New garage build - Projector questions

[toddr17]

I know there are several discussions on this topic, but I could not find answers to my specific question, so thought I would start a new post to get feedback

I am building a garage sim

Ceiling is 9' (tight I know)
Mevo+
Screen will be 16' wide by 9'

Using Project Central, here is the suggested monitor distance from the screen

1. BenQ TH671ST - 11' to 12'
2. BenQ HD MW632ST - 11.5' to 12.5'

I would prefer the higher resolution TH671ST, but at these distances, the MW632ST seems to be much more brighter (22fl vs 11fl)

So the tradeoff for these two monitors would be resolution vs brightness

My questions for the group are

1. Should I be concerned about the much lower brightness of the TH671ST?
2. Are there other HD projectors that will give me good brightness for my 16'x9' screen under say $1000, or is the lower resolution 671 my best choice?
3. For TGC19, how much of a difference is HD?

Thanks

[3on3putt]

If it were me, I'd be going for the higher resolution. Brightness can be more or less controlled by controlling the lighting in the room. Being in a garage, you should be able to black out the whole room. And the difference in lumens between the two projectors is only 200 anyway.

The MW632ST is a 1280x800 resolution. If you run that in 16:9, it will drop to 1280x720. And that's a big difference compared to the 1920x1080 that you'll get from the 671. My old projector was standard definition and the later upgrade to an HD projector was more than worth it. The game has very good and detailed graphics and personally I think it's wise to take advantage of that as much as possible within your budget.

All that being said, the 671 does seem to get alarmingly low on brightness when you push it that far back. (Funny how the projector central brightness estimate is so much different than the manufacturer estimate, which they put at 20 fl).

How far back will you be hitting from? And do you know if your shadow will be out of the way mounting it (assumingly) behind you?

[toddr17]

The Mevo+ suggests at least 8' back from the screen, so that is my starting point. If I put the BenQ at 12' back from the projector, then the bottom of the picture should be 8' high at 8' away, and being only 6' tall, I should be OK from shadows. Is that math incorrect?

Now as for resolution, I am concerned about the fl of the 671 at 12'. I cannot find anyone else that complains about the brightness but not sure if anyone is 12' back from the screen

If my budget went up to $1000, are there other HD projectors I should look at which are condusive to my 9' ceiling height and good brightness?

[3on3putt]

As far as the math to calculate your shadow ... I have no idea lol. My guess is that you'll be okay.

Projector central shows a low fl for that BenQ from 12 feet. But BenQ says otherwise. Naturally the manufacturer might be a bit more optimistic, but it's worth at least considering. If you are able to black out the room (which should be easy in a garage), I don't think I would worry too much about the brightness.

That being said, have you checked out this guy? https://www.projectorcentral.com/Ben...ulator-pro.htm

12 feet mounting distance and only 2 inches of vertical offset. It's lower lumens, but shows better fl brightness from that 12 foot range. $800 retail.

[Foreman33]

Hey toddr17,
#1) I agree with 3on3 - I'd go for better resoluton. Most people seem really happy with the value of the TH671ST, and if there have been complaints about brightness, I don't remember them. If you search "TH671ST" there are many positive reviews. I saw one bad one in the last few days but the user left no details.

If you're worried about brightness, check out gungho's comments (3rd post) from this thread: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...671st-question

#2) I'm not an expert but the TH671ST seems like the most popular option in your price range. Optoma 1080 is another popular option, but it won't work with your ceilings.

[fortner28]

I went with the Optoma GT1080HDR. I will switch to 4K when it becomes more affordable. This projector works great for games. It has very low lag. Your impact screen will effect the quality of your picture also. Impact screens are not great for high definition.

[toddr17]

Unfortunately the Optoma line will not work with my low ceilings
I am concerned about the brightness of the TH671ST, and I have seen a couple comments in other forums so quite honestly not sure what to believe
Are there any other projectors I should consider for my screen size and ceiling height, even if I have to consider a higher budget?

[3on3putt]

Unfortunately the Optoma line will not work with my low ceilings
I am concerned about the brightness of the TH671ST, and I have seen a couple comments in other forums so quite honestly not sure what to believe
Are there any other projectors I should consider for my screen size and ceiling height, even if I have to consider a higher budget?

https://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-HT2150ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm