Is Bigger Always Better ? Home Theatre Engineering Talks Screen Size.

[@floydowens7602]

I appreciate you making this as I have been telling myself that I didn't think a 100" Screen would be right for our space. And now this gives me the data/info I need to justify something smaller and thus creating a better experience. Thanks!

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Let us know how it works out. Best of luck to you.

[@astrotrance]

That's a lot of great information, much of which I hadn't thought of. That and the statement "Be kind to people on forums", made me a subscriber.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thanks Nathan. Hope we can help more in the future

[@rolandpeters1]

Hello from the UK, I would just like to say that the number of people who give advise and ideas on cinema installation and projectors yours is no doubt the best I have ever seen. There is no doubt you know your business very well . I guess to a smaller degree image quality to size of image is subjective, just like sound systems and there is always a compromise despite how much you may have or willing to spend. My first cinema experience was with a Sanyo PLV80 using a 12.5 ft screen at 3000 lumens the image did look bright and high contrast . 15 years later I’m still using the same screen in my 12 seat cinema , but now projecting 4K using the Sony 570 , which I’m still fiddling to get it how I would like to see it.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thank you so much for your kind words we appreciate it and will try to keep the material coming ..

[@tylee5291]

I have a friend who got me into home theater years ago. His screen, at the time, was 110" in a small rectangular room. Can't remember how close seating was, but it was a bit close. The screen was almost as wide as the wall . Everytime I watched a movie at his house I always felt like I had some sort of vertigo. I was overwhelmed with the picture. When it was time to purchase a screen for my theater, I too wanted the biggest screen. When my options were discussed, I decided on a smaller screen for two reasons. One was to not be overwhelmed by the picture. Second was I wanted the speakers to flank the screen, not sit behind it. My system is a 50/50 music / home theater system. Putting the speakers on each side of the screen vs behind gave a much wider soundstage when watching movies. Also, I think the picture quality is much better with the smaller screen. And I didn't want a perforated screen cause I didn't want to lose gain or picture quality. In the end I chose a 16x9 100" Stewart Studiotek 130 fixed screen. I'm still very happy with my decision. I still prefer a projector and screen over the biggest flat screen tv to get that true home theater / cinema feel in my home.

[@bighands69]

Screen size is dictated as well by viewing distance and the width of the room and viewing height. If you are too close and the image is too high it can make the viewing angle uncomfortable of if it he screen is too low it can do the same thing. Resolution is also something else that many people misunderstand. If you cannot see the pixel on the screen then the benefit of moving up to 4K is negligible.

[@stubones]

That's I feel if I have to sit near the front of a cinema. The screen size is just overwhelming. Dead centre (ish) right to left and front to back feels best to be. 100" at home where you're around 10ft from the screen seems perfect to me.

[@wiktorww3888]

hello, few weeks ago I bought on Indiegogo short throw projector with screen 120" (120" was the same price like 100" 😜) delivery will be in December, in my room distance viewer from screen will be about 12 feet what do you think can I mount 120" screen or should I change order for 100" screen?

[@tylee5291]

@@wiktorww3888 Morning. 120" screen should work for being 12 feet away from screen...espy when the movie is in 2:35 aspect. Is there any way or do you know anyone that has a 120 screen? That way if will give you a better idea of how big it's gonna be if you don't already know.

[@wiktorww3888]

@@tylee5291 thanks for answer, I do not know anyone who has 120" screen, I already have 100" screen but in different bigger room, so I was concerned about 120" in smaller room. I hope it will be OK 😊

[@44krazzy]

while I think you made great points for lot of people including me screen size is the starting point to work your way backwards especially if you are looking to buy a new projector. That way we can then design things around the huge screen size and projector with best ligt output to cover for that. In my case ive been planning to plonk a 160 inch screen to go with Epson 6050UB.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats true to a point, but what if you have 2 seats, 6 seats, 15 seats or 30 seats.. what if your 160" screen goes wall to wall then reflected light will crush your blacks and destroy dynamic range? So yes certainly a place to start but many other considerations. Thats why we build the room, install the seats and then start playing with screen sizes in our models to see what really works.. Just a thought.

[@doyouluvit]

the answer is YES! Always!

[@roBLINDhood]

really good info guys, thanks!

[@PennyAfNorberg]

We have a screen 230cm wide 16:9 with a viewing distance of around 3m, using a short throw projector at the distance around 1.5m, also a media furniture under the screen. It works great but that reflecting light is seen.

[@marcinkuzborski7118]

Amazing material. Thanks for that! What's the size od the screen used in this video?

[@3DModelsToys]

Months ago i bought a 120 projector screen for my Benq th671st projector in my bedroom, now i wish i could have bought a smaller 80 inch screen because the bezels/borders of the screen really matter to make contrast on what you are watching, you can use black duct tape to make the borders yourself but its a mess when you try to adjust to bigger or smaller screen size, so try to get a small to medium size projector screen and gor from that, you can get an amazing home cinema experience with a bigger screen it all depends on your projector quality and the sweet spot screen size. I must say that 3D support is a good plus for your home cinema projector. ; )

[@bighands69]

Viewing distance matters.

[@teslacybertruck750]

Unfortunately, my girlfriend answered yes to the title question.... 🤦‍♂️

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

As long as she is still with you then all is good for you :-)

[@Zoranurai13]

About the zoom on a projector, if it’s a digital zoom, yes it causes resolution loss, but what about using the lenses? How does it impact the perceived clarity?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

I am not aware of many projectors that zoom "digitally" nearly all Home Theatre Projectors zoom mechanically by physically zooming the lens out to expand 16:9 out and above and below a 2.40:1 screen hence the loss. The area of the projector chip outside of the screen is unused. Hence lost pixels and larger pixels now too. Using and anamorphic lens captures all the pixels on a 16:9 chip and utilises them on a widescreen format screen. No loss of light or pixels. Hope that makes sense

[@bighands69]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering I would assume that the control systems are digital rather than the actual process of mechanical zoom.

[@mr.g1123]

Very nice explanation. My room is currently 4,40m wide x 3,00m high and 4,50m length. Sitting position is at 4,30m from the wall. People advice me to go for a 160 inch screen. What would you reckon? Thanks!

