Best Projector for Sports Bar – Top Guide In [2023]

Sports bars are a great place to have some drinks and watch our favorite games like baseball, football, and basketball with your friends.

But if you are a bar owner, it sometimes becomes challenging to manage hundreds of people coming into your bar, watching their favorite match on multiple large screens or TVs.

To overcome this challenge, bar owners opt for sports projector screens that project the sporting event on a giant screen which can be seen from any corner.

But if you don’t know about these projection units, it can be time-consuming to select the best projector for sports bar.

	Epson Home Cinema 5050UB	Brightness - 2600 Lumens Contrast Ratio: 1,000,000:1 4k Resolution	Check Latest Price On Amazon
	Projector By Optoma UHD50X True 4K	Brightness - 3400 Lumens Contrast Ratio - 500,000:1 4k resolution	Check Latest Price On Amazon
	BenQ TK800M	3000 Lumens 10000:1 4k UHD	Check Latest Price On Amazon
	EpiqVision	3600 Lumens 1,500,000 : 1 1920 x 1080 Full HD	Check Latest Price On Amazon
	PX706HD 1080p ViewSonic	3000ANSI lumen 22,000:1 Full HD (1080p)	Check Latest Price On Amazon
	4K Projector For Sports Bar Anker Nebula	1500 ANSI lumen 3840x2160(16:9, UHD) 100000:1	Check Latest Price On Amazon

Best Projector For Sports Bar 2023

There are many different types of sports projectors that you can choose from, and this guide will help you go through which one would be best suited according to your budget, area, and features.

1). Epson Home Cinema 5050UB

Product Specifications

If you are searching for a projection model capable of producing ultra-high-definition images in 4k+ resolution, check out the Epson 5050 4k projectors for sports viewing.

This unit has a brightness level of 1,000,000:1 with a power of 2600 lumens, giving clear picture quality in ambient light conditions.

It delivers outstanding resolution while maintaining excellent black levels, with the minimum effect of “rainbow” or “color brightness” issues.

This Epson projector comes with 3 LCD display which shifts the pixel double the resolution of 1080p, giving a 4k experience on the screen.

So, With the help of three LCD technology, it will give more brightness and accurate color, even projecting any 1080p content on the wall.

In front of the Epson, there is an IR sensor lens shift and airway vents to pass the inside heat.

Also, you can make vertical and horizontal lens adjustments with ±96.3% vertical and ±47.1% horizontal movement.

The best part about the lens is it has a built-in motorized lens cover that automatically closes or opens when the unit is on/off.

This sports projector side panel has a door-type opening where you will find a few buttons to control, like menu, power, volume, and navigation.

Now at the back of the Epson 5050 projector, you will find a few ports such as 2 HDMI 2.0, USB port, LAN port, VGA, and service ports.

This model comes with a backlit remote control with lots of control, like changing the screen’s aspect ratio and zooming the image according to your preference.

You can easily manage and set features like zoom, focus the image, and adjust brightness from the remote control.

With different port options, you can connect your tablet, mobile, streaming device, and laptop with this projector without any low input lag in connection.

With two year warranty, this sports projector can be heavier as it carries a weight of 24.6 pounds.

Pros

• Lens shift has an automatic motorized cover to protect it from any dust.
• It has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1
• The 3 LCD technology gives actual color without any rainbow issues.
• You control the unit right from the remote with almost all its features.

Cons

• A bit heavy in comparison to other models.
• No Bluetooth connectivity.
• The lamp life is less than 5,000 hours.

2). UHD50X By Optoma

Product Specification

Next, we have a true 4k Optoma UHD50x, perfect for the brighter condition that matters in sports bars when watching baseball or basketball.

Optoma claims its UHD50x is the world’s first sports projector with a response time of 16ms and a refresh rate of 240hz.

With over 8 million screen pixels and a power of 3400 lumens, it will give a brighter picture when little ambient light is present in your restaurant.

The Optoma 50x is equipped with a 5w internal speaker that provides a good sound experience if the sports bar is quieter.

For detail black and white level, it has a better HDR10 performance with support of HLG, giving an excellent viewing experience.

