Home Theater Projector

[walt227]

I just bought a new house a couple months ago and it has an upstairs theater room that's approximately 13x21. I have a flat-screen in there now, but would like to install a projector. I am clueless as to what to get and have no desire to spend an outrageous amount of money on making this happen. So...what do I need?

[southcakalac]

What do you want? Projector with fixed screeen? A screen that rolls up and down? Surround sound?

Let me know what you would like to see. That is actually what I do for a living.

I can recommend projectors, screens and how to wire the room if you need it.

[j2sgam]

Lets start with the video side of things...A projector and screen -You need to know what size screen to make an accurate decision on the right projector. Are you leavin the flatscreen for everyday viewing? Then you will want a drop-down/motorized screen. Moving the LCD/plasma and dedicating the room to "a theater"? Go with a fixed, although I would prol'ly keep the flatscreen and go with the more expensive motorized. Gotta go, I will finish answering in a bit...

[walt227]

What do you want? Projector with fixed screeen? A screen that rolls up and down? Surround sound?

Let me know what you would like to see. That is actually what I do for a living.

I can recommend projectors, screens and how to wire the room if you need it.

I'm not sure what i want to be honest! lol. I'm a total noob with this. My neighbor donated an old projector for garage football and I got to thinking about how cool it would be to hook up my theater room. The room is off a gameroom, so the only purpose is to watch TV/Movies. What would you recommend? I' m not opposed to a fixed screen if that is advantageous. Of course, a motorized screen is pimp and all...

I have surround sound already (minus me being too lazy to hook up the rear speakers).

I'm decent at running wires, but any suggstions would be appreciated!

Thanks, South Cak!

[walt227]

Lets start with the video side of things...A projector and screen -You need to know what size screen to make an accurate decision on the right projector. Are you leavin the flatscreen for everyday viewing? Then you will want a drop-down/motorized screen. Moving the LCD/plasma and dedicating the room to "a theater"? Go with a fixed, although I would prol'ly keep the flatscreen and go with the more expensive motorized. Gotta go, I will finish answering in a bit...

LCD can go.

[j2sgam]

Looks like between southcakalac and me, you have all the info that you need. This is what I do also. How much are you trying to spend? or, rather, what is your budget? What is important to you? Video quality? Big picture? Saving money?

Check this out for cost effective equipment...

[walt227]

Looks like between southcakalac and me, you have all the info that you need. This is what I do also. How much are you trying to spend? or, rather, what is your budget? What is important to you? Video quality? Big picture? Saving money?

Check this out for cost effective equipment...

To be honest I have not set a budget because I'm clueless as to what I need---I know that sounds stupid...sorry. In order: Money, picture quality, size. I would like to stay around 1k for hardware if that's reasonable. I generally do my homework on things like this and end up buying XYZ because it's the most sensible choice all the way around---does that make sense?

Thank you guys for all your help!!!

The bottom of the wall is 12'3 and the top of the wall is 5'2. Here's a crappy cell phone pic standing in the middle of the room.

[shinner]

Personally, I'd stick with the biggest flat screen I could afford. IMO, a projected picture is never going to be a good as a direct view tv. Just isn't. Now, if you're the type who thinks the picture at a movie theater is better than what you can get at home, you'd probably be better off with a projector.

To me, the lure of the movie theater is the size of the picture and the volume of the sound.....if theaters projected on a 60 or 70" screen, no one would show up.

If you're wow'd by a soft picture because it's 200" and covers you entire wall then I guess projector is the way to go. Me, I'm happy with 60" of nice sharp picture.

[walt227]

Personally, I'd stick with the biggest flat screen I could afford. IMO, a projected picture is never going to be a good as a direct view tv. Just isn't. Now, if you're the type who thinks the picture at a movie theater is better than what you can get at home, you'd probably be better off with a projector.

To me, the lure of the movie theater is the size of the picture and the volume of the sound.....if theaters projected on a 60 or 70" screen, no one would show up.

