Home Theater Questions

[DomCasual]

Okay, electronics geeks, I have a question.

I am in the process of finishing my basement. I am doing the wiring right now, and I am in the room I am planning on using for a home theater. Here's my question:

The room I am using is about 15' x 12'. I want the biggest viewing image I can possibly get. Light isn't a problem, as I have deliberately chosen the one area of the basement that has no windows. So, any thoughts on what technology I should use for a TV? I am thinking a projector of some sort. Is that realistic for a room that size? And if so, any suggestions on a brand/model?

And, if you say projector, how far away from the screen would I want it to be, given the dimensions of the room? I have to wire an outlet to power it, and I want to make sure I put it in the right place. Also, while I have the ceiling open, should I do anything else up there to prepare for mounting the projector (other than coaxial cable from the projector to the signal source)?

[Merlin]

No offense, but you obviuosly have a lot of questions and need a fair amount of guidance. I suggest you visit avsforum.com A lot of experts and HT ownes participate there. BTW, front projection is the way to go; however there are many options and questions you need to consider before you decide which way to go. I would suggest you lurk for a couple of weeks in some of the forums (especially the under $3500 forum), and then throw some of the questions related to your needs when you have a better understanding of them.

Good luck, HT with FP is by far the best (but you need HD).

[Borks147]

Okay, electronics geeks, I have a question.

I am in the process of finishing my basement. I am doing the wiring right now, and I am in the room I am planning on using for a home theater. Here's my question:

The room I am using is about 15' x 12'. I want the biggest viewing image I can possibly get. Light isn't a problem, as I have deliberately chosen the one area of the basement that has no windows. So, any thoughts on what technology I should use for a TV? I am thinking a projector of some sort. Is that realistic for a room that size? And if so, any suggestions on a brand/model?

And, if you say projector, how far away from the screen would I want it to be, given the dimensions of the room? I have to wire an outlet to power it, and I want to make sure I put it in the right place. Also, while I have the ceiling open, should I do anything else up there to prepare for mounting the projector (other than coaxial cable from the projector to the signal source)?


you're going to use a coaxial cable?

[DomCasual]

you're going to use a coaxial cable?
No, you're right. No coaxial cable. I'm thinking of the projector like a receiver. Hadn't thought that through.

[DomCasual]

No offense, but you obviuosly have a lot of questions and need a fair amount of guidance. I suggest you visit avsforum.com A lot of experts and HT ownes participate there. BTW, front projection is the way to go; however there are many options and questions you need to consider before you decide which way to go. I would suggest you lurk for a couple of weeks in some of the forums (especially the under $3500 forum), and then throw some of the questions related to your needs when you have a better understanding of them.

Good luck, HT with FP is by far the best (but you need HD).
Cool - thanks! I just went there, and there is a ton of information. I am not buying anything until probably the end of the summer, so I will spend some time getting up to speed. I think I am going to put an outlet in the ceiling about 12" from where the screen will be - that seems like a reasonable amount of space to project an image the size that will work for the room.

I really, really want to have this done by early football season.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Cool - thanks! I just went there, and there is a ton of information. I am not buying anything until probably the end of the summer, so I will spend some time getting up to speed. I think I am going to put an outlet in the ceiling about 12" from where the screen will be - that seems like a reasonable amount of space to project an image the size that will work for the room.

I really, really want to have this done by early football season.
Depending on what service you use you would want a phone jack there too. Since you're wiring right now, just a suggestion, I'd run 2 runs of (2GB coax, phone line, 6 speaker lines and at least one run of CAT 5).

[Traveler]

Okay, electronics geeks, I have a question.

I am in the process of finishing my basement. I am doing the wiring right now, and I am in the room I am planning on using for a home theater. Here's my question:

The room I am using is about 15' x 12'. I want the biggest viewing image I can possibly get. Light isn't a problem, as I have deliberately chosen the one area of the basement that has no windows. So, any thoughts on what technology I should use for a TV? I am thinking a projector of some sort. Is that realistic for a room that size? And if so, any suggestions on a brand/model?

And, if you say projector, how far away from the screen would I want it to be, given the dimensions of the room? I have to wire an outlet to power it, and I want to make sure I put it in the right place. Also, while I have the ceiling open, should I do anything else up there to prepare for mounting the projector (other than coaxial cable from the projector to the signal source)?


Dom,

I just finished my basement not too long ago. What type of ceiling are you installing? Like BB mentioned above, I found out that if it's in your budget, it's a good rule of thumb to wire for the equipment to you plan to use and also for any components you might want to add later.

Better to have all the wiring installed now. Retro-fitting can get costly after you've completed your basement and realize you need more wiring.

PM me you have anymore questions. I can send some picture to help give you some ideas.

[watermock]

You can't really overkill on wiring, including fiber optic cable.