Also, you will get two viewing modes: football mode and sports mode.

The projector gives vivid color in sports mode due to its bright bulb. And in football mode, you will see more green color and an enhanced audio sound system.

It has all the buttons or controls at the top of the body, including a zoom-in and out dial.

If the device is run in a lower setting, the lamp will give life at least 15000 hours that the company claims. But, if the Optoma is run in a dynamic mode, it will last 10,000 hrs.

While testing the Optoma, we expected more color accuracy and brightness when ample light was present in the room. 

So, if you want more brightness, you should look at our other models listed in this list. Also, this premium price tag has no WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity option.

Pros

• It comes with a frame rate of 240 Hz.
• This unit weighs only 8 pounds.
• It can be mounted on the ceiling or the table.
• 500,000:1 powerful viewing with lamp power of 3400 lumens.

Cons

• It does provide a good brighter picture in a well-lit environment but lacks in providing true colors.
• The manufacturer should have provided a wifi connectivity option in this price range.

3). BenQ TK800M: Best Projector To Watch Sports

Product Specification

Next, we have portable sports projectors from BenQ, ideal for those looking for more brightness in their sports bars with a true 4k resolution display.

The Benq delivers a color accuracy of 8.3 million pixels with tone mapping and true UHD features. 

Generally, four picture modes can be selected according to various lighting conditions.

The football mode gives the images a warmer feel but decreases the tone, and the cinema mode maintains the right amount of brightness while keeping a more actual color tone.

This device displays a screen size of 100″ inches with a distance of 3.3m – 3.5m with the help of the 1.1x zoom feature.

So, it’s ideal for those who want to project sporting events at a shorter distance of fewer than 5 feet away.

With BenQ HDR10 technology, the images will be delivered with increased brightness, higher range, and image optimization, increasing the viewing experience on the big screen.

The lamp has a power of 3000 lumens, providing average brightness if your bar lightning setting is not too high.

Also, it weighs a little bit more at 9.2 pounds which might need a helping hand if you are mounting this unit on a ceiling.

The Benq comes with a 3-year warranty with excellent customer support.

Pros

• HDR 10 technology helps in delivering more brightness in the brighter sports bars.
• Native 4k resolution of 3840×2160.
• It has a Longer lamp life running at a lower brightness level.
• The higher frame rate gives true baseball matches a realistic experience.

Cons

• The projector gets heated up even when running with full brightness.
• Low brightness level.

4). Epson EpiqVision LS300

Product Specification

If budget is not your criteria and you are looking for one of the best projectors for a sports bar that can deliver an image of 100″, then Epson Home CinemaLS300 is ideal.

From only a few feet, you can watch a 100 to 120″ inches screen viewing with a distance of less than 3 feet without any lag. So, this model is perfect where space is limited.

Now in terms of a sound system, the manufacturer has provided a Yamaha audiophile 2.1 speaker system with 20w powerful speakers, which can be sufficient if fewer people are in the bar.

The lamp’s contrast ratio comes with this projector is 1,500,000: 1 with a lamp power of 3600 lumens.

This device is equipped with a powerful laser lens shift which provides a life of 20000 hours and will easily last for more than 15+ years.

When you play any content, the sports projector will adapt its scene automatically, correct its color system and provide you with more realistic natural images. 

With a built-in WIFI system, you can stream any content from your mobile, tablet, PC, etc. It has a 2-year limited warranty on unit replacement and lifetime technical support.

This projector cannot be mounted on a ceiling due to the Ultra short-throw projector lens and is perfect for placing on a flat surface.

Sometimes the projector gets heated up, and the sound of the fan becomes noisy, which can be annoying for some users.

Pros

• Perfect for those limited space problems.
• Excellent Yamaha speakers.
• Google Assistant and built-in android tv make it easier to play any content.
• The lamp has a life of 20,000 hours.

Cons

• You cannot mount the projector on the ceiling.
• Fan gets louder when the projector gets heated up.

5). PX706HD 1080p By ViewSonic (Best Projector For Watching Sports)

Product Specification

If you are looking for a budget-friendly projector that has 1080p pixel quality with multiple premium features, check out ViewSonic PX 706.

