projector/screen advice

[drnick]

I have a dedicated media room. Mostly use it for music listening. I want to add a projector and screen for movie watching and possibly some HD broadcasts. The seating distance is 9-15 feet. The distance from projector to screen is about 16 feet. A little close but the room can be completely darkened. I have narrowed my search the Panasonic PT-AE900U and the Sony VLP-HS051. Any opinions as to the better choice? Good or bad experiences? Anything else comprable in the 2-3 thousand price range? Any suggestions for a motorized screen?

Thanks for the input!

Nick

 

[scenaria]

you really need to look at Carada. they make an excellent screen at a very good price. I had a Carada, stewart and Dalite. I would have easily kept the Carada if I was in a position to purchase one.


you can go up to about 104 diag.

http://www.carada.com/detail.aspx?ID=15

oh and I too have a panny projector.. I have it projecting on a stewart firehawk. I tried a studiotek130 but my room is a little too reflective and caused the blacks to not look as good. If you can make your room completely dark and you dont have white reflective walls or other surfaces then I think a brilliant white from carada would be a good choice. but I can say that for my purpose the blacks look alot better on the high contrast gray screen.. I give up some lumens but the blacks are better.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I would get the AE900 in a second over the Sony. The Sony is a year out of date now and the new HS61 is on route (I understand) so we should be seeing an upgrade from Sony any day now.

You may also want to consider the Sanyo Z4.

For screens - I would avoid electric or roll-up at all costs unless you are getting tab tensioned. Electric is a waste of money (IMO) without tab-tensioning to keep the screen surface flat. In a year or so, the screen develops waves and your screen is ruined. Tab-tensioned = no waves.

You may want to check out Saaria for some very affordable electric tab-tensioned screens.

 

[drnick]

screen

Thanks for the help with the projectors. I have another screen dilema though. The screen will be mounted to a ceiling that slopes on about a 45 degree angle . This is my only choice as the TV will remain in the room and behind the screen. I contacted a few companies and they advised me that the motorized screens could not be mounted at an angle as it can damage the screen upon descent and ascent. The best option (to date) came from DA-lite who told me they could sell the screen parts individually so I could modify it on my own to work on such a slope (I am not sure if I want to do that). Has anyone ever mounted a motorized screen from a sloped ceiling? My only other option may to build out the wall so I have a sort soffit to mount it to (more construction). Any other ideas or suggestions?

Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[westcott]

I would just built a decorative box to hold the screen that levels the way the screen is attached to the wall. Problem solved!!!!

I too prefer a fixed screen for long term performance, but I understand your dilema.

 

[drnick]

thanks

I think that may the best way to go!

 

[scenaria]

hmmm how big is your TV? I have a rather large TV but I still have plenty of space between the ceiling and the top of the TV. I simply hung the screen on the wall behind the TV.. the bottom of the screen sits right above the top of the TV.

I know its not ideal but it works pretty well with all things considered.

a fixed screen really is a much nicer option if you can figure out a way to make it work

if you have space in the attic you can actually devise a "box" inside the attic and retract a fixed screen into it.

 

[jcPanny]

Other projectors

You might also check out the new Sanyo Z4 projector. Projectorcentral.com has lots of reviews on it and the new panasonic. I think they are both better options than the Sony and both are less than $2K from visualapex.com

For a dedicated room a fixed screen is the best option. However, it would be cool if the motorized screen came out of a slot in your angled ceiling. The key is that the screen has to be mounted so that the housing is in the correct vertical orientation. Weather on the ceiling or in the ceiling, this could be easily accomplished with metal or wood brackets.

 

[drnick]

thanks

I went with the Sanyo Z4 as that was also recommended by my dealer and the best price compared to the Sony and Panny. Also went with the Saaria tab-tensioned motorized screen which I will build a box to mount flush (although the dealer thinks it could be mounted on an angled ceiling). I am still waiting for the screen but will let everyone know how it all works out.

Thanks again for all your help!