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

sorry I completely missed this comment. Probably a bit late now but.... I cant say ! What projector are you using? what is its light output etc etc

[@michaelr4225]

Question for the authors of the channel. What image is better when using DCI content, combined with Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 sound: Barco Freya+ or Samsung Onyx? The screen is 6-10 meters wide.

[@ErickWright1]

What would be some good projectors and screens to go 150 inches?

[@WEHRWULF8814]

Epson ls800, Formovie Theater, Elite Screens

[@ErickWright1]

@@WEHRWULF8814 Thanks! Elite Screens are far more affordable than other 150" screens I'd come across! I'd also been considering the Formovie projector. Will have to look at how it compares to the Epson LS800. Much appreciated!

[@number1pappy]

l remember being in a customers house several years ago and he had a very expensive elaborate home theater project with a 85 inch projector screen! I always though what a complet waste of money as he could have saved thousands and had a much better picture with a 85 or 86 inch tv ! I never understood his thinking and I never asked as I was in his house on a professional visit and it would have been rude. But yeah I get going the biggest you can isnt the best but honestly if you told me I couldnt go bigger than a 100 inches I wouldnt even bother. I would just buy the biggest tv I could afford and call it a day. I'm currently running 158 inches 23;5.1 with a epson 5050ub and it has a bright beautiful ,extremely sharp picture and I couldnt be happier!

[@truhunk1]

You were in a customers house "several years ago". Several years ago they didn't have 85" TVs. None that people could afford anyway. Now days yes, an 85" TV would make much more sense than an 85" projection screen.

[@number1pappy]

@@truhunk1 you know its funny ! I don't recall seeing you there. But I guess you were there as that's the only way you could know exactly how much "my customer" spent on his "very expensive elaborate home theater projector"! Lol! As far as your comment that 85 inch tvs were not available then is incorrect. Other than that I don't know what to tell you. Why even comment on this? Whats the point? Has it really gotten so bad on social media that every comment has to be picked apart and scrutinized and debated? Smh....

[@truhunk1]

@@number1pappy Nope, I wasn't there. Don't need to have been. Change your story to "a few years ago" and were all good.

[@number1pappy]

@@truhunk1 you literally just made me Google the definition of "few" and "several" . You want to know what I found out? They can both can mean as little as two and "several" can mean as little as two but not many. Are ya happy ? Because lord knows I'm here to make "you" "all good" . Smh...

[@truhunk1]

@@number1pappy OK, thanks for looking that up. I hope if you win the lottery, that you will win "several dollars".

[@marklavania3680]

Beautiful informative video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Subscribing!

[@roguewarr4662]

Thanks guys i learn something today .I have a 120inch screen ,and was thinking of moving up to a 150inch , But i'am using a 1080p projector .i think i'll wait till i get a 4k projector ,because from what i here it make's no sense to go big at the same distance .with a lessor out put ,of light and pixels .Thanks cheers.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

You are most welcome. If you need any further help or just want to chat about your ideas feel free to contact us. Good Luck!

[@AmanChowdhury888]

What’s the size of the screen used here in the background? Thanks

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

It was a while ago but I think 130”

[@dwightcarter6334]

Just found your channel A+ subbed! I have a client that wants “a big screen” I did a site visit and he’s looking for 160-170” screen.... yep, now to find the projector to do the job...

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thanks for that. Check out the BenQ X12000H its got the firepower for that screen size to about 15ft lamberts. That will look fine. There are not many great looking options after that other than Barco or BenQ Lk990 but its not as sophisticated. Or an Epson just for light output. Bang for buck its the X12000H but get in touch if we can help

[@dwightcarter6334]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Thanks I'll Check it out!

[@yuvrajchavan7999]

Home Theatre Engineering hey man! How about JVC NX7? My room will be 728 Sqft so the wall where I’ll be placing my screen will be around 250”. I’m planning for 160” screen (2:40:1) with JVC NX7 but should I go a bit bigger with 180, 190 or more? Even though I opt for more bigger screen, I’ll have plenty of space left to place my floor standing speakers & a sub. I would really appreciate your thoughts on it. Thanks!

[@SafwanAlavi]

Great channel, subscribed and liked. Looking for more videos in future. Thank you 😀

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thank you. Let us know what you'd like to know more about.

[@LEMON48]

Me too

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

I hope to one day update my home cinema to 4K and a 2.35.1 anamorphic projector set up and screen and a Dolby atmos set up

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

sorry for the late reply. Good luck with that, have fun and if we can ever help do let us know !

[@Triggaaar]

You've covered the questions that need answering before you can answer a screen size question for each individual, but it would have been useful to give your thoughts how how large it's nice to go (or what viewing angle, to take viewing distance into account) if you projector is up to it.

[@StormRaid417]

I love making my projector screen bigger by moving it back but I feel so much more like I'm in the movie that way. Yes the picture quality may be less but the immersion is better.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Absolutely.. nothing wrong with that as long as people understand the compromise especially in terms of HDR. Ideally you want about 35 foot lamberts to make this work nicely and that's hard to get with a regular projector on a large screen. We have done massive screens 8m wide and 5m high but the client understands the limitations!

[@Charlie-qm2bm]

Hi guys, if I could have some help before buying both projector and screen… I’m interested in the benQ 2700i (3550i for US) and and aeon 3D cinegrey screen (1.2gain) I’m sat about 12ft away from the screen in a well controlled lit room. The projector is only 2000 lumens. Is 120 inch too big? My rooms 14x16ft. I’m wanting to go for 100-120inch screen size, I don’t want to spend the money on a 120 for it to be washed in anyway… any advise would be great. Thanks guys, great video.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi. Thanks for your comment. The answer is not straight forward and unfortunately would take longer than I can spare. In short we have never used cinegrey screens and it’s impossible to answer with regard to your comment on a “lit” room which again we don’t do. I would suggest checking with projectorcentrals calculator and perhaps joining up as a patreon for focussed help. Check out our room design and 10 most important things videos.

[@Filtersloth]

Would painting your room in Vantablack solve the theoretical problem of brighter projector = brighter room = less contrast?

