video, but that's only for video, and only if you consider rainbow artifacts an issue. Compared with the MW519, the MS517's lower resolution may also be an issue, but it largely makes up for that with better quality for both data and video, as well as its lower cost. All this puts the MS517 very much in the running if you need a low-cost projector for a conference room or classroom, a brighter alternative to 500-lumen LED projectors for portable use, or an inexpensive option for home use. Previous Page

The BenQ MS517, a budget DLP projector geared to classrooms, provides solid data image quality, and video quality suitable for short to mid-length clips.