What's the best current 1080p short throw projector?

[mshockey22]

Don't let Lumens fool you. I am pretty sure that value is taken with a pure white image or something. I had the Optoma and the BenQ 1085ST and side by side there was no comparison and the BenQ was significantly brighter and a MUCH better image. It was well worth the couple hundred extra dollars for the BenQ.

I am throwing a 12ft image on the Par2Pro HQ screen with the BenQ and it looks great with the lights completely ON. I often even forget to dim them.

Awesome info guys! This is exactly what I was looking for. Just out of curiosity, which Optoma did you compare it to? Those numbers they put up are always so skewed. I've read from several people that the BenQ projectors always look better despite the stats being lower. I've now done a little more research into the price to do a frame mounted projector, and that is going to change my options. The frame would cost about $1000 more in order to be able to use it to support the projector over the hitter. Not only that, I think the floor option would look cleaner and overall better. So, it looks like I'm going to be limited to projectors with a .5 throw ratio. It doesn't look like BenQ makes a 1080P with a .5 ratio. So, of the options above, which would you guys choose? Also, would you go with a Benq that's not 1080P over one of those that are? If I take out 1080p there's a ton of options. I'm thinking of ordering the top 3 floor options and just returning the ones that I don't like.

[golfer1161]

Ah - it appears the US and UK have different models.

I would honestly say the brightness of the Benq is actually better than the Optoma. Although it's a couple of hundred lumens less, it looks brighter to me. Perhaps it's also due to the fact I've changed from an archery weave screen to a Par2Pro HQ screen.

I use SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lights in my garage to give the room a bright natural looking light. The Benq looks pretty good and strong even with the lights on. The Optoma looked a bit washed out.

What is the US model number for the Benq TH682ST?

[Ronsc1985]

Awesome info guys! This is exactly what I was looking for. Just out of curiosity, which Optoma did you compare it to? Those numbers they put up are always so skewed. I've read from several people that the BenQ projectors always look better despite the stats being lower. I've now done a little more research into the price to do a frame mounted projector, and that is going to change my options. The frame would cost about $1000 more in order to be able to use it to support the projector over the hitter. Not only that, I think the floor option would look cleaner and overall better. So, it looks like I'm going to be limited to projectors with a .5 throw ratio. It doesn't look like BenQ makes a 1080P with a .5 ratio. So, of the options above, which would you guys choose? Also, would you go with a Benq that's not 1080P over one of those that are? If I take out 1080p there's a ton of options. I'm thinking of ordering the top 3 floor options and just returning the ones that I don't like.

How can you spend 1000 on a projector mount.? Ceiling mount projector stands go for something like 100-200 USD. If you have the room you can put it wherever you want back from the screen and not need such a low throw ratio projector.

[p3eps]

How far away did yo uplace the projector and what size of image are you using?

I'm projecting a 112" wide X 85" tall image from just under 9'.
The throw ratio is stated on the data sheet. You can work out distance from that?

As for the US equivalent model - I have no idea?
So far I'm very pleased with the TH682ST over my old GT760. I'm considering changing my GFX card in my PC to a higher spec so that I can up the detail level in TGC!

[mshockey22]

How can you spend 1000 on a projector mount.? Ceiling mount projector stands go for something like 100-200 USD. If you have the room you can put it wherever you want back from the screen and not need such a low throw ratio projector.

If I don't place the projector on the ground, it will need to hang from the 15' x 10' x 10' cage/enclosure. The company I'm buying the cage from uses 3/4" conduit. 3/4" won't support the projector hanging from it. We would have to up the pipe size of the cage to a 1 1/4" aluminum to support the weight of the projector. I'm honestly not sure why (even with the whole cage being upgraded) the cost is so high, but I honestly like the idea of the projector not being visible anyhow. The shop the setup will be in has 25' ceilings and is 60' x 40'. The only other option would be to put a projector stand behind the seating area at about 23' away from the screen. That of course would cause shadowing and be at risk of getting hit by some of the shop work. So, I'm locked down now to projectors with a .5 throw ratio and ground mounted.

[mshockey22]

Just in case others are interested, I'll be ordering the Acer H6517ST and Optoma EH200ST and comparing them. I'll keep the better of the 2. If you want the projector in front of the hitter and 1080p, those seem to be the only options (other than the gt1080).

[Ronsc1985]

If I don't place the projector on the ground, it will need to hang from the 15' x 10' x 10' cage/enclosure. The company I'm buying the cage from uses 3/4" conduit. 3/4" won't support the projector hanging from it. We would have to up the pipe size of the cage to a 1 1/4" aluminum to support the weight of the projector. I'm honestly not sure why (even with the whole cage being upgraded) the cost is so high, but I honestly like the idea of the projector not being visible anyhow. The shop the setup will be in has 25' ceilings and is 60' x 40'. The only other option would be to put a projector stand behind the seating area at about 23' away from the screen. That of course would cause shadowing and be at risk of getting hit by some of the shop work. So, I'm locked down now to projectors with a .5 throw ratio and ground mounted.

What is it that keeps you from hanging it from the ceiling?. The projectors are fairly light so most any size tubing hung from the ceiling would be sufficien as the tubing is in tension not bend.. Another option is to make a beam to hang across the cage opening.

BTW 1.25 aluminum or steel for that matter is not strong enough to support a projector on a 15 ft wide beam. A cage of your size made from 3/4 anything will be very flimsy.

Mine is a 13x10x8 made of 1.75 steel and it uses twin 1.75 steel tube offset one foot at the front for projector mount attachment. Not having the projector visable makes it a real PITA to use a remote control to turn it on and adjust the various settings.

[Stackchaser]

Just in case others are interested, I'll be ordering the Acer H6517ST and Optoma EH200ST and comparing them. I'll keep the better of the 2. If you want the projector in front of the hitter and 1080p, those seem to be the only options (other than the gt1080).

Ordering projector soon...what was the results...Thanks!

[KPaas]

I have the optoma eh200st.
Its great for what I have. 4:3 im 12ft by 10ft screen
7 ft away I do believe or so
it’s bright. Looks good. But I want more. I find ambient light on the room effects it. Or I’m just greedy. It’s a very open set up I have

[nipper]

I need a projector that will be mounted 12 feet from the 7'2" wide by 9'7" tall screen. What is the best projector for its price for these dimensions? Thanks!

[dawms]

Use ProjectorCentral.com to find possible projectors. Choosing the projector is by far the hardest part of the design. In your case you have the data to help: throw ratio is the key variabie in choosing your projector (not counting HD/4k/Lumens/price!). Ratio for you is 144"/86"(width) => 1.67. If you choose the projector database feature at the website AND specify both your 'throw distance' and screen width, the database will find appropriate projectors. Depending on what else you choose, the answer might be '0', so you'll have to play with the other selector fields. Other things to consider are height of projector (to avoid your shadow on screen) and the effect on the image of projecting from any angle other than head on (difficult - you're standing there!) You'd love to have some vertical and horizontal lense adjustments (advanced search option) and if you don't then you need at least keystone adjustment for the trapezoid created by projecting off axis but you lose pixels when you do this.

[Diggitydog]

Also looking for the same thing. BenQ TH671ST is looking decent. Not sure about the 4:3 thing though. I have a 10 foot wide screen. Any ideas or suggestions?

[sherrow70]

I use BenQ TH671ST on a 8 x 14 screen looks great but cant really compare it to anything else. I bought after reading/watching reviews and decent price.