[batdude]

I have an HT1000 projector that is native 4:3 aspect ratio. I am stuck deciding on what size screen to use. Given my wall size and the entertainment center I want to build around the screen, I have a useable wall space of 92 inches wide by 61.5 inches high. I want to have a 2.5 inch black border around the screen. So here are my possible solutions:


1) Choice #1 is to use a 4:3 screen that is 75 inches wide by 56 inches high. This would give a 16:9 area of 75 inches wide by 42 inches high and a 16:9 diagonal of only 86 inches. Everything works fine but this is a disappointing screen size for a front projection system!


2) Choice #2 is to maximize the 16:9 viewing area since we would use the projector mainly for widescreen DVD material. So make it 87 inches wide by 49 inches high for a diagonal of 100 inches. Perfect! But the problem is that the equivalent 4:3 screen will not fit in the given area so I would have to crop the image at the top. Best I could do is 75 inches wide by 56 inches high. I would have to zoom in a bit when viewing 4:3 material to get it to fit and there would be unused screen material to the left and right - a real odd ball looking screen size too. So alot of zooming in and out on the projector given the material.


3) Just build a normal 100 inch diagonal 16:9 screen. The HT1000 projector has a mode where it can show a small 4:3 aspect picture on a 16:9 physical screen. Might be disappointing because I kind of like the big 4:3 pictures and have some 4:3 DVD material. Would also like to show slides from a PC which are also 4:3. However, I have to admit that this would work with fiddling with projector zoom.


See the problem? I am impressed by the experts on this forum so I throw this out to you. Which of these is the best choice?

 

[C Clark]

From a screen size perspective, I vote for option 2. This provides the largest screen for most DVD material. I've found that too large a screen for 4:3 material doesn't work for me.


I'm not familiar with the HT1000 zoom capability, but if it has reasonable control ability, then there shouldn't be much of an issue.


I would experiment with the option you're considering before I committed to a final design choice.

 

[batdude]

After experimenting a bit last night on a bare wall I found the following:


1. That the optimal screen size of 100 inch diagonal 16:9 does not look good because my room is too small and the couch is too close.


2. That a 69 inch wide screen allows for both 16:9 and 4:3. Essentially it would be a 4:3 screen with 16:9 material shown in the middle.


3. That At 69 inch wide the picture is sufficiently crisp (no screen door effect (SDE)) and still appears quite large from where we sit.


4. That I will probably round up to 70 inches wide and the screen still fits in the designated area.


5. That I am bit disappointed that I couldn't create a 100 inch diagonal 16:9 picture but it just doesn't look good. At the distance to the viewing seat the SDE is visible.


6. That the HT1000 has so many settings that it could take months to be satisfied that you have the perfect picture.