planning a home cinema install

[rmackay]

Hi Guys

Not sure if anyone can help with this but would be interested to hear opin ions etc!

am in the processs of building a new sitting room extension and plan to do away with the telly - the option was a flat screen tv - and instead install a surround sound system with a projector linked to an electric drop down screen. I hope to then be able to connect this to an amplifier and then link from the amp onto a sky box/laptop/ipod etc. any idea how easy this is to do?

the school i work in has this in every classroom so it must be possible -

also i have used digi projectors in the past and found them to be pretty good quality - clear screens etc - have you guys found any probs/cons etc with them? was wondering mainly if i would need to have all the blinds shut/etc just so we could watch the telly during the day due to the outside brightness??

the plan is to have the projector ceiling mounted so is it easy enough to get extension cables to connect it to the amp situated on the floor?

sorry for the load of questions but would be good to hear what you reckon!

slainte!

;-)

[newneo]

one piece of advice that i overlooked when doin pretty much the same thing was to plan my install before puttin my coving up! it could have hidden a multitude of sins! wires galore!

[olo]

well, generally all projectors i worked on have had to have the blinds shut etc. i aint an expert in such systems but i would go for a nice flat screen tv (plasma or so)

[Alf Tupper]

Hi Guys

?

the school i work in has this in every classroom so it must be possible -

also i have used digi projectors in the past and found them to be pretty good quality - clear screens etc - have you guys found any probs/cons etc with them? was wondering mainly if i would need to have all the blinds shut/etc just so we could watch the telly during the day due to the outside brightness??



my wife has them too in the class room and we have used digi projectors at home for showing digi pics from the computer, there great.

Only con we found was the bulbs have a limited life and at ~ £150 each expensive, the are finding this out in school now once they break the equipment lies idle.

[rmackay]

cheers guys for the advice!

reckon that most of the newer projectors are capable of producing a good quality screen even with the blinds partly open - the reason for not going for a plasma is that the our new extension/lounge room etc will have windows on three sides so not enough room for a flat screen really as well - also with having the electric projector screen coming down in front of one of the windows - this should also help block the light a bit - only concern really is the bulb cost - have found some projectors on ebay that have spare bulbs costing about £35 each - difficult to say as well how much telly you watch as well as you take it for granted really..... so not sure how many hours you would get per bulb....

oh well will investigate the cost of a surround sound system as well - one with an amplifier that i can connect the sky box - laptop - ipod etc to as well.. have spotted a sony one that comes in under £200.

thanks again guys! ;-)

slainte!

[olo]

out of it all i would go for a high end projector, i mean, i'm not too convinced by their picture quality (unless its a good one) and as regards to bulbs, i know the ones i work on give 100 hours of use (and unfortunately they really are 100 hours)

[Lacy]

i know the ones i work on give 100 hours of use


:eek::eek::eek::eek: Bloody hell! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

[olo]

also you ought to see what you want exactly from it... i mean, if you want HD, you're better off with an XGA one, but i doubt any will offer HD projection

[Dom]

HD projection is available, you want to try www.avforums.com - so much knowledge on there it's scary!

[olo]

yea but i'm sure they carry a hefty price tag, however, as Dom said, check out them forums, they know more then me for sure :D