BenQ TH671ST
The Budget Pick for Golf Sim Builders Who Don't Want to Spend $2,000 on a Projector
The BenQ TH671ST is the projector you buy when you've spent all your money on the launch monitor, the enclosure, the mat, and the PC — and you need something that actually works without spending another $2,000. It delivers a sharp 1080p image at up to 120 inches with short-throw flexibility and input lag that won't mess with your swing timing. The lamp will eventually need replacing, and 1080p is not 4K. But at $949, it's the only projector under $1,000 that belongs in a serious simulator build.
BenQ BenQ TH671ST · $949
What We Love
- +Cheapest viable golf simulator projector at $949 — nothing else under $1,000 worth buying
- +Short throw ratio (0.69-0.83) means a 100-inch image from 5 feet away — minimal shadows
- +8ms input lag at 1080p/120Hz — imperceptible for sim play
- +3,000 ANSI lumens is bright enough for controlled indoor spaces
- +3-year warranty — longer than most projectors at any price
- +3D-capable — niche but unique for sim use
What Sucks
- −Lamp-based (3,500-7,000 hours) — you'll replace the bulb every 2-4 years at ~$100-150
- −1080p only — no 4K, no HDR, no pixel shifting
- −No smart TV features, no built-in streaming apps
- −3,000 lumens isn't bright enough for rooms with uncontrolled ambient light
- −Manual zoom and focus — no motorized adjustment, no Auto Screen Fit
- −Single HDMI input — plan for a switcher or AVR
Is the BenQ TH671ST worth it? Yes, at $949 it’s the only golf simulator projector under $1,000 that’s actually worth buying. You get a short-throw DLP with 3,000 lumens, 8ms input lag, and a 3-year warranty. The tradeoffs are a lamp that needs replacing every 3-7 years and 1080p resolution instead of 4K. If your sim budget is tight and your room has controlled light, this is the projector that makes sense.
The Verdict
The BenQ TH671ST is the best golf simulator projector under $1,000 because it’s the only one under $1,000 that actually belongs in a simulator build.
BenQ released the TH671ST in 2017, and it’s still in production. It uses a lamp instead of a laser. It delivers 1080p instead of 4K. Those are the tradeoffs, and they’re honest ones at this price.
But at $949 with a 3-year warranty and a short-throw ratio that puts a 100-inch image five feet from the screen, it’s the cheapest projector in the BenQ lineup that you’d actually want in front of a swing bay. The lamp thing is a tradeoff. The price is a cheat code.
Buy this if the rest of your build cost more than you expected and you need a projector that delivers without blowing the budget. Skip it if you’re building a premium sim with a 4K launch monitor and you want the image to match.
Quick Specs
| Spec | BenQ TH671ST |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p (1920×1080) DLP |
| Brightness | 3,000 ANSI lumens |
| Contrast | 10,000:1 (native) |
| Throw Ratio | 0.69-0.83 (short throw) |
| Image Size | 80-120 inches diagonal |
| Light Source | Lamp (240W) — 3,500-7,000 hours |
| Input Lag | 8ms (1080p/120Hz), 16ms (1080p/60Hz) |
| Lamp Life | 3,500 hours (normal), 7,000 hours (SmartEco) |
| Lamp Cost | ~$100-150 replacement |
| Zoom | 1.2x manual |
| Keystone | Vertical ±30°, Horizontal ±30° |
| 3D | Yes — DLP Link, 144Hz |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 1.4a |
| Audio | 10W mono speaker |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs |
| Release Date | November 2017 |
| Street Price | $949 |
The Surprising Angle: This Projector Is Nine Years Old
The TH671ST launched in 2017 — before GSPro existed, before the SkyTrak+, before the golf simulator boom turned launch monitors into a consumer category. It’s still sold new. BenQ never discontinued it. And across sim forum threads, it’s still the most-recommended budget projector for new builders.
The reason is straightforward: the TH671ST’s specs are a perfect match for a golf simulator, and projector technology hasn’t changed enough in nine years to make a better version for the same price. Laser projectors are cleaner and cost more. At $949, the TH671ST still delivers a sharp, low-lag, short-throw image in any room with controlled light.
