All y'all DIYers out there...

[Jdog35]

Is everyone using 16x9 ratio or 2.35:1? Kind of curious before I start buying and cutting material:) If y'all have one ratio preference over another I'd be interested to hear why. Thanks guys and gals (if there's any out there).

[Soransis]

Is everyone using 16x9 ratio or 2.35:1? Kind of curious before I start buying and cutting material If y'all have one ratio preference over another I'd be interested to hear why. Thanks guys and gals (if there's any out there).

I'm sure there are plenty of gals out there :). Anyway I think it really is a matter of preference for screen size. Either way from what I understand at some point during your movie watching you will have black bars on your screen. Whether they are horizontal or verticle depends on your AR of course. I prefer the 16:9 ratio because I'm not really a huge fan of widescreen movies, and most movies I have/watch aren't widescreen.

[bud16415]

Jdog35

There are several factors that lead me down the path to screen AR I used, and I fall into a minority class that is growing smaller every day. (4:3)

First is what do you view most and what are the plans for your home theater. In my case my viewing is about 40% SD 40%DVD’s and 20% viewing still photos and computer applications etc. all my DVD’s are split between wide screen and 16:9 and older movies in 4:3 (classics). All new DVD’s are purchased in 16:9

Secondly the width of my room and seating distance became a controlling factor. The widest screen I could have and the width appropriate for my seating distance was 96 inches. That size room width to length, allowing room for speakers worked out to a very good ratio also for audio. Keep in mind the screen width being the longer dimension in both cases pretty much controls your seating distance, pixel size plays a roll but with higher resolution projectors width is now becoming the major factor.

Older 4:3 movies, games and still photos etc are excellent as a totally immersive viewing experience as are IMAX type movies. I also watch a good deal of sports still in that AR.

Another qualifier for me was I wanted a high lumen projector to use against a lower gain gray screen so I could view things like sports with a moderate ambient light level. The brighter projectors were the XGA type machines. I was willing to sacrifice some resolution when cropping in a 16:9 image my total screen is 1024x768 but cropped I get 1024x576 with a 96 inch x 54 inch image viewed at 14 feet.

Sure 576 lines of resolution compared to 720 is a pretty big compromise but at 12 feet and back most people cant discern much of a difference. When I do start detecting SDE is around 10 feet and I felt that was to close to be sitting anyway.

With all the above taken into account in my case and the cost of a XGA projector about half at that time I went with a 4:3 constant width setup.

Many will tell you SD cant look good at that size and viewing distance but it’s been my experience with a good SD signal playing into or thru a device that converts it to a 480p feed the image is very easy to watch, not as good as a HD feed by no stretch but very close to what you see coming off a 480p DVD player.

Attached below is a thumbnail you can click on of a SD image projected to 6ft x 8ft.
You can compare to others on that page taken off of DVD’s.

http://thumb2.webshots.net/t/53/153/7/42/96/2174742960068493142xHgSYv_th.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2174742960068493142xHgSYv)

[Jdog35]

Thanks guys. bud, those shots of SD look great. I'm very impressed. I'm also impressed to see someone stand-up for the "old" screen format. Thank you.

[mech]

bud,

I agree with Jdog's assessment. That SD picture is great! What do you use as your source, satellite or cable? And you feed that signal thru your dvd recorder to upscale it, right? I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve my sd picture... :)

mech

[BoomerBrian]

Go with 16:9. That is unless your PJ is 4:3. Most HT PJs have are native 16:9.

[bud16415]

bud,

I agree with Jdog's assessment. That SD picture is great! What do you use as your source, satellite or cable? And you feed that signal thru your dvd recorder to upscale it, right? I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve my sd picture... :)

mech

I have cable come into the house and it splits once one line to cable modem other to a signal booster and then a 4 way splitter. One of the legs goes to a digital cable box, the lower 69 channels are passed thru as analog and the upper channels are converted from digital. (I believe that’s how it works.) the signal then goes into my Panasonic DVD burner as a input and the burner is set to output 480p I sometimes set it to output in 16:9 and others 4:3 based on if I’m playing a DVD or viewing SD the reason being when set to 16:9 480p I get the option on my projector to do 18 inches of vertical image shifting. The signal coming out of the burner is component (30 feet) I made my own component cables using coax and screwing gold plated F to RCA adapters to each end. (ok I’m cheap what can I say) but they work excellent. These cables go into a component to XGA adapter and into the Sharp XR10X projector. The projector then ups the image to 1024x768 or in the case of 16:9 1024x576.

I also have inputs into the burner for another DVD, VHS, digital cam, etc. I do all my video switching with the burner and all my audio thru the receiver. It involves two steps when changing but isn’t a problem.

I have found most of the real bad rap SD takes is because of a poor signal to start with.

As for the old screen format. I often give kids the option of what format they want to watch and they always pick 4:3. I’m sure I’ll be totally 16:9 at some point but as long as there is still good stuff to view in 4:3 I figure I might as well watch it BIG….. :D

[killerdoberman]

I use my PJ for everyday TV and movies 2nd. So, I perfer 16:9 since HD is in 16:9 native format.

I will have black bars when viewing movies (top and bottom) on letterbox (widescreen) movies, and I stretch normal 4:3 tv to fit my 16:9 screen. Which becomes normal looking after watching for 15-20 minutes. It looks really funny when I change back to normal 4:3 ratio tv.

