Head-to-head
For a 100-inch 16:9 image, X500i fits about 5.01 to 6.03 ft from the lens and Epson 2350 about 9.64 to 15.65 ft. X500i needs fixed-height, level placement without optical lens shift. Epson needs centered, sturdy level support within vertical-only shift. Both need body/cable room and ventilation: BenQ’s 50 cm wall clearance or Epson’s 10/20/30 cm diagram and open underbody vents. X500i can retain its internal streamer, a console and compatible ARC/eARC bar. Epson’s streamer and ARC bar occupy both inputs. Verify the actual image and complete signal path. Neither supports 4K120.
Before you choose
At a fixed 100-inch 16:9 size, a 5.5 ft lens position fits X500i’s approximate 5.01 to 6.03 ft range. A 13 ft shelf instead fits Epson’s 9.64 to 15.65 ft range. BenQ needs level fixed-height placement without optical lens shift and 50 cm wall clearance. Epson needs sturdy level, horizontally centered support within vertical-only shift, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Reserve body and cables for either and test the actual image. Moving the lens position reverses the optical choice, without changing the connected devices.
What this is based on
The BenQ and Epson manuals measure from the lens, state the 16:9 aspect ratio and give approximate size-specific tables. The selected distances lie inside the respective 100-inch rows. Optical suitability is separate from chassis space, image height, shelf support and the operating clearances.
Main trade-off
The 100-inch 16:9 manual range is about 5.01 to 6.03 ft from lens to screen, with fixed image height and no optical lens shift. Reserve body and cable room, at least 50 cm wall clearance and free airflow. Verify the image before mounting. A far rear shelf can rule it out.
Main trade-off
A 100-inch 16:9 picture needs about 9.64 to 15.65 ft from lens to screen. Use sturdy level centered support, check height within vertical-only shift and retain body and cable space, open underbody vents and the manual’s 10/20/30 cm clearance zones. A short front table can rule it out.
Compare BenQ X500i and Epson 2350 for front-table or rear-shelf placement, plus keeping a streamer, console and ARC soundbar connected.
A household choosing a projector for streamed movies and console games may be deciding between a low front table and a shelf behind the seats. Both include streaming hardware. The consequential differences are where a fixed screen can be filled and whether the streamer, console and audio-return soundbar can stay connected without another box or a cable change.
Winner by situation
X500i covers 5.5 ft within its approximate 5.01 to 6.03 ft lens range. Keep it level and square at the fixed image height, with body/cable room, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. It has no optical lens shift. Test before mounting. Epson needs at least about 9.64 ft for this size. Verify the intended signal, with no 4K120.
Epson covers 13 ft within its approximate 9.64 to 15.65 ft lens range. Use sturdy level, horizontally centered support within vertical-only shift, with body/cable room, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearance diagram. Test the image. Streamer plus ARC bar occupy both inputs, so verify another console route. X500i ends at about 6.03 ft. Neither supports 4K120.
X500i retains internal QS02 plus one console and compatible ARC/eARC bar on its two external HDMI ports. Verify the signal/audio route. Its 100-inch 16:9 placement still needs about 5.01 to 6.03 ft lens distance, level fixed height, body/cable space, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. Epson’s streamer and ARC bar leave no free console input. No optical lens shift or 4K120.
A receiver or switching soundbar can remove the direct-input advantage only if its inputs, output, video mode and audio-return route are compatible. Placement still decides: for 100-inch 16:9, BenQ needs about 5.01 to 6.03 ft, fixed height, level support and 50 cm wall clearance. Epson needs about 9.64 to 15.65 ft, centered level support within vertical-only shift and its 10/20/30 cm clearances with open underbody vents. Allow body/cables and airflow, test the image and verify the signal. No 4K120.
X500i cannot fill that 100-inch 16:9 image from 13 ft. Epson can optically fit but its streamer and ARC bar occupy both inputs. Move to a verified safe installation or change the connection plan. Neither directly supplies the combined requirement, and neither supports 4K120.
Change the installation or required signal before buying. Digital correction cannot supply ventilation, optical height adjustment or 4K120. BenQ needs stable level placement and 50 cm wall clearance. Epson needs centered level support within vertical-only shift, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Both need body/cable room and the actual projected image checked.
