Projector Feedback/Comparison

[Kent]

I am getting ready to build a simulator and would appreciate some feedback on some of the projectors I have researched. Here is what I have narrowed my list down to:

Optoma GT1080Darbee
InFocus IN128HDSTx
Acer 7550ST
Acer 6517ST
BenQ HT2150ST

I will be using a GC2 on about a 13-14' wide screen. Any pros or cons or comparisons that anyone could provide, would be very helpful. Thanks.

[StanMI]

They all have their plus/minus points. Your mounting position and distance will be a consideration. I'm in the same place as you. I have the BenQ MW632ST. I really like the 16:10 aspect ratio but I'd like 1080 resolution. I'd like to hear what you wind up with and why.

[wbond]

Also, pay attention to the vertical offset and fixed lens vs adjustable. These are key to setup as well.

[Kent]

I think I'm going to try the new Optoma GT1080Darbee. It is geared towards gaming, so it should produce good results. I think it just started shipping, but if anybody has used it, I'd appreciate some feedback. If anyone that uses the older Optoma GT1080 has had any issues with it, please let me know. It will probably be a couple months before I am ready for it, but I'll report back on it once I get my install done.

[inorkuo]

I have a gt1080. I don't have anything to compare it to but it works well for me. I needed a very short throw bc my garage door opener would be in the way otherwise. I have read that the benq is brighter and has better color reproduction even though it is has a lower lumens rating. Also the gt1080 does not have a zoom feature, only keystone, so you have to be very precise when mounting.

[Boo Radley]

BENQ HT2150ST hands down, buy with AMEX and you get 2 year warranty

[CW35]

I recently bought the Benq 2150st as well and I'm very happy w/ it. As Stan said earlier, it could depend on your throw distance, etc for which projector could be the best for you.

[brg1875]

How is the brightness on a larger screen? I'm looking at doing a 4:3 ratio for a 12x9 screen but the only thing I'm weary of is projector central calculator "recommends higher brightness." Do you guys have any issues with that?

[Maxomoto]

Hey guys. Bringing this thread up. I am in a pretty similar situation. 14ft wide screen (would love to do a 16:10). Ceiling Height 10.5ft. Possible throw distance from 9 to 13 ft. 12ft or 13ft would be perfect in terms of getting the projector out of the way. Will use a GC2 + FSX + TGC setup.

It seems there are basically 3 options:

1. BenQ HT2150ST - cant go at a throw distance of 13ft but could do 11.6ft which would be ok, is Full HD but not 16:10 native. Biggest question: Is it bright enough for the 12-13ft throw? Please, a lot of you guys seem to have that projector. Is it bright enough at some artificial light in the room (no daylight).

2. BenQ MW632ST - gets to a good throw distance of 12.1ft (at 14ft screen width); is 16:10 native but lower resolution. On paper it has more Lumens and should be better for the long throw distance. Thoughts? Vs. the 2150ST - less resolution or more brightness?

3. Get a expensive Epson or Panasonic projector - and then buy a short throw replacement lens. This will be crazy expensive, just the replacement lens is more than 2k and the projectors are 5k. Would like to avoid that.
Best option seems to be Panasonic EZ590 with the required wide lens. This will be about 4500 USD here in Europe. The guy at the projector store said that with 14ft screen width and that throw disctance he would not go below 5000 Lumens - which would rule out all available consumer projectors above....

Did I miss an option?

Thanks. Best from Berlin. Max

[Kent]

Your throw distance would be 10'7" for the HT2150ST on a 14' wide screen and 11' for the MW632ST. The MW632ST would be bright enough, but I would want 1080p resolution. I would check out projectorcentral.com and look at the stats there on the different models. I would throw the Optoma GT1080Darbee in the mix. That is the projector I went with. I have LED can lights that I have dimmed down and it produces a nice picture with that amount of light on a 14' wide screen. With 10.5' ceilings the Optoma would be mounted about 13" closer to the ceiling than the BenQ's, which I think is beneficial.

[Maxomoto]

Thanks Kent!

The Optoma would be too close to the screen. Maximum 6.7ft. throw distance instead of the 10-12ft. i am looking for. The projector would be more than 2 ft. in front of the tee and get hit and it would be somewhat in your vision when swinging. Besides that, the Optima would be a good value option.