[@homecinemademo]

How would an amateur start with calibrating a more price friendly projector? I have the Epson 6050 / 9400. If I read some in depth calibration articles I just feel it is to much to get started. Is there an ”easy” way to just begin with calibrating the image and after that go deeper?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

This is actually a really good question. You could buy something like a Datacolor Spyder and there are some free software such as HCFR. But you still need test patterns and it can be slow process. But it can also be daunting without training. We have been looking at an online service but by the time it is all set up its probably cheaper to get a pro in. Hope this helps

[@danboy77]

Is it common for one side of the screen to be slightly brighter than the other? I’m getting this with my budget BenQ?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Generally no. You might see the screen split from time to time often during startup wh at you are seeing I believe is the pixel shifting. So I would think something is not right..

[@therealfirstone]

Good info, had no idea it was this elaborate. Thanks.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

You are welcome. What else would you like to hear about?

[@SecondHandJan]

Hi! Hope you can help. I recently purchased a Epson Home Cinema 880 3-chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3300 lumens Color and White Brightness, Streaming and Home Theater, Built-in Speaker, Auto Picture Skew, 16,000:1 Contrast, HDMI 2.0. I plan to use it outside in our backyard for movies only. I want a big movie experience, and I'm trying to decide between a 120 or 135 projector screen. My Seating is 14 feet away but no more from where the screen will be. Also there are two trees that have landscape canned up lighting that will be near each end of screen. Any help appreciated. Thank you!

[@HeavyInstinct]

8:38 It's important to distinguish between optical zoom and digital zoom here. Optical zoom does not degrade image quality. Otherwise some really good information here.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats an interesting comment. There is no digital zoom generally in projectors it is optical zoom (lenses moving) unless you are talking about the stretch that occurs on the chip to scale an anamorphic image to full chip height before the anamorphic lens then corrects the image horizontally. But when you zoom a projector with the projector controls that is optical and not digital zoom. If I have misunderstood please comment and let me know.

[@HeavyInstinct]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Well I'm not aware of any projectors that have digital zoom either although I haven't worked with a large number of them. The comment in this video claiming that you "lose pixels" when using zoom prompted me to do a Google search to see if there's something I'm missing as i fail to see how this is the case. It's not like the image is being cropped to achieve the zoom as it is when using the digital zoom in a digital camera. My search results included the following article as well as many others on this subject and none of them mention any loss of resolution: thehometheaterdiy.com/does-projector-zoom-effect-image-quality/#:~:text=While%20projector%20zoom%20won't,by%20manipulating%20the%20source%20image. The only (obvious) effect of zoom I'm aware of or could find in any of the articles I found is the loss of brightness due to projecting the same image size from a greater distance. There's also the possibility of some barrel distortion or other lens related aberrations depending on the lens. Again these are both effects of zoom I was already aware of. If there IS something I'm missing here I would certainly appreciate a more detailed explanation as to exactly how one "loses pixels" by simply changing the distance between the lenses to affect the projected image size of the exact same 16x9 frame which consists of a certain number of pixels determined by the internal LCD panels or DLP chip. You also say in the video that you demonstrated this effect. So if there's some sort of test pattern I can put up to demonstrate this effect than perhaps you could share that? Again this just doesn't make any sense to me

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@HeavyInstinct ok it’s a bit hard to explain in text but when you have a 2.35:1 image on a 16:9 chipset and this is displayed on a 2.35:1 screen the projector needs to be zoomed out to fit the active part of the chip onto the screen. This places about 15% of the image at the top and about 15% at the bottom of the image (the black bars you see on a tv) and this is the 30% f the pixels of the chip that are now outside of the screen area and effectively wasted. You can clearly see this when you activate a menu which then appears outside of the screen area. So your image is now constructed of only 70% of the available pixels. So 30% not used and the same area of light that is now consumed internally and not projected. Hope this makes sense.

[@HeavyInstinct]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering upon watching the video again I also noticed that after the subject of zoom is brought up Andrew immediately starts talking about the effect of anamorphic lenses and also the subject of the aforementioned light output being lost. However he doesn't seem to confirm anything about losing pixels other than the fact that the image is spilling over the borders of the screen in the demonstration he's standing in front of.

[@HeavyInstinct]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering I see we were obviously replying to each other at the same time lol. Anyway thanks for the follow-up. Yes that makes total sense. I failed to understand that the comment was being made solely within the context of a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Of course you're losing resolution in the case of a letterboxed frame regardless of whether you use the projectors zoom function or not. Although zooming out in order to get rid of the "black bars" and/or to fit a 2.35:1 screen certainly makes this more obvious. Even though a 2.35:1 screen was being used in this demonstration my understanding was that the subject of the video was simply overall image size and whether or not bigger is always better. Within this context it's worth clarifying that using a projector's zoom function to fit the native 16x9 frame onto a given (16X9) screen size does not affect resolution. For example my projector is behind my viewing location and because of the distance to the screen I have to zoom in a bit in order to prevent the image from spilling over the borders of the screen which is also a very common reason for using zoom on a projector. I could have of course chosen to go with a bigger screen size instead of zooming but as is discussed in the video, bigger isn't always better. Anyway thanks again for the follow-up, I totally understand what you were getting at now.

[@dahiyamixvlog8073]

Or budget kitna hoga

[@danboy77]

It’s great having a 120” screen but then how far are you going to be from your speakers , I have some Meridian DSP speakers that are quite powerful for their size but when I sit a certain distance away they lose their presence so a 110” is perfect.

[@jadan2000]

i couldnt hear him clearly, what percentage of pixels did he say you lose when you zoom in (8:50)?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

About 30% of the total of the chips vertical pixels

[@jadan2000]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering ok thank you. I'm really surprised that people can't tell that.

[@mregory]

Hi guys, great video, thanks for uploading. Could you please share why using the zoom feature on a projector lens would make you lose resolution?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

I had hoped we had explained it in the video but if not I am sure we have it in another one somewhere. But its a good question. So most projectors have a 16:9 chip, this obviously contains all your pixels. So now when you zoom out to push an anamorphic movie to fit on an anamorphic screen it has to push about 30% of the chips area off the top and bottom of the screen (those black bars). Those black bars are usable pixels now turned off. On a 4K image this is actually more than all the pixels of a 1080P image that you dont use! So this is where you lose resolution. BUT buy using anamorphic stretch you then use the whole chip and push it through a lens to create the anamorphic image and voila , all of your pixels in use! Its also nice because no waiting for the zoom, no adjusting the zoom when it drifts its a button push for instant change from anamorphic to 16:9 in Constant image height. Movies the way they were meant to be :-) (Mostly anyway!) I hope I explained that clearly enough.

