Is it worth jumping to a 4K projector or go with standard 1080 p with higher lumens?

[Chanman]

Struggling, I know i want to upgrade to a better projector but I still want close to 5 gs or more for the laser 4 k projectors with the higher lumens , I can make really any projector work ask long as it’s not over 20 feet or more out from screen , could use some help ?
thanks in advance

[cmibobby]

I am in the same situation looking for an upgrade to my 16x9 1080P 3k lumens projector and now looking for a 16x9 4k projector or a 16x10 1080p projector which is a little brighter but it needs to be a Short throw projector with no more than a .81 throw ratio - I have the 2019 TGC software so don't know if I would tell the difference on a 10ft wide screen projecting 8 ft away as far as the 4k resolution - Comments anyone - I would like a 16x10 4k native Projector but it seems they don't make any ? Does anyone one know if the BenQ LK953st 4k projector accept a 4k 16x10 image? - I can change the resolution on my laptop 1660TI video card to 1920 x 1200 but I don't know it I can change it to a 4096 x 2500 -- Does any know if the 4K Benq projector will accept a 4096x2500 image ?

[GungHoGolf]

Struggling, I know i want to upgrade to a better projector but I still want close to 5 gs or more for the laser 4 k projectors with the higher lumens , I can make really any projector work ask long as it’s not over 20 feet or more out from screen , could use some help ?
thanks in advance

Consider the BenQ TK700STi 4K for $1699 (we sell and support them). Lumen rating doesn't really matter that much as long as you control the ambient light in the room. Any ambient light hitting the screen will degrade the image, regardless of whether you have 2,200 lumens or 5,000+ lumens. We use and like the LK653ST (5,000 lumens, $5,500) in our studio, but even its image goes to crap if we open the door of our studio and daylight comes in the room. The TK700STi is a fantastic projector when light is controlled.

Do note the 700Sti has a "longer" short throw (longer than the LK953ST or TH671ST), usually ends up being around 14-15 ft back with a 9 ft tall image. This can cause shadows if a) you're hitting close to the screen, or b) you have shorter ceilings.

[GungHoGolf]

I am in the same situation looking for an upgrade to my 16x9 1080P 3k lumens projector and now looking for a 16x9 4k projector or a 16x10 1080p projector which is a little brighter but it needs to be a Short throw projector with no more than a .81 throw ratio - I have the 2019 TGC software so don't know if I would tell the difference on a 10ft wide screen projecting 8 ft away as far as the 4k resolution - Comments anyone - I would like a 16x10 4k native Projector but it seems they don't make any ? Does anyone one know if the BenQ LK953st 4k projector accept a 4k 16x10 image? - I can change the resolution on my laptop 1660TI video card to 1920 x 1200 but I don't know it I can change it to a 4096 x 2500 -- Does any know if the 4K Benq projector will accept a 4096x2500 image ?

A 4K projector like the LK953ST maxes out at 2,160 vertical pixels. In Windows, you can adjust the horizontal pixel count to fit your screen exactly. So don't get hung up on 16:9 vs 16:10 - a true 4K projector will give you a MUCH sharper image than a WUXGA projector (native 16:10) as WUXGA maxes out at 1,200 vertical pixels.

[ozzy]

GungHoGolf Would love your opinion here. I have space for a ~12.6'x7.8' 16:10 projector in my room. I was planning on hitting 9' from screen, but could move back to 9.5 or 10' if necessary. I was going to go with the BenQ LU953ST 16:10 projector (currently have one back-ordered). But as I'm thinking about this I'm wondering if either the TK700STI (will mount at 12'5-6") or LK953ST (will mount at 11'2") 4K projectors would be better. Some considerations with my setup:
1) I'm going to be in a room with high ambient light due to windows - not much I can do to control that during the day
2) My computer has the horsepower to handle 4k without a problem
3) I plan to also occasionally use the projector/screen to watch movies or tv/sports (although golf simulator will be the main purpose)

I'm wondering if you think the TK700STi will have enough brightness to be able to deal with the ambient light? And also how much of a pain it will be to manually adjust the zoom every time I want to use the xbox or Apple TV to watch TV/Movies? I believe to do this I'd have to stand on a chair to adjust it - with the TK700STi I can mount it where there is overlap to do 93" screen height at 16:10 and 83" screen height at 16:9 and fit properly, with the LK953ST there isn't quite enough zoom, but I think I'd just be 4" too wide on the TV/Movie which isn't a huge deal I don't think.

