ViewSonic PX701-4K
The ViewSonic PX701-4K at $980 delivers 4K resolution, 3,200 lumens, and 4.2ms input lag — but its standard throw ratio means it only works in deep rooms. Here's who should buy it and who should skip it.
The ViewSonic PX701-4K is the cheapest 4K projector that belongs in a sim conversation — but only for deep rooms. The 1.50-1.65 throw ratio requires 12 feet of projection distance, which rules out most garages and basements. If you have the depth, you get 4K at a 1080p price with best-in-class 4.2ms input lag. If you don't, the BenQ TH671ST ($949, short throw) or Optoma GT2400HDR ($1,299, UST laser) are better fits.
ViewSonic ViewSonic PX701-4K · $979
What We Love
- +4K resolution at $980 — the cheapest 4K projector worth considering for a sim build
- +4.2ms input lag at 240Hz — imperceptible delay, best in class at this price
- +3,200 ANSI lumens delivers a punchy image in dark rooms with controlled light
- +3-year warranty — matches BenQ's coverage, beats most competitors at this price
- +SuperEco mode extends lamp life to 20,000 hours — effectively 10+ years of daily use
- +Flexible installation with 1.1x optical zoom and ±30° vertical keystone
- +Dual HDMI 2.0 inputs — PC and streaming device without a switcher
What Sucks
- −Standard throw (1.50-1.65) — needs 12-13 feet for a 120-inch screen. Most garage sims can't accommodate this.
- −Pixel-shifted 4K, not native 4K — the 0.47-inch DLP chip shifts pixels to simulate 4K resolution
- −Lamp-based light source — 6,000 hours at full brightness, replacement bulbs run $100-150
- −No short-throw option — you WILL cast a shadow on the screen if you stand between the projector and the image
- −No golf-specific features — no Golf Mode, no Auto Screen Fit, no curved screen warping
- −3,200 lumens isn't enough for rooms with uncontrolled ambient light
Is the ViewSonic PX701-4K worth it? At $980, it’s the cheapest 4K projector worth considering for a golf simulator — but only if your room is deep enough. The 1.50-1.65 standard throw ratio requires 12-13 feet from projector to screen for a 120-inch image. Most garages don’t have that depth. If yours does, you get 4K resolution, 3,200 lumens, and 4.2ms input lag at a price that undercuts every short-throw 4K option by $1,000+. If your room is shallow, buy the BenQ TH671ST instead.
The Verdict
The ViewSonic PX701-4K is the projector you buy when you want 4K, you’re on a budget, and your room is deep enough to handle a standard throw lens.
The projector market for golf sims has a dead zone between $1,000 and $2,000. Below $1,000, you get 1080p projectors like the BenQ TH671ST ($949) and the Optoma GT2000HDR ($999). Above $2,000, you get 4K laser projectors like the BenQ AK700ST ($2,899) and Optoma ZK430ST ($2,299). The PX701-4K sits in the middle — 4K resolution for $980, but with a throw ratio that limits where it can go.
The 4K at this price comes from a 0.47-inch DLP chip that shifts pixels to simulate 3840x2160 resolution. The light source is a lamp, and the throw is standard (1.50-1.65) rather than short. These are real tradeoffs for a sim build. For the buyer with a deep room and a limited budget who wants 4K, the PX701-4K is the only option in its price range.
Quick Specs
| Spec | ViewSonic PX701-4K |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840×2160) — 0.47-inch DLP pixel-shifted |
| Brightness | 3,200 ANSI lumens |
| Contrast | 12,000:1 (native) |
| Throw Ratio | 1.50-1.65 (standard throw) |
| Image Size | 100-150 inches diagonal |
| Light Source | Lamp — 6,000 hours (normal), 20,000 hours (SuperEco) |
| Input Lag | 4.2ms (1080p/240Hz), 16.7ms (4K/60Hz) |
| Lamp Life | 6,000 hours (normal), 20,000 hours (SuperEco) |
| Lamp Cost | ~$100-150 replacement |
| Zoom | 1.1x manual |
| Keystone | Vertical ±30° |
| HDMI | 2x HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2) |
| Audio | 10W mono speaker |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs |
| Release Date | 2020 |
| Street Price | $980 |
The Throw Ratio Problem
The PX701-4K has a 1.50-1.65 throw ratio. For a 120-inch diagonal screen, that means the projector sits 11.8 to 13 feet from the screen. For a 100-inch screen, it’s 9.8 to 10.8 feet.
Most garage sim builds have 14-18 feet of total room depth. Subtract the depth of the enclosure (3-4 feet), the hitting area (6-8 feet for your swing), and the space behind you (2-3 feet). That leaves 3-6 feet of projection distance. The PX701-4K needs more than double that.
Basement builds are tighter. A typical basement sim room is 12-16 feet deep. After the enclosure and hitting area, you’re left with 2-5 feet.