There’s nothing newer at this price that beats it for sim use. That’s why it’s still in production.
What Makes It Work for Golf Sim
Short Throw, Less Shadow
The 0.69-0.83 throw ratio means the projector sits about 5 feet from the screen to produce a 100-inch diagonal image. That’s close enough to the screen that your body shadow is minimal when you address the ball. With a standard throw projector sitting 10-12 feet back, you’ll cast a shadow onto the screen every time you stand over a shot. With the TH671ST mounted overhead or on a shelf 5 feet from the screen, the shadow problem mostly disappears.
The 1.2x manual zoom gives you some flexibility if your mount position is off by a few inches — you can adjust the image size without moving the mount. It’s not motorized like the AK700ST, but it works.
Input Lag Low Enough You Won’t Notice
At 1080p/120Hz, the TH671ST delivers 8ms input lag. At 1080p/60Hz, it’s 16ms. Both are well below the threshold where most players feel a delay between their swing and the on-screen result. GSPro runs comfortably at 1080p/120Hz on a mid-range gaming PC.
Compare to the 33.4ms at 4K/60Hz on the AK700ST — the TH671ST’s sub-16ms lag is genuinely better than what most laser projectors deliver at their native resolution.
3,000 Lumens in a Dark Room Is Plenty
In a room with controlled lighting — blackout curtains, covered windows, or a basement — 3,000 ANSI lumens delivers a punchy image on an impact screen up to 120 inches. Colors are accurate. Black levels are what you’d expect from a DLP at this price (fine, not great).
Push it into a garage with the door open, and the image washes out. The AK700ST’s 4,000 lumens or the Optoma ZK521ST-B’s 5,000 lumens handle ambient light better. But for a controlled room, the TH671ST’s brightness is adequate. The 10,000:1 native contrast ratio gives reasonable depth in dark scenes — night rounds on GSPro, shadows under trees — without looking flat.
What You’re Trading Off
The Lamp
The TH671ST uses a 240W lamp rated for 3,500 hours at full brightness and 7,000 hours in SmartEco mode. For a daily sim user hitting two hours per day, that’s about 5 years before the lamp starts to dim. Replacement bulbs run $100 to $150.
That’s the tradeoff for the $949 price. Laser projectors last 20,000 hours with no replacement. They also cost $2,000 to $3,000. The math works in the TH671ST’s favor for at least the first 10 years of ownership. If you plan to keep a sim room running for 15+ years, the laser projector’s no-maintenance advantage starts to justify the higher upfront cost.
1080p Only
You get 2 million pixels, not 8 million. On a 100-inch screen viewed from 8-10 feet away, 1080p is clear and sharp. The GSPro interface is crisp. Course graphics look good — bunker textures, fairway contours, tree shapes all render clearly.
The difference between 1080p and native 4K is real. Grass has more texture. Foliage has more depth. The image feels solid instead of slightly soft. Most people building their first sim won’t notice the difference because they haven’t seen the 4K version. A 1080p image on a quality impact screen with proper lighting is a satisfying experience. Upgrade to 4K on your second build.
No Smart Features
The TH671ST leaves out Android TV, built-in streaming apps, and Bluetooth. It’s a dumb display — turn it on, feed it HDMI, it shows what you send. For a simulator build, this is fine. The single HDMI input is a limitation if you want to switch between a PC and a streaming device. Plan on an HDMI switcher or AV receiver with passthrough.
Manual Adjustments
The TH671ST relies on manual adjustments — a zoom ring and digital keystone — instead of motorized zoom or an Auto Screen Fit camera. Setting it up means mounting it, adjusting the zoom ring, and using keystone to square the image. Expect 30-45 minutes on installation. It’s not the easy-button experience of the AK700ST. But it’s standard for this price range, and one careful setup is all it takes.
Who Should Buy This
The budget builder. You started pricing your sim at $3,000, then realized you need a launch monitor, enclosure, mat, screen, PC, and projector. The total climbed past $5,000. The TH671ST keeps the projector line item under $1,000.
