Trying to pick screen size for my room...

[Chad]

I'm tossing around the idea of getting a projector and am starting to sort through the issues. First of all, I thought I'd try to pick a screen size, then I'll move on to looking at projectors....unless that's backwards. Here are the dimensions in my room:

Length of room = 18'
Ceiling height = 8'
Width of room is 11', but most of the side is open into the dining room.

I have my main speakers spaced the way I like them and there is currently 87" between them measured at the front. To gain extra screen width, I would probably replace the cylinder sub with a box sub and place the screen above its height. Also, the equipment rack would be moved to the back of the room.

Eyeball height at seating is approx. 39".

Eyeballs to wall is 11'

I would want to get a fixed screen. I'm thinking I'd like to get a screen around 100" diagonal. Thoughts?

If a 100" screen would work, how far off the floor should it be mounted? As a whole, does this room look like a candidate for a projector or is it a bad idea?

[Sonnie]

Your room is almost identical in size to mine. 11.5' W x 19.5' D x 8' H.

97" diagonal is perfect for me... you could probably squeeze out 100", but if I remember correctly, 97" put me at 48" high, which left me open for placing sheets of whatever up there if I ever wanted to try something besides my painted wall.

Here's an old pic, but it will give you an idea of what 97" will look like.

[Chad]

Thanks for the reply. How far are your eyes from the screen?

[Sonnie]

11-12'

[Chad]

How well does that screen height work for you? I read somewhere that screen height should be such that the lower third of the screen is even with your eyes. If I went with a 96" diagonal (47" high) 16:9 screen and my eyes are 39" off of the floor, that would put the bottom of the screen roughly 23" off the floor if my math is correct. That would leave around 2 feet above the screen, which is way, way lower than your screen. Am I way off here? Seems like you would really be looking "up" at your screen at your viewing distance, but maybe my measly 46" RPTV has skewed my perception.

[mike c]

this helped me decide my screen size, seating position, screen height:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...ulator-pro.cfm

im currently sitting 13' from a 108" screen. perfect for HD ... a bit pixelly for SD (that's when you've tasted HD)

[Scuba Diver]

You have a blank slate to work with. If you already have the projector just us the wall and find a size you feel works for you.

[Sonnie]

I would start the top of the screen about 8" from the ceiling. My screen height is just right for me and anyone else who has ever seen it.

I did what FJ suggested to do and determined the right size and height. Here's another pic...



I projected the image to the size I wanted and then framed it out.

[cynical2]

Chad, first of all, Welcome to the Shack!

You may want to try using blue painter's tape on the wall to lay out different screen sizes.

I've found that your seating position (and the corresponding angle of your head), has a lot to do with a comfortable screen height for your viewing. In my dedicated HT, the seating consists of recliners that lay back, so watching the screen at a height that's higher than normal isn't an issue. In fact, if it were as low as recommended by some, it would be quite uncomfortable to watch the movie while reclined...you'd have to pin your chin to your chest to do so.

OTOH, if you are seated upright, the guidelines probably make sense. You don't want to have to look up to tilt your head back to watch. That would be equally uncomfortable.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any more questions as you go through the process.

[Chad]

Just wanted to give an update. After researching projectors for awhile, I ended going with an Epson HC720. I moved the audio rack to the back of the room and placed the HC720 on a bookshelf also in the back of the room. I first experimented with various screen sizes on blackout cloth purchased from JoAnn's. Here's a pic:



I ended up liking a 106" 16:9 size, so I purchased an Elite ezFrame 106" screen in Cinegray. Also, in striving to get a good vertical viewing angle I lowered screen height while installing the Elite screen. I bought a shorter center channel speaker stand to accomodate this. Further, the SVS sub was moved to the right of the right main. Here's a pic:



As you can see, it's still a work in progress...wires on the floor, etc.

Future tasks:

1. In-wall wiring has been ordered and a carpenter will be coming in a couple weeks to help run the wire and install wall plates.
2. Get a new subwoofer. Right now it looks like I'm going probably go with dual AV123 MFW-15's.......one between each main and the center speaker.
3. Get flat paint that is a few shades darker than what is currently on the screen wall and paint the whole room in that color.
4. Purchase and install blackout curtains to help with daytime viewing.

Overall, this is turning out to be a nice living room setup. I'm very happy with the projector so far and the whole setup looks so much cleaner than what I had before!

[cynical2]

Nice gear! Keep us updated!

[basementjack]

looks awesome!