[@mregory]

Thanks for the answer yes makes sense and I think I understand, I can definitely see how there would be light loss due the zooming and over projecting the panel but I can’t quite figure on the resolution front

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@mregory ok so when you zoom out you are a) making the pixels larger and b) cutting 30% of your projectors pixels off. Therefore less pixels on screen...less resolution..

[@rhumash5977]

How can one achieve dolby vision blacks with a home cinema projector?

[@GringoXalapeno]

Laser projector and a grey screen also masking

[@ninji5226]

I'm planning on a 110in screen with an Epson 2150 projector , viewing from about 12 ft.. This gives me enough room below for a center channel and enough room on the sides for my surround speakers (it's in a basement). I'm also installing black floor to ceiling acoustic curtains down either side of the room to help with light and echo. The screen will take up 80% of the wall. The next size down will be 106' and I'm a little torn on what to do. Bigger is mostly better but since my ceiling is only 8ft tall, I don't want the screen to be below me. Decisions decisions

[@retroforce6919]

My advice is what makes you happy. Try the 110" size and see if you're comfortable with it. Your projector is very capable for that size. I'm currently projecting 120" but my ultimate goal is a 200" screen image. When I look for my next house I'll be looking out for that space.

[@garypranzo9334]

I use the zoom on my Pseudo 4K Epson 4040 to a 127" 2.35 screen and it looks amazing. Projector is 15' from screen and front seats are 9ft from screen. I do have really good light control with darkened walls and ceiling, Not black but a wife friendly dark purple mix for the walls and ceilings.. I also do not allow any equipment in the room that is not black hence the 4040 as opposed to the 4000 which is the same but white. People with Native or true 4K will get even better results when it comes to pixels at least so I would not worry about that unless you are going over 150" 2.35 then I think at least my model Epson might suffer. I have the room for 160" 16:9 and opted to go 127" 2.35:1 which effectively makes 16:9 102" at a 50" height and I am happy with size and quality. Distance from screen effects size so since I have 2 rows I can have 9' from row and over 13' back row. The back row is compliant with THX minimum distance and the front is close enough to make that smaller screen appear bigger but not so close that people are bothered by being to close. I see people literally fill a wall from ceiling to floor in some videos. That makes no sense at all, Maybe for gaming I guess but for movies it is horrible.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Yes that should like fine. My issue with Epsons is not so kmuch the pseudo 4k but its not so great handling of the HDR colour space. In its price point the Epson is good value.

[@BlaqViper]

What is a good light adsorbing paint? The top of my 120” screen is about 6” from a light gray ceiling? Thanks.

[@pickyourfaceup384]

I used a flat black paint for my ceiling.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Dulux Design Theatre Black is the go

[@lz1334]

I am using a 106 inch screen 1.0 white gain with sony vpwl 325es 4 k projector but my walls are cream color the ambient lighting is dark in a finished basement. Do i need to paint the walls darker color

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

First answer.. yes… second answer.. I dont know enough about your room.. check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYfOaqmqgdp-hq8

[@johnsmith-qz4bv]

great video ..i have a epson 710hd projector. and my room is 18 feet long 11 feet wide and 7 foot ceilings.im wanting to get a 2.4;1 aspect ratio 130 inch screen it is going to be a acustic transparent screen.. ..what are your thoughts.?..i watch alot of youtube concerts and netflex movies.....

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Without knowing a whole lot more about your room it’s very hard to say. My main recommendation would be to invest in a professional, just get them to consult or do a room design. You will save a fortune on mistakes and experimentation and will get a far better result the first time round that is tailored to you, your room and your viewing habits. For starters I am not sure that a 2.40 screen is ideal for what you watch… maybe but there are many other questions..

[@markwebster7435]

does playing a blu ray movie on a 16.9 projector and screen remove the black bars typically found on a blu ray wide screen movie?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

No not unless the movie was shot in 16:9

[@fernandotorresreynaga9009]

Hi. I have a 19.5 ‘ for 22.5 ‘ garage room that I will convert in dedicated HT . I use ps4 Blu-ray and 4k movies . And Netflix Disney etc. I got complete HT on Movie Room 165 “ 16.9 screen Marantz 7.2.4 whit Optoma Uhd60 . Mi question is . , I will move all to garage . To build a Dedicated HT , But I’m looking to see how big can my screen 2.35.1 could be ? Tyvm.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi. The answer is to get a room design done. There is still so much information we don’t have. How many seats, where will you sit, which orientation will the room be etc. You can work this all out yourself or you can engage a local truly certified expert to do this for you or if you want it done professionally you can contact us. Sounds like a great project. Good luck and let us know how you go

[@FortyTwoAnswerToEverything]

I am projecting on my bare wall at about 150 inches, but I can probably get away with it because I got my hands on a used Mitsubishi UD8400U DLP full HD venue projector that has two lamps. The picture itself is pretty amazing with some nice blacks and decent shadows. I can't imagine what it would look like with a proper screen

[@amarsingh-yo9vv]

Sir I am planning to by Sony vpl vw1025es it's good for 170 inch screen and my room dimensions is 10 feet Height,17 feet Wide,40 feet length

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats nice…

[@mohammedmedhat5496]

How many inch in the screen

[@gman1087]

Im an advocate of a big screen...generally...120 incher from 10 /11 feet away....sometimes it does feel to much and u wouldnt want to watch it every day...but on those occassions its watched it does give the cinematic experience ....u gotta have a sound system to match though...no point having itty bitty speakers. Luv home cinema!

[@StinkyCheeseYodeler]

Agree, I'm about the same size/distance. I want a cinema experience for movie nights. 120 is the perfect size (though I could go to 135"). Everyday is on a 60" tv. As the resolution gets better, you can get closer and bigger. When I upgrade to 4k, I'll probably go bigger.

