Living room projector screen suggestions

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robbon44

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#172084 11-May-2015 15:15

Hello

we were standing in our new living room looking at the space where my 50"" tv will be sitting thinking to ourselves..this space is big enough for a projector screen...

trouble is I only know a few things about them and if I want to include it in the build I need to get a screen fitted in the next week before they start the gib fitting.

Realistically the space I have is for a screen width of about 2.70m but this is huge so I was thinking of around 100" diagonal would be huge enough :)

However I don't have a huge budget and don't really know how much to realistically allow or even if I am barking up the wrong tree.

I also don't have a projector but its on the future wish list, I am simply looking at having the screen fitted in now ahead of the build completion then get a table top mounted hdmi/wifi projector at some point in time...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/projectors-screens/screens/auction-886619293.htm

I have seen these but really are they a good starter point ????? what should I be looking at ?

my home AV is B&W S2 602/CC6/ASW610 5.1 surround on Marantz SR5004 with Pioneer BDP ?

We occasionally have 3d mostly just usual block buster movies and I stream from Netflix.

any advice welcomed...

Rob

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#1302028 11-May-2015 15:36

Silver Ticket screens are best value for money. They compare with US$1500+ screens. You will need to use a freight forwarder like Bongo US to import it. Quality of screen material and frame maters a LOT. You do not need the screen fitted/installed right now. The best screens to buy are fixed frame screens (16:9 or 2.35:1 you decide. I would go with 16:9). You can very easily install the screen later yourself as it just mounts in the mounting brackets supplied which screw into your studs on the wall. If you are looking to buy a really good projector for under NZ$1200 then BenQ W1070 or W1075 is the way to go.

http://www.amazon.com/STR-169120-Silver-Ticket-120-Diagonal/dp/B00CYLOTPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431315346&sr=8-1&keywords=silver+ticket

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Dunnersfella

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#1302038 11-May-2015 15:50

Do not, and I mean, do not... go cheap on your screen.
Sure, there will be some who think it's a great idea, but then again, you need to remember that many of those people will also talk up a big screen Veon / Konka TV at the same time!
Remember, the bigger your display, the bigger the issues that you'll see.

Simply put, there's nothing worse that seeing poor screen uniformity (overly bright or dark patches) or a screen with ripples or curls!

If you're cutting a hole in your ceiling, make sure it has a flush mount kit, an IR blaster system (or RF), the possibility of a 12V trigger (your Marantz should have this) and that it is backed by a reputable trader, not a fly-by-nighter. Oh yeah, you'll also want to plan for a power point at the same time.

Ultimately, you will want to see the screen prior to buying it. While you're thinking about that, also consider placement, as having to compensate for an off-centre projector only makes a good picture look average.
My $0.10.

Dingbatt

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#1302055 11-May-2015 16:06

I had a pulldown screen mounted on the wall for years and was constantly getting grief that it looked ugly. So I went the whole hog and installed a recessed in-ceiling motorized unit. But it wasn't cheap at about $1200 for the screen but I installed it myself.
While the screen you linked to in your post is a wall mounted one, what I think you may want to consider is the aesthetics of the installation with the possibility of hiding it behind a pelmet or in a recess so it is out of sight when not in use. In reality I use my screen probably a maximum of 15 hours in a month so having it hidden away for the other 700-odd hours keeps everybody happy.
In addition, the $200-500 screens I looked at a while ago were very much a case of getting what you paid for. Particularly in the quality of the screen material itself.

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Talkiet

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#1302067 11-May-2015 16:17

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=143951&page_no=1#1042007

It's very easy to retrofit if your ceiling if your ceiling joists go the right way.

(Look at the photos linked in my post above)

And $500 on a good secondhand motorised screen will be FARRRRRR better spent than on a new $500 motorised screen

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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#1302121 11-May-2015 17:34

Talkiet: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=143951&page_no=1#1042007

It's very easy to retrofit if your ceiling if your ceiling joists go the right way.

(Look at the photos linked in my post above)

And $500 on a good secondhand motorised screen will be FARRRRRR better spent than on a new $500 motorised screen

Cheers - N

I probably should have linked to the thread I OPed as you did. I see I paid $1400 not $1200 though. Sorry to put you crook. I completely agree with the sentiment of new vs used. My pulldown screen was a Grandview that retailed new for $800 that I got for $250. It allowed me a good quality screen to see if it was going to get a reasonable amount of use without outlaying a fortune.
My main point though is if you are leaving it up permanently then hide it. Otherwise if you are going to have the projector on a table you may as well look at pull up screens that can be out away when not in use. But then again I am allowed tech if it's hidden so perhaps have a slightly jaundiced view.
Also as above, if you are installing inceiling it can really only be done parallel to the roof trusses.

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bbrichau

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RapalloAV

#1302163 11-May-2015 17:57

do check out www.rapalloav.co.nz
good screens at good prices

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Dunnersfella

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#1302167 11-May-2015 18:16

bbrichau: do check out www.rapalloav.co.nz
good screens at good prices

Dude - don't just spam threads, add something to them... please.

bbrichau

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#1302181 11-May-2015 18:42

Sure.
if you go non-fixed, consider tab-tensioned as they will give the next best thing.
It really depends on your budget (as usual).
Consider ambient light: if the living room can be darkened (supposing you will watch movies mainly at night), go for a screen gain of 1-1.3, not higher or you will suffer from hot spotting.
Decide where you will sit first before you buy a screen/decide on the screen size. then work out what screen size your eyes will cope with. See this page to work out best size depending on viewing distance :
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
or for Epson projectors:
http://www.epson.com/alf_upload/landing/distance-calculator/

Then you will be able to get an idea of where your projector has to come and what the impact would be in terms of joists etc.
You can consider a projector lift to hide the projector in the ceiling cavity (if you have one).