It has a brighter 3000ANSI lumen bulb and a color contrast of a 7.1 million ratio.

You can project the screen with a distance of 3.9ft, getting a screen size of 80″, and if you put your projector 4.9ft away, it will display 100″ inches on the screen.

The best part about this unit is you can keep it on your coffee table or counter. Also, there is an option for a wall mount if you have decided to fix the projector permanently.

In this unit, an automatic vertical keystone adjustment will adjust the image if there is any distortion from the screen.

Also, it has a low frame rate of 16ms, which is good if you play any game on the ViewSonic projector in your free time.

Our main reason for selecting this projector for your sports viewing is its budget-friendly price and perfect where you don’t have control over the ambient lighting system.

In terms of the disadvantages of ViewSonic, the automatic keystone does not adjust the image horizontally, so you have to do it manually.

Also, there is no WIFI or Bluetooth connectivity feature, which I feel it is necessary to have in this price option.

Pros

• Perfect for low light conditions.
• In just 5 feet, the projector projects a 100″ image on the screen.
• Lightweight
• In super lower mode, you get a lamp life of 15,000 hours.

Cons

• Low brighter lamp of 22000:1.
• No 4k compatibility
• There is no Bluetooth or WIFI connectivity.

6). Anker Nebula Cosmos: [Projector For Sports]

Product Specification

Next, we have a 4k sports projector which is perfect for those with a space problem with limited seating capacity.

The Anker Nebula delivers exceptional picture quality whether your customers watch a sporting event or live tv.

In this unit, you will get a true 4k resolution of 3840×2160 (16:9, UHD) brightness level of 1500 ANSI that is only perfect in darker conditions.

You don’t need to connect to any other streaming device because the unit comes with an Android TV 9.0.

The operating system is loaded with over 9000+ applications like Hulu, Disney+, WWE network, and many more.

The inbuilt Dolby digital 10w four speakers will surely not disappoint you as they are loud enough to hear by many people sitting together in your sports viewing.

Still, you can connect your external speaker if you feel the built-in speakers cannot fulfill your need.

While using this projector at full brightness, the projector does get heated up, and we can hear the fan noise, which was irritating when the speaker volume was set at low.

Also, you need to download the Nebula App manager to download Netflix and Amazon prime on the projector itself.

The Nebula has a lamp life of 30,000 hours, built-in ram of 2 GB, and storage of 16GB, making the usage experience smooth.

This device has multiple connectivity options: Bluetooth, Wifi, Chromecast, HDMI, USB, etc.

Pros

• 30,000 lamp life
• Multiple connectivity options
• You can also cast other content directly from your mobile or tablet with the help of Chromecast.
• DLP technology gives brightness even in a brighter room.

Cons

• It gets heated up when running with full power.
• This unit is heavy in comparison to its competitors.

7). OMMC 4K UHD: Projector For Restaurant

Product Specification

If the above Nebula was a short-throw projector, the OMMC is equipped with ultra-short throw projection technology that produces the video at a display size of 100″ from just 6″ inches away.

With the help of XPR technology, it provides a maximum resolution of 4096×2160 @ 60Hz with a brightness level of 2500 ANSI power.

In terms of the life of the lamp, it provides 25,000 hours when running in eco mode and 20,000 when running with full brightness power.

The OMMC comes with the android operating system eight loaded with more than 5000+ multimedia apps and games.

This projector comes with advanced DLP technology and HDR 10 support giving a cinematic experience with a deep level of 1,500,000:1.

The OMMC is equipped with a 4 Core CPU, 2*A73, 2*A53, 2 Core GPU G51*2 with a memory of 3GB ram & 64GB storage which is helpful when playing games on the projector.

Due to its processing capacity, the OMMC weighs more than 31 pounds and comes with Bluetooth remote control, from which you can control your projector from your comfort zone.

Pros

• Real 4K UHD laser technology system.
• From 7.6″ you can project video at a screen size of 100″.
• Easy to set up in less than 12 minutes.
• It comes with built Wifi & Bluetooth connectivity.

