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Help with screen size selection.

1433 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by VanMark, Jan 12, 2006

ChicagoDan

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2005

Hi everyone.

I can use some help selecting a screen size, or if I should even go with a screen, for my home theatre. There will be 9-10' from the seating position to the screen. I went to Abt and the guy was pushing me towards a 92" Dalite tensioned motorized screen with high contrast white matte screen (I cannot affort Stewart), which will cost me around $2000. Is this size too big, just right, or too small?? What about the price? How does that compare to other brands and purchases?

Thanks for the help!!

Dan

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

DanFrancis

· #2 · Dec 21, 2005

Do you need the motorization? If not, you'll save quite a bit of money using a fixed screen.

Size-wise: you sit about the same distance back as I do from an 82" Stewart, so I would say that 82-92 would be a good size for that distance: it puts you in the 1.1-1.5X screen width range.

If you can use a fixed screen, and you can afford 2k for a screen, talk to the guys here at AVS about a fixed Stewart, I'm pretty sure the screen I used reatiled for less than 2k.

Dan

mimason

· #3 · Dec 21, 2005

What PJ do you plan on using?

mike 01hawk

· #4 · Dec 21, 2005

IMO calculations on paper will only get you halfway there (unless you have set restrictrions, wall size, throw, etc)

Once I recieved my Sony HS20 I just shot the image onto the wall to get a feeling for the size/viewing distance etc. I thought I woulda been just fine w/ 100", I ended up going 118".

ChicagoDan

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 21, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimason
What PJ do you plan on using?

I am looking at the Sony HS51, unless there are other suggestions...

Dan

mimason

· #6 · Dec 21, 2005

I have the same pj and I recommend it but SDE can be an issue. I'd recommend at least 1.7x width or higher for diagonal dimension.

ChicagoDan

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 25, 2005

Quote:

I have the same pj and I recommend it but SDE can be an issue. I'd recommend at least 1.7x width or higher for diagonal dimension.\\

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with that TLA, would you please explain?

Thanks,

Dan

jkresh

· #8 · Dec 25, 2005

sde = screen door effect, bassically you see seperation of pixels so image looks like you are looking through a screen door.

merv43

· #9 · Dec 29, 2005

I have the hs 51 projecting on a 92" stewart firehawk screen, I sit about 13' from the screen, there is no screen door visiable, you can start to see screen door at about 8 to 7 feet from the screen, but you have to really look for it. If you are sitting 10 feet away I would not go much bigger than 92". I really should have gone to a 100" screen sitting back 13 feet from the screen. If you can use a fixed wall screen you can afford a stewart screen with your budget. I must tell you the the hs 51 and the firehawk is one awsome combo!! Good luck.

JoeBryant

· #10 · Jan 5, 2006

The easiest way for me to think of it is screen width to seating distance from screen.

Go to a commercial movie theater and pick your "favorite" seat. Then pace off how far it is to the screen from that seat. And then how wide the screen is.

That'll give you an idea of what the ratio is for the "big screen" at the commercial theater.

Understand that in your home theater, how close you can sit will be influenced by the quality of the projector. But most seem to be able to handle 1.5:1 on seating distance:screen width.

I personally went with about 1.4:1 on my Panasonic AE 900 with a Silverstar and love it. I considered going smaller but really glad I went with the bigger screen.

J

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RixHT

· #11 · Jan 9, 2006

So if my seating is at 12 ft I should be good with an 82'' screen? I know that bigger is better but I don't want to over power the room.

(was going to do Benq 7700 until the 8720 came down in price)

mimason

· #12 · Jan 10, 2006

Rix, You can easily do 92" diagonal or a little more. I'd probably go with 106 at that distance. YMMV and DLP let you go bigger than LCD's generally.

RixHT

· #13 · Jan 10, 2006

Thanks. Projector Reviews suggested a 1.0 gain screen I think. I know thats their opinion, does that sound about right?

mimason

· #14 · Jan 10, 2006

Rix, Take a look at the DaLite HP threads. If you can shelf/table mount and don't have too much off axis viewing it's a great,cheap option and word if advice is to take pj reviews with a grain of salt. They often make recommendations using manufacturer specs rather than real world tests.

IMO, first decide what pj you are getting buy it fire it up against a Behr Ultra white wall or Behr Silverscreen paint (or other) then decide on a screen later.

RixHT

· #15 · Jan 10, 2006

Thanks. I'm going to ceiling mount the 8720 (bottom of soffet, 6' above floor, over my head)

Off axis viewing, 10% of time.

Rick

vtgt

· #16 · Jan 11, 2006

Hi, I am confused. I just got the Panasonic AE900U and my seating distance is 16' - 18'. Based on the 1.5x calculation, my screen is too big (screen width = 136). Am I wrong? Thanks.

VanMark

· #17 · Jan 12, 2006

Quote:

Hi, I am confused. I just got the Panasonic AE900U and my seating distance is 16' - 18'. Based on the 1.5x calculation, my screen is too big (screen width = 136). Am I wrong? Thanks.

Crikey! So you're saying that your screen is 157" diagonal!? If that's the case, then yes, I'd say that your screen is definitely way too big for that projector. In fact, 157" is off the chart at projector central for your PJ. Even if you meant 136" diagonal that's pushing it for your PJ even if you're using a high gain screen (around 1.6).

I'd say move your seating closer and go with a smaller screen. Resist the temptation to install the biggest screen you can squeeze into your room.

Just my two cents...

Mark

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

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