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Recommendations for ceiling mounting the Sony Pearl

post #1 of 26
12/25/06 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
I'm looking at upgrading my Optoma H78DC3 to a Sony Pearl. My theater has a fairly low ceiling (7') so I'm currently using a low profile Chief mount to keep the projector snug against the ceiling.

Can those of you with Pearls installed please post the brand and model mounts used and pictures if you have them?

thanks,

billmac
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post #2 of 26
12/25/06 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmackrell View Post

I'm looking at upgrading my Optoma H78DC3 to a Sony Pearl. My theater has a fairly low ceiling (7') so I'm currently using a low profile Chief mount to keep the projector snug against the ceiling.

Can those of you with Pearls installed please post the brand and model mounts used and pictures if you have them?

thanks,

billmac

Call Jason at AVScience, He has a very low profile Sony Pearl mount that works great. It is the Chief Industries RPA Series mount.
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post #3 of 26
12/26/06 at 6:09am
Chief RPA-020

Side View

Front View
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post #4 of 26
12/26/06 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 
Steve,

Thanks for the part number and pics. It looks like thats the same chief mount I'm using with my H78dc3. It would be great to be able to use the same mount with the Pearl.

What is your ceiling height and distance to the screen? Also did you purchase the Pearl locally? Calibrated?

Regards,

billmac
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post #5 of 26
12/26/06 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmackrell View Post

Steve,

Thanks for the part number and pics. It looks like thats the same chief mount I'm using with my H78dc3. It would be great to be able to use the same mount with the Pearl.

What is your ceiling height and distance to the screen? Also did you purchase the Pearl locally? Calibrated?

Regards,

billmac

That soffit height you see is ~7' from the floor. (The ceilings in front and back are 8').

I'm just over 14' from a 116" wide (133" diag) Da-Lite Hi-Power.

I got the Pearl via AVS. Alas the calibration offer wasn't on when I ordered, but I'd do that in a heartbeat.

You also have a PM.
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post #6 of 26
12/26/06 at 10:45pm
scaesare: Nice setup, have something similar, was wondering how that Screen is working in combo with the Pearl? I just purchased a Pearl and was looking for another screen. Was looking at the Vutec Silverstar but Tryg, just reviewed the screen you have I don't see it on Da-lites site. PM me would love to know where a good place to purchase one is, looking for a 16:9 92" Thanks...

G
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post #7 of 26
12/27/06 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garman View Post

scaesare: Nice setup, have something similar, was wondering how that Screen is working in combo with the Pearl? I just purchased a Pearl and was looking for another screen. Was looking at the Vutec Silverstar but Tryg, just reviewed the screen you have I don't see it on Da-lites site. PM me would love to know where a good place to purchase one is, looking for a 16:9 92" Thanks...

G

The Hi Power screen has really worked out well for me. The gain and ambient light rejection allows me some ambient light in the room for things like sports or other activity. Also zero hotspotting.

Although I'm not getting optimum gain with a ceiling mounted PJ, it's still significant. There also is some drop off as you get to the sides of the room, but it's a small tradeoff for me that is outweighed by the positives.

No need for PM's, call AVS for a great price on the Da-Lite screens...
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post #8 of 26
1/10/07 at 9:30am
I recently purchased the Pearl. I am in the process of ceiling mounting the unit. I am having trouble determining the exact distance from the screen to the projector lense. Sony does offer a range, however it is my understanding that an inaccurate placement will result in inadequate performance.

My room is approximately 14' X 22' with 8' ceilings. The screen is 16:9, 106" vertical. Has anyone had this problem? Is there an accurate formula for the exact distance?

I went to projector central. Their calculations estimated a distance outside of the maximum recommended by Sony.
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post #9 of 26
1/10/07 at 10:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fddanna View Post

I recently purchased the Pearl. I am in the process of ceiling mounting the unit. I am having trouble determining the exact distance from the screen to the projector lense. Sony does offer a range, however it is my understanding that an inaccurate placement will result in inadequate performance.

My room is approximately 14' X 22' with 8' ceilings. The screen is 16:9, 106" vertical. Has anyone had this problem? Is there an accurate formula for the exact distance?

I went to projector central. Their calculations estimated a distance outside of the maximum recommended by Sony.

I am going to hang my projector next week. I used the formulas from the Pearl manual I downloaded. My 110" diagonal screen gave me a minimum distance of 135.55". I will probably end up somewhere around 140" back from the screen.

There is a similar formula for the height of the projector in the manual. I will need to include an extension pipe to reach the maximum acceptable height. You can make a similar calculation but with your low ceiling (mine is 9' 4") you can probably mount the projector directly to the ceiling.

John
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post #10 of 26
1/10/07 at 12:31pm
From what I understand, the center of the lense should not be any higher than the top edge of the screen.
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post #11 of 26
1/11/07 at 6:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fddanna View Post

I recently purchased the Pearl. I am in the process of ceiling mounting the unit. I am having trouble determining the exact distance from the screen to the projector lense. Sony does offer a range, however it is my understanding that an inaccurate placement will result in inadequate performance.

My room is approximately 14' X 22' with 8' ceilings. The screen is 16:9, 106" vertical. Has anyone had this problem? Is there an accurate formula for the exact distance?

I went to projector central. Their calculations estimated a distance outside of the maximum recommended by Sony.

Are you sure you plugged in correct numbers? You mention 106" vertical dimension for your screen, which wouldn't even fit in your room.
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post #12 of 26
1/11/07 at 6:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fddanna View Post

From what I understand, the center of the lense should not be any higher than the top edge of the screen.

