Too Small for Projector?

[DBooger]

I’m looking for critiques / suggestions for a dedicated home theater.

I have a windowless 13.5’ by 16’ room prewired for 5.1. I estimated total “cubes” at just under 2,500. I need at least 28” to 36” on (off?) the long axis for a walkway at the back of the room: there is a powder room and a small wet bar. I plan two rows of seats, and figure that “head position” on the row closest to the display / screen will be, at most, 76” (somewhere around 64" - 68” is more likely). Due to the relatively close seating distance, a ceiling fan and the pre-wire, I’ve all but disregarded a projector, and am leaning strongly towards a 42” to 50” LCD: I’m a novice gamer, and I don’t want plasma burn-in issues. Plus, at some point I plan to incorporate a HTPC, so that seems to be another factor for LCD. Tentative selection: Toshiba.

Thanks!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Meh - since nobody has responded...

I will just say that I agree that your setup is a bit close for front projection and you would likely be well served with a decent LCD or rear projection display. When you give the room dimensions I was thinking - "What are you talking about?" - Then you rattled off everything that was going into the room.

Well, that changes everything. When I think of a room that size I think of a dedicated 100 home theater setup - not an area with multiple uses. I'm not entirely convinced two rows of seating is a great idea in that space either, but that's as much personal preference as anything else.

Is the room in a basement? What is on the opposite side of the wall you want to put the screen on? One of the coolest things I've seen is rear projection that sits in an unfinished basement area with the screen 'cut in' to the finshed space. Looks good and takes zero floorspace from the finshed section.

 

[DBooger]

Thanks, BMXTRIX. No, there's no availability on the surrounding walls. Yes, I want to maximize folks in the room, so I'm going w/ two rows, and Yes, I agree it's NOT ideal. But ... we play the cards we're dealt.

Thanks again.

 

[AVRat]

It seems like a display in the 60" neighborhood would be appropriate.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I've seen FPs done in smaller rooms. Your biggest day-2-day probelm is going to be noise. And lots of tripping over cords probably.

 

[DBooger]

First - Thanks to all.

Second - AVRat, are you sure? Isn't that going to put me at close to Viewing Distance:Screen Size as 1:1? I thought it was 1.5:1, ESPECIALLY if you were going to use legacy / non-HDMI signals (old movies, etc.). But ... I bow to your sagacity. Advise me, Senor Raton!

 

[AVRat]

OOPS!!! I'm bad, that should've been 50". A 66" or so and up viewing distance would be apprpriate for a 50" display.

 

[frogpond1]

Our room dimentions are almost identical at 13.5' x 17' but we have no bar and such. We do have FP and if you would like I can either post pics or email them. I'll agree that two rows of seats in this space gives the front row a bit of an eye strain problem.

 

[MACCA350]

Our room is our only living space(small house) and measures 17'x11' the lounge sits in from the back wall(due to the entrance) so our viewing distance is at 12' from a 100" front projection screen. Seriously the immersion you get is awesome we wouldn't have it any other way, people are always amazed at the picture quality of such a large screen, it still surprises me, I can't imagine what 1080p projector with HD source would be like(I'm looking forward to it though ) My opinion, if you want the movie experience you have to have a HUGE screen and HUGE sound, everything else is secondary, but thats just us

Good luck, cheers

 

[rumonkey2]

I'm in a much smaller room w/ front pj(11.5x11.5).....only throwing approx 64" diag image...480p at that. Viewing distance - 7.5-8' and no regrets. Looking to upgrade to 720p so I can throw approx 80" diag w/ no SDE problems from this viewing range.....

audio quality biggest challenge in my room - slowly working on that (it sounds fine to me, just know it could be better)

absolutely no regrets, and (a year ago) spent less than (most)any 42" flat panel available even now....

 

[frogpond1]

I agree with the cost aspect that rumonkey brings up. Cost per inch is definately cheaper even with flat screen prices falling, PJ prices are keeping pace in the price department. One year ago I paid 1400 for the Sanyo Z4 and now I see it for 900-1100 with the Z5 at 1200-1300. I hear my co-workers talk about how they paid 800 or more on a 50" some odd inch flat screen and I just smile. I smile even more when I tell them they could've gotten an PJ for around the same that throws any size.