[@georgeflensburg3087]

From your perspective. How large would a Epson LS500 (4000 Lumin) UST Projector get and still have HDR image on screen? (Dark gray room)

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

The catch 22 here is this. UST throws and image up at a screen so the majority of the light then gets reflected to the ceiling. Not back at the audience so to speak. This means more ambient light in the room unless you use a very special screen. This then impacts the HDR image. To be honest we are still assessing the use of UST in serious cinema rooms but they are certainly useful in living spaces and general media type rooms.

[@AliShabirFazli]

I got a question then, how big do you think is optimal for the Optoma GT1080Darbee. I want the biggest screen with the best image quality. (I am currently running it at 120 inches diagonally.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Best way to calculate this yourself is to use the screen calculator on projector centrals website. Or alternately you can engage professionals like us to assist.

[@musaabdallamusa6968]

How is the 120, I currently ordered a 106 inches but idk if that’s too small?

[@musaabdallamusa6968]

I also have a darbee

[@mischermer4767]

What is a ft. lambert and how does that translate into lumens. Is there a size to room square footage relationship.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

This is probably a bit too long winded to go through here, there are some great articles on line in wikipedia etc so google ft lamberts and lumens. But they are essentially not the same thing. Foot Lamberts are a measure of luminance so the amount of light derived by reflection from a surface in this case. Lumens are a measure of luminous flux or emitted light, so the direct light put out by a projector. In simple terms. Lumens is the size of your paint bucket. Foot Lamberts represents the colour of your wall based on how thin you spread the paint you had in your bucket.. they are not the same.. So. In answer to your question, I am not sure what your question means! Sorry. Perhaps you can rephrase it so I can better answer it?

[@dahiyamixvlog8073]

Nice project

[@9latinumStudioz]

Cool tigey ⚡✨

[@dahiyamixvlog8073]

Nu btaao ki hum ghr pe kaise install kr sktee h

[@kiranchinche8511]

of which is projector sir ?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Its a while since we made this but it was most likely a Benq W5700

[@kiranchinche8511]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering thanks.

[@tripleblackcuda8876]

Hi, i'm setting up a home theater room, my room is 5.9m L x 4.1m W, I'm going with the Epson TW9400 projector, I'm running a 5.1.2 atmos audio system and the seating sweet spot is about 5m. I was going to go with a 120" screen, but not sure if 5m is going to be too far, should zi go with a 130"? any suggestions?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi. The sweet spot is where the best sound in the room is. Not necessarily where you want to place your seat. How did you arrive at this seating distance? I would need a lot more info to answer your question in any meaningful way that would produce something approaching what we would consider a reference outcome. We do charge for room design and calculation (its what we do for a living) but just google projection screen seating distance calculator. But be mindful thats only 1 factor. Room modes, boundary gain, screen luminance, feasible speaker locations all factor in where your seat should go. Ultimately screen size can to some degree be personal taste. Smaller screens = better quality images and better HDR. Be mindful of the image quality limitations of Epson 1080P chipset projectors too.

[@tripleblackcuda8876]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering ok, Thank you for the quick responce. My seating position is due to two windows on the left side of my room, which measn I had to install my rear side surround speaker next to the window, back of the room and I was told that I should not be more than 500mm away from that speaker, which puts my main seat at 5m.

[@KYIMGMG]

How to set up a curved screen for flight sim, in my double garage

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

If you are talking projection then that is not easy you need a dedicated projector like a Barco to do this properly

[@KYIMGMG]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Thanks,

[@nvk_to_bg5022]

how you decide, what screen size you enjoy in your room. Only by watching your equipment at different size to see the best picture resolution????

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

NVK_TO_BG I am so sorry somehow missed your comment. So selecting screen size is a combination of viewing distance, resolution and light output. These 3 factors need to be calculated to get a good result

[@rhumash5977]

does using two projectors improve the amount of light output allowing for a bigger screen?

[@bighands69]

Yes but that is a complex affair that would require engineering and then it would just be as easy to buy a good single projector that has a good light level. Most home theatres about 100 inches is the sweet spot but many could perform with just 80 inches. Viewing distance is import so the imagine will be dictated by how far you are sitting from the screen. Most people that use ceiling projectors would probably need a 70 to 100 inch screen size.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

I agree with bighand69, stay away from dual projectors put the money into one good one... I do disagree though with screen size I think given projector capability now going bigger than 100 inches (dependant on a lot of factors of course) is more than feasible.

[@gustavhoo]

I found your channel today! Awesome content!!! I am building a home cinema at our home right now. The room is About 18 feet x 11.5 feet and I have a cheap optoma uhd51 projector. I was thinking about 108” 16:9 screen. Is that to big? We’ll have 4 seatings in 2 rows, so 2+2. And where should I put the first row from the screen? Thanks from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi. To get proper assistance you can contact us directly. Its what we do for a living and would recommend a professional room design. If you would rather DIY it, then check out projector centrals screen calculator. But that is only part of the picture so to speak. It is difficult for us to provide calculations and consultancy to everyone at no cost unfortunately. We would quickly go out of business :-)

[@scottwallace1]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Thank you for saying this plainly. It is often maddening that people want to DIY, but have no qualms about using professional resources to help inform their choices. Of course, they justify it by demonizing and dehumanizing those in sales roles who advise on such things for a living.

[@andrewpoole4878]

@@scottwallace1 Thanks Scott we get literally hundreds of emails texts and social media messages a week asking " can you please just tell me....(how to build my room question)" and most do not realise the complexity of what they think is one isolated simple question. This is the fundamental difference in the ultimate result in room design. Its difficult and people often get angry thinking we dont want to help when they dont get what is actually involved. In their mind it is simple as it seems like 1 isolated question not a component in a series of parts that make the whole.

[@pkhammu2005]

Do u think Epson 6050 or w9400 4k pixel shifter wd produce 14FL on a 175inch screen? Coz currently my optoma full hd doesnt and produces a dull picture

[@shaolin95]

Not when calibrated

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Agreed. There are a lot more factors to this but in short depending on a lot of things, room size, seating distance etc etc I would go for a slightly smaller screen and a better image.

