[Rob S.]

Hi,
    I'm working on my HT system in my basement and wanted to know how you choose your screen size and also how you determine the right height for the screen.   Want to make sure I have room for CC speaker to not be in the way and leave room for a low equipment cabinet below it.

I have a L shaped room that's 29' x 26'  with a rather lowish 7'5" drop ceiling. 

Thanks,

Rob S.

[trout2]

My HT room is also 26' long. The screen (8') is mounted on the ceiling (8' high ceiling) 3 feet out from the front wall, behind the screen is an audio shelf with amps etc. The projector is mounted on the ceiling, 10ft from the screen. The main seating is 11-12ft from the screen. Behind the main seating is a high bar table with bar stools for another level of viewing...NHT monitors/stands on either side of the screen (stereo) with a short-stand mounted NHT monitor for the center (quasi mono). No surround, not needed. NHT sub as well.

[trout2]

More info: With the screen mounted to the ceiling, the actual top of the screen image is approx 1ft below the ceiling. With the 11-12ft viewing distance this is not a problem. In other words, you won't have neck pains by having to look up to see the whole image.

[ted_b]

Here is a decent get-started article.
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Pick-The-Right-Projector-Screen-Size

and an all-inclusive spreadsheet to start on
http://www.carltonbale.com/home-theater/home-theater-calculator/

or go to projector central and use one of their calculators.

Your screen size is determined by:
ceiling height (absolute physical limitation)
viewing distance (subjective, of course)
placement of projector

With a 7.5 ft ceiling you are limited to about an 84 inch diagonal screen (leaving a ft at the top for hardware, screen border, etc...and 3 ft at bottom for viewing angle, center channel and equipment rack).  You also need to be aware of the throw distance and angle of various projectors, so you can plan on where the projector goes.  For example, if the throw angle isn't flexible enough your pj will be hanging low; seating, walk flow needs to be designed as such.

There's a lot out there....take your time.  Plan on wider viewing angles than just the sweetspot.  I use my HT (see system or gallery) as my 2 channel and mch music system too, so in hindsight I would have planned a wider space so as to allow main speaker location and side viewing angles to be more flexible.  Instead, I've gone to two rows that are more centered.

[Bob in St. Louis]

ProjectorCentral.com also has a "Calculator Pro" that will help guide you on where the projector goes, what your (recommended) throw distance should be, screen size etc..... based on what display device you have in mind.
Very good tool.

Bob

[ted_b]

Bob,
Yes, good stuff there.  That's why I mentioned it above, but it does assume that you are making projector-based decisions, not coming from the other way (as the OP is).  Once Rob is onboard with size and placement options (there will be few) in his low ceiling room, and has an idea of budget and projector style and model, then their calculators work fine, but he needs to get all the basics down first IMO.   

Also, Rob, once you are down to a few pj choices I'd download the specific owners manuals to get exact pj throw and distance recommendations. 

[zybar]

Here is a decent get-started article.
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Pick-The-Right-Projector-Screen-Size

and an all-inclusive spreadsheet to start on
http://www.carltonbale.com/home-theater/home-theater-calculator/

or go to projector central and use one of their calculators.

Your screen size is determined by:
ceiling height (absolute physical limitation)
viewing distance (subjective, of course)
placement of projector

With a 7.5 ft ceiling you are limited to about an 84 inch diagonal screen (leaving a ft at the top for hardware, screen border, etc...and 3 ft at bottom for viewing angle, center channel and equipment rack).  You also need to be aware of the throw distance and angle of various projectors, so you can plan on where the projector goes.  For example, if the throw angle isn't flexible enough your pj will be hanging low; seating, walk flow needs to be designed as such.

There's a lot out there....take your time.  Plan on wider viewing angles than just the sweetspot.  I use my HT (see system or gallery) as my 2 channel and mch music system too, so in hindsight I would have planned a wider space so as to allow main speaker location and side viewing angles to be more flexible.  Instead, I've gone to two rows that are more centered.