The PX701-4K works in rooms where the projector can be mounted on the back wall, 12+ feet from the screen. That means a large room, a dedicated sim space, or a commercial bay. It does not work in a standard two-car garage with a 14-foot depth.
The shadow problem compounds this. With a standard throw projector mounted at 12 feet, your body is between the projector and the screen when you address the ball. You cast a shadow onto the image every time you swing. Mounting the projector overhead helps, but with a standard throw lens, the ceiling mount position is still 10-12 feet from the screen — and your body profile is wide enough to block part of the image.
The short-throw projectors in the BenQ and Optoma lineup solve this by sitting 5-7 feet from the screen. The PX701-4K can’t do that. It’s a physics limitation, not a spec issue.
What Makes It Work for Golf Sim
4K at Under $1,000
The PX701-4K is one of the cheapest projectors that can display a 4K image. The 0.47-inch DLP chip uses XPR technology — it shifts the pixels four times per frame to create a 3840x2160 image from a 1920x1080 chip. This is not native 4K (the 1.38-inch DLP in the BenQ AK700ST is native). But on a 120-inch screen viewed from 10 feet, the difference between pixel-shifted 4K and native 4K is subtle. Grass textures are clearer than 1080p. Bunker sand has visible grain. The GSPro interface renders crisply.
The comparison that matters: 4K pixel-shifted at $980 vs 1080p native at $949 (BenQ TH671ST). The PX701-4K gives you more pixels. The TH671ST gives you short throw. For a deep room, the PX701-4K is the better image. For a standard room, the TH671ST is the better fit.
Input Lag That Disappears
At 4.2ms at 1080p/240Hz and 16.7ms at 4K/60Hz, the PX701-4K has among the lowest input lag of any projector under $1,500. The 4.2ms figure is essentially imperceptible — your swing and the on-screen result are as close to simultaneous as any projector can deliver.
GSPro runs at 1080p/120Hz on a mid-range gaming PC, which puts the PX701-4K in its 4.2ms sweet spot. Even at 4K/60Hz, the 16.7ms is faster than the BenQ AK700ST’s 33.4ms at 4K.
The 240Hz refresh rate is overkill for golf sim (you’d never notice the difference between 120Hz and 240Hz in a sim), but it means the projector handles GSPro and gaming with zero delay.
3,200 Lumens Does the Job
In a dark room — blackout curtains, basement, garage at night — 3,200 ANSI lumens is enough for a 100-120 inch image. Colors are accurate. The 12,000:1 native contrast ratio gives reasonable depth in dark scenes. GSPro’s night rounds, shadows under trees, and fairway contours all render clearly.
The image washes out with any ambient light. A garage with the door open, overhead lights on, or a window without a curtain will push the image toward flat and gray. The PX701-4K demands a controlled light environment. If you can’t give it one, the Optoma GT2400HDR at $1,299 with 4,200 lumens is a better choice.
What You’re Trading Off
Standard Throw, Not Short Throw
This is the biggest tradeoff and the one that most buyers miss. The PX701-4K is a standard throw projector in a market where short throw is the standard for golf sims. Every buying guide, every forum thread, every build recommendation says “get a short throw projector.” The PX701-4K is the exception that proves the rule.
If your room is shallow — and most garage sim rooms are — this projector does not fit. Measure your room depth before you buy. If you don’t have 12+ feet of projection distance, move on.
Pixel-Shifted 4K
The 0.47-inch DLP chip shifts pixels to create a 4K image. This pixel-shifted 4K is a step below the native 4K of the BenQ AK700ST’s 1.38-inch DLP chip. In side-by-side comparison, fine text has slight artifacts and the image has a subtle softness that native 4K avoids.
The PX701-4K’s 4K image is noticeably better than 1080p. It doesn’t match the native 4K of the $2,899 AK700ST, but it costs $1,920 less.
Lamp Replacement
The PX701-4K uses a lamp rated for 6,000 hours at full brightness, 20,000 hours in SuperEco mode. A daily sim user hitting two hours per day gets about 8 years from SuperEco before the lamp starts to dim. Replacement bulbs cost $100 to $150.
Compare to the $1,299 Optoma GT2400HDR, which uses a 30,000-hour laser — no replacement, no dimming, no maintenance. The PX701-4K saves you $320 upfront but costs you $100-150 every 5-8 years. The math works in the PX701-4K’s favor for the first 10 years, but the laser projector is the cleaner long-term choice.
The lamp door is on the bottom of the unit. If you ceiling-mount the projector, you’ll need to unmount it to replace the bulb. That’s a Saturday afternoon you’ll eventually spend.
