[tjmaxwell]

Hi guys,


I've been reading post after post on these forums, and I had pretty much decided a long time ago that when we moved to our new house, I was going to go the projector route for home theatre in our basement.


Well, we finally decided on a house and we'll be moving in at the end of June. So, now is the time for home theatre shopping! However, it looks like space is going to be a little tight, so I'm hoping you experts will be able to help me decide what options would be best for my situation.


Here is a picture of the basement:

http://www.squaresound.com/basement.jpg


As you can see, I'll have good control over the lighting, and it's already wired for home theatre (which is a bonus), so I'd really like to keep the same kind of configuration. I'd like to put a wall-mounted screen where the entertainment center is now, and probably will be placing the projector on the small shelf on the opposite wall.


Being that my theatre budget is fairly tight, I've narrowed down my projector choice to either the InFocus X1, or the Sanyo Z2. I plan to use an HTPC for DVD viewing, and an Onkyo home-in-a-box for audio. I also have all three console game systems to hook up. I plan to run a VGA cable from the HTPC to the X1 if I get it, or use DVI for the Z2. I'll then use S-Video/Component for Digital Cable and the game systems.


My concern is, there's only about 8-10 feet (I don't have an exact measurement) between the two walls. According to the InFocus projector tool, that would allow somewhere in the neighborhood of 60" - 72" of screen space. Now I know that the main draw of a projector is the huge screen, and this wouldn't be so huge. Basically, do you think it's in my best interests to still go the projector route? If I understand properly, the picture should be very sharp and clear since it's smaller, and 60 to 72 inches is still a larger screen than most RPTVs offer.


Also, can you recommend a good, relatively inexpensive screen for this situation? I'd like to use the same screen to display 16x9 DVD movies, and 4:3 television. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Jonty12]

A friend of mine has the same space situation. 9 ft throw. he chose a sharp pga10x after comparing to the 6100, x1, s1, and a few others. i fully agreed with the choice -- it was no contest. the big thing was rainbows for everyone watching. his 4 year old even asked about the cool colours waving on the screen. anything under 4x wheel (and he didn't test a 5x wheel due to cost) and all were annoyed. the sharp's picture was as good or better than (in our opinions) the dlps as well.


his screen with his just under 9 ft throw is 76" (possibly 80"), so a good size can be had with that size room.

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

I think you should consider projecting along the long axis of the room. As you noted, at ~10' (across the room), you're not going to get a very large image (and you really wouldn't want a very large image when viewing from that close).


If you can't/won't project along the long axis of the room, so that you can get a larger picture, then I think it makes sense to consider a different type of display (like a RPTV). The small increase in picture size is more than offset by the ease of use issues. This is just my opinion.


For good, cheap screens, see the multitudinous DIY threads in the screens section.

 

[Ximori]

I agree with the above. however, a good solution might be the panasonic 500ae b/c o f 2 things: less screen door effect than the sanyo z2 from your viewing distance and you can obtain larger screen size, like 90-100" i think.

 

[tjmaxwell]

Thanks for the opinions. As for the screen, I'd like to stay away from the DIY options for now. I just don't have the time or the patience to be messing with it. Perhaps there is a Da-Lite or similar screen that would meet my needs?


I have considered long and hard about using the longer axis of the room, but that would force me to place furniture right in the middle of the room (the room stretches back a ways), and I'm not sure I want to go that route if at all possible.


The way I see it, even if I were only to have about a 50" - 60" screen, that should still be lest costly than a RPTV at around the same size - even if I went with the more costly Z2 projector. Sure, I'm not utilizing the projector to its full capacity, but it's still cheaper, less cluttered, and would take up much less space right? Or would that size of a screen still be too large for my proximity to it?

 

[MikeRP]

I had a room upstairs that was very similiar to this and I tried doing the HT along that axis. Let's just say I don't think you'll be satisfied with the results and you'll eventuall want to go the other way. I couldn't stand iot after a while.


Sound will be a real issue that you'll be limited by and PJ size will be another concern.


