If you are a sports Bar owner, you must look up ways to uplift your customers’ experience. Have you ever thought of replacing your conventional TV with High-end Sports bar projectors?
If you have not yet considered it, then here is an opportunity to do so. The best projector for a sports bars will help you transform your bar into a live sporting arena. It can be used as a replacement for your old TV sets or even compliment them. They are designed to provide a better viewing experience than any other TV set.
If you do not have enough time to go through this detailed guide, we recommend you buy Optoma UHD50X, considering its 4K resolution full HD Projector and overall best picture quality. Consider buying Optoma GT1090HDR or BenQ TK700STi as the ultimate short-throw projectors for a smaller bar with a space constraint.
Table of Contents
Why Should I buy A Sports Bar Projector?
The following are some of the reasons why you should consider buying one:
1) Better Quality Experience
A projector can project a much larger image than a regular TV screen, giving you more details on your projector screens. We always recommend using a dedicated projector screen to get the best picture quality. There are specialized projection screens available in the market to amplify the projection expereince. A projection screen with a gain value of 1.2 is recommended.
2) Easy Installation
Unlike TVs, projectors are easy to install and don’t require complicated wiring, and all you need is a simple HDMI cable. Moreover, there is no need to worry about the installation process since all you need to do is plug it into the wall socket.
3) More Space Saving
Since a projector uses light instead of electricity, it doesn’t consume much space. Therefore, you won’t need to buy extra furniture to accommodate it. As long as you have enough space in your room, you can easily place it anywhere.
4) Cheaper Than TV Sets
While a TV costs around $2000, a projector costs only $700-$1000. So, if you plan to replace your old TV with a projector, this will save you money.
5) Larger Than Life Experience
You need multiple large screen TVs for a big projection in your sports bar which is cost intensive. However, a small projector is capable to deliver huge projections up to 300″ at the fraction of the cost of large screen TV.
It would help if you were convinced about how vital a projector is for your sports bar.
Now, time to explore the best projectors for sports bars available in the market:
9 Best Projectors for Sports Bar
After reviewing more than thirty projectors, we have shorted these 9 best proejctors for sports bar:
1.    Optoma UHD50X
DO you know what makes Optomoa UHD50X an undisputed choice as a projector for your Sports Bar? The native 4K resolution coupled with Dynamic Black enhancement makes this projector an excellent choice for detailed and crisp projection. It comes with UltraDetail technology and an 8-segment color wheel to present images that are true to life. It is a lightweight and compact projector weighing just 8.6 pounds.
With an adjusting refresh rate of 240Hz, this projector has an industry-leading refresh rate that many high-end projectors miss! At 3400 ANSI lumens, it is a bright projector that can easily withstand ambient light conditions.
This gaming projector has a very low input lag to optimize your gaming experience. To project an image of 100″ and 300″, you need to place this projector 9 feet and 13 feet away from the screen. The 1.3X zoom helps with the required image adjustments. As the 10-watt built in speakers are not sufficient, considering adding the external speakers can elevate your sports watching experience.
2.    BenQ TK700
Like Optoma UHD 50X, this is another 4K DLP projector on our list that comes with TI’s fast-switch pixel shifting. Both these projectors using eight-segment red-green-blue-white-red-green-blue-white (RGBWRGBW) color wheels. However, BenQ TK700 is lighter at 6.8 pounds, making it more portable. A short-throw lens makes it a perfect choice for a small sports bar.
With HDR effects, you can expect a crisp and detailed image. With an unsurpassed 16 ms response time, it comes with 4K at 60 Hz. This short-throw projector allows you to only reach a 100″ projection size mark from 2 feet. The admirable clarity and color make it a top-notch choice for the sports bar owner.
Unlike most projectors at this price, this projector cannot natively support the 4K resolution. However, the pixel shifting technique at the speed of 240Hz generates the same effect of ‘True 4K’ by putting together the 8.3 million pixels.
3.    Epson EpiqVision LS300
If you are looking for an ultimate ultra-short-throw sports projector, Epson EpiqVision LS300 is the right one to consider for your sports bar. Placing just 15 inches away from the projector screen gets you a massive image projection of 120″.
Rated with 20,000 hours of lamp life, the projector starts up at a fast pace of 5.5 seconds when in a standby mode and 6.5 seconds when switched off. The dynamic contrast ratio of 150000: 1 helps the lamp control the dark scenes. At 3600 lumens, it is a reasonably bright projector that works well under ambient light conditions.