So basically, is the 4k resolution worth the headache of manual zoom adjustments? And if so, will the TK700STi be bring enough (will save me some money)?

[GungHoGolf]

GungHoGolf Would love your opinion here. I have space for a ~12.6'x7.8' 16:10 projector in my room. I was planning on hitting 9' from screen, but could move back to 9.5 or 10' if necessary. I was going to go with the BenQ LU953ST 16:10 projector (currently have one back-ordered). But as I'm thinking about this I'm wondering if either the TK700STI (will mount at 12'5-6") or LK953ST (will mount at 11'2") 4K projectors would be better. Some considerations with my setup:
1) I'm going to be in a room with high ambient light due to windows - not much I can do to control that during the day
2) My computer has the horsepower to handle 4k without a problem
3) I plan to also occasionally use the projector/screen to watch movies or tv/sports (although golf simulator will be the main purpose)

I'm wondering if you think the TK700STi will have enough brightness to be able to deal with the ambient light? And also how much of a pain it will be to manually adjust the zoom every time I want to use the xbox or Apple TV to watch TV/Movies? I believe to do this I'd have to stand on a chair to adjust it - with the TK700STi I can mount it where there is overlap to do 93" screen height at 16:10 and 83" screen height at 16:9 and fit properly, with the LK953ST there isn't quite enough zoom, but I think I'd just be 4" too wide on the TV/Movie which isn't a huge deal I don't think.

So basically, is the 4k resolution worth the headache of manual zoom adjustments? And if so, will the TK700STi be bring enough (will save me some money)?

High ambient light in the room is going to severely impact your image quality (poor darks/blacks, washed-out look) even with a 5,000+ lumen projector. When we open a single exterior door in the front end our demo studio, the image from our LK953ST goes to crap. The dark areas of the image can get no darker than your white screen with the projector off. In practice with moderate ambient light, the TK700STi and the LK953ST will have very similar picture quality. In a light-controlled room, the TK700STi is plenty bright for golf and movies. Do whatever you can to block the light from your windows, regardless of which projector you go with - either curtains/shades, or light blocking film applied to the glass.

Manually adjusting zoom (and focus) between golf and TV/movies will be a pain. For dual use (golf and movies), it's easiest to either a) go with 16:9 aspect ratio so you can use your second HDMI input with your movie source with no adjustments, or b) stream any movies or TV you want to watch through your PC, so they get auto-letterboxed with black bars top and bottom. A third option would be to buy a projector with powered and remote zoom/focus, some of which will save two or more presets for zoom and focus - but those units are typically WUXGA and not 4K.

[Brettster]

Good point, and one that really bugs me about Sim Golf in general... I'm not one to want to hang out in a dark cave to play golf! This has always bugged me and mostly with some of the LMs that require complete darkness and lighting to measure the ball (such as ProTee).

Is there any solution, have you ever tried to experiment with projection from behind the screen (super short throw with mirrors), or something similar? Seems there has to be a way to do that and I remember coming across a unit that does it, but very expensive... maybe someday as LEDs get brighter and brighter? Also brings to mind an article I saw recently about the invention of the whitest paint on the planet that can be used to save energy when painted on the outside of homes - I almost wonder if something like that could be painted on screens allowing for much lower projection levels with good results.

[GungHoGolf]

Rear projection wouldn't help - impact screen is too opaque to let a good image through it. Whiter paint wouldn't help either - it's the dark parts of the image that get washed out in ambient light. What we actually need is a dark gray impact screen fabric with reflective qualities like some high-end movie screens for brighter rooms, which would hold the darks better - but currently there's nothing on the market like that.

