I have 2 rows of motorized recliners with no riser. When fully reclined the first row does not block the fixed temporary diy plastex 5' high 120'' diagonal 16:9 screen from the 2nd row.(but it does block upright).The screen is 3' from the floor. I have a high 12' ceiling and can mount a screen 1 foot higher instead of building a riser. Is this a common solution?

I have 2 rows of motorized recliners with no riser. When fully reclined the first row does not block the fixed temporary diy plastex 5' high 120'' diagonal 16:9 screen from the 2nd row.(but it does block upright).The screen is 3' from the floor. I have a high 12' ceiling and can mount a screen 1 foot higher instead of building a riser. Is this a common solution?

I would call it a compromise, not a solution. 3' is already pretty high (rule of thumb is your eye level should be a third of the way up the screen); if you raise it any higher, so the back row can see it, aren't you basically admitting it is now too high for the front row?

CD

I would call it a compromise, not a solution. 3' is already pretty high (rule of thumb is your eye level should be a third of the way up the screen); if you raise it any higher, so the back row can see it, aren't you basically admitting it is now too high for the front row?

CD
"(rule of thumb is your eye level should be a third of the way up the screen)"
Does this rule apply only for upright theater chairs? When I sit in the first row 12 feet away I can not fully recline because the screen seem too low. If I fully recline my neck hurts. This change of screen position depending reclining angle is very important and is not discussed before. I know there are experts here that can explain this better. Also in movie theaters first few rows do not have risers.
I am considering motorized screen so that I can find that perfect position.
Also at fully reclined position It seems that screen needs to be tilted which is another topic.

"(rule of thumb is your eye level should be a third of the way up the screen)"
Does this rule apply only for upright theater chairs? When I sit in the first row 12 feet away I can not fully recline because the screen seem too low. If I fully recline my neck hurts. This change of screen position depending reclining angle is very important and is not discussed before. I know there are experts here that can explain this better. Also in movie theaters first few rows do not have risers.
I am considering motorized screen so that I can find that perfect position.
Also at fully reclined position It seems that screen needs to be tilted which is another topic.

I am by no means an expert but agree completely with CDLehner. That seems very high off the floor. I have my screen about 30" (wanted a little more but low ceiling height). My first row is about 11 1/2' and with the chairs fully reclined I have no problem from the first row. Second row fully reclined needs the first row partially reclined to see the bottom. Second row fully upright can see the bottom of the screen.

Another thing to keep in mind is when you view 2.35 material, that screen image will be even higher than 3' from the floor since you will have black bars. Extremely high in my opinion.

Is there a specific reason why you don't want to build a riser? You will be going to all this effort to create a great HT just to make the second row the cheap seats.

Also at fully reclined position It seems that screen needs to be tilted which is another topic.

Fully reclined would almost put the screen on the ceiling :eek:


you really watch movies fromm a fully reclined position ?

BTW, what do y'all think about the proper riser height? I've seen people posting 12" is the proper height, but I am about the build the riser, and because of the door to the attic in the HT, can't go more than 9-10" without structural work. Because I already have 2 steps down to HT, 2 x 6", am thinking to raise 8" so that the one step down can be at least 4". Having 2-3" step down will be little weird I think. Can I get away with 8"?

Found a really neat riser calculator from someone in the forum.

http://www.theater-calc.com/

I changed my mind on the screen aspect ratio; gonna get 2.35:1 instead of 1.78:1 which would give plenty of good viewing angle from the 2nd row. Eventually gonna get Panny AE300, and this thing can nicely put up 2.35:1 picures from other aspect sources...

I changed my mind on the screen aspect ratio; gonna get 2.35:1 instead of 1.78:1

Good choice! You won't be sorry!:D