[crazyhorse]

A huge TV will dominate the room. Be careful. In fact, I would recommend you spend some time going to different sound rooms around town to get a feel for the equipment you will want. There is no way of knowing without researching it yourself. Your system has to fit the room.

The sub has to fit the room, the speaker size has to fit the room and last but not least, the TV has to fit the room.

Again, spend some time, perhaps a weekend or two driving around listening to different systems in different rooms. You can spend a great deal of money on a home theatre. It's okay to spend money if you do it right. You can spend a ton and get what may sound great in a bigger room, sound like crap in yours. You can even get a few recommendations from pros who might be able to give you an idea of where to start looking.

Dont be afraid to visit some high end stores too. You will get some great advice and get to listen to some great set ups.

Make a project out of it. No one here can tell you what you will want. As for wiring. Wire for 6 channels.

The only problem is speaker placement. You will not know how to set your room until you have your equipment.

Good luck. Have fun with it. I have about 10 grand in my HT setup. Not including the TV.

[BroncoBuff]

There's an old rule about screen size ... the distance you sit from the screen should be at least 2 1/2 x the diagonal measure of the screen. But that was a 4 x 3 aspect ratio rule .... if you get a widescreen, I dunno.

Glad to be of help! :ouwknow:

[Broncoman13]

Crazy has some excellent points. Dom, if you plan on sitting long ways (15' section of the room) then you will probably end up around 10-12' away from the screen. I'm not sure what you were planning, but at that distance you are limited to right around 50'' for the size of your viewing screen. Personally, I'd look into getting a 50'' DLP or LCD set. You can pick them up for under $2k now, they have great picture, and have so many inputs available that you'll never run out! I have a cable box, receiver, PS2, DVD player, PVR, VCR, and Video Camera hooked up to mine at the moment. That's 7 inputs in use! In the past I would have to switch out components to make this happen, now I just leave them all plugged in.

One more little point of advice... if you plan on watching mainly sports on the set, I would go with LCD over DLP. DLP's picture is generally a little darker, which makes it better for movies and regular programming and such. Games still look great, but it's not as bright as an LCD.

Also keep in mind that if you're planning on buying a big screen, you should be prepared for your regular cable channels not looking nearly as good. I was highly put off when I found that my 36'' old TV actually has a better image than my DLP in terms of watching Lost or CSI or something like that on regular cable. HD is a completely different story and nothing compared to my set when HD programming is available. So keep that in mind, if you're not gonna use High Def, or don't have a lot of channels available in High Def... you might be in for a bit of a suprise, and disappointed.

GOOD LUCK!

[Spider]

my kids got me a surround sound system for my rig for fathers day ,that should be a blast once I gt it hooked up ..........

[Bronco9798]

I just bought a 32 inch LCD and a 42 inch Plasma last weekend. The LCD blows the plasma away as far as Picture Quality in HD. I was a bit surprised how much better the LCD quality was.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

One more little point of advice... if you plan on watching mainly sports on the set, I would go with LCD over DLP. DLP's picture is generally a little darker, which makes it better for movies and regular programming and such. Games still look great, but it's not as bright as an LCD.
Not necessarily. My Toshiba has a 2 lamp settings which make it as bright as any other format. Most people don't realize that TVs in the showroom are contrasted bright to catch your eye but they are far from being the best picture available. TVs have to be calibrated correctly to achieve an optimum quality picture. After basic calibrations my DLP has a better picture than any Plasma available and as good if not better than a LCD (personal preference).

[broncsyanks]

check out the Sony 60" grrand wega. LCD with high def. It has 1080 pixels. the most i have seen to date. correct me if i am wrong. i am curious to see anything new

[Bronco_Beerslug]

check out the Sony 60" grrand wega. LCD with high def. It has 1080 pixels. the most i have seen to date. correct me if i am wrong. i am curious to see anything new Almost all HDTVs now display 1080i (1,920x1,080).

Below should give you a better idea of TV display...

---------------------------------------------------------

HDTV resolutions
Resolution, or picture detail, is the main reason why HDTV programs look so good. The standard-definition programming most of us watch today has at most 480 visible lines of detail, whereas HDTV has as many as 1,080. HDTV looks sharper and clearer than regular TV by a wide margin, especially on big-screen televisions. It actually comes in two different resolutions, called 1080i and 720p. One is not necessarily better than the other; 1080i has more lines and pixels, but 720p is a progressive-scan format that should deliver a smoother image that stays sharper during motion (for more on progressive scanning, see our primer (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-5020359-1.html?tag=txt)). Another format is also becoming better known: 1080p, which combines the superior resolution of 1080i with the progressive-scan smoothness of 720p. True 1080p content is extremely scarce, however, and none of the major networks has announced 1080p broadcasts.

http://tinyurl.com/9hzfo

[DR.Bombay]

I just bought a 32 inch LCD and a 42 inch Plasma last weekend. The LCD blows the plasma away as far as Picture Quality in HD. I was a bit surprised how much better the LCD quality was.