[Brettster]

GungHoGolf

What we actually need is a dark gray impact screen fabric with reflective qualities like some high-end movie screens for brighter rooms, which would hold the darks better - but currently there's nothing on the market like that.

It sounds like you just invented it? Why not have one made and see if it works, a little R&D? Rear projection does work on a standard screen - very expensive - would like to see it work with mirrors - maybe bounce it up high from behind, then down onto the screen in front would work? Has to be a way??

[ozzy]

Thanks for the reply. I need to think carefully about how often I'll be using tv/movies. While it would be nice to have 4k, I think you are probably right that it's just too much of a pain to manually adjust the zoom and focus every time I want to switch between them.

As for the ambient light - I will most likely be using it mostly in the evenings, so it hopefully won't be as big of an issue. And I will try to control what I can, but there are some very large windows in that room

[aussiebenny]

I bought a used Epson EB-2265U for about $750 USD off Ebay as for my first garage build.

https://www.projectorcentral.com/Epson_Europe-EB-2265U.htm

https://www.epson.com.au/products/projector/EB-2265U.asp

For the price, it seemed good as it was 5500 lumens and 1920x1200. Epson lamps are cheap also.
I have it mounted approx 18 feet away and off slightly to the side. So am losing a bit of resolution.
But it's nice and bright. Once I feel the need for change (and can afford it), will get a 4k projector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDywgtmV76w

It's projected to a canvas drop sheet (temporarily) so not ideal. I ordered a proper screen below and eagerly waiting atm.

https://www.golfsimaustralia.com.au/product-page/golf-simulator-impact-screen-premium-3d-mesh-material

[Rob 2333]

I have a screen size of 134" x 105" and need some help deciding on a projector. My ceiling is 9 1/2' high, I was planning on hitting mat 8 - 9' away. I can black out everything. I was thinking about getting the BenQ TK700STi so I had 4K for the odd movie or sports I may choose to watch.

I want to use the full screen so 4:3 ratio. Is it easy to switch to 16x9 for movies? Would shadows be an issue? Is the 4K worth it? And if not, what projector might you recommend.

[14MPH]

GungHoGolf is your reference to second hdmi input above related to the TK700STi model specifically?

For sim golf, we need short throw to avoid shadows. But read somewhere on an AV forum that newer short throw projectors aimed at gaming market typically don’t fare too well for home theatre experiences (in a true 4K sense, depths of blacks, etc).

Hence wondering whether the pixel-shifting in ST projectors like Benq TK700STi, Viewsonic PX-748, etc (more recent models aimed at gaming market with low lag) compensate the quality of output (at their respective price points, these are not native 4K projectors) when compared to true 4K but still better than 1080 HD?

Also to compensate for golf screen material, would having a retractable ALR theatre screen in front of golf screen avoid the manual adjusting of focus etc. ie what is the best way to achieve both good sim and home theatre experiences? Would I need to worry about focus if both screens are virtually at the same distance from the fixed ceiling mounted projector?

I intend to have a 16:9 screen in 17’ 4” x 21’ x 10’ 6” room where I can control ambient light during the day. Mostly to be used for sim but occasionally for movies/sports viewing. Like the OP, am also in same boat, whether to pursue 4K projector or not!

[GungHoGolf]

GungHoGolf is your reference to second hdmi input above related to the TK700STi model specifically?

For sim golf, we need short throw to avoid shadows. But read somewhere on an AV forum that newer short throw projectors aimed at gaming market typically don’t fare too well for home theatre experiences (in a true 4K sense, depths of blacks, etc).

Hence wondering whether the pixel-shifting in ST projectors like Benq TK700STi, Viewsonic PX-748, etc (more recent models aimed at gaming market with low lag) compensate the quality of output (at their respective price points, these are not native 4K projectors) when compared to true 4K but still better than 1080 HD?

Also to compensate for golf screen material, would having a retractable ALR theatre screen in front of golf screen avoid the manual adjusting of focus etc. ie what is the best way to achieve both good sim and home theatre experiences? Would I need to worry about focus if both screens are virtually at the same distance from the fixed ceiling mounted projector?

