Alright guys, I really need some help. I have been researching for about a week now and think I have it narrowed down, just need a few last suggestions. I am buying a complete kit for everything needed in my home theater room.

First off, the projector, Going with the HD65, I have about 12' of room between the screen and the wall, I have checked the calculator and it seems it will work? Is there a better projector with the same quality that is more short throw so I can get a bigger image?


This is the screen I am getting, please advise: http://cgi.ebay.com/135-4-3-BLACK-CASE-ELECTRIC-MOTORIZED-PROJECTOR-SCREEN_W0QQitemZ260386066553QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item260386066553&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I am getting it in 4:3 (135") because some of the material will be in this format, but if I only pull it down a certain amount, it will technically be a 16:9 widescreen 120".

Also getting this for media playback:
http://www.roku.com/technology.aspx and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136325

As for the sound system, I will be getting a Sony HT-SS2300.


The prices of these items are around my budget so if there is anything I should reconsider please let me know. I have spent a lot of time in researching and would like your opinion as well.

Main thing: I really want to hit 120" but with only 12' of working room will the zoom be possible? Should I get a different projector that will zoom in correctly?

As for the projector, my head will be about 2' from the projector. Also, what else would I need for my system to be complete? Please help me out. Thanks.

-B

you're buying a 720p 16:9 projector. Get a 16:9 screen. 4:3 screens look like crap and you'll regret it once you start using more HD material.

Well here are my thoughts on that, when I want to go in 16:9 mode, the project screen has set levels, and I can only let it go down a certain amount to make it 16:9.

Can you answer this: I really want to hit 120", but with only 12' to work with, I dont know if the optoma will have enough zoom to do it? What other projector would be better for this?

turket -- You are not ready to buy a front projector yet, because you haven't done your homework. The HD65 is not a "short throw" PJ and with a 12' room, the largest screen you can use is less than 100" diagonal. Remember, the throw distance is from the front of the lens to the screen, which for a 12' room depth, is only about 11'.

Unless you do a lot of reading of projector reviews, you are going to be disappointed and may just waste your money. PJ systems require a lot of planning on your part. I suggest you read both http://www.projectorcentral.com/home.cfm and http://www.projectorreviews.com/ before you commit to any PJ setup.

For projection distances and screen size, use this calculator for any PJ you are considering - for the HD65 this is the link: http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD65-projection-calculator-pro.htm. All of the parameters are adjustable and it indicates that for an 11' throw, you can get about a 96" diagonal picture size.

As eightninesuited said, for a 16:9 PJ, you get the largest picture by using a 16:9 screen. Otherwise, you are just wasting screen real estate. I've used both, and a 16:9 screen is definitely the better choice.

Well here are my thoughts on that, when I want to go in 16:9 mode, the project screen has set levels, and I can only let it go down a certain amount to make it 16:9.

Can you answer this: I really want to hit 120", but with only 12' to work with, I dont know if the optoma will have enough zoom to do it? What other projector would be better for this?I don't know of any PJ that will throw a 120" image in only about 11' (remember you have about a foot of depth from the front of the lens to the back of the PJ + cables).

The Epson home Cinema 720 or the Panasonic AX200 will be able to give you about a 110" image in your room. Both of these are 720p (16:9) LCD PJs. DLP PJs all have longer throw distances than LCD models do (AFIK).

As I said, you need to do a lot more reading before you decide on what PJ to get. Projection systems are not something you can go out and buy on the "quick" (unlike flat panel TVs - and you won't get the best there either without doing the necessary reading). Just because you want to use a 120" screen doesn't mean you will be able to with such a small room.

agreed, dont buy yet, review this site some more then make your decision and above all DEFINATELY go with a 16:9. Dont even question it....you wont be happy with a 4:3 in the long term. I would recommend to friends with a lower budget, to go with the Panny ax200. appears to have great image flexibility with that "doo-dadd knobby thing on the front..lol.

I have been researching for a week now:) This is tough, so I guess im going with another projector as stated, the epson home cinema or the panasonic ax200 to get that bigger image. I will continue doing some research, please advise. Thank you.

oh boy...

I took months to buy just a few cables....

anyway,

The only comment I can add to this thread is that I confim that the panasonic 720p is one of the safest/easy projector around:

high lumen and placement flexibility are his strongest point, still, no warranty it will fit in your projection environement.

and please...even if you get the 4:3 screen for free, dont use it...

Ok, one more question: Did about 5 hours of more research narrowed it down to AX200 and the EPSON 720.

The epson 720 is looking like a winner but when I did the throw distance calculator it looks like I will be sacraficing some inches when its placed at 11' from the screen. Is it that big of deal? Also, I set the calculator to ZOOM 2x, is zooming going to make the image a lot worse than not zooming? Please advise. Thanks.

get the panasonic ax200, especially since you want such a big screen.

Okay
Throw Distance - our space wall to screen is 13 feet. Our projector is a simple shelf mount and with room behind the machine for cables we have about 11 1/2 ft. throw. With that lens-to-screen distance we can get pretty near a 120 inch diagonal.

Screen Aspect Ratio
Just our experience - we believe that rectangular 16:9 screens very much limit how you can project different aspect ratio content including how much you can zoom and affect image sizes. We curently use a Da-lite fixed 72X96 screen - yes, this can be called a more square screen. Commercial theater screens are more square than rectangular - reason seems to be that this allows them to project all different aspect ratio content with more flexibility of image size.

We don't think of our screen as 4:3 - we see it as giving us a LOT of zoom and image size flexibility. We started with a 16:9 white screen and learned that we are MUCH happier with our larger and more square gray screen - specially with our relatively short throw distance.

Projector Recommendation
Panasonic 200U 720p LCD - We have been VERY happy with our LCD 720p for two years. You will very much appreciate a projector with excellent horizontal and vertical lens shift like with the Panasonic - typically dlp PJs can't do much lens shift and, take my word, it is great to have it - specially with your room size limitations.

Gray Screen
Why do we prefer it? This is a personal preference thing. We learned that white screens reflect a LOT of light back into the room plus they make the "black bars" that all projector images have when scaling content different than their native aspect ratio VERY obvious and annoying while the gray screen makes the "black bars" practically invisible.

Our opinion summary - with your small viewing area size you don't need a GIANT screen - a projector with good vertical and horizontal lens shift is a plus - larger and more square screen has its' advantages - gray can be better than white.

ENJOY!!! A TV will never look the same to you ever again.

If you are wanting the biggest screen size then you should get a 16:9 screen.

Yes you can make your 4:3 into a 16:9 by only dropping it down partially but you sacrifice alot of screen area.

The PJ you are looking at is 16:9 so when you are projecting a 4:3 image you are projecting black bars on the sides. If you were to switch to 16:9 material those black bars would now be used and would be off your screen. So if you were to turn your screen into a 16:9 screen you would then have to use the zoom to fit your projected image in that much smaller space.

Almost all 4:3 is standard definition and will only look terrible when blown up on a huge screen so it would only stand to reason to get a 16:9 screen for the biggest possible HD image and just mask it for 4:3 content

get the panasonic ax200, especially since you want such a big screen.

I agree, in a small HT room the AX200 with it's smooth screen technology is a great choice.........with a large picture, any other 720p pj will show screen door at that seating distance.:)

Do not go 4:3 with these 16:9 projectors, this will be defeating the purpose of the projector in the first place, Also do forget to look into the HD71 projector also better color wheel and brighter The bay has them for 777. I think your screen size will be 110 to 115 inches though. but being that close the 110" would fit the room size better.