Its built-in sound quality comes with a 2.1 Yamaha Sound system that eliminates the need to connect to external speakers for a compact room. This user-friendly projector comes with Bluetooth connectivity and mirroring from iPhone and Android. The Integrated Android TV interface allows streaming the content from YouTube, HBO, and Hulu directly from the projector.
The 3-Chip design offers consistent brightness and vivid colors and avoids any rainbow effect. While the projector is easy to set up and has an intuitive interface, it is an excellent addition to your sports bar as a dedicated movie projector.
4.    ViewSonic PG706HD
This DLP projector has been specifically designed to cater the gaming and sports needs. It comes with a high frame rate and low input lag for the smooth projection of fast-paced content. The Native 1080p projection ensures a crisp and bright image. It is a 3D enable projector that gives a true-to-life performance in dark and bright environments.
The 4000 ANSI Brightness level is ideal for a clear projection in dark environments. With the plethora of connectivity options such as S-Video, dual HDMI ports, VGA input, and a mini audio jack for audio output, you can use various gaming consoles, mobiles, tablets, and PCs to connect easily.
It is a highly portable projector that is compact with dimensions of 11.5X8.7X4.5 inches. The auto vertical keystone correction makes it a plug-and-play projector. Depending on the space’s suitability, you can choose to be table mounted or a ceiling mounted. Overall, it is an impressive short-throw projector that gives a projection of 120″ (diagonal) at 7.2 ft.
5.    Optoma GT1090HDR – Brightest Projector
It is one of the best laser projectors on the list that has been explicitly designed for movie lovers and avid gamers. The native projector resolution of 1080p comes with HDR compatibility and 4K input to present brilliant image quality. Optoma has won many rewards ofr its innovation projection technology. You can expect crisp and detailed images with a superb contrast ratio of 300000:1, which is undoubtedly the highest on our list of best projectors for the sports bars.
Optoma GT1090HDR is a short-throw projector that can create a 100″ image at 4 feet. The low input lags make this projector an elite deal to pair with your gaming consoles. With this laser source protector, you can expect the maximum efficiency and productivity to defer the lamp replacement up to 30,000 hours.
The exemplary 4200 lumens make it suitable for any light setting for clear projection. It is a true 3D projector with good quality and technology to present the 3D videos with good sharpness and beautiful colors. The 120Hz refresh rate delivers a seamless 3D experience without any blurriness. You don’t even need to invest in 3D glasses.
6.    BenQ TK800M 4K – Overall Best Projector
An excellent outdoor projector for the open sports bar comes with unique features. You get a 4K resolution right in your budget and a long lamp life of 15,000 hours. The excellent HDR compatibilities deliver immersive live sports with hyper-realistic images presenting the detailed 4K images.
At 3000 lumens, it is ideal for well-lit environments. The new 4K color wheel with 96% of Rec. 709 presents vividly colorful images. You get the realistic flesh tones, accentuated sounds, and more balanced colors on its dedicated Sport and Football mode.
The 1.1x zoom coupled with auto keystone eliminates the trapezoid effect. Overall, it is a light, compact and eco-friendly projector that is quick and easy to set up. The integration of powerful 5-watt speakers gets you deeper bass and detailed sound for an immersive sports experience.
7.    Optoma UHD38
It is a DLP 4K projector with a blazing refresh rate and high response rate to deliver an impeccable gaming experience and exemplary sports experience. With 4000 ANSI lumens, it is an incredibly bright projector that can be suitable for use as an outdoor projector. It is an all-around projector with a long-throw lens.
It is an ideal plug-and-play DLP projector suitable for projection under ambient light. The in-built 2X 10W speaker is decisive for an immersive sound experience. You get a 4K Ultra HD picture quality with 8.3 million pixels for detailed and crisp images. It is an HLG and HDR-compatible projector that ensures deeper blacks and brighter whites.
While normal mode gives you a lamp life of 4000 hours, you can incredibly extend it to 10000 hours by switching to Eco mode. With its 8-segment color wheel reproducing Rec. 709 color gamut, you can expect saturated and vibrant colors.
You get a sharper image with its contrast ratio of 100000:1. It comes with a varying screen size between 30″ to 300″. For a standard 100″ image, you need to place the projector 13 feet away from the screen, and hence, it is not suitable for the compact spaces. It is a compact and lightweight projector weighing around 8.6 lb. You can easily mount it on a flat surface as the wide 2D keystone correction helps in fixing the image perfectly.
