http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/ Engadget Comments for How-To: Build yourself a front projection home theater http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
This site has some good examples Home Theater Seating

Remember you need to start your first row at least 1.5 times screen width.]]>Apr 11th 2008 5:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.htmarket.com/home-theater-furniture-home-theater-seating.html]]>Apr 11th 2008 5:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.chasetheglow.com

]]>Aug 12th 2008 3:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/]]>May 23rd 2006 10:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Projector + Halo 2 + break time @ school = awesome.

Everyone is astounded, wants to get in, and folds up in no easy time.

Light interference is a major downside. Also finding a decent wall to use (or finding a decent wall to mount a screen).

Also make sure about what you want to do exactly. I was going to assume that they would go more in depth about adding in a sound system for the total package, but this is good for the beginner. I would totally get one, if I had the space myself.]]>May 23rd 2006 10:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 23rd 2006 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 23rd 2006 11:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/Good post]]>May 23rd 2006 11:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Just go out and buy some cables, dont bodge up some cables and rush it.

The PTAE-900 is a nice projector though.]]>May 23rd 2006 11:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 12:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Todd]]>May 24th 2006 12:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
I'm contemplating a home theater myself, personally I'd rather wait for 1080p projectors to become a bit more mainstream and cheaper though.

I'll probably wait a few years until I move to do this, because I currently live in central texas, and I rather use a basement... and basements are pretty sparse due to the limestone.

That's not a bad setup though]]>May 24th 2006 12:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Have you read the article?

"We had problems getting a component cable in time for the install, so we tried making our own from shielded cat-5 and a set of RCA ends"

Sorry, but using Cat-5 in this way is a bodge, why couldnt they go down to the shops and buy some proper 15m Components. If you're going to be setting up a permanent cable run, through the attic etc... then why do a bad job, why not use the proper cables. And get a HDMI cable up there at the same time.]]>May 24th 2006 1:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 2:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Many Pixar and Lucasfilm DVDs have a calibration section under the "Setup" item on the disk's menu, so you don't need to buy anything additional if you have one of those around.

Tips: DVDs have 5.1 sound, and having 5.1 audio makes a huge difference in the perceived quality of the image. Also, movies are balanced to be watched by dark-adapted eyes, so make sure that you can darken your home theater room.]]>May 24th 2006 2:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/are you that ghost guy?
]]>Jun 17th 2007 9:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 4:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/

- Dov]]>May 24th 2006 5:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/But practically can anyone offer me advice on a decent A/V setup in a 2 bedroom shoebox in central London?]]>May 24th 2006 6:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/I have a front projection setup in my apartment. I mounted the projector to the ceiling and have a screen hanging from the ceiling that rolls down. I built the screen using two small-diameter pipes and blackout cloth so that when it is rolled up it is only about 2 inches in diameter. It is easy to remove from the ceiling and put behind a bookcase or such, but I don't usually bother.

I used the shielded CAT5 cable because I can't run cable through the walls and the narrow CAT5 is much easier to run along the corners of the walls than component cable.]]>May 24th 2006 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
One mistake, though: when you talk about how high to place the screen, you show a white board equation, and then say "Subtract 1/3 of the screen height from your eye height." Sorry to point this out, but the image shows it the other way around. If you followed the equation in the image, it would most likely result in a negative number...unless you had a reeeeeally big screen.

Besides, I think screen hight is more of a personal preference. I like my screens a little lower. What I can't understand for the life of me is those damn home improvement shows that talk about these great "home theaters" they're building in a new house, and they put a plasma TV over a fireplace, five feet from the floor. What's that all about? Do people actually like straining their necks like that?]]>May 24th 2006 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.projectorbundles.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=1]]>May 24th 2006 8:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 9:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Or if you are a videophile u can use screen goo for $200. ]]>May 24th 2006 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
storm9 and others talking about screen materials: what is deceiving to most people now is that you can get a high-lumen, high-contrast projector for dirt cheap. you can throw that image on a wall or crappy screen (or bed sheet i guess) and it looks ok. but after setting up 20-25 theaters, the screen material chosen is one of the most important things. i wish you all could do a side-by-side of a crappy screen/wall/bed sheet and a good screen. the good screen will take your theater to a whole new level!]]>May 24th 2006 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 10:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.projectorcentral.com/

best projector info website ever.

they also have a wicked calulator for setting up your screen and projector options.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm
]]>May 24th 2006 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Bad idea on using cat 5 for component. Component is a 75 ohm controled impedance system. That mean that the impedance of the cable to high frequency video signals needs to be constant. Since component is analog, youg et reflections on the cable and more than minor picture degradation. It makes absolutely no sense to buy an 720p projetor, buy a screen, and then make video cable this way. If you are going to splice in something, at least use proper 75 ohm cable. Then you only have the discontinuity where you make the splice. Not connecting the shield also is bad, as the shield around a conductor at a fixed distance is what controls the impedance.

Might be OK as a temporary soluttion to get you upa nd running, but if you are running cables through the attic and wall, it isn't the way to go.]]>May 24th 2006 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.screeninnovations.com/

These things are amazing. I've got on of their Reference Models, and blows away "goo" or paint based setups. When you spend over $7K on your setup, you don't cheese out at the last bit, #20.]]>May 24th 2006 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.lumenlab.com/

I built my own projector and love it! 1024x768 130" image]]>May 24th 2006 4:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 24th 2006 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 25th 2006 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Here are some photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31983619@N00/134393991/

If you have the space, a projector is the way to go. I went to see a movie in the movie theater last weekend after not going for 8 months and after building the HT. My picture and sound were highly superior and for the cost of one movie ticket, I can get a month's worth of DVDs from Netflix. ]]>May 25th 2006 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/May 28th 2006 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
For temporary use, the flexable wire running through the wall is acceptable. As soon as the electrician visits, the projector will have a dedicated outlet on the wall at the shelf. - Interestingly, to the fire inspector I spoke with, it's the same as running through a drop ceiling, and LOTS of places do that.]]>May 30th 2006 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/Jun 11th 2006 7:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/Jun 28th 2009 7:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.professionalav.com,
http://www.av-products.com

]]>Jun 28th 2009 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
I have just taken some pictures off of the wall and shown movies on the wall. It worked pretty well.

Last week I found an old movie screen at a garage sale. It is the kind that rolls down. I just screwed a couple of hooks into the attic joists.

Wow! Big difference! The picture is great and looks much brighter. Instead of messing around I would suggest just look for an old movie screen. If you wanted to you could even cut the screen material to size and mount it in your own frame.]]>Sep 5th 2006 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.taranfx.com/blog/?p=1519]]>Aug 1st 2009 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
Home Theater Seating]]>Dec 20th 2009 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
http://www.interiorexpress.com/Home-Theater-Seating.html]]>Dec 20th 2009 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/
The other valuable article I've read -- Shelly’s ”Building a Great Home Theater System” -- goes into this from several sides, but dismisses video projection as inferior.

Lemme know.]]>Apr 24th 2007 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-build-yourself-a-front-projection-home-theater/I got email asking where that "Building a Great Home Theater System" was located:

http://www.dvrplayground.com/article/14907/Building-a-Great-Home-Theater-System/

and thanks in advance for answers to my questions!]]>Apr 26th 2007 2:08PM