The Search for the holy cave!

[Swede]

After getting some requests, I've finally decided to add a little gallery with my HT setup. I'll try to add some more pics as I find them or as I take them as the case may be

Some of you may have seen my posts not too long ago about how you don't need a bat cave to enjoy a projector in your living room HT, and that white walls & ceiling in a normal living room works perfectly fine. So obviously my new obsession is getting the best blacks I can (under the circumstances)

Well, it really isn't as weird as it sounds. I've always been a black level nut, I just haven't really thought about my options that much since we live in an apartment, and since it's a rental we can't just start painting the walls and ceiling however we want.

So, then I realized there's still a lot you CAN do in this situation! Of course the best first step is to get some good blackout curtains since sunlight is the worst light of all for a projector! The one I got is actually REALLY good and can highly recomnmend them, despite being cheap-o $20 curtains from Walmart (2x Austin Microsuede Blackout Curtain Panel, Black 95' in case you're interested).

My second upcoming project is to make a manual masking system for content that is not native 2.35:1 (since I'm using a 2.35:1 screen), including masking the entire front wall around the screen. For the main masking system I have purchased some very nice black velvet (about $8/yd from joann's with a 40% off coupon) and a curtain track to set the masking position manually, electric masking is gonna have to wait for now For the rest of the wall I will be using a cheaper black crushed velvet (also from joann's, but just $4/rd on sale, and got another few yards when they had it on super-sale during Black Friday for just $2.50/yd). The actual project is still in pre-production phase though, so no pics on that yet

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Swede

After getting some requests, I've finally decided to add a little gallery with my HT setup. I'll try to add some more pics as I find them or as I take them as the case may be

Some of you may have seen my posts not too long ago about how you don't need a bat cave to enjoy a projector in your living room HT, and that white walls & ceiling in a normal living room works perfectly fine. So obviously my new obsession is getting the best blacks I can (under the circumstances)

Well, it really isn't as weird as it sounds. I've always been a black level nut, I just haven't really thought about my options that much since we live in an apartment, and since it's a rental we can't just start painting the walls and ceiling however we want.

So, then I realized there's still a lot you CAN do in this situation! Of course the best first step is to get some good blackout curtains since sunlight is the worst light of all for a projector! The one I got is actually REALLY good and can highly recomnmend them, despite being cheap-o $20 curtains from Walmart (2x Austin Microsuede Blackout Curtain Panel, Black 95' in case you're interested).

My second upcoming project is to make a manual masking system for content that is not native 2.35:1 (since I'm using a 2.35:1 screen), including masking the entire front wall around the screen. For the main masking system I have purchased some very nice black velvet (about $8/yd from joann's with a 40% off coupon) and a curtain track to set the masking position manually, electric masking is gonna have to wait for now For the rest of the wall I will be using a cheaper black crushed velvet (also from joann's, but just $4/rd on sale, and got another few yards when they had it on super-sale during Black Friday for just $2.50/yd). The actual project is still in pre-production phase though, so no pics on that yet

You know, my theater room isn't a blacked out batcave, yet I have found the projector very bright on my large 12 foot wide screen (It's a white screen, however), and even it's black level performance is pretty good (I stress good as not extrodinary, but better than projectors of it's caliber), although I'm not as stressed about contrast as some users on this site, it's better than you think. I'm thinking of putting blackout curtains as masking for 16:9 and 4:3 content sometime, although my entire screen takes the whole lenght of the wall (I won't take pictures for personal reasons), since the wall is also 12 feet wide, so I have to think about where to hang the curtains, I figure the sides to angle them.

Well done job with your home theater, nice stewart screen you have.

[Swede]

Thanks Trogdor, yeah my Stewart is my precciousss! My pearl in a pigsty

Wow, that's a huge screen you're using, it's pretty incredible that you can get a good, bright picture on that kind of screen! For me it's not really about getting a brighter picture though, and more about getting blacker blacks, end less ambient light when watching movies to get that extra bit of perceived contrast

[Blu Titan]

Looks great Swede. I remember your posts over @ eproductwars during the format wars.

