Is my room too small for a home cinema/projector?
Discussion
Morning - so I quite like the idea of turning my study into a home cinema. I already have the AV Amp and speakers for a 5.1 or 7.1 setup, and like the idea of getting a massive image from a projector - which I don't currently have. However, the room is fairly small and has two windows. Basic sketch and dimensions below, showing the windows at the side and bottom and the position and direction of the door opening.
Given the width of the room I'd only be looking at two chairs or maybe a small two seater sofa.
I think my options are to put the screen on the top wall or have it drop down in front of the bottom window (although that option means the door opens into the screen/front speakers). If I'm looking to get as big a picture as possible, does that require a short throw projector? I'm absolutely clueless on the PJ jargon (other than finding out people abbreviate Projector to PJ...). What about positioning of the projector. Would I be able to put it in the corner and project at an angle or would it have to be centred and head on?
Guidance, help, hints, tips, previous war stories, pictures of inspiration all welcomed.
Given the width of the room I'd only be looking at two chairs or maybe a small two seater sofa.
I think my options are to put the screen on the top wall or have it drop down in front of the bottom window (although that option means the door opens into the screen/front speakers). If I'm looking to get as big a picture as possible, does that require a short throw projector? I'm absolutely clueless on the PJ jargon (other than finding out people abbreviate Projector to PJ...). What about positioning of the projector. Would I be able to put it in the corner and project at an angle or would it have to be centred and head on?
Guidance, help, hints, tips, previous war stories, pictures of inspiration all welcomed.
Hi
My distance is 13ft 6" with a sofa one side and a drop down screen in front of the window. The projector is mounted on the celin above the sofa.
I have an opmoma projector from Richer Sounds £370 and a "100 inch electric drop down screen from ebay £70. I was on a budget but you may want to spend more.
I get about a 85" diagonal picture but could get bigger if I got a bigger screen, 85" for me is fine bigger would be too much as you have to look around the screen rather that it all in your normal sight. If you use you blank wall you probably fill the wall but it will cause a problem if you have a normal TV on that wall.
Mine is a long throw so you get a shadow if you stand in front of the screen (only if you play wii, I dont) so if you want it for close games the you will need a short throw.
It will also need to be centered and not from a corner. It can be off a bit, the projector can adjust for this.
This is just my kit other will be different.
My distance is 13ft 6" with a sofa one side and a drop down screen in front of the window. The projector is mounted on the celin above the sofa.
I have an opmoma projector from Richer Sounds £370 and a "100 inch electric drop down screen from ebay £70. I was on a budget but you may want to spend more.
I get about a 85" diagonal picture but could get bigger if I got a bigger screen, 85" for me is fine bigger would be too much as you have to look around the screen rather that it all in your normal sight. If you use you blank wall you probably fill the wall but it will cause a problem if you have a normal TV on that wall.
Mine is a long throw so you get a shadow if you stand in front of the screen (only if you play wii, I dont) so if you want it for close games the you will need a short throw.
It will also need to be centered and not from a corner. It can be off a bit, the projector can adjust for this.
This is just my kit other will be different.
Edited by PAULJ5555 on Wednesday 23 July 13:13
Cheers - I've just come back from visiting RicherSounds at lunch and think that their £499 BenQ W1070 fits the bill. If I mount it above the window and project onto the opposite wall (which has no TV in front so is perfectly blank), then theoretically I can completely fill the wall with a 120" image. Given I have all the sound equipment and should get away projecting straight onto the wall, it might be worth giving it a go at the £500 price point.
skibum said:
Cheers - I've just come back from visiting RicherSounds at lunch and think that their £499 BenQ W1070 fits the bill. If I mount it above the window and project onto the opposite wall (which has no TV in front so is perfectly blank), then theoretically I can completely fill the wall with a 120" image. Given I have all the sound equipment and should get away projecting straight onto the wall, it might be worth giving it a go at the £500 price point.
Go onto the Benq website, they should tell you the size you can get from your distance. There are also other online calculators about that may help.Yes keep us updated.
Assuming that's 120" diagonal you're right on the margin of what's generally considered the to be the largest screen size based on your viewing distance, this is fine but will be BIG. Get some tape and mark out the screen on the wall, then sit exactly where you will and get some sence of what it'll feel like. Also, get a demo of the projector using exactly the same viewing ratio and test a few inputs common to you (TV, Games, Bluray etc), I'm not familiar with that model but the price would make me nervous with an image that large; panning issues or other video effects are amplified with large screens and can make you feel distinctly weird, generate headaches etc. Test it and satisfy yourself that the quality, size and feel is what you're after.
Sounds great to me, I'd probably drop the size to 110" but that's just my preference.
Pics please.
