Just made the formal step to 2.35:1  

I ordered my screen for my theater and will be part of the 2.35:1 club shortly. 150" wide Screen Research 2.35:1 with 4 way masking for the wider than 2.35:1 films and also to go to 1.85 on DVDs without the lens. I would consider that close enough to constant height to call it that.

I planned on using an ISCO III, but that lens and the motorized box is pretty expensive. I still have my Panamorph P-752 and I will use that until they have a motorized option for the Prismasonic H-1000 and then I will get that. I used to have an ISCO II but I sold it. I wish I had kept it now.

I wanted to run 170" wide, but I just couldn't get a screen that big in my system without sitting way too close. As it stands now, I plan on using an IMX lens to alleviate screen door effect and increase apparent resolution.

My theater won't be ready for at least 3 months, I think. I am still 3 weeks away from my closing escrow on the new house and then I have construction after that.

The motorized box for the ISCO III does more than just slide it into place. It also rotates the lens to convert a 16x9 projector into a 4:3 full panel projector. It is 3200 Euros. The ISCO III is 4450 Euros.

Fortunately, the Euro is dropping and is now right around the 1.20 Euros = 1 US Dollar. These are also very low margin items, so you don't find deep discounting from dealers and certainly wouldn't find any discount from a dealer who has one on display.

7,650 Euros for the lens is just out of the budget right now - especially when I still have my old panamorph P-752 to get me by for a while.

You can see from the photo that I probably dropped Art's contrast ratio by at least 10%. I should have worn black. ;)

OK, the room is 30x22x9. There is a full bathroom in the back corner of the theater, so we wil be squaring the wall off and putting the equipment in the other half of the back portion. This will leave a 22x25 room, give or take. Dennis Erskine is doing the acoustic calcs right now and we can hit all the room nodes underneath the platform in the back half of the theater.

The equipment I list will be for the primary system. I should be able to have as many as 4 concurrent audio & video systems in this room, as this will also be my main showroom for my business.

Equipment:

Screen Research ClearPix 2 in white, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, 150" wide with 4 way adjustable masking. The masking will be able to come in from the sides at any ratio down to 1.33:1 and once at 1.33:1, I will still be able to go down to 2.35:1 inside that fame so I can demo other projectors in that room. The screen will have the black backing with it in the event I am testing out speakers that are not dark. The entire screen will be tailor made with acoustically transparent masking and additional damping to quiet the masking motors and hand sewn velour covering on the frame. I will be using both RS-232 and IR to control the screen - RS-232 to tie into a control system and use the Kaleidescape to set aspect ratios automatically for each film's exact measured aspect ratio, plus the remote for TV and D-Theater sources.

Digital Projection 1080p 3-Chip DLP: This should ship Q1 2006, so I will get the first one I can. Until then, I will put in a temporary 720p uit like an Optoma H79, which I will run in the game room later. This Digital Projection 1080p unit should be shipping with a Realta HQV based scaler.

Anamorphic Lens: I will be using the ISCO III fixed in place. At some point I would like to have a motorized option, but right now I will stick with the fixed system. Since this is also a showroom I plan on bringing in a Prismasonic H-1200 to compare for potential clients, but I plan on using the ISCO III as the primary lens.

Cygnus Imaging IMX lens: I run a very large screen and will use this to allow me to sit closer without the pixel structure affecting me.

Genesis 6.1 series speakers: 6.1 mains, 6.1c center, 4 x 6.1sr surrounds, 2 x s2/12t subs, 1 s4/8 sub. This will be a 7.7 system technically, with each channel running full range and flat to 16Hz, plus using the 7.3 sub setting on the Lexicon MC-12b. It will incorporate the Genesis distributed LFE across the front 3 speakers. I will have lots of options for configuring this and assume that I will need to spend a lot of time dialing it in to see exactly how it sounds best. There will be 5 powered subs in the system.

Lexicon MC-12 Balanced V4 EQ w/mic kit: I don't think this component needs any explanation to this crowd.

Lexicon RT-10: For SACD/DVD-Audio. Amazingly, this is going to be the third string DVD player in my system.

