Projector specifications are mostly noise. Two numbers decide whether a projector works in your room: the throw ratio, which sets how far the mount sits from the screen, and the brightness, which sets whether you can see the picture with the lights on. Get those right and the rest is preference.
The four projectors at a glance
| Model |
Price |
Brightness |
Throw ratio |
Best for |
| BenQ LK936ST |
$5,878.80 |
5,100 lumens |
0.81 to 0.89, 1.1x zoom |
Bright rooms and difficult mount positions |
| BenQ AK700ST |
$3,478.80 |
4,000 lumens |
0.69 to 0.83, 1.2x zoom |
The sensible default for most builds |
| BenQ AH700ST |
$2,758.80 |
4,000 lumens |
Short throw, auto adjustment |
Value, and native 16:9 screens |
| BenQ TK710STi |
$2,638.80 |
3,200 lumens |
0.69 to 0.83, 1.2x zoom |
A room that is a simulator and a games room |
Prices correct on 25 September 2026. The product page is always the authority.
Throw ratio, and the only sum you need
Throw ratio is distance divided by image width. Multiply the ratio by the width you want and you get the distance the projector has to sit at.
So for a 12 ft wide image, which is a common simulator screen:
- A 0.69 to 0.83 ratio puts the mount roughly 8 to 10 ft from the screen.
- A 0.81 to 0.89 ratio puts it roughly 10 to 11 ft away.
The range exists because of the optical zoom. A 1.2x zoom gives you a foot or two of latitude on where the mount lands, which matters when your ceiling joists are not where you would like them to be. A 1.1x zoom gives you less. Measure your joist positions before you choose, not after.
Lens shift is the feature that saves installations
Zoom changes image size. Lens shift moves the image without moving the projector or tilting it, which is how you keep a rectangular picture when the mount cannot sit dead centre.
The LK936ST offers vertical and horizontal lens shift, and it is the reason it survives awkward rooms that defeat other models. The rest of the range relies on zoom and automatic image adjustment instead, which is fine when the mount position is flexible and frustrating when it is not.
Lumens against the light you actually have
Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens, and the number you need depends entirely on ambient light.
-
3,200 lumens is comfortable in a controlled room: blinds down, lights dimmed, a dedicated theatre or a basement bay.
-
4,000 lumens is the sensible middle for a multipurpose room where someone will always turn a light on.
-
5,100 lumens holds up in a bright garage bay, a room with windows, or a screen that is simply large.
Buying more brightness than the room needs is not free: in a dark theatre an overly bright image is tiring to watch. Match the number to the space.
4K or 1080p
For a home theatre, 4K is worth it, because you sit close enough to a large image to see the difference. For a golf simulator it matters less than people assume, since the picture is a rendered course viewed from several feet back, and brightness and input lag do more for the experience. The AH700ST is the 1080p option in the range, and it exists for exactly that reason.
Laser, and what 20,000 hours means
All four are laser rather than lamp, rated up to around 20,000 hours. At three hours a day that is roughly eighteen years, which in practice means no lamp changes and no bulb costs during ownership. It also means the projector reaches full brightness almost immediately rather than warming up, which is a small pleasure that turns into a large one when you use the room daily.
Mounting in a simulator bay
In a simulator, the projector mounts on the ceiling above and behind the hitting area. That position keeps it out of the swing path and stops the player casting a shadow onto the screen. It also means ceiling height is a constraint on the whole project, not just the projector, which is covered in our guide to planning an indoor golf simulator.
Two practical points. Cable runs are easier to plan before the ceiling is finished. And a projector is a precision instrument sitting a few feet from a golf ball travelling at speed, so give the mount position the thought it deserves.
The four projectors in detail
BenQ LK936ST
$5,878.80
- 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160
- 5,100 ANSI lumens
- Throw ratio 0.81 to 0.89, 1.1x zoom
- Vertical and horizontal lens shift
- Laser, rated up to 20,000 hours
The one to buy when the room fights you. Lens shift in both axes means the mount does not have to sit dead centre, and 5,100 lumens holds a picture together in a bay with daylight in it. The trade is the tighter 1.1x zoom, so measure the mount distance carefully.
