Living room projector setup
Discussion
I use the tv for gaming, our current tv is 65”, sit about 8 foot away, wouldn’t like to play games on one much bigger than that I don’t think.
Would like a bigger screen from movies.
the beams in the ceiling are running the wrong way so won’t be able to have the screen recessed, and we want the sort of media wall look in the OP which rules out a screen that rises.
Just trying to work out if I can have one fairly discreet or will it always stick out like a sore thumb
Would like a bigger screen from movies.
the beams in the ceiling are running the wrong way so won’t be able to have the screen recessed, and we want the sort of media wall look in the OP which rules out a screen that rises.
Just trying to work out if I can have one fairly discreet or will it always stick out like a sore thumb
Edited by usn90 on Saturday 20th January 10:31
We’re slowing changing a spare downstairs room into a TV/films/music room.
The 65 inch TV from the sitting room will go in there. I contemplated a projector, but figured it would be too much faff for regular TV watching. We’ll ensure there’s enough room to getting a larger TV in due course.
One thing on those media walls - they all place the TV way too high! https://www.reddit.com/r/TVTooHigh/s/rJp6WfNqr9
The 65 inch TV from the sitting room will go in there. I contemplated a projector, but figured it would be too much faff for regular TV watching. We’ll ensure there’s enough room to getting a larger TV in due course.
One thing on those media walls - they all place the TV way too high! https://www.reddit.com/r/TVTooHigh/s/rJp6WfNqr9
OP, am I right in thinking you're relatively local to me? i.e. Wirral/North West?
We just had this done by a local joiner, he's done an incredible job IMO and our 77" TV fits perfectly in there, we're really happy with it if you want his details. We sent him some ideas from Instagram/Google Images and he came back with a design for us to sign off, we didn't want a fire underneath as we have one to the right but he'd be able to integrate one easily.
We're in the process of having this done in the basement for the kids by a local plasterer who has again done a fantastic job IMO, gap for 65" and soundbar we already have has been left. Happy to pass those details on too.
I can't see how a projector could ever give as good a picture as a decent TV, if they can, I've never seen it.
I say this as a projector owner and a big fan of them, but for many people I think a bigger TV is a more practical solution. I do get a terrific picture from my projector, but it's a bit of a faff setting it up as to get the best picture I have black pull out side curtains and even black covers for the ceiling and floor area in front. I'm working on making it slicker to set up and the result is superb, but I can't imagine many people putting up with doing this to watch a film.
The only issue is that with a projector screen like mine you can have your LCR speakers perfectly placed behind it (since it's effectively just a big white speaker grille). Seeing the voices come from the mouths on screen and not below/above it, plus not being able to see them I feel adds to the effect. Also my screen is 2.40:1 aspect, so there aren't any black bars to reduce the screen size for the majority of content (side bars for 16:9 content).
Most living rooms are too lightly decorated and even if you block all external light the screen will still light up white ceilings and light walls, which reflects back to the screen and literally washes out the picture. I remember going to a dealer open day years ago and asking what the amazing projector was he was using. Turned out it was exactly the same model I had at the time, but his room was totally black and my living room was light coloured. A grey screen can help a bit, but really there is no solution better than a black hole for optimum projector viewing and very few people would do that in a living room (even some dedicated rooms seem to avoid going that extreme).
Also, without a fairly expensive external video processor, HDR on a projector isn't great. Sure some models have tone mapping built in, but it isn't a patch on what a dedicated processor like Lumagen or MadVR can do. So that further adds to the expense, faff and setting up.
I still use a 50" TV for most day to day viewing as well, so I save the projector for films/special events or concerts. I'd never suggest using one day to day as the news at 100" would soon get normalised and the washed out picture from leaving the lights on/stumbling around in the dark would get old quickly too.
Tl;dr If you want an easy to use system and don't mind the look of a large TV when not in use, then avoid a projector for the living room.
The only issue is that with a projector screen like mine you can have your LCR speakers perfectly placed behind it (since it's effectively just a big white speaker grille). Seeing the voices come from the mouths on screen and not below/above it, plus not being able to see them I feel adds to the effect. Also my screen is 2.40:1 aspect, so there aren't any black bars to reduce the screen size for the majority of content (side bars for 16:9 content).
Most living rooms are too lightly decorated and even if you block all external light the screen will still light up white ceilings and light walls, which reflects back to the screen and literally washes out the picture. I remember going to a dealer open day years ago and asking what the amazing projector was he was using. Turned out it was exactly the same model I had at the time, but his room was totally black and my living room was light coloured. A grey screen can help a bit, but really there is no solution better than a black hole for optimum projector viewing and very few people would do that in a living room (even some dedicated rooms seem to avoid going that extreme).
