Projector/Screen

[Bunke101]

I am in the planning stage for my home theater and I'm trying to find out what projector i want to use and the right screen. I would like no smaller than 120". I've looked into the Sony VW60, but now I'm hearing good things about Runco. I've also heard that projecting from the rear of the screen is better. Any advice?

[yellowblanket]

optoma is runnign a $200 rebate of the HD70, you should look into that one. A very good 720p projector that i have seen in a very long time. Good review too

[Got2LoveGadgets]

I wouldn't say rear projection is better. All projectors are capable of rear projection but to achieve a 120" image you would need to set the projector a reasonable distance behind the screen (with a 1:1 ratio lens you would have to place the projector 120" behind the screen) now I'm not sure how big your room is but in most home cinema instillation's this would be a problem. Sim2 has some great projectors depends on your budget

[gandley]

Runco is expensive and not as high quality as the price would suggest.

Marantz , Sim2 are leaders in the DLP fields with the newer Sim2's throwing an amazing picture, but like anything its going to be expensive.

JVC have the RS1 and RS2 (HD1 HD100 in euro land)which are quality LiCos projectors and would suit a 120ins screen because there bright. seriously high contrast with no dynamic Iris.

Optoma are OK but reliabilty tends to be poor and they have a fixed offset lens which is a pain for installation. A PJ with lens shift is much easier to install.

The cheaper LCds like the panasonic AE2000 are good, but still have problems with dust blobs.

The VW60 is excellent, but not the sharpest PJ you will see.

Here is a great site with reviews

http://www.projectorreviews.com/

Scroll down a little for the list of reviewed projectors.

Screen vary as some have gain 1.0+ ,high gain screen are brighter but often narrow the viewing cone, but then tend to deflect ambient light and reflect back to the source rather than to the walls etc. low gain tend to have wide viewing cone but reflect light on the walls etc

[gandley]

If in planning stage note that projecters have different throw lenghs.

Some need to be close to the screen, some need to be installed at the back of the room.

You must get a PJ that can match the screen size you require at the distance you plan to install the PJ. An example of the JVC rs1 is here, you can use projection calculaters on the projector central website

example
http://www.projectorcentral.com/JVC-...ulator-pro.htm

to enter any PJ

http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...ulator-pro.cfm

[Bunke101]

Thanks everyone. I'm still in the dark when it comes to what makes one screen better from the other. Is high gain better or is it personal preference?

[cathexist]

I'm very happy with my 720p Acer projector (model number in my sig)

As far as a screen goes. I built my own, made a wooden frame and stretched white blackout fabric across it...looks great.

[gvortex7]

Front projectors will always be superior to rear projection TV's, so don't listen to people who'll tell you otherwise. I have the Mitsubishi HC3000 (720p/1080i) DLP projector and I am projecting onto a 106" screen and let me tell you Blu-rays look spectacular. I don't know if price is a huge factor for you when making your purchase, but if you don't want to spend too much money then go with either the Mitsubishi HC1500 which is the successor to my HC3000 or the Optoma HD70, they're both affordable (less then $1000) quality, 720p/1080i projectors. If you want to step up to the 1080p plateau, then the Optoma HD80 is definitely worth a look. It is currently the most affordable 1080p projector on the market, and it has garnered some rave reviews from all the reputable projector review sites on the web.

Even though I prefer DLP projectors, the Sony's VPL-VW60 which is an LCD based 1080p projector cannot be overlooked. It definitely comes highly recommended by all the projector enthusiast, but it also comes with a $4999.99 retail prices. I'm sure you can get it for substantially less on the web though, yet it still costs significantly more then the best 720p/1080i projectors.

Last thing to mention, make sure you do a little research before committing to buy one of these projectors because you have to look at the type room you'll be using it in, also take lighting conditions into consideration as well as installation method. Make sure that if you are gonna get a 120" or larger screen that the projector itself has a good throw distance, or that you have enough distance from the screen to mount the projector so it could fill the entire screen with its projected image.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by Bunke101

Thanks everyone. I'm still in the dark when it comes to what makes one screen better from the other. Is high gain better or is it personal preference?

its what best fits your room and projecter.

A dim projector (one that output low lumens after calibration) is best matched with a screen with gain to get the brightness up.

A PJ that is bright does not need gain.

A PJ with poor black level is a good match for a grey screen.

If you canot get ambient light out of the room a screen that can reject stray light is usefull.

If your room has white walls, a screen that is angular reflective is usefull as it wont bouce light off the white side walls or ceiling. (but narrows the viewing cone).


