Projector in ceiling setup

[Mousem40]

Hi,

We're doing a house renovation and in a 5mx5m part of our lounge we need a TV. I hate the tv being the focal point of the lounge (and I think they're ugly and we hardly watch tv anyway) so I'm looking at a projector in the ceiling with lift + Screen combination. I used to be massively into Hifi so don't want to get into another rabbit hole but want a setup with a super low budget.

I've seen lifts for £100-£400 on ebay, then I've also seen lifts for £5k. I want to press a remote control button, have the lift drop down the projector and for the screen to drop down and get going. How much do I need to spend to do this (I'm happy to go second hand). I will have 30cm+ space above the plasterboard to fit it all in. We will have A/C in the house (if that helps with cooling)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/206419030067?_skw=elect...

I've also got a pair of Magneplanner MG3.5Rs, a valve amp and Meridian 508.24CD player I want to use for the audio. What's the best way to get it all synced up?

Am I mad, and should I just go with one of those mirrored TVs and be done with it?

Thanks!

[v8notbrave]

Can't answer your direct qu. We built an extra sun room with a projector, 120cm screen. I've kept it on the ceiling and have a pull down screen a. It was cheap and b. Easy for me to install and future proof. I'd be nervous if the 100£ mechanism you shared, what happens when that breaks and it's all concealed? Or your electric screen breaks?? Plus it's white so sort of blends in

I have basic Chinese type projector, running 10 metre hdmi into it down to a corner of the room, that I can switch between sky, Xbox inputs etc and then a high quality phono out of it direct to my amp. It's epic and worth it! All wiring concealed in ceiling with 3 pin plug in the ceiling, Maybe helps a little?

[Mousem40]

Thanks!

You're right, if it breaks how do I get to it? I think they have a panel with screws at the bottom? Also how does the remote control work if its inside the ceiling.

You mean you have a phone out of the projector itself? Does phono out even exist these days?

BTW I will have Cat 6 cabling everywhere if that makes a difference

[v8notbrave]

Projector has 3.5mm jack to a RCA input for amp, easy 10 meter cable run and for me was the only way for sound. Will u keep stereo or try a surround set up?

If u have cat6 maybe you can wire it into a media server type solution? My son made an old desktop into a very effective wife media server for us, using íWiFi

[Mousem40]

I see thanks. I'll look out for that. I'm keeping the stereo, I love it, it's not going to be an AV setup though though so sub optimal

[JEA1K]

Mousem40 said:

Hi,

We're doing a house renovation and in a 5mx5m part of our lounge we need a TV. I hate the tv being the focal point of the lounge (and I think they're ugly and we hardly watch tv anyway) so I'm looking at a projector in the ceiling with lift + Screen combination. I used to be massively into Hifi so don't want to get into another rabbit hole but want a setup with a super low budget.

I've seen lifts for £100-£400 on ebay, then I've also seen lifts for £5k. I want to press a remote control button, have the lift drop down the projector and for the screen to drop down and get going. How much do I need to spend to do this (I'm happy to go second hand). I will have 30cm+ space above the plasterboard to fit it all in. We will have A/C in the house (if that helps with cooling)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/206419030067?_skw=elect...

I've also got a pair of Magneplanner MG3.5Rs, a valve amp and Meridian 508.24CD player I want to use for the audio. What's the best way to get it all synced up?

Am I mad, and should I just go with one of those mirrored TVs and be done with it?

Thanks!

My view as owner of an AV business. Go with a TV

We've installed plenty of 'hidden' AV systems, particularly in our earlier days ... we've always used products from Pure Theater or Future Automation and have had very few device failures but the supply and install of these comes at a cost as they're a pig to install. That said, we do our best to avoid using projector lifts and motorised screens within the same project.

An in ceiling screen can only be installed when the joists run left to right (or right to left) as you're sitting ... depending on the projector size, the projector lift may need some joinery work beyong cutting out the plasterboard. Then there's the issue with two components moving and requiring an exact same position when in operation ... no matter what you but, at some point the screen/projector positions will fall out of alignment and thats with the best products.

Then we move on to control and synchonisation ... an AVR with a 12v trigger is probably the most reliable way to control a projector screen (if you don't have a control system) ... this in turn can be connected to the lift. Or a projector with a 12v trigger connected to the lift and screen ... but then you'll need to see the projector so will require a control system or an IR receiver which will flash on the inside of the

Looking at the £100 ebay lift, I would not for one minute risk cutting a hole in my ceiling for it. Who knows what the reliability is like? And how noisy it is? And what weight it holds? Or what projector fits in it? Etc etc ...

When all said and done, the cost for a screen, projector, projector lift and installed correctly will be potentially 4 x that of a TV that has a warranty from a manufacturer. It will less frustrating to own and use.