What matters in practice
At a fixed 100-inch 16:9 size, a 5.5 ft lens position fits X500i’s approximate 5.01 to 6.03 ft range. A 13 ft shelf instead fits Epson’s 9.64 to 15.65 ft range. BenQ needs level fixed-height placement without optical lens shift and 50 cm wall clearance. Epson needs sturdy level, horizontally centered support within vertical-only shift, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Reserve body and cables for either and test the actual image. Moving the lens position reverses the optical choice, without changing the connected devices.
The BenQ and Epson manuals measure from the lens, state the 16:9 aspect ratio and give approximate size-specific tables. The selected distances lie inside the respective 100-inch rows. Optical suitability is separate from chassis space, image height, shelf support and the operating clearances.
Count the occupied sockets while keeping placement unchanged. X500i’s internal QS02 leaves two external HDMI ports for one console and a compatible ARC/eARC bar. Epson uses both for its streamer and ARC bar. Verify the complete signal and audio route, with no 4K120. BenQ’s benefit still requires its 100-inch 16:9 lens range of about 5.01 to 6.03 ft, level fixed-height placement, body/cable space, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. A suitable existing receiver or removing the ARC-bar requirement can eliminate this cable-change advantage.
The difference comes from where the included streamer connects. X500i has a dedicated internal connection in addition to two external HDMI inputs. Epson’s streaming device consumes one of its two total HDMI inputs. This establishes available sockets, not automatic compatibility or a sound-quality result.
A fixed 13 ft lens position and a 100-inch 16:9 image rule out X500i’s approximate 5.01 to 6.03 ft range. Epson covers the distance, but its streamer and ARC bar occupy both HDMI inputs. Requiring the console to stay directly connected too rules out both. A verified receiver, switch or alternative audio route can reopen Epson only with centered level support, suitable vertical shift, body/cable room, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Verify the image and signal. Neither supports 4K120.
The farther optical placement and the three-device direct-connection arrangement are independent requirements. Neither projector supplies both for the fixed 13 ft, 100-inch example. A compatible external routing device can change the connection requirement, but its capabilities and cost are not established here.
Try your real numbers
The result checks hard limits only. Preferences stay out of the calculation.
For a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the manual-table lens range is about 6.01 to 7.23 ft. Your input is 9.50 ft. Optical fit only: use the 1.2x optical zoom, level square placement at the fixed image height, body/cable space, 50 cm wall clearance and free airflow. No optical lens shift. For image quality, BenQ recommends the manual’s non-gray table rows. Test the actual image before mounting. Digital correction adds no optical range.
For a 120-inch 16:9 picture, the manual-table lens range is about 11.58 to 18.80 ft. Your input is 9.50 ft. Optical fit only: use the 1.62x optical zoom and sturdy level, horizontally centered support within vertical-only lens shift. Allow body/cables, open underbody vents and the manual’s 10/20/30 cm clearance diagram. Test the actual image before mounting. Digital correction adds no optical range.
Distance is measured from the lens to the screen. The calculation uses a 16:9 image and the verified optical throw range for each exact model.
BenQ, X500i
X500i fits a 100-inch 16:9 image at about 5.01 to 6.03 ft from the lens, with fixed image height and no optical lens shift. Allow level support, body/cables, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. Its internal QS02 leaves two external HDMI ports for a console and compatible ARC/eARC bar. Verify the signal/audio route. No 4K120.
Epson, V11HA73020
Epson 2350 fits a 100-inch 16:9 image at about 9.64 to 15.65 ft from the lens. Keep sturdy level, centered support within vertical-only shift, body/cables, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Streamer and ARC bar occupy both inputs, so a console needs another verified route. No 4K120.
