1) How large of picture can I project on a screen?
Todays projectors can display image fields as large as 15' to 20'. There is, however, an
inverse relationship between the size of the projected image and image quality. As image
size increases, the brightness of the image decreases and the size of the pixel structure
increases. From a practical standpoint, the space you have available for your home theater
will dictate the optimum screen size. The most popular screen sizes tend to fall in the range
of 110" to 130" on the diagonal. Click here for a description of various screen aspect ratios.
2) How far away should I sit from the screen?
This will vary by individual tastes. Generally, most individuals will find the best picture quality
occurs when they sit no closer to the screen than 1.5x the diagonal length of the screen. Accordingly, if your screen
has a 120" diagonal measurement, you will likely not want to sit closer than 15' from the screen. At this distance your
eyes will not be able to detect any pixel structure and you will be able to see the entire image without having to move
your head side to side.
3) How long will the bulb last in my projector?
Most manufacturers claim bulb life expectancies of 2000hrs if the projector is run in high lumen mode and 3000hrs if
the projector is run in economy mode.
4) How good is the quality of image I can expect to see from my projector?
With todays 1280x720 projectors, in a darkened theater environment and a screen size falling in the range of 100" to
130" diagonal, you can expect to see an image that significantly exceeds the image quality you would see at your
local theater. Customers that have acquired the projector listed on our Products page report seeing "plasma like"
images. And, in the case of live HD broadcasts, some customers report seeing 3D like images.
5) For a "real theater like" experience, how many speakers will I need to install in my home theater?
There are three basic configurations available today -- 5.1 (read five to one), 6.1 and 7.1. In a 5.1 configuration you
have a Left Front speaker, a Center Front speaker, a Right Front Speaker, a Left Rear Surround speaker, a Right Rear
Surround speaker and a Subwoofer (the .1 channel). A 6.1 configuration adds an additional Rear Center speaker to the
standard 5.1 configuration. A 7.1 configuration adds two additional surround speakers to the standard 5.1 configuration.
HDTV broadcasts carry a 5.1 audio signal and virtually all newer DVDs are recorded using a 5.1 audio signal. There are a
few DVDs that carry a 6.1 audio signal, but these are far and few between. As of today, there are no HDTV broadcasts or
DVDs that carry a 7.1 audio signal. There is little to be gained by installing more than a 5.1 audio system; in fact, given
the limitations of todays AV receivers, sound imaging will likely decrease with each additional speaker you add to the
standard 5.1 configuration.
6) How much should I expect to pay for a good quality AV receiver?
The primary purpose of an AV receiver is to decode the audio signal it receives from an external source (DVD, HDTV
broadcast ...) and distribute it to the various speakers. In a 5.1 system, each speaker represents an independent
audio channel. The AV receiver controls the timing at which an audio signal is sent to each speaker, as well as, the
associated volume to create a true surround sound theater experience. A properly configured home theater will
produce and audio experience that will likely exceed what you experience at your local theater. Cost for a high
quality AV receiver, about $350 - $700.
Have a question that is not addressed below, drop us a line at questions@stltheatres.com