In terms of audio, you'll need to look at a way of getting audio from your TV into your valve amp (stereo only) and a TV with an output ... either 3.5m jack or optical .. then you'll need to convert that into whatever your amp has.

[Mousem40]

Thanks JEA1K,

I’ve seen your other posts on the forum and appreciate the expert advice. Currently there is no plasterboard just bare joists running in the correct direction with 400 centres and the ceiling will be dropped 300mm below the joists as well.

But anyway, all your points make sense. I thought that maybe lots of people do this and there are lots of readily obtainable packages that work together to deliver what I want. It seems not, and if so, at a big price and even then it’ll go out of alignment at some stage. Too much hassle. This isn’t a dedicated cinema room and it’s not even dark.


I’ll have to find one of those mirror TVs with an optical or analogue output. If these TVs only have digital outputs what DAC would you recommend to connect to my amp?

Thanks

[v8notbrave]

Just jumping back in, I have an old Denon surround amp in my lounge with analogue inputs (as the optical broke years ago) simple dac box off eBay is fine for TV, less than a tenner. A hifi purist may scoff but it's genuinely fine

[JEA1K]

Mousem40 said:

Thanks JEA1K,

I ve seen your other posts on the forum and appreciate the expert advice. Currently there is no plasterboard just bare joists running in the correct direction with 400 centres and the ceiling will be dropped 300mm below the joists as well.

But anyway, all your points make sense. I thought that maybe lots of people do this and there are lots of readily obtainable packages that work together to deliver what I want. It seems not, and if so, at a big price and even then it ll go out of alignment at some stage. Too much hassle. This isn t a dedicated cinema room and it s not even dark.


I ll have to find one of those mirror TVs with an optical or analogue output. If these TVs only have digital outputs what DAC would you recommend to connect to my amp?

Thanks

You're welcome. There are some super DIYrs out there but they've probably invested hundreds or thousands of hours getting their systems correct ... on their 4th, 5th or 6th revision and possibly experienced the odd divorce along the way;)

We've used a lot of Blustream kit which is readily available from places like Futureshop online ... so in this case the DAC12AU is the model which would do the job.

[Mousem40]

Ha it’s just not worth it! Thank you.

Great I’ll get that DAC thanks again

[Sporky]

JEA1K said:

My view as owner of an AV business. Go with a TV

We've installed plenty of 'hidden' AV systems, particularly in our earlier days ... we've always used products from Pure Theater or Future Automation and have had very few device failures but the supply and install of these comes at a cost as they're a pig to install. That said, we do our best to avoid using projector lifts and motorised screens within the same project.

I do commercial AV design, and I'd go for a telly too.

I'm a big fan of Future Automation - really well engineered. My telly is on a PS40. Audipack are good for lifts too, but I'm usually after a lift to drop a projector from a lecture theatre ceiling down to ground level for servicing so they're probably a bit over the top. I think Draper did/do some decent ceiling lifts.

[Flying machine]

As another person considering a projector and screen (motorised and ideally hidden in the ceiling), thank you for posting honest replies as installers of these things! One of the main issues I have with a massive tv for films, is just that - it's a massive tv and such an ugly thing when not in use - a problem solved by a retractable screen. Hmm, interesting and slightly disappointing to learn.

[Mousem40]

Flying machine said:

As another person considering a projector and screen (motorised and ideally hidden in the ceiling), thank you for posting honest replies as installers of these things! One of the main issues I have with a massive tv for films, is just that - it's a massive tv and such an ugly thing when not in use - a problem solved by a retractable screen. Hmm, interesting and slightly disappointing to learn.

I hate them. And I hate the whole family sitting down watching tv because it’s just there and it’s so easy. That big ugly screen becomes the focus of the house.

I’m surprised the AV market isn’t set up for this kind of demand (unless you throw money at the problem)

[JEA1K]

Flying machine said:

As another person considering a projector and screen (motorised and ideally hidden in the ceiling), thank you for posting honest replies as installers of these things! One of the main issues I have with a massive tv for films, is just that - it's a massive tv and such an ugly thing when not in use - a problem solved by a retractable screen. Hmm, interesting and slightly disappointing to learn.

Yes I get that, some people just don't like the look of a Tv when its not in use ... there are creative ways to hide TV's using variuos lift mechanisms but they're very expensive in terms of the mechanism and cost to install.

If you can live with your projector on show (ceiling mounted or in a ceiling pelmet) and just have an in-ceiling electric screen, the requirements become achieveable for far less cost. Controlling is also easier as again, the screen can be connected to a 12v trigger to lower when the projector is powered on (or AVR) and will retract when the projector is turned off.