Im doing it.

[i007spectre]

I was really hoping to wait till I moved to set up my theater, but seeing as how that probably wont ever happen, I have decided to go on and pull the trigger where I live now. I cant stand waiting anymore.

So on to the details. The room its going in is 13 feet from the center of the front wall to the back corner where I will have to place the projector. Seeing as how I was already planning on the Epson 5010 that should work great. It can throw a 120" image from as short at 11.8 feet. It also has really good lens shift capabilities for corner mounting. The bad part here is that because the design of the room, my chair will only end up being about 7 to 8 feet from the screen. Is that too close for a 120" image?

Also my budget it right around $3000, so since the projector is $2600 of that I plan to buy Visual Apex's 120" screen package. http://www.visualapex.com/projector-...X9120%20#VAPEX
I know most here will recommend Carada, but I just don't have that much more to spend. With the above package Ill at least get a ceiling mount, hdmi cable, and IR repeater as well. I have read good reviews on the VApex screens, and the room will be pretty much pitch black.

I already have a great 7.1 system so that is all taken care of.

I guess my main question is should I bear the unbearable and wait till I move and have my perfect theater, or go on and do it now, and still have a great theater. I mean if/when I do move i'll have everything, and will just have to move it to the new location.

Thanks for the input, I could not do it without you.

[nmcmahan52]

dude i don't even have a ceiling or proper walls in my basement, but i have a home theater

go for it, perfect it later

[AV_Integrated]

The Epson is a solid projector, and with care, the VApex screen will be alright.

The lens offset is a big concern because you can't max out left/right offset in conjunction with top/down offset, and typically get no more than a few inches left/right when the projector is located near the top of the screen. This is because your lens shift maxes out in a circular shape (the lens is a circle). You also really do not want to use the extents of lens shift due to potential lens aberrations which may be introduced.

Still, buying now and not having the 'perfect' setup isn't horrible. Just use a part of the screen right now, or wait on buying a screen and just use a white wall. It certainly isn't a horrible way to enjoy front projection for the short term and no law says you must buy both at once. Maybe get a Carada screen when your budget opens up a bit more.

[i007spectre]

To late to change my mind now, its all been ordered. I also decided to give the MonsterVision MAX 3D eye wear a shot, they were cheaper than the Epson ones. And they change the IR into RF.

[taygan315]

To late to change my mind now, its all been ordered. I also decided to give the MonsterVision MAX 3D eye wear a shot, they were cheaper than the Epson ones. And they change the IR into RF.

Congrats. I'm sure it will look great once it is all set up. Post some pics for us.

I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger yet but I am looking at the Epson 3010 with a 118'' Carada screen. AV Intergrated has been great giving some great advice on how to proceed.

I was hoping someone would answer your question about whether 7-8' would be too close to sit in front of a 120'' screen. I am thinking I may be at that distance as well.

Thanks for the link by the way. That is a great price for that 120'' screen. Please post some pics of your projector in action so I can see the pq on the screen. May want to upgrade to the 5010 if the Visual Apex screen is good and for the $$ saved.

[hatih]

Viewingdistace is very personal thing, what is too close for someone may be too far for another. That said, 8' with 120" screen might be too close for most most people when you compare it to THX specifications.

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/v...alculator.html

If my metric conversions didn't go much wrong that distance is best suited for 70-80" screen and 120" screen requires about 13' of viewingdistance (as stated in above calculator).

[i007spectre]

I guess we will find out. I'm about four feet away from a 46" right now. But ill have a bigger space if I ever move.

[AV_Integrated]

To late to change my mind now, its all been ordered. I also decided to give the MonsterVision MAX 3D eye wear a shot, they were cheaper than the Epson ones. And they change the IR into RF.

Nothing wrong with the projector, you just can't do what you want. I've installed a half dozen 5010s and their lens shift is great, but you can't max out both left/right and up/down at the same time.

From the review...
http://www.projectorcentral.com/epso...tor_review.htm
You get at most 50% left/right lens shift which is only available when the up/down lens shift is in the neutral (center) position. Since the vast majority of people mount near/close to center, this is typically far more than is necessary. So, you just won't be able to do it unless the projector is on center and right near the edge of the screen.

For viewing distance, it is personal preference, but generally about 10" of diagonal for about 1' of viewing distance is the most that is recommended. You can almost always shrink an image down some on a larger screen for more acceptable results if you intend to move and want to make it larger later.

Visual Apex screens as well as Focupix screens - www.htdepot.com - are nice, but don't come close to the build quality of the Carada screens. I've put up a few Focupix and VApex screens and they are very similar (if not idenitical) and they are just cheaper overall in comparison. Especially in the build quality of the frame.

[i007spectre]

I should not require any up/down shift just left/right.

"Lens shift is likewise extensive, with 2.9 picture heights of total vertical range and 1.9 picture widths of horizontal range. That combination is what makes Epson's projectors in general and the 5010 in particular so good for rear shelf mounting -- you can place the projector significantly off-center and still hit the screen perfectly."

Ill be fine.

[i007spectre]

The leftmost position above is what mine will be, the projector will be off center and if you imagine invisible lines coming out from the edges of the screen the projector will be within that. Did that make any since.

[i007spectre]

Looking at center speaker stands today. http://www.amazon.com/VTI-DFC-Series-Channel-Speaker/dp/B001F2GH2M/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1342917466&sr=1-3&keywords=vti+center+speaker+stand
This one looks good and simple which is all I need.

Also checking out some component towers. What I have now is really wide, and I would rather have tall. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XRODFO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p201_d0_g201_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0D ER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=0F3SPN83HK737C51Z8T2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p =470938811&pf_rd_i=507846
That one is a possibility.

And before anyone says that they are cheap looking you should realize that Im already over my $3000 budget.

[johnlt]

Looks like your well om your way to a nice setup. Good luck and have fun with it.

[Badger3920]

Congrats, no one is judging you on your decision and you should not feel any reason to apologize for it; you're getting some great gear. You're really going to enjoy it - make sure to keep this thread updated with pics of the project!

[taygan315]

Looking at center speaker stands today. http://www.amazon.com/VTI-DFC-Series-Channel-Speaker/dp/B001F2GH2M/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1342917466&sr=1-3&keywords=vti+center+speaker+stand
This one looks good and simple which is all I need.

Also checking out some component towers. What I have now is really wide, and I would rather have tall. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XRODFO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p201_d0_g201_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0D ER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=0F3SPN83HK737C51Z8T2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p =470938811&pf_rd_i=507846
That one is a possibility.

And before anyone says that they are cheap looking you should realize that Im already over my $3000 budget.

Looks good spectre. I just know its going to look great.

[i007spectre]

Now that the excitement of buying everything is past, im beginning to think "holly kow what have I gotten myself into" Guess we will find out by next weekend. I think im getting a little anxious and overwhelmed here.