FWIW, I was able to use a 110" Firehawk screen in my old house which had ceilings that were the same height.

Here is a picture (ok quality but it gets the point across) of what it looked like:



For my second row of seating, I put a couch on a riser to allow proper visibility.

George

[Bob in St. Louis]

That's why I mentioned it above,

Yea, you sure did, didn't you. 
Duh.....I missed that.

Also, Four years ago (or so) I received a couple very large books (for free) from Da-lite, the screen manufacturers, that will tell you more about projection systems and how to set them up that you need to know. Somewhere on their website was a page that allows you to choose what books you want sent to your house.

By the way, my 140" screen is 30" from the floor and 3" from the ceiling. My eyeballs are about 36" from the floor when reclined in the viewing chair. Throw distance and viewing distance are both about 18' (IIRC).
Seems very comfortable to me.

Bob

[ted_b]

George,
Unbelievable that you posted this picture cuz I was just trying to find it in the galleries (wow, poor searching in galleries).    I remembered that you had low ceilings but didn't realize you were able to stuff a 54" high (not including border) screen, same as mine, into that 7.5' space .  Looks like you have a foot or so from the top, which only gives you 2 ft or so below (22"?).  Did you ever consider a center channel or did the 2 ft space relegate it out?  How/where was the pj mounted?  One could always use floor mount with coffee table enclosure over it, (my first pj set up was that way) but it restricts sitting on floor in front of it.

Rob,  this obviously works but requires three-wide or so lowboy rack, and maybe center channel behind acoustically transparent screen.  ?  

[zybar]

George,
Unbelievable that you posted this picture cuz I was just trying to find it in the galleries (wow, poor searching in galleries).    I remembered that you had low ceilings but didn't realize you were able to stuff a 54" high (not including border) screen, same as mine, into that 7.5' space .  Looks like you have a foot or so from the top, which only gives you 2 ft or so below (22"?).  Did you ever consider a center channel or did the 2 ft space relegate it out?  How/where was the pj mounted?  One could always use floor mount with coffee table enclosure over it, (my first pj set up was that way) but it restricts sitting on floor in front of it.

Rob,  this obviously works but requires three-wide or so lowboy rack, and maybe center channel behind acoustically transparent screen.  ?  

Ted,

In that setup I didn't feel like I needed a center channel.  If I did go with a center, it would have been floor mounted and titled slightly up.

The PJ (Marantz VP-12S1) was ceiling mounted.

George

[WGH]

I used the information from Cinema Source as a starting point and my viewing is very comfortable, but the last time I posted this info many people thought the screen would be too small (for them). I figured out that there are front row people, middle row people, and rear row people - deciding how big your screen is depends on where you usually sit in the theater.

http://www.cinemasource.com/articles.html





Wayne

[Rob S.]

Many thanks so far...   here's some pictures, note the approximate screen location taped off on the nice wood paneling.  The screen dimensions are roughly 51" high by 90" wide.  Not sure what that exactly converts to diagonal size wise, but I'm open to all recommendations.  the bottom of the tape is 32" off the floor.   If at all possible I'd like to go as big as feasible here.  84" screen sounds kinda small.  close to 100" or a hair bit higher would be nice.

 http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=1648

I have much flexibility on where to put or hide equipment- maybe go some real low and wide racks below the screen, or hide all the equipment under the bar area and have long speaker cable runs going up into the drop ceiling and then down behind the viewing wall since it will be drywalled over the paneling.   I was hoping to go with a more modestly priced screen- so doesn't that rule out any transparent sound screens?

I also can control my light in the area, want to have some dim lighting during movies, and I was thinking about mounting the projector right below the drop ceiling.  I can put it anywhere in the ceiling, so maybe the 12-17ft back from the screen location would be fine.

I'm getting rid of all the wood paneling, or I should say putting drywall over it.

Thanks again for your expertise.

Rob S.

[zybar]

Rob,

Where are you located?

I would be willing to make a killer deal on a Stewart Firehawk  screen.

George