BenQ AH500ST vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black
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Choosing between the BenQ AH500ST and Epson Lifestudio Grand Black? Both compete in the Projector segment. Here’s how they compare across the specs that matter most for your home theater.
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Looking at overall performance dimensions: The BenQ AH500ST scores higher in value, gaming performance, form factor, room fit. They score similarly in video quality, ease of use.
The BenQ AH500ST offers higher brightness at 4000 ANSI lumens vs 3600, and different projection technologies (DLP vs 3LCD). More lumens means a brighter image, critical if you can't fully darken your room. Below 2000 lumens needs a dedicated dark room; 3000+ handles ambient light. In a dedicated dark room, contrast ratio and color accuracy may matter more than raw brightness.
The BenQ AH500ST holds an advantage across more performance dimensions, but the Epson Lifestudio Grand Black may still be the better pick depending on which specs matter most to your setup. See the detailed comparison table below for the full breakdown.
For most home theaters, the BenQ AH500ST is the stronger choice — it leads in 4 of 6 scored dimensions. The Epson Lifestudio Grand Black makes more sense if budget is the primary constraint.
Performance Overview
Scores based on specs and category benchmarks (0–100 scale)
BenQ AH500ST
Epson Lifestudio Grand Black
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | N/A | N/A |
| Native Resolution | 1080p | 4K |
| Technology | DLP | 3LCD |
| Throw Ratio Min | 0.499 | 0.25 |
| Throw Ratio Max | 0.499 | 0.25 |
| Lens Shift V | — | — |
| Lens Shift H | — | — |
| ANSI Lumens | 4000 | 3600 |
| CLO Lumens | — | — |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000000:1 | 5000000:1 |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HLG |
| Input Lag | 16.7ms | 34ms |
| Lamp Life | 38000hrs | 20000hrs |
| Light Source | laser | laser_phosphor |
| Lens Quality | — | — |
| Tone Mapping | — | — |
| Ultra Short Throw | Yes | Yes |
| Chip Size | — | — |
| Color Depth | 30bit | 10bit |
| Zoom Ratio | 1 | — |
| Zoom Type | fixed | Fixed |
| Focus Type | — | Manual |
| Noise (Normal) | 35dB | 36dB |
| Noise (Eco) | 32dB | 23dB |
| Power Draw | 250W | 278W |
| HDMI Inputs | 2 | 3 |
| HDMI Version | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| 3D Support | Yes | No |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Speaker Power | 10W | 20W |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Streaming Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Lens Memory | No | No |
| 12V Trigger | No | No |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| Frame Interpolation | No | No |
| Native Aspect | — | 16:9 |
Key Differences
- Native Resolution: BenQ AH500ST at 1080p vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black at 4K
- Technology: BenQ AH500ST at DLP vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black at 3LCD
- Color Depth: BenQ AH500ST at 30bit vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black at 10bit
- Input Lag: BenQ AH500ST at 16.7ms vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black at 34ms. Sub-20ms is excellent for gaming. Above 40ms feels sluggish. Only matters for interactive content — film and TV don't benefit from low input lag.
- Speaker Power: BenQ AH500ST at 10W vs Epson Lifestudio Grand Black at 20W
Which Should You Choose?
Choose BenQ AH500ST if you want:
- + better ansi lumens — more lumens means a brighter image, critical if you can't fully darken your room
- + better input lag — sub-20ms is excellent for gaming
- + better lamp life
- + better noise (normal)
Choose Epson Lifestudio Grand Black if you want:
- + better throw ratio min
- + better contrast ratio
- + better noise (eco)
See Where These Rank
Check our editorial rankings to see how BenQ AH500ST and Epson Lifestudio Grand Black compare to the rest of the field.
Best Projector RankingsRelated Calculators
Specifications sourced from manufacturer datasheets and verified against retailer listings. Prices updated hourly from authorized retailers. Scoring uses our open methodology — products are never ranked, promoted, or suppressed based on affiliate commission rates.
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