JJ's Year 12: First Year of the New HT in a New House

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by JJ

It's not done yet, Fred! And it's the RZC! Even though as a Jets fan I can't really present a better alternative...



The logistics of mounting a screen in front of a window were difficult enough to solve without trying to squeeze a center channel back there and a screen in FRONT of it, Olivier! Had to do a lot of tweaking, and I'll have to perfect it for when the real screen comes in.

That might be my next update, a lower gain screen, but for now, I was trying to not exceed the cost of the 65ZT60 in my projector upgrades. The room is damning enough as it is, that I understand! White walls, two-story high windows, lots of natural light, east facing, white tile floors, sheesh.

Honestly, the whole "test" set-up I took pictures of was done quick, you should've seen how I had the projector mounted, , so I'm excited to see how it will look like legit.

Yeah you do have a very challenging room in all aspects, sound and picture . But one thing for sure, it does look fantastic

[Badas]

^

Damn one of my favourite home theatres has now gone projector. Well done.

Please tell us your thoughts. Interesting to read what a panel guy for many years thinks.

I wouldn't get to hung up on your room challenges. At the end of the day I have learned that when you relax you want a inviting room. Your room delivers that in spades.

[sandman922]

Looking great as always jj

[JJ]

Originally Posted by saprano

Holy crap you always come through with something i'm jealous.

Ugh. I can imagine the SW7 trailer projected at 92"......I would be in tears too. You better be watching the saga first thing when everything is setup!

Good stuff man.

(sorry to hear about the ZT60)

I swear to you, I TEARED UP when I saw it blown up at that size. Legitimate tear fell down my cheek. I saw the Death Star run from A New Hope on the test setup and was so excited.

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Yeah you do have a very challenging room in all aspects, sound and picture . But one thing for sure, it does look fantastic

I'm sure there's a post here somewhere from 3+ years ago when I first moved into this place where I said that the primary objective would always be aesthetic beauty since I knew perfect audio/video would be elusive with the existing design challenges of the unit. But the perfect balance will always be elusive. But it'll photograph beautifully. Can't wait to set it up next weekend.

Originally Posted by sandman922

Looking great as always jj

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Badas

Damn one of my favourite home theatres has now gone projector. Well done.

Please tell us your thoughts. Interesting to read what a panel guy for many years thinks.

I wouldn't get to hung up on your room challenges. At the end of the day I have learned that when you relax you want a inviting room. Your room delivers that in spades.

Well, lemme tell you that I fully expect to make the trade-off between black levels and contrast for screen size. Even with the reflective painted-white plywood bootleg screen I made and the entry-level Epson projector I used, I was OK with it. It will take some getting used to, considering my reflective light environment, but with the 5030ub I'm getting and an actual light-absorbing screen, I think I'll be OK. But just the immersion a larger screen delivers, holy cow. Well worth it. I didn't think it would be such a gamechanger but it IS!!

I'll post more thoughts, having been a 5+ year plasma man, now going to projector, once I finally set-up everything in a few days.

Thanks, though, the inviting room is exactly what I always go for.

Any moderators out there want to change the thread title to:

JJ Finally Goes Projector & Screen - Year 4!

[besi]

Once you go projector(big) its hard to go back. 60` or 70` tv looks puny after.
Congrats on the new setup,looks great !!
Whats next ? Motorized shades ?

[Aerodude73]

So you're going ONLY to a PJ/Screen set-up, & No TV in that main room, right?

(I remember you having a small TV setup upstairs still)

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

So you're going ONLY to a PJ/Screen set-up, & No TV in that main room, right?

(I remember you having a small TV setup upstairs still)

Nope, no TV. I have the upstairs setup where the PS4 and Kuro are, that shall stay there, Steve.

Originally Posted by besi

Once you go projector(big) its hard to go back. 60` or 70` tv looks puny after.
Congrats on the new setup,looks great !!
Whats next ? Motorized shades ?

Yes, considering I was using this for a week or so:



That's 39. And it looks miniscule now in comparison!

Projector arrives today,

[Johnny Vinyl]

Outstanding work as usual JJ! I'm looking forward to following your thread as you move closer to the finished project. Are you going to create another HT gallery section for this PJ install?

PS: I changed the thread title as per your request.

[Irrob]

I too have struggled about going PJ from plasma. Your updates have not made it any easier a decision I'm looking forward to more updates. Would like to hear your thoughts on your final Setup.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Irrob

I too have struggled about going PJ from plasma. Your updates have not made it any easier a decision I'm looking forward to more updates. Would like to hear your thoughts on your final Setup.

Well, my hand was forced in this case when my 65ZT60 pooped out on me. Or else I would still have it, so it was by no means a voluntary decision. When I realized there was no decent TV out for the price I paid for the ZT60 (since Panny refunded me in full), I decided to test out projector/screen. When the test worked, I decided to go all out with the real gear. My first impressions of the real gear will be up once I set it all up this weekend.

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Outstanding work as usual JJ! I'm looking forward to following your thread as you move closer to the finished project. Are you going to create another HT gallery section for this PJ install?

PS: I changed the thread title as per your request.

