Hello All

Could someone please give some advice as to the best or most suitable riser height to use.

I was thinking of building using 2 x 10 but I'm wondering if thats perhaps a tad high, especially given that I really don't have vast amounts of head room. My ceiling is just under 8 ft and the 8500 is a full 19 inches deep if memory serves me.Oh yeah. I'm using the unistrut method so that drops the pj a further 5 - 6 inches.

Well in the seated position I guess that's not too bad, but its going to be akin to playing dodge ball :D

Thats in advance
Mark

This post may be better answered in the "Dedicated Theater Design and Construction" area.

Here is a link to the Riser calculator:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=505237

One of the main issue that drives the height of the riser is the ability for the second row viewer to see the bottom of the screen (ie. first row heads should not bock this).

Other concerns:
- Projector height - As you identified you do not want this blocking the top of the screen for the second row viewer
-Height of screen. This effects the height of the riser. Generally the higher the screen the lower the second row riser.
-Height of the top of first row heads.
-Closeness of first row to second row. etc.

Start with the riser calc. and go from there. If the figures you put into the riser calc. are accurate then it should also give you a fairly accurate riser height.

Cheers,
Frank

My back row riser is 12" and my XG's lenses are 6' from the floor..works out great BUT my projector is in front of my seating area don't know how your set up

I used that riser calculator and it was spot on!
Then I also used Visio to check my sightlines.

http://funkyhuman.com/hosted_images/elevation1.gif

My riser is 10" tall and I built it in a few hrs! God bless the person who invented nailers!

My riser is built on 2x10's making it 12" high. Even that isn't high enough if you want to recline in the 2nd row and the first row people do not. (I knew this going in, but couldn't go any higher).

General rule of riser heights: It's never too high.

Second rule of rise heights: Someone else's height isn't right for everyone. All depends sightlines which depend on screen height, seat height, etc.

Kal

Thanks to all.

I did find that site just after my original post and found it quite helpful. I guess I first have to my final screen position before further calc.

Cheers

Mark

Thanks to all.

I did find that site just after my original post and found it quite helpful. I guess I first have find my final screen position before further calc.

Cheers

Mark

General rule of riser heights: It's never too high.

KalI totally agree with this. Especially in our tiny small theaters located in our little houses. I have an even worse application for riser height than most because of the fact that I sometimes semi open up the back wall of my theater to gain vision from the bar and pool areas.

IMO the real solution is to build a floating riser. Let the riser be close to floor level while the people walk up and sit down and then raise the riser afterwords like you get sitting in the dentist or barber chair.

I intend to go this route with my next riser by using a couple of sissor jacks coupled with a gear motor. It will be the best of both worlds. Plenty of headroom while standing and walking around yet still plenty of good site lines after everyone is seated and raised upwards.

. . .
I intend to go this route with my next riser by using a couple of sissor jacks coupled with a gear motor. It will be the best of both worlds. Plenty of headroom while standing and walking around yet still plenty of good site lines after everyone is seated and raised upwards.
That gives me visions of an "AstroDome" Home Theater. The AstroDome in Houston could be programmed to automatically reconfigure itself in terms of seating and seat placements depending on the next event.

So let's see the menu:

1) Girl Friend configuration - Moves LoveSeat into optimal viewing position

2) Small Gathering of Friends - Moves LoveSeat out, moves in front row of 3 seats, back row of 4 seats

3) SuperBowl Party - Front row of 4 seats, 2nd row of 5 seats, 3rd row of 6 seats

All seats can fold down and retract into false floor below.

Sweet!!!!

General rule of riser heights: It's never too high.

I agree with this.

My riser is built out of 2x12s with 2 layers of 3/4" plywood glued and screwed. The the total height is 13".

With the screen position, the average adult in the second row has his eyes level with the middle of the screen. In the first row, eyes are about level with the bottom 1/4 of the screen.

Part of the reason I did this height was that it allows kids to sit in the back row and see over adults in the front row which works great for having another family over for a movie or just letting 6-10 kids watch a movie.

Dave

One thing to keep in mind if you're limited to how high you can make the riser (as most of us with regular basements/ceiling heights are): You can always get an extra couple of inches by adding something to the feet of your 2nd row without affecting comfort too much... this'll keep the riser lower.

Kal