Also, without a fairly expensive external video processor, HDR on a projector isn't great. Sure some models have tone mapping built in, but it isn't a patch on what a dedicated processor like Lumagen or MadVR can do. So that further adds to the expense, faff and setting up.
I still use a 50" TV for most day to day viewing as well, so I save the projector for films/special events or concerts. I'd never suggest using one day to day as the news at 100" would soon get normalised and the washed out picture from leaving the lights on/stumbling around in the dark would get old quickly too.
Tl;dr If you want an easy to use system and don't mind the look of a large TV when not in use, then avoid a projector for the living room.
As a balance, we have a 55in TV for daily use and a 100in manual pull down projector in the ceiling above it. As it's not motorised, it was inexpensive and there's nowt to go wrong.
As for projector, I ran all the cabling and then decided otherwise, so built myself a cabinet to pop the TV on with an ultra short throw projector in the cabinet.
I'm sure plenty will have better picture and tone etc but as a fun thing to watch films as a family, it's great on the weekends, especially during winter. Having good sound makes a huge difference to the whole experience, so think about that also.
As for projector, I ran all the cabling and then decided otherwise, so built myself a cabinet to pop the TV on with an ultra short throw projector in the cabinet.
I'm sure plenty will have better picture and tone etc but as a fun thing to watch films as a family, it's great on the weekends, especially during winter. Having good sound makes a huge difference to the whole experience, so think about that also.
Yes thanks for that, I was after how much the ceiling box would stand out if built alongside a new media wall.
From the looks of yours it seems possible to achieve a discreet enough look to make it worthwhile, essentially I don’t want to pay to have a nice modern media wall and then plonk a big box along the top of it and ruin the job.
I’ve taken note of the downsides of projectors detailed above, so thanks for that also so will have to weigh up, it would only be for movies
From the looks of yours it seems possible to achieve a discreet enough look to make it worthwhile, essentially I don’t want to pay to have a nice modern media wall and then plonk a big box along the top of it and ruin the job.
I’ve taken note of the downsides of projectors detailed above, so thanks for that also so will have to weigh up, it would only be for movies
Probably teaching you to suck eggs usn90 but just to point out that those drop down screen in front of speakers will require an acoustically transparent screen. I found that a drop down, electric AT screen was very expensive, so I ended up with a fixed screen and I put my smaller TV on an electric lift instead, so it drops out of the way when using the projector.
From memory I think I was quoted about £3k for an electric AT screen (in 2.40:1 aspect too rather than TV shape 16:9, which is another thing to consider if going the projector route). I got very lucky with the AT material as someone was selling a brand new roll they hadn't used and it was the right size. I think I paid about £200 for it, plus the wood to DIY a frame.
Screen during the build stage:
Set up as it currently is (I'm planning a change to 2.0:1 aspect with masking):
With the TV dropped out of the way, notice how much the room lights up though:
Another shot when I've pulled out the black side curtains, ceiling and floor covers:
Just shows how much the room decor (and total lack of ambient light) can improve the picture.
From memory I think I was quoted about £3k for an electric AT screen (in 2.40:1 aspect too rather than TV shape 16:9, which is another thing to consider if going the projector route). I got very lucky with the AT material as someone was selling a brand new roll they hadn't used and it was the right size. I think I paid about £200 for it, plus the wood to DIY a frame.
Screen during the build stage:
Set up as it currently is (I'm planning a change to 2.0:1 aspect with masking):
With the TV dropped out of the way, notice how much the room lights up though:
Another shot when I've pulled out the black side curtains, ceiling and floor covers:
Just shows how much the room decor (and total lack of ambient light) can improve the picture.
used have this, projector (bombay doors in celiling) abs acoustic screen cover a projector. in ceiling speakers the full works.
moved so that was the end of that, just built a media wall and need a new TV , i guess the size of the room warrants a screen.
i will make do with wireless surround and a 75 inch screeen.
moved so that was the end of that, just built a media wall and need a new TV , i guess the size of the room warrants a screen.
i will make do with wireless surround and a 75 inch screeen.
AB said:
I can't see how a projector could ever give as good a picture as a decent TV, if they can, I've never seen it.
You're looking at the wrong projectors 
In general, for standard ish sizes you are correct of course. There are some amazing projectors with incredible performance out there but really, you need to be at a size that can justify it. The only real option for a TV at around 100" is the Sony which is around £12k. As soon as you need over 100", you really have no option but projection unless you are prepared to spend into £100k's on something like Samsung 'The Wall'.
Also, the environment is super important ... lots of ambient light requires a more powerful projector ... but this is where TV's win. I love projectors but they really aren't suitable for all purposes.
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