View the LK936ST
BenQ AK700ST
$3,478.80
- 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160
- 4,000 ANSI lumens
- Throw ratio 0.69 to 0.83, 1.2x optical zoom
- Auto Screen Fit, focus and image adjustment
- Laser, rated up to 20,000 hours
The middle of the range and the one most builds should start from. Same brightness as the AH700ST with 4K resolution on top, and the wider 1.2x zoom gives real latitude on where the ceiling mount lands.
View the AK700ST
BenQ AH700ST
$2,758.80
- Full HD 1080p, 1920 x 1080
- 4,000 ANSI lumens
- Short throw, sits close to the screen
- Native 16:9 aspect ratio
- Automatic screen adjustment
The value option, and a sharper choice than its price suggests for a simulator. Native 16:9 matches common impact screen and cinema shapes without cropping, and 4,000 lumens is the same figure the AK700ST carries.
View the AH700ST
BenQ TK710STi
$2,638.80
- 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160
- 3,200 ANSI lumens
- Throw ratio 0.69 to 0.83, 1.2x zoom
- HDR support, streaming via the included Android TV solution
- Low input lag for responsive play
The dual purpose choice. Streaming is built in and input lag is low, so the room works as a games room and a cinema between rounds. Its 3,200 lumens asks for a controlled light environment.
View the TK710STi
Which one for which room
-
Garage bay, windows, or a screen over 12 ft: LK936ST.
-
Dedicated basement or theatre room: AK700ST, or TK710STi if the room does double duty.
-
Tight budget, 16:9 impact screen: AH700ST.
-
Ceiling joists in an awkward place: LK936ST for the lens shift, otherwise anything with the 1.2x zoom.
Frequently asked questions
How far from the screen does the projector sit?
Multiply the throw ratio by your screen width. A 0.69 to 0.83 ratio on a 12 ft screen puts the mount 8 to 10 ft back; a 0.81 to 0.89 ratio puts it 10 to 11 ft back. Send us your room dimensions and we will confirm the figure for your build before anything ships.
Do I need 4K for a golf simulator?
Not really. The image is a rendered course seen from several feet back, so brightness and input lag matter more than resolution. If the same room is also your cinema, 4K earns its place.
Will a simulator projector work for films and sport?
Yes, and all four are used that way. The TK710STi is the most film friendly out of the box thanks to HDR and built in streaming. The LK936ST is the one for a bright room.
How long does a laser projector last?
These are rated up to around 20,000 hours. At three hours a day that is roughly eighteen years, with no lamp replacements along the way.
What ceiling height do I need?
The projector mounts above and behind the hitting area, so ceiling height is set by your swing rather than the projector. Our guide to planning an indoor golf simulator covers the measurement properly.
What to send us before you order
Three measurements settle it: your ceiling height, the screen size you plan to use, and how far the mount will sit from the screen. With those we can confirm the fit before anything ships, which is a great deal cheaper than discovering the geometry is wrong once the mount is in the plaster.
If the room is still being built, send the drawing. Projector position is one of the few decisions that is genuinely easier to make on paper.
Choosing a Short Throw Projector for a Simulator or Home Theater
Projector specifications are mostly noise. Two numbers decide whether a projector works in your room: the throw ratio, which sets how far the mount sits from the screen, and the brightness, which sets whether you can see the picture with the lights on. Get those right and the rest is preference.
The four projectors at a glance
Throw ratio, and the only sum you need
Throw ratio is distance divided by image width. Multiply the ratio by the width you want and you get the distance the projector has to sit at.
So for a 12 ft wide image, which is a common simulator screen:
The range exists because of the optical zoom. A 1.2x zoom gives you a foot or two of latitude on where the mount lands, which matters when your ceiling joists are not where you would like them to be. A 1.1x zoom gives you less. Measure your joist positions before you choose, not after.