Motorised screens are nice/easy, and also give a better quality than pull down in terms of fabric tension (after tab tensioned screens)

robbon44

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#1302213 11-May-2015 19:28

Hi guys info so far is really good thanks keep the info coming.

I have now contacted the guy that is providing our home av set up and talking to him but this is good info. Walked in to an av shop today and they told me to budget $20k ... I smiled and walked out.

I'm looking at about $650 for a 92" as this is the least impact on the missus. The screen is being fitted in to a bulk head so that's why the urgency to get the dimensions for the screen sorted now and also to establish the electrics.

Will post some photos in a sec..

robbon44

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#1302580 12-May-2015 10:32

OK so here is our proposed screen location.

The space between the two windows is 2.75m

I am looking at a screen width max 2.5m but I think realistically we will start off by having a 92" drop down screen hidden in the bulk head.

For general viewing we will have the Samsung 52" tv on a tv cabinet centred between the two windows, the screen will drop in front of the tv.

The windows are to be black out blinded and the big window to the left has heavy curtains.

The room measures approx. 6m across (width) as looking here. The sitting area is about 4.4m from the wall.

Ideally a roof mounted projector would be awesome but not allowed to spend that just yet ! so I am going to look at wireless short throw projector for coffee table mounting.

screen location

Dunnersfella

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#1302589 12-May-2015 10:37

Make sure you run an ethernet cable + HDMI cable for a potential roof mounting scenario.
At the same time, make sure to have a power point placed at the mounting point...

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corksta

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#1303043 12-May-2015 18:56

Dunnersfella: Make sure you run an ethernet cable + HDMI cable for a potential roof mounting scenario.
At the same time, make sure to have a power point placed at the mounting point...

This. Make sure you do this!

I did this at my new place for future proofing. I now have a power point next to the nog in the ceiling where the projector will be hung one day, and behind that power point is a HDMI cable and a Ethernet cable running across the ceiling and down the wall, and pops out with the rest of the cabling where it plugs into the receiver.

Masterpiece

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#1303145 12-May-2015 20:18

bbrichau: do check out www.rapalloav.co.nz
good screens at good prices

Murray from Rapalloav has screens which are good hit power for your dollar. You can spend easily 10~20K without change for up market higher quality materials if you want to. I use one of Murrays motorised 106inch screens paired with an AE4000, but I also have a lumagen Radiance video scaler for colour correction.

I've calibrated projection systems from cheap painted walls through to 30k screens, and yeah there can be a difference but there is also diminishing returns once you go past a couple thousand dollars.
Under 1k and you can get a box of chocolates where some perform no better than a wall painted white.

My advise for your first tentative steps into projection and screens is plan reasonably well. It is ok to have limited budget, infact this can make you more creative with choices.

One of your problems I spot from your photo is ambient light. You might need to look at blockout blinds for the vertical windows, the sliding door is a problem to block out, consider in casing heavy drapes to stop light bleed up and over and to sides. Stopping ambient light will improve any choice of screen and projector.

Take lots of photos and measurements of the wood work from all angles, knowing where things are for mounting stuff later helps a lot. If your speakers are wall mounted, sides and rears add dwangs. Turn the 90*45 side on so that the 90mm is facing out and drill a hole and pre wire your speaker wire.

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Dingbatt

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#1303160 12-May-2015 21:05

The only thing about running cables for a future purchases is that standards change and you may find the HDMI cable that fits the bill at the moment won't necessarily be adequate in five years a time. Conduit and draw wires may be a better bet. It is hard to tell how much ceiling space you have to be able to work above to retrofit stuff. If anything you may want to 'go big' on the length of your bulkhead so that if you decide in future to go for a larger screen it will fit without having to do major modifications.

For me home theatre has been an evolutionary process so you have the perfect opportunity before the Gib goes up to get started but also to allow for future improvements.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

robbon44

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#1303187 12-May-2015 22:58

Hi yes to all of the above !

In terms of blinds yep the ambient light issue is covered by blackouts and heavy drapes. Fully appreciate that screens get better with darker conditions.

The screen I have now splashed some cash on is a cheapish entry level pull down ..to get the ball rolling and not upset the missus.. It's an ambertech 92" pull down.

I have however allowed for future electrics and a bigger screen, largest would be about 106". This is all hidden in the bulkhead.

In terms of cabling I did consider running a roof line to the centre of the room and put in power/hdmi/cat5 but I figured that as the room is a living room primarily and I can't afford a nice drop down unit now..and technology is moving...I also don't know when I will be looking at spending a huge amount on a projector I have not installed additional cabling. It can be retro fitted if I really wanted.

I am kind of hoping that wireless options will increase in the market and have already started looking at hdmi over wifi options like the Nyrius Aries.

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Satellite-NAVS500/dp/B005H3AU1Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1431427827&sr=8-6&keywords=Hdmi+wifi

In the meantime I'm happy with a hdmi cable running out of the wall that is cabled back to my av rack to a projector set up on the coffee table and a short cable for power running under my tv cabinet.

It's a compromise. And bearing in mind that a week ago I was just happy I had a decent TV set up and sound system this is a huge leap for me.

At the moment I'm looking at the BenQ W1070 as my projector and am now trying to figure out how I could purchase this ahead of Christmas ! and preferably without distressing the wife!

So by July when we move in, I hope to be sitting watching a 92" screen with a pretty decent HD image and be relatively happy that I will have completed the first step for less than $1500

Thoughts ? What do people reckon to the Nyrius and BenQ plus Ambertech combi ?

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