[@prashikshambharkar7414]

Sir tell me which is the best aspect ratio And how many minimum screen size get the cinematic experience

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

The best aspect ratio is the one you like the most. I am a fan of widescreen so I like 2.35:1 and up. In terms of minimum screen size, not enough information. How far are you sitting from the screen? Which projector do you have, what content do you watch, what is your room like etc etc etc

[@futureshock7425]

Please recommend a good paint and color for theatre room

[@pf5658]

@future shock - It’s always best to have a dark color to reduce light reflections. However, some people don’t like dark colors even though it’s not ideal. I have a dark navy blue in my room that. Also, best to use a flat or matte finish. I hope that was helpful.😊

[@futureshock7425]

@@pf5658 thank you! i'm thinking a gray blue and black ceiling?

[@pf5658]

@future shock - You’re welcome. Exactly what I have. My ceiling is black and my walls is the really dark navy blue- like color. Good luck.😊

[@anirudhagasti1988]

Hi, I just got a new place, and have a media room to set up. For the prewiring and all, they asked the projector info and screen size. I am looking at BenQ TK850 or HT3550. The size of the room is 20.6 length, 17.3 width and 9 height. What size screen would be good? I am assuming a seating distance from 16 to 20 feet, with 16:9 4K resolution based on the projector. And what screen would be best to get for this set up and the screen size you recommend?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

I would suggest you find your local ISF professional and get them to look.at this for you.. it depends on a lot pf things, how much light you are aiming to get on the screen, seating details, projector throw, anamorphic lens? Etc. A handy resource is projector central's screen calculator. Getting the right advice will get the best results. If you would like our help please contact us directly, we would be glad to help.

[@Inabottle]

If you cannot reach 40 ftL, what is the minimal ftL for UHD content?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Stevincent we’ll effectively that is the minimum desired level so from there it’s just a drop off in image quality. With less dynamic range the impact of HDR is reduced.

[@mrjellow]

Excellent video. I'm currently debating between an 110 inch and 120 inch screen. My viewing distance (wall to wall) is 10.8 feet. What do you recommend? Light output is not a problem.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

We would need a lot more information to be able to help kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXu2fXajpL-nsMU

[@ProudArabz]

This is unknown language to me. My room is 17 feet 10 inches wall to wall...sofa will be against one wall. Can i get 180 inch or is that too big?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

First of all the worst sound in the room is near the wall that’s a bad place for a seat. The second question about screen size I can’t answer. What projector? What lumen output? What aspect ratio of screen? What screen material ? How many seats in room? What loudspeaker configuration? What height ceiling? What throw ratio? This is why we do room designs

[@iwanttoliveinthe80s59]

Great video, great channel! What is the name of the documentary shown in the clip? Thank you.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thank you. Much appreciated. I honestly cant remember but I think its Planet Earth II.. ??

[@venkatesanjb284]

To get 40 foot Lamberts , how much lumens i have to look to buy ?? Bulb or laser ?? is 2400lumens able to give 40fl or i need excess of 3000lumens ??

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Venkoon Jb Good question but not enough info.. projectors are like tins of paint. Depends how big the fence is if you want to know how much paint you need! So what size and shape of screen, what is the screen gain? Then we can start to think about projectors. But 40 ft Lambert’s is not so easy to achieve 25 is more common.. it can start to cost $s but its worth it..

[@venkatesanjb284]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Sorry , Can you give suggestions for 100% light control room.. 1. 100 inch, 16:9 aspect ratio gain of 1.1 2. 120 inch , 16:9 aspect ratio gain of 1.1

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@venkatesanjb284 Hi I suggest you either consult with a local expert, or you can use the screen calculator at projectorcentral, or if you like you can contact us directly for professional advice.

[@bryanp4827]

Hi boys, great topic and discussion, because it leads into what i am doing right now...my new house has a dedicated theatre room with controlled lighting and ambient reducing paint, and measures 4.5 x 5.885m, and my projector is a Mitsubishi HC 7800D with 1500 lumens...I'm thinking of going for either a 100 or 110 inch screen. Thoughts...?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi Chill Bill. Best option is to head over to projector central and pop your model and screen info into their calculator. Make sure you get 14ft lamberts min. Or if you need further professional advice email us and we can help out. Let is know how you go.

[@stevenlawrence2232]

Hi guys. Great video and something I've been struggling with for a while. I wondered if you have some views on ALR screens since they seem to be the hot topic of late. I've been teaching myself basic calibration via xrite i1 display pro, hcfr, I bought chromapure. Reading forum posts etc. My Panasonic ae8000 2400 lumen 1080p is in a standard loungeroom 4.5x5m, cream wall colour. My head is about 3.7m from the screen seated. I have a couple of different pull up screens so I can raise in front of the tv. A no name 92" 1.2 gain and an elite 120" 1.1 gain. In a standard cinema 1 preset pre or post calibration I get about 13.7fl on the 120" and 21.5 on the 92". As expected light reflects everywhere and as you have suggested the bigger one is worse lol. I really like 3d blu ray which of course has the darkening effect of the glasses. The 120 gets pretty dim in 3d. If I got a happy medium 100" alr screen that is 0.8 gain (manufacturer specs for one I'm looking at) , would the alr affect trap more light on the screen effectively increasing the fl even though its slightly lower gain? Or will it just improve the dynamic range of the picture and no increased fl? The likes of elite make 1.2 to 1.5 gain alr screens but the general perception I've got from those is that at my short viewing distance there's a real possibility of hot spotting...

[@madan9394]

What is the size of the screen in this video?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Sorry about the late reply I think it was 130" 2.35:1

[@gig73]

thanks for your honest explanation...

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

My pleasure

[@Saturn2888]

Did you say 40-50fL is best for HDR?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Ok so with projectors HDR does not of course reach the levels of TVs but... there are other factors. Joel Silver of ISF is running 2 projectors to get 120ft lamberts for example. Most people are getting 14-18 ft lamberts but if you want to start seeing those specular highlights then yes from 35 ft lamberts up you start to get some results that are very nice indeed.