Meaningful differences
| What changes | BenQ X500i | Epson Home Cinema 2350 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placing a 100-inch 16:9 picture | Manual lens distance 1,528 to 1,837 mm, about 5.01 to 6.03 ft | Manual lens distance 115.7 to 187.8 inches, about 9.64 to 15.65 ft | A front table and a rear shelf can produce opposite choices. These are approximate lens-to-screen distances, not total room depths. Body, cable, image-height and ventilation requirements still have to fit. |
| Matching shelf height | Manual zoom and focus with a fixed projection offset | Manual zoom and focus plus vertical lens shift up to 60% of image height in either direction | Epson can move the picture vertically without tilting the projector. It does not provide horizontal lens shift or make every shelf height suitable. BenQ’s 100-inch table gives 31 mm between the lens centerline and the bottom edge for a level tabletop setup. Digital keystone is not optical lens shift. |
| Keeping the streamer, console and soundbar attached | Internal HDMI 3 for QS02, external HDMI 1 for console, external HDMI 2 for ARC/eARC bar | HDMI 2 for the included streamer, HDMI 1 for the ARC bar, no unused HDMI port | BenQ can retain this three-device arrangement without an extra HDMI switch, subject to source, cable and audio compatibility. Epson needs cable changes or a separately supported routing alternative. Count occupied ports rather than treating every socket as a free video input. |
| Making the audio-return connection work | Select Audio Return+ and enable the bar’s eARC/ARC function | Enable HDMI Link and choose AV System as Audio Out Device | The socket count alone does not establish working sound. Use the return-capable port at each end, an appropriate cable and a format supported by the complete path. Epson’s streamer Bluetooth does not carry audio from the console’s HDMI input. |
| Checking the video mode before buying cables | 4K up to 60 Hz, with separately documented 1080p 120 and 240 Hz modes | 4K Enhancement and 1080p HDMI timing tables top out at 60 Hz | Neither is a 4K/120 choice. A high-refresh mode on BenQ does not promise that every console, game, cable or intermediate device can use it. The different published lag figures are not a controlled comparison of response time. |
What you give up
Recommendation switch
Choose BenQ X500i. The 5.5 ft position fits X500i’s approximate 5.01 to 6.03 ft range. Keep fixed image height, level square support, body/cable room, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. No optical lens shift. Verify the projected image and signal before mounting, with no 4K120.
Choose BenQ X500i. Internal QS02 leaves the two external ports for a console and compatible ARC/eARC bar. Verify signal/audio compatibility. At 100-inch 16:9, X500i requires about 5.01 to 6.03 ft lens distance, fixed image height, level support, body/cable room, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. No optical lens shift or 4K120.
Choose Epson Home Cinema 2350. The 13 ft lens position fits Epson’s approximate 9.64 to 15.65 ft range for 100-inch 16:9. Keep sturdy level, horizontally centered support within vertical-only shift, body/cable space, open underbody vents and its 10/20/30 cm clearances. Streamer and ARC bar occupy both inputs, so verify the alternative console route and actual image. No 4K120.
Choose neither. X500i’s 100-inch 16:9 range excludes 13 ft, while Epson’s streamer and ARC bar leave no free console input. Change the lens position or verify external routing. Unsupported image height, unsafe support, blocked ventilation or a mandatory 4K120 signal independently rules out the proposed setup.
What matters in practice
Measure the lens position and screen height first. Then draw the complete streamer, console and audio connection path.
What the facts say
Useful conclusions from the current home projectors comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ X500i |
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| Epson Home Cinema 2350 |
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Ready to choose?
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Choose X500i for a 100-inch 16:9 image with its lens about 5.01 to 6.03 ft away. It needs level, square placement at the fixed image height, body/cable space, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. There is no optical lens shift. Verify the actual image before mounting and the source/cable signal. Neither projector supports 4K120.
Choose X500i to leave QS02, one console and a compatible ARC/eARC bar connected using its internal streamer port and two external HDMI ports. Verify the signal/audio route. For 100-inch 16:9, allow about 5.01 to 6.03 ft lens distance, fixed image height, level support, body/cable room, 50 cm wall clearance and airflow. No optical lens shift or 4K120.
See price & reviews on AmazonChoose Epson 2350 for a 100-inch 16:9 image about 9.64 to 15.65 ft from the lens. A sturdy level, horizontally centered shelf must fit its vertical-only shift, body/cables, open underbody vents and 10/20/30 cm clearance diagram. Verify the projected image and signal. Streamer plus ARC bar occupy both HDMI ports, so a console needs another verified route. No 4K120.
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