Hi and thanks to the forum for years of help!
Construction began on our new house last week and I was hoping you guys could offer some input on a couple of decisions I'll need to make in the next few months. The media room will be a typical 15x22 bonus room over the garage with 4 1/2 ft knee walls and only part (a little over half) of the room will serve as the theater. I plan on building a minimal false wall for an AT screen underneath one of the slopes with everything behind painted flat black and mounting the pj on on the opposite slope for a 5.1 setup. I haven't planned a screen size, but it will be 2.40:1 and as large as the short throw down the width of the room will allow.
I'm looking at spandex for a screen material, particularly because of what I've read here regarding its acoustic properties and the budget friendly price tag. What kind of image quality can I expect with the HC4000 on spandex vs. the unpainted BOC screen we had with the HC1500 in our previous room. I understand enough to know that it's kind of an apples to oranges comparison, but I'm really just hoping to hear that spandex is a viable option and that I can achieve watchable PQ that won't be too dark because of light loss or have some kind of horrible moire issues or anything.
I am also unsure of how the backing for the spandex works. I've read that one layer of spandex will allow some light to leak through and illuminate what's behind it, so my understanding is that I need to back it with a second layer to prevent seeing my frames and speakers that will sit behind the screen. Is this correct and if so, should the two layers be flush against one another or should there be some spacing between the screen layer and the backing layer? It would seem as though there would need to be some separation since the spandex is somewhat visually transparent and the weave patterns rubbing up against one another would interfere with the picture, especially in light areas that are relatively uniform in color like the sky or clouds.
I remember reading a particularly helpful thread about spandex that MississippiMan and Tiddler contributed heavily to, but can't seem to find it. If anybody has the link, it would be much appreciated.
My equipment will be as follows (all have been purchased except the pj):
Mitsubishi HC4000
Onkyo RC-360
3 Polk Audio TSI400's for Left, Right, and Center
2 Polk Audio T-15's for Surrounds
1 BIC America V-1020
PS3
The room will have one window that I am hoping to be able to cover with a removable BOC panel that will either fit snug inside the window or attach to the wall with magnetic plates or velcro or something along those lines. Any thoughts or info on this would also be appreciated.
I plan to make a build thread once construction gets to a point where I can actually start on the room.
Thanks!
Construction began on our new house last week and I was hoping you guys could offer some input on a couple of decisions I'll need to make in the next few months. The media room will be a typical 15x22 bonus room over the garage with 4 1/2 ft knee walls and only part (a little over half) of the room will serve as the theater. I plan on building a minimal false wall for an AT screen underneath one of the slopes with everything behind painted flat black and mounting the pj on on the opposite slope for a 5.1 setup. I haven't planned a screen size, but it will be 2.40:1 and as large as the short throw down the width of the room will allow.
I'm looking at spandex for a screen material, particularly because of what I've read here regarding its acoustic properties and the budget friendly price tag. What kind of image quality can I expect with the HC4000 on spandex vs. the unpainted BOC screen we had with the HC1500 in our previous room. I understand enough to know that it's kind of an apples to oranges comparison, but I'm really just hoping to hear that spandex is a viable option and that I can achieve watchable PQ that won't be too dark because of light loss or have some kind of horrible moire issues or anything.
I am also unsure of how the backing for the spandex works. I've read that one layer of spandex will allow some light to leak through and illuminate what's behind it, so my understanding is that I need to back it with a second layer to prevent seeing my frames and speakers that will sit behind the screen. Is this correct and if so, should the two layers be flush against one another or should there be some spacing between the screen layer and the backing layer? It would seem as though there would need to be some separation since the spandex is somewhat visually transparent and the weave patterns rubbing up against one another would interfere with the picture, especially in light areas that are relatively uniform in color like the sky or clouds.
I remember reading a particularly helpful thread about spandex that MississippiMan and Tiddler contributed heavily to, but can't seem to find it. If anybody has the link, it would be much appreciated.
My equipment will be as follows (all have been purchased except the pj):
Mitsubishi HC4000
Onkyo RC-360
3 Polk Audio TSI400's for Left, Right, and Center
2 Polk Audio T-15's for Surrounds
1 BIC America V-1020
PS3
The room will have one window that I am hoping to be able to cover with a removable BOC panel that will either fit snug inside the window or attach to the wall with magnetic plates or velcro or something along those lines. Any thoughts or info on this would also be appreciated.
I plan to make a build thread once construction gets to a point where I can actually start on the room.
Thanks!
There's always the "Dedicated Home Theater Design & Construction" Forum also, but you can get lost in the "shuffling madness" on that incredibly busy place.