I intend to have a 16:9 screen in 17’ 4” x 21’ x 10’ 6” room where I can control ambient light during the day. Mostly to be used for sim but occasionally for movies/sports viewing. Like the OP, am also in same boat, whether to pursue 4K projector or not!

The TK700STi doesn't pixel shift - it has true 4K resolution. Much better image than 1080 HD.

The closest you could get a second retractable screen in front of an existing one would be 2-3 inches, and that would require a focus adjustment.

If it's just for occasional movies/sports viewing, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the image quality on a good quality impact screen in a darkened room.

[pizzaslice]

A 4K projector like the LK953ST maxes out at 2,160 vertical pixels. In Windows, you can adjust the horizontal pixel count to fit your screen exactly. So don't get hung up on 16:9 vs 16:10 - a true 4K projector will give you a MUCH sharper image than a WUXGA projector (native 16:10) as WUXGA maxes out at 1,200 vertical pixels.

Hi Ron, I'm trying to think this through a bit more:

If you use windows pixel adjustment to fit your impact screen you essentially end up with a custom screen resolution, correct? What consequences would that have if you were mirroring the projected image to a monitor? I am picturing a monitor / keyboard / mouse control station just off to the side of my sim room.

And lets say you have a cable box hooked up to another input on your projector. how would the projector respond when you switch over to the cable box? It wouldn't bother me if the projected image got a little smaller, but i wouldnt want the image to be larger than the screen.

[GungHoGolf]

Hi Ron, I'm trying to think this through a bit more:

If you use windows pixel adjustment to fit your impact screen you essentially end up with a custom screen resolution, correct? What consequences would that have if you were mirroring the projected image to a monitor? I am picturing a monitor / keyboard / mouse control station just off to the side of my sim room.

And lets say you have a cable box hooked up to another input on your projector. how would the projector respond when you switch over to the cable box? It wouldn't bother me if the projected image got a little smaller, but i wouldnt want the image to be larger than the screen.

Yes on your pixel adjustment question. Mirroring displays will result in the same aspect ratio being displayed on both monitors (typically would have black letterboxing on the TV or computer monitor if anything other than 16:9 ratio was used on the projector). Extending the desktop doesn't have this issue, and higher-end launch monitors like Uneekor and TM allow you to display a secondary (and sometimes more) data screen.

If you hook up a source to your second HDMI input on the projector, it will go to 16:9 (typicaly) - so if you had narrowed your aspect ratio for golf to get more image height, the secondary video source would extend off the screen on the left and right. Streaming your movies/TV through your PC is the better way to go, as they'll get automatically letterboxed top and bottom so no area of the video is lost on the sides.

[Keith]

..... I would like a 16x10 4k native Projector but it seems they don't make any ?

BenQ has released the LU935ST Laser Projector with 5500 Lumens & Short Throw Lens for $3999. That's the projector I am considering.

[GungHoGolf]

Great projector, but 1,200 vertical pixels is quite a difference from the 2,160 vertical pixels from 4K. It's noticeable from 9 feet away in the text elements of the UI.

[Blaker34]

Yes on your pixel adjustment question. Mirroring displays will result in the same aspect ratio being displayed on both monitors (typically would have black letterboxing on the TV or computer monitor if anything other than 16:9 ratio was used on the projector). Extending the desktop doesn't have this issue, and higher-end launch monitors like Uneekor and TM allow you to display a secondary (and sometimes more) data screen.

If you hook up a source to your second HDMI input on the projector, it will go to 16:9 (typicaly) - so if you had narrowed your aspect ratio for golf to get more image height, the secondary video source would extend off the screen on the left and right. Streaming your movies/TV through your PC is the better way to go, as they'll get automatically letterboxed top and bottom so no area of the video is lost on the sides.

Ron,


I'm down to final details for my room. I'm torn between a BenQ LK953ST and the Epson L635SU for a GC Hawk set up.

Lens is set to be 149" from the screen - Image height - 98" Image Width - 131"


Thoughts?

btw, I ordered a custom holy grail mat from you that I'm hoping will be coming in a couple weeks!