If you're wow'd by a soft picture because it's 200" and covers you entire wall then I guess projector is the way to go. Me, I'm happy with 60" of nice sharp picture.

Point taken, but I have a room truly meant for a projector. I can have 100" 1080p projector turnkey for $1300 or so...

[j2sgam]

shinner has a point, you still need the screen after you pay what ever for the projector. Same site, but what do you think about this? or a step up from the last? Or, this just hit the market, 82"DLP...

I am a big fan of DLP, I own a 52" Mits. I think its a better picture than any LCD or plasma, and you get more picture for less money.

If you decided a projector is what you want, and you are tryin to save a few bucks, try this for the screen. We use it in our office, just havent ever put it in somebody's house...

[shinner]

I just don't like a soft picture...all I'm saying. There's no way in hell that any movie in any theater (including the famed IMAX) looks better than when it's released on Bluray and shown on pretty much any of the HDTV technologies available. I know there are people who will argue that from now until the end of time because they prefer the "theater look", but to me, personally, I prefer a sharper picture with better contrast.

(Oh, and I thought a lot about putting a projector in my house before settling on the plasma.)

[d-dave]

Respectfully, I disagree Shinner. I've seen some real good home theatre set ups before using projectors, and I think, when you get a good screen, a decent projector (even at 720p), and a good 5.1 system, you can really bring the theatre home with a razor sharp picture.

As with most systems whether or not you actually bother to set and calibrate your display and audio will determine how good it actually is. I compare my friends TV to mine. I have an almost 3 year old JVC 720p LCoS RPTV that I've actually attempted some level of callibration (sorry, not worth a $200 trip from an ISF professional). He has a pretty new 52" 1080p Samsung LCD, which itself is a great TV. I think his is still set to torch mode (out of the box). Because I've tried to set mine up, it has as natural a look as I can get it. His people look like lobsters, but the green grass is amazingly green (not the best...but what he likes I guess). I still wow friends with HD and blu ray material on my TV =) So again, it comes down to how much you want to tinker with your system.

But a note for projector shopping, please go with a reputable dealer. Get someone who will actually help you plan out your set up. Most of these retailers will just try to sell you whatever they are told to sell you without any real knowledge of what its going to take to set up properly. There are a couple of good resources here. Good luck in making your decision, whether its a fixed display or a projector system.

PS. Don't skimp on some crappy HTiB when you are setting up your theatre. there area ton of good $1k 5.1 systems out there which will make you smile for years and years. Recievers are getting cheaper with all the features you need as well as good power supplies to keep those speakers happy! Sorry, nothing makes me madder seeing someone drop $3k on a Bose system when you could spend half that and get something that sounds SO MUCH BETTER. =)

[shinner]

Respectfully, I disagree Shinner. I've seen some real good home theatre set ups before using projectors, and I think, when you get a good screen, a decent projector (even at 720p), and a good 5.1 system, you can really bring the theatre home with a razor sharp picture.

Dave...I've yet to see a razor sharp picture in a theater

But a lot of people like it that way....they want the look of film. To each his own....I just know the picture I get on my TV at home watching movies I've seen in the theater is always better. I'd love to see the home projectors who's pic can match a plasma or lcd.

Honestly....cause if I saw it with my own eyes, I'd surely be thinking about future plans!

[jpniner]

I've had 3 DLP projectors, love it. Use to have the Infocus 4805 then the IN72 model that replaced it. Now I have a Sharp DT-510 pj thrown to a 100" screen I built. Picture is great, though I'm waiting for 1080p pj's to get under $1k, although I can't imagine picture being much better, espeically with blu-ray.

Great for Panther games also. buy the parts online and you can build a HT like this pretty cheap. I have a Polk In-wall 5.1 sound setup. If room wasnt pre-wired I would've tried one of the good Sound Bar options.

have a 50" plasma in the living room.