If you're setting up an indoor golf simulator, chances are you want that same space to double as a home theater combo for movies, sports watching, and gaming on consoles like PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Today's golf simulator projectors make this easier than ever. They now share the same core technologies as home entertainment projectors, meaning one room can truly serve multiple purposes. The key to a clean, well-integrated setup comes down to how you wire your sound system.

Depending on your sound system, the wiring approach will differ. This article covers two common setups:

1. AVR or Soundbar with HDMI In and Out
2. Soundbar with HDMI In Only

The first setup works regardless of whether your projector supports ARC (Audio Return Channel). The second requires your projector to support ARC. Let's walk through both setups and break down how ARC fits into the picture.

If your AVR or soundbar features both HDMI in and out, the wiring is straightforward. Connect your golf sim PC, streaming devices like Apple TV, game consoles, and Blu-ray players to the receiver or soundbar, then run a single HDMI cable from there to your projector. This setup works regardless of whether your projector supports ARC.

See the diagram below for reference. Note that if your golf sim PC also needs a dedicated monitor as a secondary display, this is fully supported as long as your GPU supports dual display output.

If your soundbar only has HDMI in, your projector needs to support ARC.

ARC, or Audio Return Channel, is a protocol built into the HDMI standard that simplifies complex audiovisual setups and reduces the number of cables you need.

In this setup, connect your golf sim PC to your projector via HDMI, then connect the projector's ARC port to the HDMI in port on your soundbar. The projector handles the video output, while ARC sends the audio signal back to the soundbar through the same cable. If your projector also has built-in smart features such as native streaming apps, ARC allows it to send that audio to the soundbar as well, keeping your wiring clean and your setup simple.

BenQ 4K golf simulators LK936ST and AK700ST offer full support for ARC. They give users an immersive multi-dimensional experience with enhanced audio detail and depth for better golfing, home theater, and gaming experiences.

BenQ has trained staff to help you find the perfect golf simulator projector – within your room size and budget. To help you make the best decision, you can reach out to one of our experts to set up anything from a chat to a complete online demo, to help you find the right projector for your needs.