[Swede]

Hehe good memory Blu Titan

Yeah those were the days, I'm so glad that's well and far behind us now (and that the best format won)

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Swede

Thanks Trogdor, yeah my Stewart is my precciousss! My pearl in a pigsty

Wow, that's a huge screen you're using, it's pretty incredible that you can get a good, bright picture on that kind of screen! For me it's not really about getting a brighter picture though, and more about getting blacker blacks, end less ambient light when watching movies to get that extra bit of perceived contrast

I think it was also so bright because I use the anamorphic lens (made one for cheap) method for watching cinemascope movies, without the prism for 16:9, it would be about 122 inches diagonally, about 9 feet wide. Contrast is a very important thing for me too, but it's difficult to find a high contrast projector and a bright projector, one that is calibrated to the ideal 6500K and one that is cheap. I was pretty lucky I found my x10 at tigerdirect.com for cheap, because they were getting rid of their stock of the projector. Also ambient light is never an issue for me either, especially when I ventilated the house to keep it warm for the winter.

Note: I notice you have a couple of Rock band guitars, and just a thought, we could do some big screen gaming, and I did thought of a front projection gaiming clan (it didn't go anywhere though), or atleast play a few games, I don't know, maybe do a commentary. PSN ID is name.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Swede

Hehe good memory Blu Titan

Yeah those were the days, I'm so glad that's well and far behind us now (and that the best format won)

Nice set-up, and I like the KEF's as well......but you are right, time to work on the masking! Good job overall though.....

[Beta Man]

I have the same $20 curtains for my front windows, and light still glows through in direct sunlight...... the curtains over the windows in my stairway are a LOT better, but cost over 10X as much, so I haven't "upgraded" the front windows

I can vouch for the need for light control though!!!!!

[seigneur_rayden]

Originally Posted by Swede

After getting some requests, I've finally decided to add a little gallery with my HT setup. I'll try to add some more pics as I find them or as I take them as the case may be

Some of you may have seen my posts not too long ago about how you don't need a bat cave to enjoy a projector in your living room HT, and that white walls & ceiling in a normal living room works perfectly fine. So obviously my new obsession is getting the best blacks I can (under the circumstances)

Well, it really isn't as weird as it sounds. I've always been a black level nut, I just haven't really thought about my options that much since we live in an apartment, and since it's a rental we can't just start painting the walls and ceiling however we want.

So, then I realized there's still a lot you CAN do in this situation! Of course the best first step is to get some good blackout curtains since sunlight is the worst light of all for a projector! The one I got is actually REALLY good and can highly recomnmend them, despite being cheap-o $20 curtains from Walmart (2x Austin Microsuede Blackout Curtain Panel, Black 95' in case you're interested).

My second upcoming project is to make a manual masking system for content that is not native 2.35:1 (since I'm using a 2.35:1 screen), including masking the entire front wall around the screen. For the main masking system I have purchased some very nice black velvet (about $8/yd from joann's with a 40% off coupon) and a curtain track to set the masking position manually, electric masking is gonna have to wait for now For the rest of the wall I will be using a cheaper black crushed velvet (also from joann's, but just $4/rd on sale, and got another few yards when they had it on super-sale during Black Friday for just $2.50/yd). The actual project is still in pre-production phase though, so no pics on that yet

Where did U buy the curtain track? I'm having trouble finding them in-store.

Edit: Never mind. I've just seen your pictures. You don't have curtain track but curtain rod.
Looking good man.

[Swede]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

..but it's difficult to find a high contrast projector and a bright projector, one that is calibrated to the ideal 6500K and one that is cheap.

Hehe yeah it can be tricky to get all of those requirements, you usually have to compromise somewhere

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

Note: I notice you have a couple of Rock band guitars, and just a thought, we could do some big screen gaming, and I did thought of a front projection gaiming clan (it didn't go anywhere though), or atleast play a few games, I don't know, maybe do a commentary. PSN ID is name.

Sure why not. I have Rock Band 1/2 and usually play drums on hard & guitar on expert. My PSN ID is bg808s (from my old Barco CRT projector with the same name ) Yeah, I'm obviously disturbed . I still play quite a bit of GH3 and GH Metallica/Aerosmith sometimes too...

[Swede]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Nice set-up, and I like the KEF's as well......but you are right, time to work on the masking! Good job overall though.....

Thanks then you're gonna want to take another look tonight when I've updated my pics....

I actually took most of those pics to demonstrate how bad the lightspill is, and especially for myself to compare to when I get the masking system up. I should note though that a lot of those pics came out quite a bit overexposed, and unfortunately the camera didn't really pick up the unwanted ambient light in the room from the reflections of the white walls/ceiling so the pictures probably won't show the difference the masking system makes properly... I'll try to take some more "before" pics and see if I can get one that shows that the room isn't perfectly dark as is...

