Projector/Home Theater set up questions

[Tiga]

I just moved into an old house a few months ago and am finally ready to set up a home theater system in the living room. I've been giving some thought to buying a projector instead of a large screen TV but have several questions. The room is currently a big rectangle (12x23) with a fireplace right in the middle of the one long wall with windows on each side of it. The couch is currently directly across from the fireplace - I guess about 11 feet. My original thought was to put a plasma above the fireplace with a tilt wall mount. After little research I thought maybe a projector would be a better idea.

My thought is to put a ceiling mount drop down screen that would come down to about the height of the mantle and the same width or not much wider than the fireplace. I think the space above the mantle measures to something like 46" high and 66" wide. I want to ceiling mount the projector above the couch - which would place the projector around 10 - 11 feet from the screen. The room currently only has light filtering blinds, not darkening. so my questions are:

Can I get a projector to display a high quality image on a screen this small? It seems everyone is always talking about 90 and 100 inch screens, which I don't want. I could probably handle 70" wide.

Am I going to have to completely darken the room everytime I watch TV?

what projectors/screens do you recommend for this set-up (if it's feasible)? I was considering the Infocus 4805. I'd like to keep the cost of the projector under 1500.

Am I better off going plasma?

Thanks for all your input!

Dave

[mjones73]

"Can I get a projector to display a high quality image on a screen this small? It seems everyone is always talking about 90 and 100 inch screens, which I don't want. I could probably handle 70" wide."

You would be able to get a brighter picture on a 70" screen as opposed to a 90-100" with the same projector due to the short throw distance, 10-11 feet might be too far away for a screen that small though, you need to calculate the throw distance needed for the size screen you want to run.

"Am I going to have to completely darken the room everytime I watch TV? "

No but you might need to lower the light level in the room, depends on the room, glare, how bright the projector is, etc..

"what projectors/screens do you recommend for this set-up (if it's feasible)? I was considering the Infocus 4805. I'd like to keep the cost of the projector under 1500. "

I highly suggest you check out projectorcentral.com, lots of useful information and reviews. The 4805 for example is not a true HD projector, it only does 854 x 480, it would be the same as buying a ED plasma instead of an HD. I believe you can find one still, the Sanyo Z2 or the new Z3 would be a few hundred over.

"Am I better off going plasma? "

Each technology has it's pro's and con's, I believe they are covered in the FAQ's here. Plasma's are more expensive up front but don't require new bulbs every 2000-3000 hours but on the other hand you'll get a much bigger screen for your money up front with a projector...

[Tiga]

Thanks Matt. If I don't go the projector route I'd probably have to go ED Plasma. Which wouldn't be the end of the world I guess but I like the idea of the 60-70" screen I can get from the projector. I guess my biggest concern now is figuring out how much ambient light needs to be controlled to have an adequate picture or consequently what is the best projector to use in a room with some moderate amounts of ambient light.

[mjones73]

The reviews at projector central usually cover the ambient light issue, hopefully they'll help you out.

[Eldorado]

In my humble opinion, if you can't block out most of the light in the room during daytime, the image will be very much washed out.

[rewjr]

I recommend the folowing link for screen size vs PJ throw distance -
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator.cfm

As for pull down screens here is a good cheap line -
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?page=1&keywords=elite%20screens

I also recomend a hi-contrast grey screen for ambient lighting conditions a Da-Lite product - http://www.da-lite.com/products/product.php?cID=20&pID=95

I personally own an Hitachi TX-100 720P LCD and use a 110" HCCV ( grey ) screen in my basement HT room.