Thanks, Johnny! And I suppose, right? Although in essence it's still the same place, just some gear changes here and there.



IT'S HERE! Well, not that I can do much about it.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by JJ

I'm sure there's a post here somewhere from 3+ years ago when I first moved into this place where I said that the primary objective would always be aesthetic beauty since I knew perfect audio/video would be elusive with the existing design challenges of the unit. But the perfect balance will always be elusive. But it'll photograph beautifully. Can't wait to set it up next weekend.

Yes I do remember talking about it.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Yes I do remember talking about it.

Exactly, which is why my execution this weekend has to be perfect!

Got the rest of the gear save the screen, which arrives tomorrow. Then I can finalize my list of equipment that I need for this weekend.

Trying to do the placement math right now.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by JJ

Well, I just spent some time making lighting calculations and adjustments w/ my trusty multimeter.



At 5:00 PM on a typical Autumn afternoon, with all the blinds open, I was getting around 600 lux (around 56 fc) - much too bright for movie watching with the Kuro. I could see myself in the screen. Yuck. The plasma problem, as it were. But the GAF wouldn't let me do too many crazy things.

Drew the blinds closed, down to 40 lux. I wanted to get it darker, and it occurred to me the only thing I hadn't closed up was that patio door.



Problem/Before:



Look at all those lumens from the sun swarming in.

So I devised a rather elegant solution that is portable, easily removable, but 100% effective...

Combine an adjustable shower rod with one of my old black out curtains!





Bam! Down to a manageable, 8-9 lux. I don't have the luxury of the pitchblack, <1 lux room I had before, but compared to 40 or 600, this will do NICELY.

Solution/After:


The photos of the before/after were shot w/ identical ISO, exposure, and aperture, and not modified. Made quite the difference, so now I can watch movies more comfortably even in daytime. I wouldn't up until now just because it was too bright and distracting. The thick blackout cloth might even help abit with the reverb issues in the big ol' room.

I set up the 5030 temporarily yesterday to play with, and I remembered the above post from 3+ years ago when I did lighting calculations to check on ambient lighting.

The 5030 is a NOTICEABLE, VERY NOTICEABLE improvement over the 3020 I used for testing in all aspects. I'm stunned, stunned!

I thought I had more ambient lighting in day-time, but around 4-5 fc with the blinds closed means I'll still get a stunning daytime picture for sports, etc.

Screen arrives today!!

[SeanMF]

That looks a lot more manageable, and viewing shouldn't be an issue. I don't like pitch black rooms most of the time with my previous projector setups. I like to multi-task and do other things when watching movies. Pitch black I can't see what I'm doing on some things. What is your eta on getting it all setup?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by SeanMF

That looks a lot more manageable, and viewing shouldn't be an issue. I don't like pitch black rooms most of the time with my previous projector setups. I like to multi-task and do other things when watching movies. Pitch black I can't see what I'm doing on some things. What is your eta on getting it all setup?

This weekend. Saturday.

[BluRoo98]

JJ - I remembering seeing you chat in the Panny plamsa threads. I went projector earlier this year and it is AMAZING. I can't go back to TV ever. I *sometimes* watch football games on sundays on my Panny but NOTHING beats the projector experience once you go down there. It make me realize how much I was missing when viewing movies on a TV before. The Panny is just a sample of what it should look like. I am really curious to hear your impressions.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by BluRoo98

JJ - I remembering seeing you chat in the Panny plamsa threads. I went projector earlier this year and it is AMAZING. I can't go back to TV ever. I *sometimes* watch football games on sundays on my Panny but NOTHING beats the projector experience once you go down there. It make me realize how much I was missing when viewing movies on a TV before. The Panny is just a sample of what it should look like. I am really curious to hear your impressions.

Trust me, after doing the test runs with my 87" bootleg screen and the Epson 3020, I was fully convinced. I'll still game and watch regular TV on my Kuro, but...wow.

Now I can't wait for the final formal setup.

I finished the screen today. Stretching the fabric is the hardest thing Ive ever done in the HT business.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by SeanMF

I don't like pitch black rooms most of the time with my previous projector setups. I like to multi-task and do other things when watching movies. Pitch black I can't see what I'm doing on some things.

So how can you actually Enjoy the movie, since realistically you're not really Focusing on watching it, right?

I like a mostly dark room to completely block out distractions. But, that's just me

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

So how can you actually Enjoy the movie, since realistically you're not really Focusing on watching it, right?

I like a mostly dark room to completely block out distractions. But, that's just me

Yep, you got it. I prefer the complete blackness. Going to Home Depot tomorrow to get the missing stuff.

Gosh, I'm as excited as I was the day this thread was created!

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

So how can you actually Enjoy the movie, since realistically you're not really Focusing on watching it, right?

I like a mostly dark room to completely block out distractions. But, that's just me

Originally Posted by JJ

Yep, you got it. I prefer the complete blackness. Going to Home Depot tomorrow to get the missing stuff.

Gosh, I'm as excited as I was the day this thread was created!

Well the newer movies I usually watch in pitch black settings at night. During the day I might watch movies I have already seen before....at the same time working on computer...etc.