BenQ TH671ST - Bright Enough?

[mjf]

We're in to the 'which projector works' phase of our garage to golf sim conversion. We're currently thinking that the screen will be 16:9 format and about 14 feet wide and 8 feet high. When I throw the BenQ TH671ST into the projector central calculator with a throw distance of about 10 feet... I think it's going to work. But there is a concern. The page tells me that Projector Central's estimate is that the brightness will be too low (30 nits). Although, on the same page, the Manufacturer's spec says it will be 93 nits which is fine for a room with high ambient light.

Now, as I said, the space is in our garage and there are no windows so it will be completely dark aside from a spotlight we'll place over where the ball is positioned.

Everything I've read says that a 3000 lumen projector is the starting point for a golf sim. Is 3000 lumens enough for a screen of this size in a well light controlled room? Looking for anyone with suggestions or experience with this.

Thanks!

[shwag33]

I have one, it's decent. The lower light the better obviously. If i had to do it again I'd get a brighter one, but the price gap goes up a lot. People expect different things, a lot would say mine is fine with the lights dimmed down a bit, some would say I need more lumens.

[lilstan]

I also have a 671ST..... I've set mine up in a warehouse with decent ambient lighting. It's hard to discribe how much ambient light there is, but here's a pic and you can decided.

[mjf]

I have one, it's decent. The lower light the better obviously. If i had to do it again I'd get a brighter one, but the price gap goes up a lot.

I've only found 2 projectors that would seem to work in my space. The BenQ 671ST ($700) and the Optima EH515TST ($2600). The Optoma is much brighter at 5000 lumens... but costs about 4x more.

The reason only a couple of projectors will work in my space is that there is a beam positioned between where the projector will go and the screen. It seems that most of the commonly recommended projectors here need to be positioned something like a foot and a half above the top of the screen and the beam in my garage would be blocking most of those projectors. I've only found the two mentioned with the right throw ratio and that can be mounted just a couple of inches above the screen height.

[mjf]

I also have a 671ST..... I've set mine up in a warehouse with decent ambient lighting. It's hard to discribe how much ambient light there is, but here's a pic and you can decided.

How far away is the projector from the screen and how big is your screen? Based on your picture, I've got to believe that in a light-controlled room it would look pretty good!

[lilstan]

How far away is the projector from the screen and how big is your screen? Based on your picture, I've got to believe that in a light-controlled room it would look pretty good!

The projector is mounted about 12' from the screen. Screen size is 144" x 120". It's good for me now but if I was able to controll the lighting, it would be great!

[mjf]

The projector is mounted about 12' from the screen. Screen size is 144" x 120". It's good for me now but if I was able to controll the lighting, it would be great!

Well then... I think the 671ST should be fine for my setup. One more decision made. Maybe in a few years a newer/better/brighter model will come out that will also work in my space... and by then my bank account will have recovered from the initial expenditure.

Thanks!

[cphillips82]

Great timing, I just posted my 671st in the classifieds if your interested.