How far from the floor should you place a projector screen? What is the minimum "reasonable" distance given that there will be need for a center channel speaker?

Thanks

Red

There is no set distance, it is going to depend on the aspect screen you go with, the size of the screen, your seating distance, wether you have a riser and how high that is to be etc.

For instance a 2.35:1 screen would likely be mounted higher than a 16:9 because the screen height is less.

As for your center channel placement, you can go with an acoustically transparent screen and mount the center and left and right sides for that matter behind the screen or you can mount it over or under the screen but in that case you probably want the screen higher so that the sound comes from a higher position and is not cut off by your front row, assuming you have more than one row.

It really depends on the total screen size. Your head when seated should be at about the 1/3 point of the screen.

It also depends if you are using risers for a second row.

I only have about 77" floor to "sloped" ceiling, so I'm tring to figure out what size of screen I can put on the wall and have room for a center speaker. The room is 20x20' but will not have a second row of seats.

You should have enough space to go with an acoustically transparent screen, with the center channel located behind. I think you will have acoustical issues with a square room, so maybe think about narrowing it a bit (you can use that space for an equipment closet or something). Also, since you have a lot of width, and are limited on height, I would look into using a 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen.

Sounds like you have a lot of space to work with. Maybe you could put the screen on a wall that doesn't slope if you need/want the extra height?

Don't forget to take the offset of your projector into account, as it will also play a part in dictating where your screen is placed on the wall.

I had a similar issue; sloped soffit on all walls; desire to maximise the screen size within a smallish room, while also wanting to build a front stage and have a riser at rear of the room for a second row. I found the riser height calculator really helpful (see the sticky in this forum) and planned the screen size and location to the nearest inch, based on front row viewer eye level being one-third up the screen. It worked like a charm. Check every measurement at least twice !!

Mike

http://tanglewoodbijou.myphotoalbum.com/

So is the rule of thumb first row eye level should be at 1/3rd to 1/6th of the way up the screen? I'm just wondering because it looks like the riser for my 2nd row would have to be ~19" to work at 1/3rd and ~14" to work at 1/6th. Those are some pretty tall risers...

Quite frankly, what I did was to sit in the seat the way I would watch a movie. I put my feet up on the ottoman and marked the wall at the lowest point I could see above my toes. It made the bottom of my screen at about 20" above the floor. It really helps to get out some blue painters tape and mark off the wall where you think it will go. Then sit in your prime seat and determine if that is a comfortable height for you to watch.

I guess that's a good strategy... Although I found out today I will have 6" more than I originally though between the concrete and the bottom of the floor joists so I might be able to make the rear riser a little taller.