BenQ SU931 Large Venue Projector Review — Hardware Tour

Overview

In addition to the projector and power cord, the SU931 comes with a VGA cable and its remote control with two AA batteries. There’s also a Quick Start guide and a CD that has the projector’s 74-page manual on it.

The most prominent part of the SU931 is the projector’s large chrome-plated lens barrel. It’s offset to the right from the front and the actual optics are safely recessed inside. There are well-marked focus and zoom rings at the end that are a little too close together for my taste, but you can’t adjust them from the remote control. Happily, the SU931 comes with a lens cap, something that’s becoming increasingly rare these days.

In addition to three adjustable feet, the projector has four attachment points underneath for mounting hardware. It works with generic equipment but BenQ has an inexpensive ceiling kit available.

It’s not for projecting in tight spots, though. That’s because the SU931 requires 20-inches of clearance on all sides to keep cooling air flowing. It can’t be set up at an angle of more than 10-degrees left-to-right or 15-degrees front-to-back, limiting its appeal.

Control Panel

The SU931’s control panel is simple and functional with a large on/off button and three-by-three square of keys. They control everything from entering and exiting the Menu to selecting the source and blanking the screen. There are dedicated buttons for adjusting the horizontal and vertical keystone correction, which should streamline its setup.

Connectors

In the back of the projector is an extensive connection panel that is recessed so it can be hard to see inside in the dark; my advice is to have a flashlight handy. All the connections are well marked and color coded and you won’t suffer the indignity of having hot exhaust air blow on you while trying to plug in a source.

In addition to a pair of HDMI ports, one of which can be connected to an MHL-ready phone or tablet, the SU931 has connections for Composite, Component, VGA and S-Video. About the only thing the projector lacks is a DisplayPort connection.

There’re several jacks for input and output audio, including a microphone input. The projector has both Type A and B USB connections in the back, but the SU931 can’t directly display material on a USB thumb drive.

If your room has a remotely controlled screen, the SU931 can send out 12-volts of electricity to power it open or close. Finally, the SU931 provides the choice of an RS-232 and a RJ-45 Ethernet port for controlling the projector remotely. Connecting wirelessly to a facility’s WiFi network is neither included nor an option with the SU931.

On the downside, BenQ doesn’t include a way to lock the AC cable in place or offer a cover to hide the warren of wires for a projector that will be in plain view.

Over the course of two weeks of daily use, the SU931 worked with a variety of source material, from spreadsheets and presentations to videos and Web sites. I used a Microsoft Surface 3, a Macbook Air, iPad Pro and a Pioneer DVD player. I also used a Geffen 8X8 HD switcher and a StarTech HDMI Pattern Generator to project sample images.

Remote Control

The SU931’s remote control is mostly black, except for a gray “T” control in the middle, but its keys aren’t backlit, a definite disadvantage when working in the dark. The 0.7- by 6.9- by 1.7-inch device fits comfortably in the hand, uses a pair of AA batteries and has a range of about 35 feet. The projector has infrared signal receptors front and back, but, unlike other mid-sized projectors, the SU931 can’t extend the reach of its remote control with an audio jumper cable.

At the top of the remote control are switches for turning the projector on and off as well as direct source keys for the inputs. Next down is a “T” control for navigating the Menu as well as ones for blanking the screen, picking the source from a list and automatically optimizing the image.In the middle is a button for activating the projector’s red laser pointer. This can be helpful for everything from pointing out items in a marketing presentation to highlighting areas that need attention while setting up the projector.

At the bottom are keys for the projector’s Quick Install routine in the Menu as well as ones for muting the audio and displaying the projector’s network’s settings. While the projector lacks the ability to run in split screen mode, the remote has a picture in picture button that doesn’t seem to do anything.

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Air Flow and Fan Noise

Fresh cooling air enters from its left side, flows over the system’s high-pressure lamp and out on the right side. The exhaust reached a hot 160-degrees Fahrenheit, but should be far enough away from the audience that it isn’t a problem.

The projector’s fan is always on and can get quite loud. Measured 36-inches from its exhaust grille, the SU931 registered 51dBA of fan noise, making it one of the loudest projectors in its class. Again, if it’s ceiling mounted, the projector should be far enough from the audience that this isn’t a major problem.

It takes a long 26 seconds to start up and another minute or two to get to full brightness. When you’re done, the SU931 takes an interminable 1 minute and 59 seconds to shut its fan off and go to sleep.

Changing the lamp is a snap that requires loosening three screws, pulling the old module out and inserting the new one. Figure on it taking about 2 minutes. The replacement can be safely on a ladder with the projector upside down. Happily, the SU931 doesn’t have an air filter that requires cleaning or periodic replacement.

Lens and Image Adjustments

Web Control

If the SU931 is being set up in a facility that uses Crestron or AMX device control systems, the SU931 can easily fit in. It has built-in networking and you can plug the projector directly into the building’s wired Ethernet network. After making the system discoverable to AMX systems in the projector’s Menu system, it should connect right away.

 

 

 

There’s another way for those that don’t use Crestron or AMX control systems.  Once it’s plugged into a facility’s network, type the projector’s IP address into a browser window to bring up a remote control screen. At this point, its LAN control screen comes up, allowing you to do anything that’s available in the Menu. On the downside, the look is quite different from the remote control or Menu.