Screen Height

Gary Hunter · 02-21-2004, 05:11 PM

I'm nearly to the phase of mounting the screen to the front wall. I have a 110" diag, which is around a 56" height. The wall is 9' plus a 12" soffit. What is the suggested mounting location for the screen.

Thanks,

Gary

02-21-2004, 10:51 PM

eye level when seated should be up 1/3 from the bottom of your screen...or there abouts.

Frank Zimkas · 02-22-2004, 08:52 AM

Check the manual for your projector, it may have a chart/diagram for determining the proper height. I'm getting an HS 20 and found this info.

JeromeB · 02-23-2004, 03:37 AM

Gentlemen,

Any additional advice on screen size? Do you agree with a recommended seating position of about 2x screen height? I am planning a HT, in a multipurpose room (room is 20’ long x 15 wide, height 7’ 10”, with good control of ambient light) using a DLP projector. I am thinking of a seating distance of about 14 feet from the screen. Am I too ambitious to shoot for a screen size of 110” (8’ wide, 4.5’ tall).

Actually my real issue is that I plan on primarily watching old movies and DVDs. I suspect I am going to be in trouble when trying to display poor VHS data set on a high resolution system. Am I being silly in trying to go front projector, and should I instead punt for a plasma screen?

I’m a neophyte and find this advanced forum akin to taking a drink from a fire hose, but nonetheless any info you provide is greatly appreciated.

Regards

Michael Osadciw · 02-23-2004, 04:24 AM

Jerome

2.5-3x screen height is my recommendation with HDTV resolution. I believe with a 1280x720 projector we are just achieving that point. Having a 110" screen is not too ambitious, but it's close, really close for you. I may recommend you to do a 106". I'm about 15 feet back on my 110", and its pretty big using a 1280x720 projector. Thankfully I can't see pixels.

If you go below the 1280x720 resolution, decrease your screen size to 4-5 times screen height, even 6-8 if its a low rez. 800x480 LCD.

You don't want to see the breakup of the image. You'll loose the sense of 3-D if you sit too close without the appropriate resolution.

Regards,
Michael

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JeromeB · 02-24-2004, 10:06 PM

Michael,

Thank you for your reply. I have a question regarding the placement of the ceiling mounted projector. If you have the choice based on projector/lens combination, should the projector be in front, at, or behind your seating location.

I am interested in getting the best picture possible at about the 4-6K price point. The BenQ PE8710 looks pretty sweet. However using the projector calculator at prjectorcentral I would need to mount the projector overhead just above or in front of the seating distance. I am wondering whether it is preferable to have a projector mounted behind the seating position so that it is not visible or distracting.

I do not think projector noise is an issue as most projectors at the 5K price point are very quiet (<30decibles).

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
JeromeB

ZoranM · 02-25-2004, 01:37 AM

Michael

Quote:

If you go below the 1280x720 resolution, decrease your screen size to 4-5 times screen height, even 6-8 if its a low rez. 800x480 LCD.

for an 800 x 480 LCD you recommend 6-8 times? For a 106" screen that would be a 50 foot to 80 foot seating distance. What would be the point of a projector at that distance? Not to mention I don't know to many people with a house that is 50 - 80 feet long let alone a HT room.

If I am misreading the distance you suggested then I apologize.

I use a 800 by 600 LCD right now at seating distance of 1.5x screen size and SDE isn't really a factor for me (and I do use an HD Digital box). I know ideally I would have liked about 2x the distance but in my room setup it wasn't really an option. IMO

cheers,

Zoran

Jason D. · 02-29-2004, 12:50 PM

Actually, I'm not sure where all these posts about using the screen height came from, but the recommended seating distance is 2 times the screen WIDTH ---- NOT height. So, If for example you have a 106" screen (which is the diag measurement---such as stated above) the width of that screen in 16:9 format is 92"....and 2x that distance is 184" which would put the ideal seating at just over 15' from the screen. Here's a general rule of thumb that will work in 95% of the cases.....don't be closer than 1.85 times with WIDTH of the screen or you will begin seeing more and more screen-door effects and other artifacts. Good luck!

-Jason

Legairre · 02-29-2004, 03:03 PM

I'm at 1.85 times screen width (14') with a 104" diagonal screen(91" width). The ptojectors a Sanyo Z2 with a resolution of 1280x720 and the picture is fantastic. No screen door at all. I can get as clse at 7 or 8 ft before seeing screen door.

Drew Eckhardt · 02-29-2004, 06:26 PM

1.5 screen widths from a 16:9 screen (2.7 screen heights for aspect ratios <= 16:9) is a fine comrpomise if you don't have projection artifacts (example: I'm 11' from an 87x49" screen).

Your pillarboxed VHS/Satellite aren't yet unwatchable, decent 1.77-1.85 transers look wonderful, and good scope transfers are a bit small (1.2 widths is better there).

Approaching 2 widths you'll loose the sense of immersion. The trade-off between distracting things like screen door and a theatrical sense are something you'll need to figure out with your projector - hopefully before you buy a screen or spend too long building one.

Drew Eckhardt · 02-29-2004, 06:59 PM

1.5 screen widths from a 16:9 screen (2.7 screen heights for aspect ratios <= 16:9) is a fine comrpomise if you don't have projection artifacts (example: I'm 11' from an 87x49" screen).

I find pillarboxed VHS/Satellite look poor but aren't yet unwatchable, decent 1.77-1.85 transers look wonderful but may be a little big, and good scope transfers are a bit small (1.2 widths is better there).

Approaching 2 widths you'll loose the sense of immersion. Your sensitivity to projection artifacts and the trade-off you want between them and a theatrical feel are something you'll need to figure out with your projector - hopefully before you buy a screen or spend too long building one.

JeromeB · 03-04-2004, 01:00 AM

Thank you for all the advice. Projector central has a nice article on recommended screen size, outlining many of the points people have described in this thread; main page under projector reviews: "08/20/03 - How big should your home theater screen be?"

Question: In trying to optimize picture quality, any thoughts on which projector type is better: DLP vs. LCD. Is a three chip LCD better than a single chip (HD2+) DLP? Since there is a color wheel with the DLP, is this projector more likely to cause headaches related to color shift/rainbow effect?

Thanks for the help.
-jb