ViewSonic PA503S vs BenQ SVGA MS560: Which 800 x 600 Resolution Projector Should You Choose?

[Barend Ray]

Introduce​

Parameter	ViewSonic PA503S​	BenQ SVGA MS560​
Picture​	​	​
Price​	$315.99​	$359​
Recommended Uses​	Business​	Business​
Highlight​	Brightness: 4000 Lumens Resolution: SVGA Optical Zoom: 1.1x Keystone Correction: 40 degree vertical Input Latency: 16ms Lamp Life: Up to 15,000 hours (SuperEco Mode) Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, mini USB, compatible with media players, PCs, Macs, mobile devices	Brightness: 4000 ANSI Lumens Contrast Ratio: 20000:1 Connectivity: Dual HDMI Special Mode: Data Review Mode Setup Features: Ergonomic retractable foot, auto vertical keystone Power Saving: SmartEco Mode (saves up to 70% lamp power)

Side-by-Side Comparison​

Display​

Parameter	ViewSonic PA503S​	BenQ SVGA MS560​
Screen Size​	30 Inches - 300 Inches​	30 Inches - 300 Inches​
Throw Distance​	3.9 Feet - 43 Feet​	1.96 Meters - 2.15 Meters​
Contrast Ratio​	22000:1​	4:3​
Display Resolution​	600 Pixels​	800 x 600 Pixels​
Native Resolution​	800 x 600​	800 x 600​
Brightness​	4000 Lumen​	4000 lumen​
Display Type​	DLP​	DLP​

Features​

Parameter	ViewSonic PA503S​	BenQ SVGA MS560​
Lamp Wattage​	190 Watts​	300 Watts​
Light Source Life​	4500 Hours​	6000 Hours​
Controller Type​	Remote Control​	Remote Control​
Control Method​	Remote​	Remote​
Mount Type​	Floor Mount​	Ceiling, Wall, Table​
Other Features​	Lightweight​	Digital Keystone Correction​

Connectivity​

Parameter	ViewSonic PA503S​	BenQ SVGA MS560​
Connectivity Technology​	VGA, Mini USB Type B, HDMI​	Display Port, USB, HDMI​
Hardware Connectivity​	USB, HDMI​	Mini USB 2.0 Type B, HDMI, USB 2.0 Type A​
Compatible Devices​	DVD players; Blu-ray players; Amazon FireTV; AppleTV; Google Chromecast; Mac Computers; Windows Computers​	Laptop​

Measurements​

Parameter	ViewSonic PA503S​	BenQ SVGA MS560​
L x W x H​	11.6"L x 8.6"W x 4.3"H​	11.65"L x 8.7"W x 6.69"H​
Item Weight​	5.5 Pounds​	5.5 Pounds​

Conclusion​

Product	PROS AND CONS​
ViewSonic PA503S​	Pros: • Excellent brightness suitable for rooms with ambient light. • Sharp picture quality with vibrant colors, enhancing the viewing experience. • Long-lasting performance with no issues reported over 6 years of use. • Cost-effective with a good quality-to-price ratio for home theater use. Cons: • Slow refresh rate may affect fast-paced content, though not noticeable during regular viewing. • Color accuracy issues, particularly with reds appearing overly bright compared to other colors. • Weak built-in speakers necessitating the need for external audio solutions. • Limited adjustment settings for image size, making it difficult to achieve desired projection dimensions. Overall Impression: This projector is a strong contender for anyone seeking a bright and vibrant display for home theater use, especially in well-lit environments. While it has some drawbacks related to color accuracy and sound quality, its durability and impressive brightness make it a worthwhile investment for casual movie watchers and home entertainment setups. However, users should be prepared to supplement their audio experience with external speakers and may need to adjust their setup to maximize the projected image size.
BenQ SVGA MS560​	Pros: • Excellent image quality with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio • High brightness (4000 lumens) suitable for well-lit environments • Automatic keystone correction for easy setup • Multiple connection options (dual HDMI, VGA) • Predefined image modes for different lighting conditions • Robust construction and good value for money Cons: • Image quality can slightly diminish in very bright rooms • No horizontal correction option can limit placement flexibility • Lacks a lens cover for protection during transport Overall Impression: The BenQ SVGA (MS560) business projector is a reliable and versatile tool ideal for educational and professional settings. Its high brightness and good image quality make it suitable for use in various lighting conditions, while its ease of setup and multiple connectivity options enhance its functionality. Despite minor design limitations, it offers excellent value for money and is highly recommended for those seeking a dependable projector.