Projector Question w/Floor Plan

A lot of people put projectors in rooms like that. Its not the best situation for a projector because of the open environment. If I was a bachelor and owned the place and could do anything I wanted to the decor as in dark ceiling, walls and furniture I would put a projector in for sure. But if you have a family to deal with a projector can't replace a TV in an open space like that. If you want the projector for movie or game night get a pull down screen over the TV for just those special occasions. A 5020 would be over kill for black levels unless you can get it very dark including the decor, but you might need the lens shift. Checkout the projector calculators and different projectors for your throw distance and screen size. Good Luck

Another option for a projector in that room is a specialty screen like Screen Innovations Black Diamond. These screens are made for these type of situations but are considerably more expensive than regular screens and would cost more than the projectors you are considering. But still less expensive than 100" flat panel.

A wouldn't go a white screen for your environment there is just too much degradation with ambient light. There are a lot of screen options and the Black Diamond is probably the most expensive. Are you looking for a pull down or fixed screen? What are you willing to spend on a screen and we can make some suggestions?

If you're looking for a retroreflective like the BD, you can get a 106" pulldown da-lite High Power (or High Power High contrast) for $233 shipped:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/117871-REG/Da_Lite_78672_78672_Model_B_Manual.html
A fixed screen version is around $650 shipped.

If you want the High Power High Contrast, I think its the same cost (you'd have to chat with dalite's support first) but B&H would have to notate that when they order the screen (the dalite chat would say how to notate it.)


Now, what the retroreflective screen won't work on is if you plan to view tv from way off-angle (like if you were in the dining/kitchen area on your map). It also wouldn't work that well if plan people to view from the couches on the side like on the diagram you pasted.

I don't know if you would "need" all that extra gain but it would depend on whether you want to use with the blinds only closed or completely blacked out and what other ambient lighting you might have on sometimes. I use the 106" with dalite's previous HP (2.8) material and I leave it pulled down 100% of the time (I got pull-down because it was ~1/3 the cost -- the Model B pulldown maxes out at 106" as the largest though).

Unless you had direct sunlight coming in, even with lighting up fairly high in the room you'd still get a decent picture over from viewing area situated in line near the projector. (Especially seeing as how you can change the projector mode to Cinema when it's dark and to living room or other bright mode if you have a lot of ambient light.)
Edited by JustAnEE - 3/21/13 at 10:04am

Prices for 100", a good size for dealing with ambient light. Remember prices are MSRP you may find the, for less. For ~$600 MSRP the Elite Screen EZ Frame with Cinegray material. If you up the budget a little more the Da-lite Da-Snap screen with High Contrast Cinema Vision Material $1172 MSRP without velvet on the frame with the Velvet add $167. I'd recommend the velvet. You can also get the High power with this frame but is $1233 without velvet. If you are handy and can build a wood frame around the screen the Da-lite Perm wall is a little less expensive for the High Contrast Cinema Vision material at $748, high power $818. This can make a very nice look if done well.

The high power is a good choice if you are sitting in front of the screen off to the side not as good. It will be bright with a high power and you could go a little larger. With your open area I wouldn't normally recommend it but if you are only going to watch in front of the screen it could work well.