No Golf-Specific Features
The TH671ST has a Golf Mode color profile. The AK700ST has Auto Screen Fit. The Optoma ZK series has GSPro Color Mode. The PX701-4K has none of these. It’s a general-purpose gaming projector repurposed for sim use. The colors are accurate out of the box (Rec. 709 coverage is good), but you won’t get the tweaked greens and blues that BenQ’s Golf Mode delivers.
The 1.1x manual zoom gives some flexibility. The ±30° vertical keystone helps with angled installations. But there’s no motorized zoom, no lens shift, no auto-alignment. You mount it, adjust the zoom ring, dial in keystone, and hope you got it right. Expect 30-45 minutes for installation.
Who Should Buy This
The deep room builder. Your sim space is 20+ feet deep. You can mount the projector on the back wall, 12+ feet from the screen, and your body position doesn’t cast a shadow. This is the buyer the PX701-4K is made for — large basements, dedicated sim rooms, commercial bays.
The 4K-on-a-budget buyer. You want 4K resolution and your total sim budget is under $5,000. Every short-throw 4K projector costs at least $2,000. The PX701-4K at $980 gets you 4K for $1,000 less than the next-cheapest option, with the caveat that it needs a deep room.
The dual-use gamer. The 4.2ms input lag and 240Hz refresh rate make this a genuinely good gaming projector for PC and console. If your sim room doubles as a gaming room, the PX701-4K serves both roles better than any short-throw projector under $2,000.
Who Should Skip It
The standard garage builder. If your sim is in a two-car garage with 14-18 feet of depth, the PX701-4K won’t fit. Get the BenQ TH671ST ($949, short throw, 1080p) or the Optoma GT2400HDR ($1,299, ultra-short throw, 1080p laser).
The set-it-and-forget-it buyer. The lamp replacement and manual installation mean this projector needs more attention than a laser projector. If you want to mount it once and never think about it again, spend the extra $300 on the Optoma GT2400HDR.
The bright room builder. 3,200 lumens isn’t enough for a garage with ambient light. Look at the Optoma GT2400HDR (4,200 lumens, $1,299) or the BenQ AK700ST (4,000 lumens, $2,899).
How It Compares
| Model | Price | Resolution | Brightness | Throw | Light Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX701-4K | $980 | 4K (pixel shift) | 3,200 lm | 1.50-1.65 | Lamp | Deep rooms, 4K on a budget |
| BenQ TH671ST | $949 | 1080p | 3,000 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Lamp | Short-throw budget, dark rooms |
| Optoma GT2400HDR | $1,299 | 1080p | 4,200 lm | 0.50 UST | Laser | Bright rooms, zero maintenance |
| BenQ AK700ST | $2,899 | 4K native | 4,000 lm | 0.69-0.83 | Laser | Best overall, Auto Screen Fit |
The PX701-4K is unique in one category: it’s the cheapest way to get 4K on a sim screen. Every other 4K option costs at least $2,000. The tradeoff is the throw ratio and the lamp.
See the best golf simulator projector guide for a full cross-brand comparison with all models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ViewSonic PX701-4K good for a golf simulator?
It works, but only if your room is deep enough. The standard throw ratio requires 12-13 feet of projection distance for a 120-inch image. Most garage sims don’t have that depth. If your room is 20+ feet deep, the PX701-4K delivers 4K at a price no short-throw projector can match. If your room is shallower, the BenQ TH671ST or Optoma GT2400HDR are better choices.
ViewSonic PX701-4K vs BenQ TH671ST: Which is better?
The PX701-4K wins on resolution (4K vs 1080p) and input lag (4.2ms vs 8ms). The TH671ST wins on throw ratio (0.69-0.83 short throw vs 1.50-1.65 standard throw) — the TH671ST works in standard garages, the PX701-4K needs deep rooms. They’re the same price ($949-980). The right choice depends entirely on your room depth.
What is the throw distance for a 120-inch screen?
The ViewSonic PX701-4K needs 11.8 to 13 feet from the lens to the screen for a 120-inch diagonal image. For a 100-inch screen, it needs 9.8 to 10.8 feet. Use the 1.1x manual zoom to adjust within that range. Measure your room before you buy.
Does the PX701-4K support GSPro and E6 Connect?
Yes, indirectly. The projector displays whatever your PC or console outputs. If your PC runs GSPro or E6 Connect, the PX701-4K shows it. The dual HDMI 2.0 inputs let you connect a PC and a console or streaming device simultaneously. The 4K resolution at 60Hz is supported over HDMI 2.0.
How long does the lamp last?
Six thousand hours at full brightness, 20,000 hours in SuperEco mode. A daily sim user at two hours per day gets about 8 years from SuperEco. Replacement lamps cost $100 to $150. The lamp door is on the bottom — if you ceiling-mount the projector, you’ll need to unmount it to replace the bulb.
Prices are approximate as of July 2026. The ViewSonic PX701-4K is available at $980 from Amazon, B&H Photo, and ViewSonic direct. 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.