Use in pubs and restaurants
or what you should consider when buying a projector for this setting
Large HD displays are good investments for bar owners. They keep customers at the table! They eat, drink or brag about their brilliantly playing football team that they are watching. They spend their hard-earned money and give up their valuable time for the experience. This 200×150 cm entertainment is part of the recipe for upgrading your sports bar or making it the most popular one in the neighbourhood.
We want to help you find the perfect projector for your bar or restaurant. We have already given many business owners tips on buying projectors.
Choosing the right brightness
Projectors for sports bars: how bright should they be?
Dark rooms generally create more emotion for viewers. Viewers feel comfortable, and the cost of the projector also plays a role here. You save the cost of lighting the room, and you also have a cost advantage when buying the projector.
Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. The more lumens, the brighter the projector. Less bright projectors are usually somewhat cheaper than their brighter counterparts. They also need less cool air to cool the lamp. If you can, keep the room dark and do not place the projector and screen right next to open windows and bright lights.
The following recommendations will help you choose your projector:
| Screen width | Recommended brightness (lumens) |
| 150 cm | 2,000 to 3,500 lumens |
| 200 cm | 3,500 to 4,000 lumens |
| 250 cm and more | 4,000 lumens or more |
If you do not have control over the lighting conditions in the room or want to set up your projector on a surface exposed to the sun, you should choose brighter projectors. These are somewhat more expensive than less bright ones, but are still cheaper per inch of image diagonal than a flat screen.
Recommendations for projectors in an uncontrollable environment:
| Screen width | Recommended brightness (lumens) |
| 150 cm | 3,500 to 4,500 lumens |
| 200 cm | 4,500 to 6,000 lumens |
| 250 cm and more | 6,000 lumens or more |
Our recommendation:
Acer S1383WHne
3,100 ANSI lumens | DLP | WXGA 1280×800
Resolution and features
Resolution of projectors for sports bars
Projectors with HD (1920×1080) resolution produce the best image quality and also offer the best connectivity. But bear in mind that you do not necessarily need an HD home cinema projector for your venue. The high contrast ratio and advanced image processing you need in a home cinema play a smaller role in a sports bar.
Projectors with XGA (1024×768) or WXGA (1280×800) resolution are the next best option.
Other useful features for sports bar projectors:
Special features on your projector allow you to project in tricky places, for example in uniquely shaped rooms or narrow spaces.
Features for flexibility:
- Short throw (allows larger images when the projector is close to the screen)
- Zoom lens (reduces or enlarges your image without moving the projector)
- Lens shift (lets you move the image left or right / up or down without moving the projector and without loss of quality)
Sports bar projectors – tips:
Projector lamps typically last 2,000 to 6,000 hours. A projector quickly reaches this figure if it runs around 12 hours a day in a sports bar. Follow these tips on how to extend lamp life.
Smoking rooms and projectors:
If you run a smoking venue, you should familiarise yourself with the warranty conditions in the operating instructions beforehand. With some manufacturers, the warranty is voided if the projector is used in a smoky room, as smoke can damage the optical system. Clean the air filters regularly and replace them with new ones from time to time. We also offer a professional cleaning service.
Whether you already own a sports bar or want to open one, we hope our tips have been helpful and have moved you forward in your search for a projector. If you have any questions, just send us an email.
Contact and advice
Your direct contact
Beamer-Discount
vertrieb@beamer-discount.de
+49 (0)221 719981-0
Matching product categories in the shop:
Further guides:
- Replacing a projector lamp – guide, lifetime and care
- Lens shift in projectors – detailed guide with model examples
- Projector buying guide using the BEAM method – overview of all guides