Be sure though to get the room as dark as possible, black velvet around the screen area boosts contrast by stopping room reflecting.

Unless the room is a 'Bat Cave' you wont see the best a projector can do. but nothing matches the PJ experience for movies.

I have the JVC HD1 full HD PJ

[JimPullan]

If you have opportunity to visit my website, you can explore both Projector and screen options right there. A good source for information. Simply go to:

http://www.audioexcellenceocala.com

Click on View Products and Theater Rooms


Jim Pullan
Audio Excellence

[Bunke101]

I haven't built the room yet. I'm still in the planning stages but it will be in a basement with no windows. Thank you again.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by Bunke101

I haven't built the room yet. I'm still in the planning stages but it will be in a basement with no windows. Thank you again.

Sounds cool, and a bat cave in the making.

go for one of those star ceilings, they look amazing.

[Got2LoveGadgets]

Remember a home cinema is for life so do your research set yourself a realistic budget and don't rush into anything, get it right and it will change they way you watch films for ever

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by Bunke101

Thanks everyone. I'm still in the dark when it comes to what makes one screen better from the other. Is high gain better or is it personal preference?

go to dialite.com for screen info... It is not an easy task to choose. Each format or type of screen has its on character

the advanage of rear proj is that you can walk in front of it.. ie: corporate meeting rooms
the disadvanage is that you loose light going thru the media

[gandley]

da-lite

http://www.da-lite.com/

[Jonzy]

Yes I have my man cave set up. My Infocus 7200 is pretty sweet which is what I have now. This is footage of my x1 projector (sorry its 4x3) When I set up my new 16x9 screen and properly mount and align my projector I will post new video. I just used screen goo for the screen and flat black paint all around the screen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWAslaX606Y

[victorvondoom88]

I have been using a Sanyo PLV-Z5(720p) for over a year on a 100" screen. I love it, looking to upgrade to a 1080p projector as soon as money allows.
The Runco is very pricey, though I do like the one with the built in "anamorphic" lens. It allows you to have a "constant height" set-up which eliminates black bars altogether. Though you need to be able to have a fixed frame screen. No one that I know of makes a 2.35:1 roll-up.
Here is a few places that I found useful while researching my purchase.

Reviews and such:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home.cfm
They seem to do a very thorough job.

Here is their write up on 2.35:1 http://www.projectorcentral.com/235_home_theater.htm
Here is a note as to why you may want a "anamorphic lens" they use a 720p projector as an example but it applies to 1080p as well.

A second and more genuine advantage of the anamorphic lens is that it allows the use of 100% of the pixels on the projector's display. If you have a 1280x720 format projector, and you use the vertical stretch plus the anamorphic lens to produce your 2.35 picture, you use all 1280x720 = 921,600 pixels to create the image. If you instead use the zoom lens adjustment to blow up the picture, you end up using about 75% of that, or a bit under 700,000 pixels. So the anamorphic lens can reduce visible pixelation in the image by using more pixels.

You may not think its a big deal but look through your dvds and blu-rays sometime and see how many of your favorite films are indeed 2.35:1.

For projectors my list of possible projectors would be the following in no particular order:
1. JVC DLA-RS2 (can be used with anamorphic lens) 2yr. warranty
2. Panasonic PT-AE2000U (can be used with anamorphic lens) 1yr. warranty
3. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 (not compatable w/anamorphic lens) 3 yr. warranty
4. Mitsubishi HC4900 2 yr. warranty
5. Optoma HD80 (can be used with anamorphic lens)
6. JVC DLA-RS1 (not compatible w/anamorphic lens) 2 yr. warranty

Screens, I would definitely check out da-lite. They will send you samples of their screen material and a very informative literature package.
also consider:
http://www.draperinc.com/
http://www.carada.com/
http://www.elitescreens.com/
and since you brought up Runco I assume you may be able to afford one from these guys.
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/

The elites are the cheapest while draper, da-lite and carada are closer price wise. Stewart is by far the most expensive screens on the market.
Don't let the elite's price make you think they are junk. I happen to be using a very cheap manual one of theirs and have no complaints. Even from my brother who is a big CRT supporter. He was blown away by how good my set-up looked for no more than I had invested. He owns a Mitsubishi 65" Diamond series HDTV that cost about 6 grand. My set-up was under 2,000.00. Here is where I got mine, this is the one I am using.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...673&CatId=2444

Optoma also makes a screen called the gray wolf II might be worth a look.
As for "anamorphic lens" here is one of the nicest ones I have come across.
http://www.panamorph.com/

Whatever you decide once you go front projection you will never want to go back.