BenQ TH671ST Review: 100 Inches From Five Feet

A cheap way into short throw, with a three year warranty and no laser.

The verdict: Buy it if you want a genuinely short-throw 1080p projector for under $1,000 with a three year warranty behind it. Skip it if the bay has ambient light or you want a maintenance-free light source, because 3,000 lumens is modest and BenQ does not list a laser for this model.

Specifications

Specifications above come from BenQ's published product specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• A hundred-inch image from five feet is a very short throw, which is what keeps the projector forward of the swing and out of the shadow.
• Ninety two percent Rec. 709 at this price is respectable colour, and greens that look like grass matter over a long session.
• Low input lag was designed in for gaming, which is exactly the requirement a simulator has.
• A three year parts and labour warranty with US-based support is unusually strong for a projector at this money.
• Under $1,000 leaves budget for a good impact screen, which improves the image more than a more expensive projector on a poor screen would.

Where it falls short

• BenQ does not list a laser light source for this model, unlike the AH700ST. Plan for lamp replacement and gradual dimming as part of ownership.
• Three thousand lumens is adequate in a dark bay and thin in a garage with a window. Brightness is the specification that most affects whether a bay is usable in daylight.
• It is 1080p, which is fine for play and visibly softer than 4K on a paused image.
• Native contrast on projectors at this price is modest, so night courses and shadows look flatter than on a premium unit.
• Fan noise on lamp projectors is generally higher than on laser models, and a bay is quiet between shots.

What owners report

Owners consistently describe it as far more projector than the price suggests and specifically praise the throw ratio, which is what makes it work in a bay at all. The recurring limitations are brightness in lit rooms and lamp life. BenQ's warranty and support draw repeated positive comment, which is not something projector buyers usually say. It remains one of the most recommended budget simulator projectors for good reason.

Confirm the mounting distance before you order with the projector throw calculator and the throw ratio chart. Short throw vs standard throw explains why this lens class exists, and ceiling mount vs floor projector covers where to put it.

Who it suits

• First simulator builds where the projector budget is under $1,000.
• Dark bays, basements and garages without windows.
• Rooms too shallow for a standard throw projector.
• Buyers who would rather put the savings into a premium impact screen.

Who should skip it

• Bright rooms, where 3,000 lumens will be the limitation.
• Anyone who wants a maintenance-free laser light source.
• Buyers who want 4K, which is available at short throw for around $1,500.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Short throw vs standard throw projector
• Ceiling mount vs floor projector
• Projector throw calculator
• Best golf simulator projectors
• Optoma GT3900UHD review
• SIGPRO Premium impact screen review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.