The garage tester. You’re building your first sim and not sure if you’ll use it enough to justify a $2,000+ projector. Buy the TH671ST. If you use the sim every day for a year, you’ve proven the concept. Upgrade to a 4K laser later and move the TH671ST to the guest room.
The multi-room gamer. The 8ms lag at 120Hz makes this a genuinely good gaming projector too. If your sim room doubles as a gaming room, the TH671ST serves both roles.
Who Should Skip It
The premium builder. If your launch monitor budget starts with a 4 (GC3, R50, Eye Mini), don’t cheap out on the projector. Get the AK700ST or TK710STi. The image quality difference will bother you.
The bright room builder. If your sim is in a garage without blackout curtains, 3,000 lumens won’t be enough. Look at the Optoma ZK521ST-B (5,000 lumens, $2,199) or the BenQ AK700ST (4,000 lumens, $2,899).
The set-it-and-forget-it buyer. If you’d rather not deal with lamp replacements, the laser projectors at $2,000+ are the better long-term play. You pay more upfront and never think about it again.
How It Compares
| Model | Price | Resolution | Brightness | Throw | Light Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TH671ST | $949 | 1080p | 3,000 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Lamp | Budget first-time builds |
| AH700ST | $2,299 | 1080p | 4,000 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Laser | Better brightness, lamp-free, 2x the price |
| TK710STi | $2,199 | 4K (pixel shift) | 3,200 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Laser | Entry-level 4K, Android TV, $1,250 more |
| AK700ST | $2,899 | 4K UHD | 4,000 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Laser | Best overall sim projector, Auto Screen Fit |
| Optoma ZK521ST-B | $2,199 | 4K (pixel shift) | 5,000 lm | 0.77-0.85 | Laser | Brightest option, IP6X dust-resistant |
The TH671ST stands alone in one category: it’s the only projector on this list under $1,000. Every other option costs at least 2.3x more.
See the full BenQ projector lineup comparison for how all six models stack up, or the best golf simulator projector guide for a cross-brand comparison including Optoma and ViewSonic.
The Two Hardest Questions
Does 1080p matter on a sim projector?
On a 100-inch screen viewed from 8-10 feet away, 1080p is sharp enough that most people won’t wish for more pixels. The difference between 1080p and 4K on a projector is visible in side-by-side comparison but not obvious in normal use. If you’re building your first sim, 1080p is the right choice.
How long before the lamp needs replacing?
Three thousand five hundred hours at full brightness, 7,000 in SmartEco. A daily sim user hitting two hours per day gets about 7 years from SmartEco. Replacement lamps cost $100 to $150 and take about 5 minutes to swap. The lamp door is on the side — you don’t need to unmount the projector to change it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BenQ TH671ST good for a golf simulator?
Yes. The short throw ratio, sub-16ms input lag, and 3,000-lumen brightness make it a strong match for home golf simulation. It’s the most-recommended budget projector on sim forums. The tradeoffs are the lamp-based light source (replaceable every 3-7 years) and 1080p resolution.
BenQ TH671ST vs Optoma ZK521ST-B: Which is better?
The TH671ST wins on price ($949 vs $2,199). The Optoma wins on brightness (5,000 vs 3,000 lumens), resolution (4K pixel shift vs 1080p), and light source (laser vs lamp). The Optoma is the better projector. The TH671ST is the better value for budget builds.
Can the BenQ TH671ST work for outdoor use?
It’s not weather-sealed, and 3,000 lumens wash out in direct sunlight. For a covered outdoor sim space with controlled light, it can work. For uncovered daytime use, look at a higher-lumen commercial projector.
Does the TH671ST support GSPro and E6 Connect?
Indirectly, yes. The projector displays whatever your PC outputs. If your PC runs GSPro or E6 Connect, the TH671ST shows it. The limitation is 1080p resolution if you want native 4K rendering from GSPro.
Prices are approximate as of July 2026. The TH671ST is available at $949 from Amazon, B&H Photo, and ProjectorCentral. Lamp replacements run $100-150. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page — but our review is independent and based on research and verified specs.