What kind of Plasma & LCD tv do you have?
Do you have them calibrated?

I am interested in your opinion, because I have the exact opposite opinion about my Plasma vs my LCD.
I feel my Panasonic 8UK Plasma blows away my Sharp Aquos LCD in PQ in both SD & HD programming. The contrast ratio for the LCD is very poor in comparison to the plasma. The picture on the plasma appears to have more detail even though they are both receiving the same video feed and they are both 720p monitors and both have been calibrated using the same methods.

[Bronco9798]

I have the Sharp 32 inch Aquos LCD and a Philips 42 inch Plasma. I also have a 62 inch Hitachi rear projection TV but it's not HD compatibable. I bought it in 1999. Great TV but no HD. I bought the 2 new TV's the same day and have had them for only about 1 week. I personally have not caliberated them and would not have a clue how to.

I've been messing with the settings today on the Plasma and with a few adjustments have actually improved the quality of the picture. Still not as impressive as the LCD though. The LCD just seems to jump out at you with the clear picture. It's really nice. The Plasma is better now but still doesn't have the sharpness that the LCD has. The LCD just seems to pick up every little detail and jumps out at you. The Plasma is clear and much better than the SD programming but like I said, just not as impressive as the LCD, but still very nice and clear.

I'm not sure that helps you but about the only way I can explain it. I'm still learning this stuff. I probably should have done more research before I bought instead of after.

I have DTV on the LCD and DISH on the Plasma. Both receivers are set on the 1080i setting.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I have DTV on the LCD and DISH on the Plasma. Both receivers are set on the 1080i setting.
Actually, the display should change with the programming (as it's presented). I find 780p to be a little better quality on some programs.

[Bronco9798]

Actually, the display should change with the programming (as it's presented). I find 780p to be a little better quality on some programs.


Well, maybe they do. They seem to always be on that 1080i setting though. I just may not notice.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Well, maybe they do. They seem to always be on that 1080i setting though. I just may not notice. Your TVs should have settings to let them set the displays (by programming presented) or you can set it to one setting or another.

[Derger_Louis]

http://www.audioholics.com/

[Bronco9798]

I'm sitting here messing with the settings. They are set on automatic which means it changes with whatever is on. Or you can set them on a certain setting.

I bought the LCD for my office and my wife liked that ambient lighting with the Plasma. I put the Plasma in her living room and I took the LCD. If it was up tp me, I would of bought a different brand than the Philips, but she liked it. We had in hung on the wall. It's a nice looking TV, I'm just not sold on Philips.

[DR.Bombay]

I have the Sharp 32 inch Aquos LCD and a Philips 42 inch Plasma. I also have a 62 inch Hitachi rear projection TV but it's not HD compatibable. I bought it in 1999. Great TV but no HD. I bought the 2 new TV's the same day and have had them for only about 1 week. I personally have not caliberated them and would not have a clue how to.

I've been messing with the settings today on the Plasma and with a few adjustments have actually improved the quality of the picture. Still not as impressive as the LCD though. The LCD just seems to jump out at you with the clear picture. It's really nice. The Plasma is better now but still doesn't have the sharpness that the LCD has. The LCD just seems to pick up every little detail and jumps out at you. The Plasma is clear and much better than the SD programming but like I said, just not as impressive as the LCD, but still very nice and clear.

I'm not sure that helps you but about the only way I can explain it. I'm still learning this stuff. I probably should have done more research before I bought instead of after.

I have DTV on the LCD and DISH on the Plasma. Both receivers are set on the 1080i setting.

Thanks for the response

I have a suggestion.
Change the receiver setting to 720p for the Plasma because Plasma Tvs are progressive by nature and the internal scalers on them never does a good job adjusting a 1080i image to a 720p format. (Unless you have a Fujitsu Plasma - but they are top of the line when it comes to plasmas)

This might be true for your Aquos LCD - I will have to check mine and see.

My suggestion is to buy a calibration disk online and it will walk you thru the setup and help adjust the settings to get the best possible picture out of all your Tvs.

Does your Phillips Plasma have ambilight?

[Spider]

I am kinda scared to put a LCD or plasma in my rig , with all that bouncing , I dont think they would hold up ..........though putting a 32 inch LCD in the rig is damn tempting

[Bronco9798]

Thanks for the response

I have a suggestion.
Change the receiver setting to 720p for the Plasma because Plasma Tvs are progressive by nature and the internal scalers on them never does a good job adjusting a 1080i image to a 720p format. (Unless you have a Fujitsu Plasma - but they are top of the line when it comes to plasmas)

This might be true for your Aquos LCD - I will have to check mine and see.

My suggestion is to buy a calibration disk online and it will walk you thru the setup and help adjust the settings to get the best possible picture out of all your Tvs.

Does your Phillips Plasma have ambilight?

Yes it does and it is really neat. The light changes colors to go along with the picture on the TV. It adds a nice touch when watching TV. It's really cool......