I really think you ought to put a lot of thougth into rotating the axis. Look at your couch and the spekaer placement in the rear............you won't get good sound in the back that way but if you rotate it and be creative you can do it.


Now I see the ceiling looks like drywall and I don't know which way your floor joists run but it looks like you could get the PJ cabling and electical into the duct on the right and get back to where you'd mount the PJ.


You have much more fun if you invest the time to switch it this way.


Go for it!


Mike

 

[victor-eyd]

Your biggest problem is throw. Looking at the room, I estimate around 8ft from the front edge of the ent. ctr to the back wall (if the seating and ent. ctr stay where they are). On an A10X, that'll render you a max of 75" 4:3. You'll be sitting at on 1.5 screen width and if you start to go closer (and you will because your head if about 1ft+ in front of the wall), you'll start seeing screendoor. Whether you have a Z2 or X1, at this distance you're too close.


How about this: Move the screen to the wall where the window is (, and orient your furniture to face that direction. If you're still using the ent ctr in the photo, simply push it to the corner of the room and insert this:

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...ter=tv%20mount


Either get a manual or electric drop down screen or add casters to what this guy did (if you go DIY):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=406441



Your only concern is running a new set of rear speaker wires (but you were going to run video cable anyway to the pj, weren't you?


Victor

 

[pheroy]

While there could be some advantages to using the long axis of the room, remember that for FP screen size what you need to be concerned with is not so much the absolute distance, but the ratio of seating distance to screen width. So for your 8-9' seating distance, a screen size of 72" would be similar to a 100" screen at 11-12'. 72" at 9' is a 1.5 ratio (108" / 72"), which is fairly close for most people.


Another potentially nice benefit is that you will gain some image brightness with a smaller screen size. But if you ever want to have a second row of seating your guests will have to be comfy in some more of those little armchairs in your picture.

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

I'm very much a novice around here, but this is what I've found.


It's not just a matter of how big can you get the screen... it's how big of a screen can you view comfortably from your viewing distance.


A 30 degree arc from one edge of the screen to the other is a generally recommended number.


For a 16:9 screen...

at 8 ft viewing distance (your head to midpoint of screen), 57" diagonal

at 9 ft, 66"

at 10 ft, 73"

at 14 ft, 103" (I knew there was a reason I needed a 104" screen!)


Yes you can go larger (if you are a front row of the theater person) , or lower (if you like to sit in the back).


Also consider who will be using the room... do your wife/SO/kids use it? Are they capable of operating a theater system without getting frustrated or breaking something?


Will you have friends over to watch the big game/event? (bank on it!) Where will they all sit? If you do it on the short axis, they'll all have to line up against the wall. If its along the long axis, you'll have a "buffer zone" of space behind the main seating that will still be comfortably viewable.


If you set it up on the short axis, and change your mind later, you'll have to buy another (bigger) screen.


And I'm NOT saying you can't do it the way you planned, but that you really need to consider how it will work in your space.


Hang out here a while... read all you can... you'll figure out what works best for you.


Best,

Dave


edit: I see pheroy beat me to it!

 

[tjmaxwell]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Remember, I haven't moved into this house yet, so the furniture you see does not belong to me. I would probably get a small vertical cabinet for my components, or perhaps a squatty horizontal one to fit under the screen.


From what I've read, it seems that perhaps an RPTV might be a better choice for me. Still, I like the idea of the projector because it wouldn't be so cluttered, and it would take up much less space. It would also handle 4:3 and 16:9 without much fuss (if I'm not mistaken). I'd also be perfectly happy with a 55" to 60" screen, and I could be wrong, but this would be a good size for my viewing distance. It would still seem to be cheaper for me to go this route. Any other advice?

 

[Suutar]

I would still go long axis for one other reason: your rear speakers can actually be behind you instead of beside

 

[markam]

Quote:

a screen size of 72" would be similar to a 100" screen

that may technically be true, but from a perception standpoint, your screen will seem smaller and smaller every day. In 6 months, you will kicking yourself that you don't have a 100" screen.


Every day I think about rewiring and rearranging the entire basement, just so I can have a screen that is 1-2 feet bigger.