[Swede]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I have the same $20 curtains for my front windows, and light still glows through in direct sunlight...... the curtains over the windows in my stairway are a LOT better, but cost over 10X as much, so I haven't "upgraded" the front windows

I can vouch for the need for light control though!!!!!

Really? I haven't had that problem. In fact I tried putting a 60W bulb right behind the curtain and it was barely noticable if at all. The only problem I have is that light still manages to shine through above the curtain and on the sides, since it's not perfectly snug to the wall. I'm not really sure how to solve that little problem yet.

[Swede]

Originally Posted by seigneur_rayden

Where did U buy the curtain track? I'm having trouble finding them in-store.

Edit: Never mind. I've just seen your pictures. You don't have curtain track nut curtain rod.
Looking good man.

Actually I did buy a curtain track, or Traverse Rod as they called it, I just haven't used it yet. Like you said, I had a bit of trouble finding one, but I finally got one that works like I want it to (with center opening) on Home Depot for just over $20 I believe. Are you also trying to make a similar masking system?

[seigneur_rayden]

Originally Posted by Swede

Actually I did buy a curtain track, or Traverse Rod as they called it, I just haven't used it yet. Like you said, I had a bit of trouble finding one, but I finally got one that works like I want it to (with center opening) on Home Depot for just over $20 I believe. Are you also trying to make a similar masking system?

yes. I want to cover the light coming from the balcony on one side and also hide/cover the screen when not in use.

Do U have the item #, model, brand,... of the track. Do you have any close-up picture of the track? Did you buy it at Home Depot ONLINE or in-store?
Thanks.

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Swede

Hehe yeah it can be tricky to get all of those requirements, you usually have to compromise somewhere



Sure why not. I have Rock Band 1/2 and usually play drums on hard & guitar on expert. My PSN ID is bg808s (from my old Barco CRT projector with the same name ) Yeah, I'm obviously disturbed . I still play quite a bit of GH3 and GH Metallica/Aerosmith sometimes too...

Nice I'll get you a friend invite soon. Also if you have The Beatles, that will be great.

[Swede]

Originally Posted by seigneur_rayden

yes. I want to cover the light coming from the balcony on one side and also hide/cover the screen when not in use.

Do U have the item #, model, brand,... of the track. Do you have any close-up picture of the track? Did you buy it at Home Depot ONLINE or in-store?
Thanks.

OK I checked the label on mine. I got it in-store, I don't have any pictures of it, but it's a plain white rod, nothing fancy, and 84"-156". The brand is DesignView, and it's called "Traverse Rod with Cord Control", I'm not sure about the model no but it could be 869384, which was the only number on the label. I got the UPC for you though: 843623004198.

[Swede]

I've added some new pics of my HT in case anyone's interested, updated with my new addition the KEF Reference 202c center in place in the HT, my new pride & joy I've also added some more HT pics and screenshots of Ice age 3 and some awesome bigscreen gaming on Uncharted 2.

I've actually started on my little wall-darkening / masking project now too, but it's still a work-in-progress. So far I've got the black (crushed) velvet above and below the screen up n running, and it works GREAT. With lights on I'm getting a much darker almost black wall around the screen, and with lights off it's completely BLACK now The regular black borders lightspill you can see on the screenshots are completely gone, and even when projecting a BRIGHT 16:9 image zoomed out right on the velvet there's only a very faint trace of the image visible. I'll try to take & add some pics of that soon too

[Deciazulado]

All surfaces black except where noted ,
this is how the ideal would look:

room_diagram_far_sitting_distance.jpg
Siting farther that 2PH maybe you might need to bias light the back wall behind your screen if your projector doesn't have deep enough blacks.
If needed, increase the bias light from 0 up till the blacks on the image are perceived as dark and the image looks good or the back wall looks like a medium grey from a test disc

The little guy enjoing his mixer is sitting at 2.75 PH (Picture Heights) from his UltraPanavision 2.75 wide screen.


room_diagram_close sitting_distance.jpg
At around 2PH you might not need to bias light the back wall (the screen image itself becomes your bias light) specially if your projector has high enough contrast/blacks

The little guy enjoing his mixer is sitting at 2 PH from his UltraPanavision 2.75 wide screen.

He's probably enjoying Ben-Hur like never before.


I did this rather quick by eye so please excuse any scale errors or drawing horrors