[Jdog35]

Thanks guys. I have the projector already, HD1000U. I was just curious as to the generalized aspect ratio people were using. I had planned on 16x9 the whole time, but I like to see what everyone else likes/dislikes regarding ratios. I'm building the screen frame this weekend, and might incorporate some options (magnets and such) for a down the road option to mask off the screen, etc.

[shawn28341]

Jdog, The projector you have is a native 1280X720.. I assure you that you will be very happy with it in it's native state and 16X9 ratio..
The lumens is 1500 and the contrast is 2500:1.. And with a MSRP of less than a $1,000.. I think you have a pretty nice projector there..Though I personally have never owned a DLP , the specs seem to be pretty good..
I use my pc for all movie watching due to upscaling and just better all around color controls..PowerDVD 7 is alot better than the earlier versions that I have used.. Even when it comes to movies being stretched to fit my AR, they are very watchable.. 1280 native makes for really good even up close viewing as well..Even 5 feet away, pixilization is not even viewable or detected..The quality of the dvd will give pixilization quicker than the projector itself..Meaning, if you are a dvdshrinker, or get dvd's compressed from the original video state, you will see the quality lose compared to the original on the same movie.. Especially if stretched to full screen with the lesser compressed version..Desktops or pc applications or games of true same as native will be great with your contrast and lumens I'm sure...

[CMRA]

Thanks guys. I have the projector already, HD1000U. I was just curious as to the generalized aspect ratio people were using. I had planned on 16x9 the whole time, but I like to see what everyone else likes/dislikes regarding ratios. I'm building the screen frame this weekend, and might incorporate some options (magnets and such) for a down the road option to mask off the screen, etc.

Before you pull the trigger lemme letchaknow ahead of time, 2.35 is the easiest format to work with. Using your PJ's zoom you'll only need to mask from the sides. Not unlike going to the theater and seeing them move the drapes in and out from the sides. You'll also enjoy a bigger image on scoped movies this way. And, you'll leave open the option to add anamorphic projection in the future. Still your call.

[bud16415]

Before you pull the trigger lemme letchaknow ahead of time, 2.35 is the easiest format to work with. Using your PJ's zoom you'll only need to mask from the sides. Not unlike going to the theater and seeing them move the drapes in and out from the sides. You'll also enjoy a bigger image on scoped movies this way. And, you'll leave open the option to add anamorphic projection in the future. Still your call.

I think this is some really great information (idea). And at some future date when I go 16:9 that’s exactly what I plan on doing. It would take a little bit more planning on the part of projector placement but given enough zoom range and a room wide enough it’s a great way to go.

[bud16415]

The idea of climbing up to the pj and adjusting the zoom between the DVD menu and playing the movie etc just does not sound very practical. Oh ya, you will also have to keep adjusting the focus if you change the zoom.

Climbing? Oh ya I keep forgetting others have high ceilings. In my case with 6’4” ceilings it would be quite easy and only needed when viewing the widest of formats so that would only be for special occasions. My room is width limited along with height so I’m stuck with a 96” screen width for now.

My friend did build such a screen though for his Sharp XR10X that is kind of a similar idea with a 4:3 projector though. He went to extra width and zooms when going into 16:9 mode. It really worked out nicely for him but he is also in the 7’ high ceiling basement theater.

You are right though on anything higher than is reasonable to reach standing it wouldn’t be practical, unless you have power zoom and focus on the projector or a table mounted setup.

I actually think in my perfect media room I wouldn’t even define a screen area. The whole wall would be designed and painted to act as a screen. I know that’s blasphemy for some here, but I’m willing to bet a future trend in home theater design will be the totally invisible home theater/media room. Speakers screen and projector along with all the equipment wont be seen at all. :)

[gonelong]

I know that’s blasphemy for some here, but I’m willing to bet a future trend in home theater design will be the totally invisible home theater/media room. Speakers screen and projector along with all the equipment wont be seen at all. :)

I have no doubts this will be the future trend. Right now its kind of about ... "look what I have!". I also belived in the future the idea will be to have the room look as "normal"/dual use as possible. The theater will somewhat materialize out of your normal living environment, not be the focus of it.

Though, I belive this will only be true of the Average Joe. Mr. Big bucks will still have a room dedicated to theater only.

GL

[bud16415]

I have no doubts this will be the future trend. Right now its kind of about ... "look what I have!". I also belived in the future the idea will be to have the room look as "normal"/dual use as possible. The theater will somewhat materialize out of your normal living environment, not be the focus of it.

Though, I belive this will only be true of the Average Joe. Mr. Big bucks will still have a room dedicated to theater only.

GL

At the risk of going off topic here. I think Mr Bigbucks will do just the opposite. I see his dining room walls transforming into whatever setting he feels like eating in. forest, beach, or football box seats. His bedroom wall might transform into a view out the side of a ships cabin or a fireplace or…. Well I don’t want to get off topic here… :eek:

But you are right as of now it’s as much about the wow factor of the room as the image for many.

[gonelong]

At the risk of going off topic here. I think Mr Bigbucks will do just the opposite. I see his dining room walls transforming into whatever setting he feels like eating in. forest, beach, or football box seats. His bedroom wall might transform into a view out the side of a ships cabin or a fireplace or…. Well I don’t want to get off topic here… :eek:

But you are right as of now it’s as much about the wow factor of the room as the image for many.

Hate to bring this old thread up, but this one stuck with me.

I bet you could use fiber optics to do this. You could basically make the whole wall a fiber optic screen. You could make it look like a wall, mural, outdoors, etc.

GL