I am making plans to finish the rest of my basement in my new house. I had thought of a dedicated HT area but I think it will get more use if I plan a more open media/entertainment area.

I have been thinking about using a television (52"-65" LCD) for everyday viewing and have a drop-down electric screen (2.35:1; ~110" width) for use with my projector/anamorphic lens combo. I am toying with the idea of instead using a fixed screen (SMX ProCurv; hidden by a retractable fabric screen in front) and putting the LCD in a cabinet with a motorized lift just in front of the screen location.

Has anyone seen this arrangement? I've had problems with a retractable screen in the past (horizontal lines from the way the material rolls).

I saw a setup on here that had a fixed screen that hinged to the ceiling. TV was mounted to the wall, and when need be, they folded the screen down from the ceiling and ran the projector.

Just another (and cheaper) idea...

pumori,

With that size flat panel being in a cabinet to raise and lower, it would really put your fixed screen up pretty high. Some would be fine looking up, others would not.

Roger That came up with one way to use a fixed screen in front of the flat panel.

Or........

My solution isn't practical for most setups. I experimented with pull down screens and really liked the fixed screens better. So I have my fixed screen on the wall, and the everyday display in a hutch, which I have on sliders that I just simply move out of the way.

Hell we all need more exercise anyway!;)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/Polardoor/IMG_1621.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/Polardoor/IMG_1727.jpg

Screen height is a problem with this approach, even a 46" flat panel would probably require at least a 36" high cabinet. That would put screen bottom a good 12" higher than optimal for a 110" x 46" screen (eye level just above screen bottom rather than 1/3 up). The moveable fixed screen does get around that - but I'd rather have my fixed screen "fixed".
Perhaps one of those under-bed plasma lifts or start trenching :confused:.