Riser Height Calculator - Page 4

SUPER cool! Thanks a bunch.

What's the general consensus on offset seating? I will have 3 front, 2 rear... not really sure how to take this into account when using the calculator. Im pretty sure I will need less height on the riser than if I had a 3+3 seating configuration, without the offset. With 3+2, the rear viewers will get to see between the front viewer's heads.

Thoughts?

No one care to comment? I figure this is something that needed further discussion!

Unless your screen is narrow enough that it can fit between the two viewers' heads in front of you, they will be in the way regardless of seating configuration (3-3, or 4-3, etc). Their head will just be in the way at a different position along the bottom of the viewable image.

Is there any posted info on the average hight of someones head/eyes on different seating?

Figure the average person is 5'10" or 6'.

The reason I ask is im limited on ceiling hight, and I want to go with as big of a screen as i can, but i would like to know what my options are for seating.

I don't think so, but if somebody wants to do the research I would post/link to it right on the calculator. I guess we could also collect it right here if people want to post their own measurements (standing height, seating manufacturer/model, seated floor to eye height, seated floor to top of head height).

Personally I think you can stick with the default numbers and it will work out pretty well. I mean it may never be perfect, but at least in your own theater you can ask tall people to sit on the back row. Of course I'm not very sensitive to this problem, so I know this won't work for everybody.

Very handy program. Thanks for saving me a few "steps".

Please explain to me why the "default number" for front row head height is 42", while the back row head height default number is only 36". Does that calculation presume children or midgets in the back rows? It makes a huge difference in riser height if you switch to using the same head height for front and back rows.

IB

Because the back row number is actually eye height, since the image needs to clear the front row heads but only needs to reach the back row eyes.

Thanks. That makes sense.

IB

Anyone having trouble with the calculator - seems to be hanging up on calculation - tried IE, Firefox and Safari (from different computers, networks and firewalls).

db

Seems to be working fine, but I'll take a more in-depth look at it tomorrow. The only thing I see in the error log are divide by zero errors (user input errors). I'll add some input verification and error handling so those can't happen anymore.

-Jake

Worked again for a few days and died. Sproadic (never had trouble in the past).

I've DLd the .xls file for now.

db

Great calculator, it confirmed my height idea of 12"

I added the input validation today. please PM me with the values you are submitting if you have any problems in the future. Also, please note that the URL changed for the calculator. I don't think this could be causing any problems, but I will probably let the old domain expire next year.

-Jake

How would one calculate for a 3rd row? Just make another equal to the 2nd row?

quick question, should my front row look up a little and my second row be looking dead center of the screen(with full view of screen as well) is this correct??

Good question. I am actually at this point also so this question could not have come at a better time. The way I look at it is that my first row will be the "premium" everyday seat so I will have the eyeballs in the middle of the bottom 1/3 of the screen, then using the riser height calculator, determine what the riser height should be for the second row to clear the heads of the first row.

My first concern is that my riser may need to be 14", so I'll have to use 2x12 instead of 2x10 or 2x8.

Second concern is if the screen is placed a bit higher for the first row to be looking up slightly, what would be the limit before neck strain sets in. I will have recliners in the first row and real theater seats in the back row.

You might want to change your web links. They lead to a sextoys site.

I really appreciated the perspectives regarding riser height. We have just started our process for a 13Wx25Lx7.5H HT.

We originally had a 10'Wx7'Lx6"H riser for the second row roughed in when I realized that it may not be high enough for people in our 4 w/loveseat Pallisers to clear the first row of 4 w/loveseat Pallisers. My 92 inch diagonal screen has to be about 35 inches from the floor.

After seeing all of the commentary on this thread as well as the calculator, I expanded the riser to 12" with a 22" wide, 6" front step. This also leaves ample room to be on the top part of the riser before seating down (about 22" as well). I am glad I started with a decent sized 7' footprint. My wife thought I was obsessing and being overly anal about the whole thing.

Once my contractor made the change, it was clearly the right move. I will not have any issues seeing the full screen from the second row. I also ended up with just under 6'8" height from the riser to the ceiling.

Thanks again!

Check your building codes (there is discussion on page 1 about this). Quick answer -- under 8" / step should be ok.

Great tool! I was guessing I needed 12" and when I measured and punched the numbers into the calculator, it came up 11 5/16.

Thanks a million!

Very cool program. Thanks for sharing.
RG

Just wanted to add my thanks to the rest. Used this calculator to determine my riser height and it worked beautifully to give me a riser height of 12". Showed a movie last night utilizing my new Berkline 099's...not a complaint out of anyone!

Just wanted to say thanks for the riser formula. Worked like a charm.

Here are some pictures of the riser.

pretty good

Well, one way you can get around a riser is to create a bar behind your main seating area and have that seating be higher bar stools. Just looking for the more comfortable barstools that someone can sit in for the duration of a movie. Another advantage is that the rear seating area is then closer to the main seating area.

A friend went the opposite way and sunk his floor for the main seating area by about a foot into his basement (the extra height might have improved his audio response also). Then he built a table height bar directly behind the main sunken seating area [bar height is just below the average top of heads] and uses some very comfortable upholstered, high-back office chairs for bar seating. It brings six people close together in his 14 foot wide room.

What is the seat height for the average/representative reclining HT chair?

17ish" like normal chairs?

[quote=trunks;5243133]Rob -
I made a simple script based on this forumla.. I hope you don't mind.

thanks,
jake



NICE !!
Kudos on my first post.