High spec Cinema setup suggestions needed...

[OldSkoolRS]

bananarob said:

So is the 5500 the replacement to the 5800 and the 5000?? I thought the 5000 had been out a while.

Also anyone know if you can buy and electric telescopic projector ceiling mount? I have found many that can be fixed in place but I want one that can retract back up to the ceiling after use. It would need to extend down about a 75cm, maybe a metre. I dont want a ceiling box and mounting in the ceiling is probably going to be a little tough to achieve (although possible, not to mention expensive).

Really looking forward to getting this project off the ground!

I don't want to step on Plotless' toes too much here as he might be your installer and I'm only a fellow AV enthusiast: You can buy a projector lift, but it will likely cost more than the Epsom (looked into it myself a few years back) but I'm not sure if you can buy a motorised ceiling mount. However, the beauty with using an LCD (or LCOS/SXRD) projector is that they usually are more flexible in terms of positioning compared to DLP. You might find that it is possible to mount the projector on a shelf/bookcase at the back of the room as I have done. The only issue you have then is that the 'throw distance' might be such that even at minimum zoom your picture is too big for the screen. Also this tends to mean the projector is operating at the dimmer end of it's zoom range as brightness does vary according to zoom. I'm right at the limit with my setup as it's 6 metres back and I have to use absolute minimum zoom to fit the image on the screen, but it just about works. Depends on your room and screen size.

The TW5000 appears to have been launched around September 2008 according to this thread:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/projectors/816445-e...

The TW5500 was launched around September 2009 according to this thread:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/projectors/1075414-...

With some links for further information to keep you occupied. I don't know much about Epsom models as I had the Panasonic AE1000, 2000 then 3000 models myself before getting a JVC HD350. I'm no stranger to losing money on projectors and would highly recommend using a good dealer to avoid making costly mistakes like I did. Best advice is to demo, demo, demo to make sure you are happy with the picture quality yourself (rather than what some one says on a forum). Also don't believe these reviews that talk about 'inky blacks'; there is one somewhere on the web that uses that description for my first AE1000 and I would say the blacks were more charcoal grey than inky black....it was very dissapointing.

[Plotloss]

bananarob said:

So is the 5500 the replacement to the 5800 and the 5000?? I thought the 5000 had been out a while.

Also anyone know if you can buy and electric telescopic projector ceiling mount? I have found many that can be fixed in place but I want one that can retract back up to the ceiling after use. It would need to extend down about a 75cm, maybe a metre. I dont want a ceiling box and mounting in the ceiling is probably going to be a little tough to achieve (although possible, not to mention expensive).

Really looking forward to getting this project off the ground!

Various projector lifts available, reach not an issue at all.

[bananarob]

I could shelf mount at the back of the room, thats certainly possible, distance is about 6 metres so I guess that would be ok. Unfortunately a fixed ceiling mount is impossible due to a huge hanging light in the middle of the room but more importantly a huge rsj about a foot in height that spans the room. Im wondering if the projector could be mounted on that, my only concern is that its about 1.5m from where the screen is going to go. Whats the min distance?

Thanks for you all your help guys on this, a lot to think about but as its our lounge and this is purely for movies, I have to think about asthetics aswell as performance/quality. Its also a 100yr old edwardian house so not quite as simple as integrating into a modern abode! Am sure all can be achieved to keep both me and the wife happy!

[OldSkoolRS]

It might be possible to use either posision for the projector, but it will depend on your screen size and the particular model of projector you end up with. You might not be able to get a very big screen size from only 1.5 metres for example.

However, I think to be fair to both parties I'll bow out as it's either a DIY project (which I'm happy to help with answers) or a professional install (in which case I know that Plotless has a living to make and won't appreciate me muddying the waters). If you go DIY there is a big learning curve and you may end up spending more money correcting mistakes. Equally if you do know what you're doing then I think you could have a fantastic system for your budget, as you can spend more on hardware and less on labour.

[Saintjsmythe]

To measure how far the projector needs to be from the viewing wall to give your desired screen size, there are projetor distance calculatos available on most of the projectors manufacturers' websites.

Very easy to use and gives you exact measurements.

When our projector and screen was installed I was glad that there was a pro to do it for me but i'd definitely DIY in the future. It is a straight forward installation. Deciding what kit you want is the time consuming process.