8.    Epson Home Cinema 3200
Are you looking for a space-saving ceiling mount projector? If yes, this is another long throw Epson projector on our list that comes with an array of image adjustment features. With 2900 lumens, it works well in the partial conditions most prevalent in the sports bar. Loaded with 3 HD LCD chips, this projector has pixel-shifting control to display millions of pixels on your screen for a detailed and sharper picture.
3-chip technology keeps it free from rainbow artifacts that most single-chip DLP projectors encounter. Like most of the home theater projectors, it comes with high refresh rates and frame interpolation.
A low input lag at 16.7ms on its fastest setting curbs any delay between the input and screen projection. A competitively priced projector makes a perfect balance between price and features. The smooth frame motion maintains the details for sports projection and other fast sequences. For a standard 100″ projection, you need to place the projector 10 to 15 feet away from its projector screen. It is an ideal projector for large sports bar.
9.    BenQ TK850 True
This projector has been designed explicitly for TV programs and sports in the rooms with ambient lighting. It has a 4K UHD resolution derived from TI’s fast-switching pixel shifting. You get a neat and soft edge design to fit your elite décor. This projector has various connectivity options: Audio out, 2 HDMI ports, an RS232 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a 12V trigger that automatically turn the projector on, connecting to a live device.
It is a short-throw projector that comes with easy installation. The vertical lens shift of 10 degrees helps move the image up or down without distorting. At 3000 lumens, it is a reasonably bright projector that can be fairly used in moderate lighting conditions. The high dynamic range offers vibrant colors to present more vivid pictures.
Marketed as a projector designed explicitly for watching a sports game, it comes with convenient motion controls and increased contrast in its sports mode. Irrespective of the content you are watching, this projector’s Sports and Cinema settings are the best to choose. You also have an option to create a custom picture mode matching your personal preferences.
Now that we have reviewed the 9 best projectors for a sports bar, it’s time to check what features one should look into to finalize an excellent projector for the sports bar.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Sports Bar Projector?
Here are the essential factors you should consider for finding the best Sports Bar projector:
Picture Quality
Several factors govern the picture quality of a projector. Look for the 4K projectors with HDR to deliver more pixels leading to higher picture clarity. A wider color gamut enhances the realism in your picture, while more color accuracy presents vivid and impressive pictures.
A projector with blazing fast response time and low input lag delivers smooth performance and efficiently handles the fast on-screen movements, which are frequent in sports. Projectors like Optoma UHS50X and Optoma UHD38 have a high frame rate, wide color gamut, sharp contrast, and 4K resolution to present a perfect sports bar picture.
Connectivity
Connectivity is an important consideration when choosing the ideal projector for the sports bar. All the projectors listed above come with an HDMI port that offers decent connectivity with most modern content sources. You can easily connect to any device, from streaming sticks to cable boxes.
You can also consider projectors with wireless connectivity to easily connect with most modern devices. We have also listed the projectors that come with in-built streaming to let you play the media content without connecting to any other content source.
Flexibility with installation
The projectors that come with the additional features like lens shift and keystone correction are more flexible to install than those that do not have such features. While all the projectors listed can be installed quickly without many adjustments, Optoma UHD50X has an edge with some features above.
Brightness
Projectors meant for dark rooms cannot work in a sports bar. Hence lumen count is an essential consideration when choosing a projector for the sports bar. Consider a projector with 4000 lumens to avoid washing out of the picture in the presence of ambient light. Optoma GT1090HDR is an excellent consideration that stands at 4200 lumens, while Optoma UHD38 with 4000 lumens is pretty close.
Throw Distance
While the throw distance barely matters when considering the projector for commercial purposes, most of these are well-spaced. However, we have listed many that can deliver good projection if you are specifically considering a sort-throw projector.
Conclusion
When choosing the best projector for a sports bar, we have shortlisted Optoma UHD50X as the top choice considering its picture quality and sharpness. Lumens and 4K resolution to enjoy fast-paced action. Not every projector is versatile to be used as a sports bar projector; considerations such as high frame rates and low input lags are essential for assuring smooth on-screen movement while watching sports.
Hi! I am Allan Turner, writer for projectorpick.com. My love for Home theatre inspired me to pen down this blog to share my years of experience in projectors. I am a movie buff and always fascinated with the projectors in cinema halls. This inclined me to explore more about the world of projectors and pen down my observations through this blog.