Adcom GFA-7807 amp: 300Wx7 and beefy as can be. I have been running the Lexicon LX-7, their flagship amp, and it just didn't have the balls to drive my Genesis speakers. I haven't tested the Adcom with the new Genesis yet (cables too short and the Adcom is too heavy for me to move by myself) but the Adcom gear never had problems with the old Infinity IRS speakers, so this shouldn't be any different.

Simmetry DVP: Top notch scaler and DVD player, but still second string for DVD playback as the Kaleidescape will be the primary player. This is my scaler of choice (unless the Digital Projection Realta scaler can surpass it) with the ability to delay the audio of all inputs to match the delay that deinterlacing and scaling introduces.

Kaleidescape Digital Movie Player: I have already filled up my first server and figure I should be getting a second server when I finish the rest of the theater and other electronics havens in the house. I will tie this into the screen masking control, lights and scaler so that I can fully automate the theatrical experience. I already have my movie night script made up with custom credits and an animated Cinema Wizards logo.

HD-TiVo: No need to explain this one. Nothing like Lost on tap.

JVC D-Theater: Still the king of the hill for picture quality and it doesn't look like HD-DVD/BluRay is going to be worked out anytime soon.

HTPC: I won't actually need this, but if you want to play a video game or WM9 file, do it in style!

D-BOX Odyssee motion simulators: Series 3 controller, 4600p in the back row (formerly called the Odyssee XL) with vertical integrated Odyssee 3-axis system in the front row on both sides. I decided to move the Quest system into the gameroom.

Fortress seating, premium leather with motorized recline and wood front panels that tilt out to reveal cupholders. I will also have light panels on the sides for aisle lighting.

Pronto Pro with RF extender for control.

Lutron lighting: I don't have the lighting plans right now, but I should have it soon. It will have to be automated, of course.

Fiber Optic ceiling: Why stick with just traditional lights when you can add the night sky.

Crestron - just enough to integrate the Kaleidescape with the screen masking system, scaler and lighting. No $10K touchpads for me.

Sensio - When you have everything else, why not 3D?

Power: Balanced power with either the Equitech 5Q or RGPC Powerhouse. I could actually run both if I want, as I have two 240V 50A dedicated circuits run to the theater for balanced power systems.

Anyway, that is it in a nutshell. I think I have all my bases covered. If I am missing anything, by all means let me know.

I chose the tailor made option since it includes additional damping to further quiet down the motors. That same option makes everything on the screen hand sewn from what I hear. Even if the masking isn't pure black, it will certainly be substantially darker than the screen and further help create a nice border around the image.

It is an option from Screen Research.

Art,

I will definitely have a get together when I am done. I am also investigating several different outdoor screen options. I am looking in the 24-28' wide range for use in the park next door to my house. I can hit the screen without taking the projector out of my house just by moving it to one of the bedrooms and shooting through the window.

I left out the power system:

Balanced power with either the Equitech 5Q or RGPC Powerhouse. I could actually run both if I want, as I have two 240V 50A dedicated circuits run to the theater for balanced power systems.

System edited to reflect component changes:

I am going to go straight to a 1080p 3-chip DLP and run 3-axis Odyssee on every seat.

Well, my screen came in last week. I am going to have to use a forklift to get it into the room through a window, as I cannot make the turns down the hallway. I originally planned on lifting it up some scaffolding, but I was a little shocked at the shipping weight - 436 lbs. 4 way motorized masking systems are HEAVY!

My ISCO III lenses will ship out next week, so that looks good as well.

Unfortunately, my contracter won't be able to start on the room until October now. I still hope to have the system running by Thanksgiving, but I am a little worried about the timeframe at this point.

Waiting is killing me. All my speakers are still boxed up from moving and I am down to TV Speakers in the living room - Ughh!!!

I will certainly be sharing some feedback during the buildout and plan on having several open house events. I might just have an open house weekend movie marathon and show a bunch of films and just take reservations for people who want to see an entire movie in one of the "good seats" (as opposed to overflow seating or on the floor).