Lens shift is the feature that saves installations
Zoom changes image size. Lens shift moves the image without moving the projector or tilting it, which is how you keep a rectangular picture when the mount cannot sit dead centre.
The LK936ST offers vertical and horizontal lens shift, and it is the reason it survives awkward rooms that defeat other models. The rest of the range relies on zoom and automatic image adjustment instead, which is fine when the mount position is flexible and frustrating when it is not.
Lumens against the light you actually have
Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens, and the number you need depends entirely on ambient light.
Buying more brightness than the room needs is not free: in a dark theatre an overly bright image is tiring to watch. Match the number to the space.
4K or 1080p
For a home theatre, 4K is worth it, because you sit close enough to a large image to see the difference. For a golf simulator it matters less than people assume, since the picture is a rendered course viewed from several feet back, and brightness and input lag do more for the experience. The AH700ST is the 1080p option in the range, and it exists for exactly that reason.
Laser, and what 20,000 hours means
All four are laser rather than lamp, rated up to around 20,000 hours. At three hours a day that is roughly eighteen years, which in practice means no lamp changes and no bulb costs during ownership. It also means the projector reaches full brightness almost immediately rather than warming up, which is a small pleasure that turns into a large one when you use the room daily.
Mounting in a simulator bay
In a simulator, the projector mounts on the ceiling above and behind the hitting area. That position keeps it out of the swing path and stops the player casting a shadow onto the screen. It also means ceiling height is a constraint on the whole project, not just the projector, which is covered in our guide to planning an indoor golf simulator.
Two practical points. Cable runs are easier to plan before the ceiling is finished. And a projector is a precision instrument sitting a few feet from a golf ball travelling at speed, so give the mount position the thought it deserves.
The four projectors in detail
BenQ LK936ST
$5,878.80The one to buy when the room fights you. Lens shift in both axes means the mount does not have to sit dead centre, and 5,100 lumens holds a picture together in a bay with daylight in it. The trade is the tighter 1.1x zoom, so measure the mount distance carefully.
View the LK936STBenQ AK700ST
$3,478.80The middle of the range and the one most builds should start from. Same brightness as the AH700ST with 4K resolution on top, and the wider 1.2x zoom gives real latitude on where the ceiling mount lands.
View the AK700STBenQ AH700ST
$2,758.80The value option, and a sharper choice than its price suggests for a simulator. Native 16:9 matches common impact screen and cinema shapes without cropping, and 4,000 lumens is the same figure the AK700ST carries.
View the AH700STBenQ TK710STi
$2,638.80The dual purpose choice. Streaming is built in and input lag is low, so the room works as a games room and a cinema between rounds. Its 3,200 lumens asks for a controlled light environment.
View the TK710STiWhich one for which room
Frequently asked questions
How far from the screen does the projector sit?
Multiply the throw ratio by your screen width. A 0.69 to 0.83 ratio on a 12 ft screen puts the mount 8 to 10 ft back; a 0.81 to 0.89 ratio puts it 10 to 11 ft back. Send us your room dimensions and we will confirm the figure for your build before anything ships.
Do I need 4K for a golf simulator?
Not really. The image is a rendered course seen from several feet back, so brightness and input lag matter more than resolution. If the same room is also your cinema, 4K earns its place.
Will a simulator projector work for films and sport?
Yes, and all four are used that way. The TK710STi is the most film friendly out of the box thanks to HDR and built in streaming. The LK936ST is the one for a bright room.
How long does a laser projector last?
These are rated up to around 20,000 hours. At three hours a day that is roughly eighteen years, with no lamp replacements along the way.
What ceiling height do I need?
The projector mounts above and behind the hitting area, so ceiling height is set by your swing rather than the projector. Our guide to planning an indoor golf simulator covers the measurement properly.
What to send us before you order
Three measurements settle it: your ceiling height, the screen size you plan to use, and how far the mount will sit from the screen. With those we can confirm the fit before anything ships, which is a great deal cheaper than discovering the geometry is wrong once the mount is in the plaster.
If the room is still being built, send the drawing. Projector position is one of the few decisions that is genuinely easier to make on paper.
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