Sounds great to me, I'd probably drop the size to 110" but that's just my preference.
Pics please.
Cheers guys.
I'll start clearing the room at the weekend and taking some pics. Then likely to get the projector early next week. Currently working out how I'll mount it as the original plan to put a shelf above the window may not work. There is only 23cm of space above the window and I'll need a curtain rail to go there too. So may have to ceiling mount it instead. I also have to review the lighting situation in the room as the current light shade will create a massive shadow! I'll either go flush light or remove totally and just use lamps/uplighters.
It's all coming together in my mind and apart from a few minor details hopefully will come together in reality fairly quickly. At least in basic form and then I can tweak things later such as black out curtains, paint the walls darker, etc..
120" is the max I could get and I think that will be okay - however, I know that the image can go slightly smaller so will have some adjustability.
I'll start clearing the room at the weekend and taking some pics. Then likely to get the projector early next week. Currently working out how I'll mount it as the original plan to put a shelf above the window may not work. There is only 23cm of space above the window and I'll need a curtain rail to go there too. So may have to ceiling mount it instead. I also have to review the lighting situation in the room as the current light shade will create a massive shadow! I'll either go flush light or remove totally and just use lamps/uplighters.
It's all coming together in my mind and apart from a few minor details hopefully will come together in reality fairly quickly. At least in basic form and then I can tweak things later such as black out curtains, paint the walls darker, etc..
120" is the max I could get and I think that will be okay - however, I know that the image can go slightly smaller so will have some adjustability.
The picture won't be that good if projecting to a wall. You can get special paint but the wall would need to be as flat and smooth as possible.
Also controlling light levels is crucial for picture quality, ideally you'd want full black out blinds and also dark walls for the rest of the room.
Also controlling light levels is crucial for picture quality, ideally you'd want full black out blinds and also dark walls for the rest of the room.
I got it all temporarily rigged up last night and must say I was very pleased with the results. It'll need some fine tuning and I havent connected any sound yet (waiting for long HDMI to arrive) - but the picture seems very good despite the lack of black walls and black out blinds. I have no doubt that will make things better, but I don't think it is an absolute necessity and shouldn't put people off if that is a deal breaker.
I'm toying with the idea of putting up black wall paper on the adjacent walls to the screen, but only 1-2 strips - perhaps up to the window. Then maybe a matching dark grey/black strip across the ceiling too - that might help with the glare.
The wall is completely flat apart from a few pin holes from a few pictures I have taken down. I might look at a combo of paint and paper to "frame" the picture.
Leather recliners arrive on Monday and with the new cables the basic set up will be complete.
I'm toying with the idea of putting up black wall paper on the adjacent walls to the screen, but only 1-2 strips - perhaps up to the window. Then maybe a matching dark grey/black strip across the ceiling too - that might help with the glare.
The wall is completely flat apart from a few pin holes from a few pictures I have taken down. I might look at a combo of paint and paper to "frame" the picture.
Leather recliners arrive on Monday and with the new cables the basic set up will be complete.
My room is 280cm x 370cm, so not that far off yours.
I'm running a 106" fixed screen, painted black wall and ceiling partially round screen into brown wall paper and grey painted ceiling. Black out blind with black out curtains on window and door. Picture is excellent and not too big!
Excuse the blobs in the pics, flash reflecting off dust particles!
Paul.
I'm running a 106" fixed screen, painted black wall and ceiling partially round screen into brown wall paper and grey painted ceiling. Black out blind with black out curtains on window and door. Picture is excellent and not too big!
Excuse the blobs in the pics, flash reflecting off dust particles!
Paul.
Nice set up there Paul, seems our rooms are very similar, even down to the position of the side window.
I've been running mine for a week now with the walls still magnolia and no screen as such, just the plain back wall. I must say I am still very impressed with the picture quality, even without blackout blinds and such. I fully appreciate that the more light I can exclude from the room, the better the picture - so will make some efforts towards that, but I think I need to draw the balance of keeping the room from turning too much into a dark cave - otherwise I may never come out of it!
This weekend will see me installing the wall mount for the projector and rear speakers, the cable routing/trunking along the skirting boards and maybe the black framing surround I described earlier. Pics to follow of course.
I've been running mine for a week now with the walls still magnolia and no screen as such, just the plain back wall. I must say I am still very impressed with the picture quality, even without blackout blinds and such. I fully appreciate that the more light I can exclude from the room, the better the picture - so will make some efforts towards that, but I think I need to draw the balance of keeping the room from turning too much into a dark cave - otherwise I may never come out of it!
This weekend will see me installing the wall mount for the projector and rear speakers, the cable routing/trunking along the skirting boards and maybe the black framing surround I described earlier. Pics to follow of course.
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