[@Saturn2888]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering I haven't seen many projectors able to hit those fL with decent color accuracy from Projector Centrals ratings unless it's either a UST or a smaller 100-120" screen. Is this a common brightness in larger screens like 140-160"? Most 4K projectors are showing 1800-2200 lumens so they're gonna run into the same issue. As you know, without an anamorphic lens, you lose about 30% brightness in cinemascope from the lack of pixels. So that 35fL number seems even harder to hit. Do you have a link or example of how I could achieve that brightness with 2 projectors? Are they side-by-side or are the images on top of each other?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@Saturn2888 you are absolutely correct. Its not easy to do. a Barco will get you there though. I dont have a link for dual projectors as yet. But part of the point here is that again big is not always best. Check out the benq x12000h on a smaller screen size for example or of course the LK990 but its not as refined a projector. In short yes its not so easy at the moment to hit this. But with proper calibration you can get some great looking results at lower levels. Not sure I helped here but you get the idea

[@pf5658]

Great video, great advice. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people have way oversized screens for their room. Btw. May I ask what brand was the screen you used in this video?

[@paulibarra5449]

a big screem is similar than a cinema teather, i love cinema :)

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

We do too!

[@bighands69]

To be honest many modern digital cinemas are not that good. Even with their boosting about 4K cinema I can still see the pixels on the screen. Sitting too close to the image to be honest. I doubt cinema is dead. My home experience has a better better experience than some cinema's I have been to. I am considering getting dedicated home cinema upgrade to my house by a professional company but I think once we get to 8K laser projectors the large cinema style home theatres will be a reality.

[@danielonn2002]

How is 120" Screen?

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

???? sorry don’t understand what you are asking. How is 120 screen with regard to what? Suggest you watch our other videos

[@danielonn2002]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering What I mean is how does 120 compare to 220 for viewing in terms of clarity and viewing angles. Sorry for not being clear.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@danielonn2002 Hi Daniel.. on what resolution projector with what lumen output in a room with how much ambient light and how far from the seating position? All of this information and more is needed before we can even begin to comment. Hope that makes sense

[@stratogustav]

It comes down to how big is your wall. When your screen doesn't cover most of the width of your wall, it will always look small, no matter how big the screen is, and you'll lose on that cinematic experience. If you want a better image, either get a better projector, short throw or whatnot, a better screen, and make your room darker. So like always, it comes down to budget. It is no so much about what size you need, but what size you can afford, and if your wall is smaller, you can actually spend less making it look good.

[@dealerovski82]

I used to have 92 screen, then I went down to 90 and never got over it. So I had to go up to 100'

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

I get that. It would depend also on many other factors like what projector you have etc etc

[@dealerovski82]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering $1000 DLPs

[@usmcmsgt5487]

My wife said bigger is better; then next thing I know she left me. 🤪😜

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Ouch! :-)

[@swishasweetrold]

Sheesh

[@justinrangel2289]

Yo bro she give great head, she also said you have a peanut

[@joshuasornoza8901]

Hahahahaha damn :'v

[@tikarampandey3338]

😂😂😂

[@kambalanageswararao4088]

I have some doubts bro🙏

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

If you are going to comment. Be clear. Doubts about what?

[@kambalanageswararao4088]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering How much distance between the screen and projector 👍

[@kambalanageswararao4088]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering And also what screen size and projector plays what quality

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@kambalanageswararao4088 Hi not enough information .. what projector what screen what size room ?? Watch this .. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXu2fXajpL-nsMU

[@canweshoot]

I am astounded that virtually all discussions about nominal screen size, including this one, fail to start where they should: at THE source of it all...professional cinema standards. A combination of SMPTE specs for nominal viewing angle range for 'scope screens (around 42 degees to 45 degrees subtended viewing angle at seating center) AND "where" folks like to sit in their favorite commercial cinema will result in answering this question for each client. How "big" do they like it there? The other factors are solved as part of design details (screen material, projector, etc). Also never mentioned is the law of inverse proportions with regards to ANSI/simultaneous contrast degradation. Bigger rooms allow more distance from walls and the ceiling, therefore less light reflecting back to the screen to lower ANSI contrast. This is a plus that high performance projection in large media/great rooms enjoy as opposed to dedicated rooms. Dedicated rooms are almost always smaller, therefore more vulnerable to contrast degradation. Larger rooms can have a medium reflectance paint tone and not degrade contrast due to the law of inverse proportions, aka light fall-off. If the client insists on white paint, then contrast will suffer in large rooms, as well. Food for thought.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

All of our room designs consider THX SMPTE standards. This drives many of the initial seating position decisions. The room is developed from there. This video was not intended to cover that discussion but to confront those customers who say to us… I want the biggest screen I can get! A simple question which are trying to address in simple terms. I totally agree with everything you say.

[@canweshoot]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Roger that. No foul. Good on you, though, for a thorough approach!

[@subhashreddy1407]

Does resolution decides size of the screen? If so explain

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

It depends what role you are referring to in terms of resolution impacting screen size decision but fundamentally yes. The smaller the pixels the closer you can sit or the larger the screen can be but there is so much more to consider

[@alexanderscott3790]

Worked Hifi and AV for 20 years! NO ONE ever complained about a bigger image! Its always that image is too small!( even at lower res!). Nope! Bigger is better. Just get a higher gain screen or double up projectors

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats interesting. I have certainly had people complain a screen is too big if its put in the wrong location or too close to seats. But that is not the point of our video. The conversation is about picture quality vs size. And if you know your stuff you cant just keep pushing up screen gain. Yes you can double up projectors if you have the money, space and know how but its not straight fwd if you want it to work accurately. Also as you would know pushing a screen too close to any wall can introduce too much reflected ambient light which kills dynamic range. Just putting in the biggest possible screen can be a disaster if not done right. We have seen many jobs done by people who have been in the industry for ages, doesnt mean the job is right. I would love to see the calibration results off some of these (and I have) and sone are woeful. In these cases biggest wasnt best with the selected combination of equipment and room design. There is a reason that ISF THX and SMPTE have screen size calculations and recommendations as well as calibration targets. Together these add up to stunningly good results.

[@bighands69]

@Alexander Scott The vast majority of people with dedicated home theatres tend to have an obsession with image quality. Most will notice the difference if the imagine is washed out or has serious artifacts. Like most audiophiles bigger does not mean better. Most "normal" people simply would not tell the difference other than size but they are not the market driving the products or experiences.

[@shaolin95]

First, yes people can complain about too big a screen so don't make absurd statements. Second, high gain screens have their own issues. So yeah so much for your comment..

