Is a projector feasible for my room?

[AlaskaDon]

Originally Posted by relyt_12

EDIT: I just read on the review of the sony vw40 that it can do a 100" screen at 10' 2". So that answers my question about the throw distance and image size.

I'm using the VW50 (throws are the same as the VW40) in a 12 X 12 room and have a 100", 16:9 screen. It just barely fits. I'm assuming you will be projecting along the 13' axis of your room so you should have plenty of room. The biggest problem, as you mentioned is the limited amount of seating that you can have in a room that size.

If you need to use the 10' axis then you have problems. By the time you acount for the size of the projector, and leave a little ventilation room behind it, I would guess you might be somewhere in the neighborhood of 8' throw distance which would really limit your screen size. Hopefully that's not the case

[relyt_12]

Originally Posted by AlaskaDon

I'm assuming you will be projecting along the 13' axis of your room so you should have plenty of room. The biggest problem, as you mentioned is the limited amount of seating that you can have in a room that size.

Yeah I will be able to use the 13' axis so that is at least better than 10'. Seating will be a problem, but I'll figure that out later

How do you like your VW50? Do you ever think that your room is too small for a 100" screen? How do you think the image compares to a high end lcd or plasma?

[Brain Sturgeon]

As everybody else here has stated, your room and seating distance are not too small for a projector. At 8 feet, based upon a seating distance of 2x screen height, your screen size should roughly be 85 inches, which will easily fit into your room with either the Epson or the Sony (each have enough zoom, with the Epson having more). Even if you sat closer, at 1080p, it is unlikely that you will see any SDE as CWoodall mentioned. Some people prefer sitting at one screen width (particularly with a 2.40:1 screen). My front row is 11 feet away from a 10 foot wide 2.40:1 and the visual result is very comfortable-- I could go to 10' or a little closer without problems.

You don't have to ceiling mount either the Epson or Sony-- plenty of people place them on stands, firing the image over your heads onto your screens. For that kind of setup, a Da Lite High Power is a good option as that is the optimal way to set up a retroreflective screen (projector directly in front of screen within the vertical borders of the screen). The lack of horizontal lens shift in a projector is not a bad thing. In general, you should always mount a projector dead center to the screen anyway for best image quality, even if you have horizontal lens shift.

I don't think your RA's will mind the theater setup. If you can hang pics on a wall (and who hasn't in a dorm?), then you can hang a screen. One thing would be light control in your room-- the more the better. You might want to black out your windows with drapes or aluminum foil or something. Seating wise, for a dorm room, a bunch of beanbags would probably work well. For instance: www.cuddlebag.com . Great for inviting the fairer sex

Whether or not an image from a projector can best a high end LCD or Plasma is debatable. It would be very hard for a PJ to best the image from a top end Pioneer Kuro or Panasonic. Most people who own both say the image quality of the flat panel is better. If you look at the contrast ratios for most projectors and theaters, they are far less than the best flat panels. However, the size/price ratio is greatly in favor of the projector. As long as the image quality is high (and many of the current projectors, including the two you named, have excellent image quality) then size is a big factor in the theater experience, bigger being better. Although you could always sit closer to a smaller flat panel to fill your visual field appropriately, psychologically, you still know that the screen is smaller. The large screen experience is just unbeatable in a home theater.

If you have the space and setup for it, I would definitely go for the FP system-- your viewing experience with a high quality, large screen will be much better than the smaller screen, even if the picture is marginally better. The pictures thrown by PJ's today can be astounding. If you can find a setup in your area, see for yourself before you lay down your money.

[Beta Man]

although if you're planning on using this for watching t.v. etc.... (your main t.v. in the room) I'd probably get a plasma....... hate to say it, but you'll burn through bulbs like crack if you use it daily in a dorm! (I'd be worried about someone lifting it too, but that's just me.)

[relyt_12]

Thanks all for the responses and help! This has been a useful thread for me, but probably won't be for my wallet

Originally Posted by Brain Sturgeon

You don't have to ceiling mount either the Epson or Sony-- plenty of people place them on stands, firing the image over your heads onto your screens. For that kind of setup, a Da Lite High Power is a good option as that is the optimal way to set up a retroreflective screen (projector directly in front of screen within the vertical borders of the screen).

I figured this wouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the confirmation and the screen suggestions!

Originally Posted by Brain Sturgeon

Whether or not an image from a projector can best a high end LCD or Plasma is debatable. It would be very hard for a PJ to best the image from a top end Pioneer Kuro or Panasonic. Most people who own both say the image quality of the flat panel is better. If you look at the contrast ratios for most projectors and theaters, they are far less than the best flat panels. However, the size/price ratio is greatly in favor of the projector. As long as the image quality is high (and many of the current projectors, including the two you named, have excellent image quality) then size is a big factor in the theater experience, bigger being better. Although you could always sit closer to a smaller flat panel to fill your visual field appropriately, psychologically, you still know that the screen is smaller. The large screen experience is just unbeatable in a home theater.

This is exactly what I'm trying to weigh out. As you said, bigger is better when it comes to a home theater experience.

Originally Posted by Brain Sturgeon

If you can find a setup in your area, see for yourself before you lay down your money.

This is another problem. I don't know of anywhere in my area that has these projector set up where I could look at them. I really do need to find somewhere to see them, but I just don't know where.

Does anyone know of any good stores in the Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades area that would have these set up? I'm going to be out there this weekend and I would assume that I would have a better chance of finding systems to look at there.

Originally Posted by Beta Man

although if you're planning on using this for watching t.v. etc.... (your main t.v. in the room) I'd probably get a plasma....... hate to say it, but you'll burn through bulbs like crack if you use it daily in a dorm! (I'd be worried about someone lifting it too, but that's just me.)

Beta Man brings up another great point here. That is something that I have been trying to figure out also. I think that we could just set up a small tv for the news and sportscenter. This way it wouldn't really be used most of the day and would only be used for PS3 and movies at night. I really wouldn't want someone to just leave it on fox news all day and burn through my bulb.

Thanks again for the suggestions! I've been reading this forum for around 9 months, but this is the first time I have posted, and I really appreciate the helpful responses!

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by relyt_12

I really wouldn't want someone to just leave it on fox news all day and burn through my bulb.

!

Fox News is good at least

Yeah... you'd need another t.v.... besides... you'd have to keep your dorm room pitch-black to watch t.v.... and most people like to have the news/sportscenter on while getting ready etc..... and just "flicking on" a projector is a little different than turning on the T.V. and channel surfing!

Any small tube t.v. will do though... so it's only a minor expense really.

[Teazle]

Not to pour cold water on this idea ... Wouldn't noise and heat from the projector be a problem in a small room? Or could this be surmounted by constructing a ventilated housing for the unit -- provided the exhaust could be dealt with?