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How Does the Barco G50 Projector Compare to the Epson and BenQ Laser Projectors for Large Venues, Museums, and Churches?
- BenQ
- 2023-11-16
What are the key differences between the Barco G50 projectors and the alternative models from BenQ and Epson?
For museums and churches looking for an immersive experience, a high brightness color accurate projector is essential. But since you can’t just walk into a store and compare them side by side, so we will look at the top models from market leaders BenQ and Epson that you may be considering if you are looking at a Barco G50 based on:
- Native Resolution
- Color Accuracy
- Fixed or optional lens
- Usage Restrictions
- Maintenance and dust protection
- Price
For this comparison article, we will use the Barco G50‑W6 model that has 6000 lumens to see how it stacks up against its top competitors, the BenQ LU935, BenQ LK935, and Epson PowerLite EB-L630U.
For a larger screen, the more pixels the better. The Barco G50‑W6 uses a native WUXGA chip that displays about 2.4 million pixels. This is a popular resolution for large venue projectors, but many churches and museums are now opting to upgrade to UHD 4K resolution. This provides 8.3 million pixels on the screen – and the native resolution for a typical high end still and video cameras – including smart phones. If you have a large image to display, consider that the BenQ LK935 offers similar brightness as the Barco G50‑W6 but has true UHD 4K resolution.
For an immersive experience like the Salvador Dali Museum in Orlando, you need accurate color on your projector to ensure that the muted ochre tones in the painting are the same on the screen. Both Barco and BenQ have excellent reputations for highly accurate color at high brightness levels. The BenQ projectors all have the industry standard Rec. 709 color specifications, and the Barco G50-W6 can select between Rec. 709 color and sRGB color spaces when you set up the projector. The Epson PowerLite EB-L630U does not have any Rec. 709 color accuracy specification.
One big difference between the Barco G50‑W6 and the comparable models is that the Barco G50‑W6 requires the purchase of a separate lens – while the BenQ and Epson models come with a lens built in. An integrated lens makes a projector less expensive and easy to ensure a high-quality image every time – but requires the manufacturer to carry multiple models of the projector to adapt to different throw ratios. For example, the BenQ LK935 has a similar throw ratio to the Barco G50‑W6 with the Barco R9832756 zoom lens, and the BenQ LK935ST has a similar throw ratio to the same projector with the Barco R9801840 short throw lens. So why should you consider an optional lens when an integrated lens delivers excellent picture quality at a lower price? The two biggest reasons to spend extra are 1) If you need to move the projector often such as in a stage environment or event rental, and 2) if you have a unique situation where you need a special lens – such as a ultra long throw lens where the projector needs to be at least forty feet from a 120 inch screen.
For high brightness projectors used in museums, lobbies, or other public spaces, you need to look closely at any usage restrictions that might be contained in the warranty. While neither Barco nor BenQ have any special restrictions, the Epson LU630U warranty can be voided by “excessive” or “continual” use. So, if you plan on using your projector a lot – you may want to avoid warranty risk by choosing a BenQ or Barco projector.
High brightness projectors like the Barco G50 are typically mounted high on the ceiling or suspended where maintenance can be a challenge. So, what types of maintenance should you be considering for the Barco G50 and its competitors?
Imaging Technology and Color Shifting
High brightness lasers produce a massive amount of heat on the projector’s imaging device. Many non-DLP technologies have struggled with the projector losing color accuracy over time. Both Barco and BenQ use DLP imaging technology – which has been used for over a decade in laser-powered commercial cinema projectors without any color fading or shifting issues and has a 100,000 warranty from Texas Instruments on the DLP chip. The Epson PowerLite EB-L630U does not have any similar imager warranty.
Certified IP5X Dustproof Design vs. Filters
One concern BenQ engineers have is that a laser can vaporize a dust particle inside a projector, and this “molten goo” can end up on critical components over time and reduce the life span of the projector. After trying many different options (including filters), BenQ created the first completely dustproof laser projector. All models of BenQ laser projectors are tested under the same rugged IP5X dust test that is used on other products such as the Apple Watch. The Epson LU630 uses traditional filters that need to be cleaned and do not have any dust testing certifications.
Single-Chip Design for Sharp Images Throughout the Life of the Projector
The Barco G50 and BenQ projectors use a single chip design, which means that you will never have a misaligned image that creates a blurry pixel, which was a key goal in Texas Instruments' development of the technology. The Epson LU630 projector requires that all three panels be perfectly aligned for the best picture, and the manual a section on how to re-adjust the LCD panels if they become misaligned.
For many churches, museums, and other large venues, pricing is an important element – but often secondary compared to image quality, color performance, warranty, and maintenance. The fixed lens design of the BenQ and Epson result in a less expensive projector than the Barco G50-W6 at similar brightness levels, but the table below will show the other differences between these popular models so you can choose what might be best for your installation and budget. For example, if the projector location is fixed, you may want to look at upgrading your resolution to a 4K model rather than spend it on an optional lens.
Here is a breakdown of the features and prices for you to compare these five projectors:
|
Barco G50-W6 |
BenQ LK935 |
BenQ LK936ST |
BenQ LU935 |
Epson EB-L630U |
Resolution | Barco G50-W6 WUXGA | BenQ LK935 4K UHD | BenQ LK936ST 4K UHD | BenQ LU935 WUXGA | Epson EB-L630U WUXGA |
Brightness | Barco G50-W6 6000 lumens | BenQ LK935 5500 lumens | BenQ LK936ST 5100 lumens | BenQ LU935 6000 lumens | Epson EB-L630U 6200 lumens |
Rec. 709 Color Accuracy | Barco G50-W6 Yes | BenQ LK935 Yes | BenQ LK936ST Yes | BenQ LU935 Yes | Epson EB-L630U Not specified |
Certified IP5X Dust Proof | Barco G50-W6 Not specified | BenQ LK935 Yes | BenQ LK936ST Yes | BenQ LU935 Yes | Epson EB-L630U No – requires filters & cleaning |
Lens Type | Barco G50-W6 Optional | BenQ LK935 Standard Throw | BenQ LK936ST Short Throw | BenQ LU935 Standard Throw | Epson EB-L630U Standard Throw |
Single Chip Design | Barco G50-W6 Yes | BenQ LK935 Yes | BenQ LK936ST Yes | BenQ LU935 Yes | Epson EB-L630U No |
Estimated Price Projector | Barco G50-W6 $7900 | BenQ LK935 $3999 | BenQ LK936ST $4999 | BenQ LU935 $5499 | Epson EB-L630U $3149 |
Standard Thow Lens Price | Barco G50-W6 $1900 | BenQ LK935 Included | BenQ LK936ST N/A | BenQ LU935 Included | Epson EB-L630U Included |
Short Thow Lens Price | Barco G50-W6 $2500 | BenQ LK935 N/A | BenQ LK936ST Included | BenQ LU935 N/A | Epson EB-L630U N/A |
Warranty | Barco G50-W6 2 Years | BenQ LK935 3 Years | BenQ LK936ST 3 Years | BenQ LU935 3 Years | Epson EB-L630U 3 Years – with usage limitation for excessive use |
Estimated Total | Barco G50-W6 $9800-$10,500 | BenQ LK935 $4499 | BenQ LK936ST $4899 | BenQ LU935 $3249 | Epson EB-L630U $3149 |
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