The BenQ's are either low resolution (632ST) or low Brightness (2150ST). I am pretty sure, one could live with both if budget would be the main criteria. Most commercial simulators I have been to, had not enough brightness and were low resolution - you will still get most of the functionality. BUT: since I spend a lot of money on this Golf room it might be not the smartest decision to limit the overall experience because I want to save 3k on the projector? 14 ft. is a big picture and I am pretty close to it (9 ft.). So it will be "immersive", but one will be able to see problems.

So the quesion is: Is the BenQ 2150ST really not bright enough at that picture size/distance - or do most people here have a just fine experience? Is the lower resolution of the WXGA models like the 632ST really a problem with the software used at that screen size; or not?

The Panasonic EZ590 seems to be ticking nearly all boxes. The only two things that might be considers "cons" is a) Price and b) the Contrast ratio is "low" with 10,000:1. I have no idea how the difference between 10,000 and 20,000 contrast really would influence the picture in the FSX or TGC software. Does anybody have an opinion? For another 2k for a "bigger" Panasonic projector (MZ590), one then would get 3,000,000:1 contrast. Not sure that is really making that much of a difference?

Max

[Kent]

My projector is 6'9" from the screen and I hit from 9-10'. My ceilings are 10', so my setup is very similar to yours. There is no way I could hit the projector and it definitely is not in your vision when swinging. If those are your concerns with it, they shouldn't be. I would go with the 2150ST over the 632ST since a higher resolution makes a difference, especially at that screen size and your proximity to the screen. It sounds like you can control your light situation, so the 2150ST might work out for you, but I don't own one. I definitely know the Optoma GT1080Darbee would work well for you.

[PercyDalton]

Thanks Kent!

The Optoma would be too close to the screen. Maximum 6.7ft. throw distance instead of the 10-12ft. i am looking for. The projector would be more than 2 ft. in front of the tee and get hit and it would be somewhat in your vision when swinging. Besides that, the Optima would be a good value option.

The BenQ's are either low resolution (632ST) or low Brightness (2150ST). I am pretty sure, one could live with both if budget would be the main criteria. Most commercial simulators I have been to, had not enough brightness and were low resolution - you will still get most of the functionality. BUT: since I spend a lot of money on this Golf room it might be not the smartest decision to limit the overall experience because I want to save 3k on the projector? 14 ft. is a big picture and I am pretty close to it (9 ft.). So it will be "immersive", but one will be able to see problems.

So the quesion is: Is the BenQ 2150ST really not bright enough at that picture size/distance - or do most people here have a just fine experience? Is the lower resolution of the WXGA models like the 632ST really a problem with the software used at that screen size; or not?

The Panasonic EZ590 seems to be ticking nearly all boxes. The only two things that might be considers "cons" is a) Price and b) the Contrast ratio is "low" with 10,000:1. I have no idea how the difference between 10,000 and 20,000 contrast really would influence the picture in the FSX or TGC software. Does anybody have an opinion? For another 2k for a "bigger" Panasonic projector (MZ590), one then would get 3,000,000:1 contrast. Not sure that is really making that much of a difference?

Max

Have you looked at the Panasonic pt-vz580? It has the 16:10 aspect ratio, is WUXGA resolution (so full hd plus an extra 120 lines of vertical resolution), has a zoom that would seem to put it in the right range, high lumens, high contrast and in the UK at least it is £1200 which is maybe $1500?

[delaloi]

I wish I had answers to these questions, many of which I am asking myself. I will have an outdoor sim, so ambient lighting is going to be an issue no matter what. I have some flexibility regarding projector distance from screen. In general terms does this mean I should be looking for the shortest throw and highest lumens I can get?

[delaloi]

Maxomoto, the Panasonic PT-VZ580U has a zoom which is handy for installation, 5000 lumens, but a minimum throw ratio of 1.09 so you will not get a 14 foot screen width unless you pull the projector back farther than you want to. It looks like it might work for me though, so thanks Percy for pointing it out!

[Solstice72]

Max, Aiming for my build with 16x 10 screen, 11ft ceilings. I'm trying to land a 4k shift with a bright screen and i don't know now if it's possible. (I just played a Full Swing sim all day the 10th and by the 6th hour I wanted to squeegee my eyeballs and screen with the darkened mud look that sims give you. When I input one of those expensive Epson lcd projectors on that Projector Central site, I cannot generate an apparent brightness worth a damn (with 6 or 7k lumen) and suggests not to allow the ambient light to exceed 4% of lights on. 4 %. Holy cow. This media guy i know asked about the screen gain and that could change things. Anyone know their gain here, or have a recommended premium screen? At any rate, maybe i can't have it all. 16 wide, 4k ish, clear ish.

Anyone install that Panasonic let me know too.