[@mrpmj00]

Yes because you can always shrink the image but you can't enlarge the image bigger than the screen.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hmm it depends on exactly what you are saying and to achieve what goal.

[@seanmckinnon4612]

Anamorphic is not an aspect ratio. There is no such thing as an “anamorphic screen” there are screens with an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 or 2.35;1 which fit a normal “CinemaScope” image.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Yes we know this. Have you read the other comments? we have addressed this question several times but thank you for commenting. Much appreciated.

[@javiertorres9114]

Anomorphic lens can be expensive

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

They can be. But a poorly implemented room with underperforming equipment can be an even greater waste of money. Contact us for advice. There are always options.

[@TheMeefive]

I have a 144 inch screen and a hundred dollar mini projector. Looks great to me.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats great. At the end of the day if you are happy with what you have that's all that counts.

[@maplestreetpictures7454]

As a filmmaker I will say that a screen cant be anamorphic. It can have the same aspect ratio as an anamorphic lens when stretched out to the correct viewing aspect ratio but a screen can’t be anamorphic. Anamorphic is referring to what the lens is doing to the light squishing a wide field of view on to a piece of film or a sensor that other wise could not have that image on a spherical lens.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Yes we know this and fully understand this. We have already addressed this in an earlier comment.

[@rickjohnson7116]

Projection screens are like garages. You think you built a big enough garage, but once you get all your crap in it, you always want just a few more feet. Put the biggest screen up your wall will handle. Bigger is better.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Hi thanks for your feedback. I get your point. The message here though is that just putting in the biggest screen can be a disaster. If your projector doesn't put out enough light or if your seats are really too close then it can produce a really poor result indeed. We love big screens make no mistake but poor quality images because you can't afford the projector to put out the lumens and dynamic range needed to support HDR for example is just a recipe for disappointment. So the best move is to take an overall view, where are you going to sit? How far away? which way are you going to face? how big a screen can we get in? Can I get at least 14ft lamberts on the screen for REC709 or at least say 30-35 for kick-ass HDR? Is it 16:9 or Anamorphic? do I have the ceiling height to go with wall to wall 16:9? what color are my side walls so I dont wash out the image? What throw ratio is my projector or the projector I want to buy? We see so many disappointed customers who have just GONE BIG at the advise of a store only to be heartbroken when they realise just how crap their picture is compared to how amazingly good it could be. Biggest is best, too big sucks. Its a case of getting it right.

[@mibz1117]

I've had 55inch oled 85 oled , 121 projector screen and none of them will give you a cinematic experience. You need a minimum 140 inch to truly get that experience

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

That entirely depends on seating distance aspect ratio room size. We have produced some pretty amazing results on 120” screens

[@snowboarderrx]

how big "is significantly big screen" im easily getting 35FL on a 150" screen

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

What projector are you using?

[@snowboarderrx]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering epson home cinema 5050 with a 1.0 gain screen. the projector is about 17 feet back

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@snowboarderrx Big is relative to many other factors. See some of our previous replies.. but yes that projector would be up there.. probably not quite 35 but certainly 30 ish...

[@Nick-fv7gq]

Seating distance can be a big factor, watching a moderately sized screen of 120" is great from around 18ft distance

[@shaolin95]

That's is extremely small for immersion. You want at least 40° for 16:9: and 50 for scope

[@BeSafe20]

t

[@alexanderscott3790]

Ceiling to side wall screen washing out image?? Nope! Just black out the room. Non issue

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thats true to a point but even on blacked out walls you can see them glow and black can still reflect light. On jobs with more than 40ft lamberts for great HDR this can become evident. So yes you are right but caution is still warranted. Then again most jobs we have ever seen rarely punch over 12ft lamberts !!

[@alexanderscott3790]

@@HomeTheatreEngineeringmidnight royal black velveteen fabric DOES NOT reflect light, it absorbs it! Placed first few feet around the screen n to sides cures ALL WORRIES of glowing walls!! Black colored speaker grill cloth DOES NOT! Did a wall to wall small theater w 4 seats and it was spectacular, with floating looking immage, again going WALL TO WALL, using this midnight jet black velvet dense fabric on side panels first 3 feet , on both sides. Dark carpet and black painted ceiling and it looked fantastic! Standard black fabric curtains rest of around the room, sconces in between. Oh client was THRILLED! see Andrew Robinson IMAX theater series

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@alexanderscott3790 Alexander Scott First of all in my response you will note I did agree with you. Secondly in your first very brief comment you just said "blacked out room" no mention of fabrics or velveteen. For clarity, Black paint depending on type and finish can and does reflect light measurably. Its important for us to be clear for folks who may think otherwise. Not many coat their walls in velveteen so it is good to get this clatification. As an aside. Joel Silver of ISF talks about possible limits for projectors where as we approach higher nit levels, and as screens are a reflective medium, that Iiterally there will be so much ambient light in the room that producing good images above a certain level may be challenging. Apparently he is running dual projectors for about 120 ft lamberts !

[@alexanderscott3790]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Im being unconsciously sarcastic. It's all good, and these are my snap off top my head answers. Yes it's all a balance, compromises, ideals vs subjective realities n such forth. Sure bigger might be better, depending. But i know limitations in light output vs screen size, vs resolution, vs image dynamics n contrast. Color saturation, ,yada yada. it's just my personal ideal preference to go larger than usual, perspective wise included. I know that. I do however See way too many all out theaters out there with smaller screens than might be ideal. But, hey, if they like theirs, that's all that matters. I still think imax proportions are the goal in ideal world n setting. And with higher rez ,high lumen, and larger screen applications, anamorphic, etc, i think it should be the goal for a dedicated theater, personally. However i don't see any limitation on reflective walls if careful attention and a little creativity is applied!??? At very least there's all sorts of compromises n imperfections in image quality on screen at local cineplexes REGULARLY! and yet still enjoyed bymost all. Notably, light splashing and discoloration on screen from exit signs, step guide lights, accent lighting, washed out black levels from overhead dim lights, inferior black level n contrast projectors, visible screen perforations sitting up close, and what not. Still, i think the bigger more immersive image is greatly approved of by a majority, regardless here. Same at home! To EA his own though. As for me, ill strive for wall to wall if i can get it

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@alexanderscott3790 no argument from me :-)