BenQ vs Optoma: A Golf Simulator Projector Comparison

If you’re looking for a golf simulator projector for a larger impact screen, you may want to consider a true 4K projector for your setup.  According to a national survey, over 40% of golf simulation owners have either upgraded their projector or are considering upgrading to a better projector – and 4K resolution can make a big difference in your golf simulator experience.   

In this article, we’ll compare three popular 4K UHD projectors capable of generating 8.3 million pixels on your impact screen: the Optoma 4K400STx, the BenQ TK710STi, and the BenQ LK936ST.  We’ll tell you how they stack up against each other in terms of their brightness and color accuracy, as well as how easy they are to install and operate.

Here are some key points to keep in mind as you make your decision.

·         Brightness

·         Color accuracy

·         Ease of installation

·         Lamp life

First, let's look at brightness.  All the BenQ projectors have an ANSI lumen rating for brightness, which has been the industry standard brightness measurement for over two decades. Optoma no longer uses this standard but specifies a proprietary lumen specification on the Optoma 4K400STx. In August 2024, Optoma has some products specification sheets with both their proprietary lumen measurement along with ANSI lumens, and the Optoma proprietary lumens measured around 18% higher. 

All three projectors have picture modes that can consist of cinema, bright, game, vivid, or on the BenQ LK936ST - golf. Each mode will be tuned for specific brightness for distinct types of content. The brightness of these modes will be lower than “bright” mode, but the BenQ projectors are optimized for accurate and realistic color performance. For example, the golf mode on the BenQ projector drives additional color and energy into colors like green and blue, which enables the projector to accurately render the subtle differences between a bent grass green and a Tif Bermuda green on a championship course. Each brand crafts their own modes, so the actual brightness of the projector in the mode you want to use may be different than the maximum brightness.

For example, a third-party website found that a BenQ 3000 ANSI lumen projector was brighter than a competitor with a 3600-lumen rating when in the same game mode. The laser powered BenQ LK936ST is rated at 5100 ANSI lumens, and BenQ TK710STi comes in 3200 ANSI lumens, while the mercury lamp powered Optoma 4K400STx is rated at 4000 lumens using their proprietary measurement.

The human eye is very sensitive to small variations in color – which is one reason why L’Oreal is the market leader in hair coloring products.  Color accuracy is also important for golf simulation—we need our greens to look like actual green grass, not looking yellow or faded like an arcade game.  All televisions sold today use the Rec. 709 color standard to ensure Tiger’s Sunday red shirt looks right – but what about a golf simulation projector? 

The BenQ TK710STi has 96% Rec. 709 color accuracy, and the LK936ST laser projector has 92% coverage as well as a designated golf mode tuned for golf simulation software. The Optoma 4K400STx does not have any Rec. 709 color specifications or any specific golf mode.

One of the bigger differences between the BenQ LK936ST, TK710STi, and the Optoma 4K400STx is how easy they are to install in various locations. 

The two BenQ projectors are also short throw projectors but have zoom lenses to make it easier to install above and behind the hitting area. For example, the TK710STi can fill up a 12-foot impact screen from about 10 feet away, and the LK936ST can fill up a 16-foot impact screen from just 13 feet away and has zoom and lens shift to enable you to move the mounting location off center – without impacting the picture quality, which means they'll look more realistic when playing Pebble Beach, Whistling Straights, or your favorite iconic course. 

BenQ also has a handy Golf Sim Room Planning tool that you can use to optimize for your room size and launch monitor type.  This will ensure you mount your projector in the right spot without creating a shadow. The zoom lens will also allow you to move the projector forwards or backwards to ensure a secure mount to a stud. Below you can see how the TK710Sti can be mounted safely behind the hitting area while keeping even a tall 6’9” golfer from creating a shadow on the 8-foot-tall impact screen. This enables a clean look to the screen to maximize realism so you can play like you’re there.

The Optoma’ s 4K400STx has a fixed lens and the shortest throw ratio of all three models, enabling it to be closer to the screen.  This is ideal if you want to mount the unit on the floor in front of your hitting area – but the fixed lens limits your ability to adjust the position of projector or move it to a better location. 

Both the BenQ TK701STi and the BenQ LK936ST use advanced laser engines that stay brighter longer than traditional mercury lamps in full brightness modes. These will last 20,000 hours – and turn on in seconds without having to warm up. The Optoma projector uses a traditional mercury lamp, which is being banned in many countries in the years ahead. This lamp will lose half of its brightness in just 4000 hours of use and can cost up to $250 to replace in 2024.

All three of these projectors use a more advanced filter free design compared to older golf simulation projector models using LCD panels that require regular filter cleaning.

As you can see, all three of these 4K projectors have unique advantages – and different prices. The BenQ TK710STi and Optoma 4K400STx are both available for under $2000, with the BenQ model has better color accuracy, easier installation, and the major advantage of being a laser projector – eliminating the need to buy expensive replacement lamps. The Optoma has a shorter throw ratio than the other two, so while it is better in a floor mount in front of the hitting area, the BenQ models are easier to mount above and slightly behind the hitting area without creating a shadow. For larger 4K golf simulators, the popular LK936ST is around $4899, but its high brightness laser enables you to have a full-size impact screen that can double as a home cinema screen – enabling your golf simulation to also be used as a family entertainment area.