Actully the lens can be up to 15% of the vertical screen size HIGHER than the top edge.
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post #13 of 26
1/11/07 at 8:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scaesare View Post

Are you sure you plugged in correct numbers? You mention 106" vertical dimension for your screen, which wouldn't even fit in your room.

The actual screen dimensions are 52" X 92" or 4.3' X 7.67'. The wall that the screen is mounted is 14'w X 8'h, Im not sure what wont fit. Please advise...
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post #14 of 26
1/11/07 at 1:49pm
"106" vertical" that would be a huge screen...do you mean diagonal?

Now, should we mount the Pearl at it's minimum or maximum? I have a completely black room.
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post #15 of 26
1/11/07 at 2:45pm
Quote:


The actual screen dimensions are 52" X 92" or 4.3' X 7.67'. The wall that the screen is mounted is 14'w X 8'h, Im not sure what wont fit. Please advise...

We need to know the height of the top of the screen. That has a huge impact on where you hang the projector. You will need to place the projector at least 112.25" back from the screen.

John
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post #16 of 26
1/11/07 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrager View Post

"106" vertical" that would be a huge screen...do you mean diagonal?

Now, should we mount the Pearl at it's minimum or maximum? I have a completely black room.

I am sorry. Trying to multitask didnt exactly work. 106" diagonal.
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post #17 of 26
1/12/07 at 6:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fddanna View Post

The actual screen dimensions are 52" X 92" or 4.3' X 7.67'. The wall that the screen is mounted is 14'w X 8'h, Im not sure what wont fit. Please advise...

As I said, and another poster noted, a 106" vertical screen would not even fit in your room.

The Pearl's throw can be from 1.4x to 2.4x the width of your screen.
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post #18 of 26
1/12/07 at 11:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scaesare View Post

Chief RPA-020

Side View

Front View

When using this mount, what is the distance between the ceiling and the absolute bottom of the projector? Can it "squeeze" any closer?
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post #19 of 26
1/12/07 at 3:20pm
The reason I ask about max vs. min distance is that it seems mounting at min. distance improves brightness while at the max. improves blacks (contrast?). Just what I've gleened from various posts. Anyone have an opinion?

Steve-how did you decide on your mounting distance?
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post #20 of 26
1/14/07 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bambam View Post

When using this mount, what is the distance between the ceiling and the absolute bottom of the projector? Can it "squeeze" any closer?

I believe it's 2-5/8", and that's as close as you can get.
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post #21 of 26
1/14/07 at 10:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrager View Post

The reason I ask about max vs. min distance is that it seems mounting at min. distance improves brightness while at the max. improves blacks (contrast?). Just what I've gleened from various posts. Anyone have an opinion?

Steve-how did you decide on your mounting distance?

I was going with a larger screen (~120" wide), so I went with the short end of the range (~14') to maximize brightness.
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post #22 of 26
1/15/07 at 6:24am
Does anyone know if the Chief RPA-20 will be able to be mounted in a drop ceiling, as my ceiling height is also 7'. Or do I need a pole type mount that goes through the tile and mounted on a ceiling joist?
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post #23 of 26
1/15/07 at 6:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobaer View Post

Does anyone know if the Chief RPA-20 will be able to be mounted in a drop ceiling, as my ceiling height is also 7'. Or do I need a pole type mount that goes through the tile and mounted on a ceiling joist?

It has 4 bolt holes, unles they make a specific T-Bar flange.

In either case, I'd be concerned about the projector... .do you want to hang $5000 worth of a 20+ pound projector on a drop ceiling?
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post #24 of 26
1/15/07 at 9:21am
I am watching the installer hang my projector right now.

The picture looks good but I need to make some fine tuning adjustments to the Chief mount. The installer is a contractor, not a home theater guru so I get to make all the important decisions.

I read the manual for the Chief RPA mount and it has some vague instructions about adjustments for pitch, roll and yaw. Based on the input from a level, I think I just need to adjust roll slightly. I tried loosening 4 screws as recommended but not much happened. The fourth screw is really tight and the projector is not moving at all. Should it be this difficult to loosen the last screw? Once the screw is loosened I hope the projector does not move much.

Does anyone have some suggestions on the most efficient way to make this kind of adjustment?

Once I have the picture level is it better to make horizontal adjustments via the projector or should I use the yaw modifications on the mount?



John
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post #25 of 26
1/16/07 at 5:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHL View Post

I am watching the installer hang my projector right now.

The picture looks good but I need to make some fine tuning adjustments to the Chief mount. The installer is a contractor, not a home theater guru so I get to make all the important decisions.

I read the manual for the Chief RPA mount and it has some vague instructions about adjustments for pitch, roll and yaw. Based on the input from a level, I think I just need to adjust roll slightly. I tried loosening 4 screws as recommended but not much happened. The fourth screw is really tight and the projector is not moving at all. Should it be this difficult to loosen the last screw? Once the screw is loosened I hope the projector does not move much.

Does anyone have some suggestions on the most efficient way to make this kind of adjustment?

Once I have the picture level is it better to make horizontal adjustments via the projector or should I use the yaw modifications on the mount?



John

I think you are going to have to get that screw loose.

You want the projector "square" with the screen... you can then use the projector's H & V shift adjutments to move the picture around without it becoming trapazoidal.
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post #26 of 26
1/16/07 at 3:17pm
Chief which makes the RPA-020 has attachments that will allow you to mount the mount just about anywhere you want
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