Cons

• A bit bulky in weight.
• It comes with a premium price tag.

Buying Guide For Projectors For Sports Bars

When it comes to picking the best projector for the sports bars, there are many things you have to consider.

The best way is to go through the guide and think about what kind of experience you want in your restaurant while your customers remain entertained.

Brightness

The first thing you will look for is a projector that gives a brighter picture with a power of over 3000 lumens.

If your sports bars have a low-light atmosphere that gives more privacy to its customers, then we would advise you to go with low-power lumens that can be below 3000.

But the more lamp lumen your projector will have more expensive it will be.

Also, between 1-4 pm, more ambient light will come into the restaurant, which might affect watching any sporting event from the projector.

Top Projector Resolution

Now the second most important part is resolution. You have to go with a much higher resolution for better picture quality.

If you don’t have any budget issues, then going with 4k resolution is ideal for your customers as they will see crystal clear pictures on the screen.

This 4k large projector is perfect for customers who like to view their favorite game on the big screen with excellent images.

With its high resolution, your customers won’t miss a single detail of the game without any blurriness.

But if you are looking for a budget-friendly unit, a full HD Projector of 1080p will also provide the same picture quality but with less resolution.

Using a dedicated projector screen

It’s always recommended to use the projector on a projection screen. But still, you can project it on any surface, and you will get excellent image quality.

So, if you want to give your customer an excellent sports viewing experience, you should go with a screen.

Now, what happens is when you project it on the wall, the light reflects back into your eyes.

Even if your projector has a powerful lamp and lumens ratio, it will not display its full capacity brightness on the wall.

So, the gain value is usually included on projection screens. Most projector screens have a gain value ranging from 1.1 to 1.4.

It implies that if a 2000 lumen strong light is reflected on a screen with a gain value of 1.2, the screen will reflect 2200 lumens.

A higher gain value, on the other hand, increases the viewing aspect.

FAQ

Are projectors good for watching sports?

Yes, projectors are the best source for watching sports as they not only give a sporting event on a larger screen but also it’s always fun to watch a match with friends and family.

Also, the above projectors are made for sporting events as they have sports setting in their menu system to get brighter and true image quality while watching the event.

Can I go for a budget-friendly best projector for a sports bar?

Yes, you can go for budget-friendly sports bar projectors, as today, many projections are available in the market, providing excellent video quality at a budget-friendly price. 

Which projector is perfect if the space is limited in my Bar?

In that case, Short Throw ratio or Ultra short throw projectors will work better for your location. This type of projection system project images 120″ inches from just 4-4.5 inches away.

What’s the life of a lamp?

It all depends on how you use your unit and how much life the bulb can provide. So, If you run it in eco mode, the average lamp will last for more than 10years+ depending on the usage.

But eco mode will reduce the brightness of the projection system, and the images will be washed out if you use it in ambient lighting conditions.

So, almost all sports bar owners use projector settings in brightness or sports mode to get clear and more realistic pictures.

Final Words

You’ve seen the benefits of using a projector for your sports bar. To get started, you need to figure out what size screen and resolution are best suited for your customers.

Consider all these important factors before deciding so that every customer has an amazing experience while watching sporting events in your sports bar.

We hope the information I’ve provided in this blog post will help you decide on the best projector for the sports bar.  

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Carry

Owner at Projectors Place

Carry here, the owner and current Author of projectors place. I used to watch all the new series, play games, and watch movies on my television for so many years. But one day, my friends told me about replacing tv with projectors.

At that moment, I thought, why should I restrict myself to a smaller screen when an alternate option like a projector is available on the market.

So, I began searching the internet for the best projectors in 2014. And to be honest, I didn't find the information I was looking for.

But then, on my friend's suggestion, I purchased a BenQ 1080p projector in 2015. After that, my love and interest in Projector started, and I kept reviewing the latest available projectors available in the market.

I wrote down each advantage and disadvantage of the current Projector model. I gave only an honest reviews to my readers on projectorsplace.com and my social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.

If you feel I have left any projector model uncovered, let me know on my official email id: carry@projectorsplace.com.

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Carry

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