Got it! So I will probably run 3 pulls of CAT-6 over to the projector location. I will terminate 1, probably use one as a control, and leave one in the ceiling for later possible use (or as backup). It seems like most projectors do have a 12v out, and the Visual Apex screen comes with a wireless trigger that plugs in to have the screen go up and down.
Yes, there are any number of uses which people can come up with when there are wires in place. It's good to have them there, and makes dealing with things in the future easier. Conduit is still the best recommendation, but a regular HDMI cable (non-Redmere) and some cat-6 cables should cover you for years to come.
That is pretty much what I found when I was looking at screens. I would love to get a great Made in USA screen (I always try and buy US made), but the cost is significantly higher from what I was able to find. If I was able to do a fixed screen I am sure this would be a different conversation, but alas.
I have to disagree with the previous poster when it comes to screens at some level. Cheap manual screens develop waves in the material typically within 2 years of ownership. This produces visible distortion in the image, most noticeable during pans. Watching hockey, by example, it appears obvious and personally bugged me all the time when I had a manual screen. So, the added cost of a tab-tensioned screen is really worth it and IMO, is the only way to go for retractable screens. So, I consider that a great choice. On the other hand, if you can't afford a tab-tensioned screen (you can) then getting a really cheap manual screen is far better than buying a motorized screen for hundreds more.
So I looked up both mounts. On B&H (I get almost all of my photography gear there) they have the Chief for $140, and the Peerless for $87! Both seem reasonable to me! I have extremely limited experience setting up and adjusting a projector, but I know a solid mount is key! I imagine with two SVS's that will really come into play
Anyway I like that the Peerless is a screw adjustment, seems MUCH easier to fine tune that way. With that said, the Chief mount looks pretty rock solid. You see to have experience with both, and obviously recommend the Chief over the Peerless, but how is it to adjust?
The Chief RPMAU:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/467238-REG/Chief_RPMAU_RPMA_U_Elite_Ceiling_Mount.html
is better than the Peerless mount, by a fair bit. It uses a integrated gear system similar to the Peerless, but is built to a much tighter tolerance. Basically you tighten everything down pretty firmly, then the gears still allow for the mount to be adjusted. Once adjusted, the mount doesn't move at all. The Peerless seems to still have a small amount of movement. This may not seem like much, but a quarter of a degree at the mount equates to half an inch on screen. But, the Peerless is better than most, and I do like it.
If you aren't doing all of this right away though, you can keep an eye on eBay and perhaps pick up a Chief RPMAU for under $100 at some point.
Here is a white one for under $100 shipped:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chief-RPMAUW-Projector-Mount-with-lock-and-Key-/111498088320?pt=US_Projector_Mounts_Stands&hash=item19f5cdcf80
They do come up pretty often at good prices, and I've been known to get one without the universal bracket, but with a bracket designed for a different projector, and just drilling holes into the metal plate it comes with, to fit the projector it is going onto. This is a good way to get a great mount for even less money...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chief-RPMA187-RPMA-187-RPA-Elite-Projector-Mount-/230817605441?pt=US_Projector_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35bdcd2741
That makes a lot of sense! I don't have a massive budget for a projector unfortunately. That is mostly due to the fact that I am doing everything at once really. The good news is that it seems like a budget of around $1,000 can get me a very nice projector these days. So is the W1070 your recommendation given the screen I will be using, the size, and so on? The room will be dark, but not 100% light controlled. I will be watching mostly movies, and sports on it. The projector will likely end up directly above my head depending on the exact throw distance. The room is about 11' wide, 20' long, and 8' tall, with the seating being about 11' from the screen.
The W1070 remains the best looking projector under $1,800 on the market. The on-sale Sony HW40ES may be the best looking projector under $3,000 right now. Both work well with some ambient light, and put out a lot of light, while still delivering a quality on screen image. The Sony is noticeably better than the BenQ, but comes in about $1,200 more, so it better look good! The Sony has more placement flexibility, far more lens shift, and far superior black levels and shadow detail, and is nearly silent. These are the major factors which set it apart. But, the W1070, if you can get it where it must go, does a very good job at producing a very sharp on-screen image, with excellent color reproduction, very fast response time, excellent 3D, and good colors while maintaining brightness.