How big does it really have to be???

Obviously for you it doesn't have to be that big, but after you've seen a movie on the big screen, it's very difficult to go back...

I would agree that a big picture makes a huge difference to enjoyment of movies. Of course, it's not until you've experienced it that you realise what you're missing. A couple of years ago I had to decide between a projector and a plasma for the same money. I went for the projector - the picture wasn't quite as good, but the sheer scale (7ft screen) blew me away. If you can cope with the inconvenience (screen on the wall, needing to have lights out) then a projector is definitely the way forward. Since then, prices have dropped, performance has increased, so there is no reason not to get one. For what it is worth, I use a Sanyo PLV-Z2 - cost £2000 a few years ago and is probably outclassed by £1000 projectors now. I feed it from a Harman Kardon DVD25 with a component connection.

In the case of movies I think big is definitely better! We installed a projector and 7ft screen when we moved into our current property. The projector screen drops from the ceiling in front of a Plasma screen on the wall which is used for TV duties. We don’t tend to use the projector for TV because of the television programmes formatting. I feel is better suited to the smaller screen and you don’t have to draw the curtains!

Programmes such as soap operas tend to use tight framing of faces etc where as movies tend to be framed from a distance. I am sure forum members in the UK appreciate a 7ft close up of Pat Butcher from Eastenders’ face could put you off your dinner ;-)

Where the projector comes into its own is watching movies. I think it may be the fact that your eyes don’t take in the whole picture and have to physically move as the action does around the screen. This really pulls you into the story. Togther with a darkened room (and N-vi kicking out the soundtrack) really helps you focus on the movie. We love the projector and screen and use it most weeks for watching a film or two.

That said no reproduction equipment will make up for a c*ap movie.

With my bad eyesight, I sit fairly close (4 feet) to a 28inch 16:9 Sony CRT - which isn't bad at all. Certainly usable.

However - my mate in Reading uses a cheap(ish) Benq projector at about 6ft size with nice results - I LOVE watching films round there

I'd invest in one myself but it's impractical at the moment as I can't make holes in my ceiling

Thank you all for your input. I think the projector is something that I'm gonna go for anyways. What got me starting this thread is that to me at least I would say that 75% of the enjoyment comes from the audio while 25% comes from the video. How would you guys split the "pleasure factor"?

When I'm watching a movie or television show I would say its 80% video and 20% audio for me. I think I would suggest perhaps a 42" plasma for you. If you are coming from a 25" CRT, a 42" will seem huge and will have a fantastic picture. The new Panasonic 1080p models are priced really well.

Which DVD player do you have?

quote:

Originally posted by Vaughn3D:
When I'm watching a movie or television show I would say its 80% video and 20% audio for me. I think I would suggest perhaps a 42" plasma for you. If you are coming from a 25" CRT, a 42" will seem huge and will have a fantastic picture. The new Panasonic 1080p models are priced really well.

Which DVD player do you have?

Hi Vaughn;
Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. My regular video display is a 40" samsung LCD. The 25" CRT is my temporary dislpay as I am moving between houses. The LCD sits in my living room while the CRT is a temporary display for the home theater room.

Good sound needs a good picture and they both compliment each other.I think the sound probably gets the edge in terms of adding to the experience and can "expand" the visual aspect of a film.[Notwithstanding the artificial nature of a lot of film sound, but it's all about entertainment isn't it?]
If we go to the cinema[rarely now since getting the NVi]it is often poor quality sound that lets the experience down, not poor picture quality.I'd give it 60/40 in favour of sound
Simon

No problem at all Flame.

I like Simon's point about the cinema being less attractive, if I want someone to kick the back of my chair I'll have my son sit behind my couch and talk and kick me. Although I recently saw Cloverfield in the theater and loved it, although many in the theater didnt.

quote:

Originally posted by Flame:
Hi all;

I just finished watching Blood Diamond. My audio setup can be found on my profile, but my video display was a humble 10 year old 25" Samsung CRT. The movie still rocked! I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the tiny TV. This all made me thinking, how important is a big screen for a movie to be fun? How much emphasis would you forum members put on surround audio vs. video display when it comes to a home theater? This is getting me to scratch my head cause for the last month I've been searching for a hi def. projector for my new home theater room. Does it really have to be that big to be fun???

Regards

The bigger the more fun. I think around 55 inches are good for HD play back. I don't know the situation where you live but in North America, HD TV are quite affordable now. They are not an expensive item to buy.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
If you have a cinema room 6ft length is a very good start.You can make your own screen with the best stuff out there for not a lot of money.
You will love it, And you can read all the names that come up at the end of the film.
Munch

Loooool. I liked that about the name reading. The room is 7 meters in length and 4 meters in width (around 14' x 24'). Perfectly rectangular with 8' ceiling. I'm currently thinking of 92" diagonal screen in 16:9.

Naah! 25" is plenty - if you take the tv on your knees to watch...

Projectors are great if you mostly watch films in the evenings. But if you watch TV during the day too a plasma screen is far easier to live with. 50" is large enough for me in my current room!

quote:

Originally posted by djftw:
Projectors are great if you mostly watch films in the evenings. But if you watch TV during the day too a plasma screen is far easier to live with. 50" is large enough for me in my current room!

No day time TV in the mentioned room. It will be exclusively for movie watching I'm also researching installing bass traps and doing a full acoustic treatment. Ouch!!!!! (that was my pocket BTW) lol

Lol, Lucky you (except for your pocket)!

You don't have to spend a lot to get very acceptable quality with a projector. My projector and screen cost me about $1,500 four years ago and they're much cheaper today.

We use it for watching films and high definition broadcasts. Sporting events are very enjoyable on a big screen in high definition.

Exactly; my mate's projector (a BenQ) is non-HD, but even still, at around 6ft size, you don't really see the pixels per se (and that's from him - with normal eyesight; with me, bigger is better even if it's less detailed - so long as the brightness is OK).

Anyway, I gave him an amp a few years ago, and he's just come into some money, so fingers crossed, he says he'll return the favour and give me said BenQ when he gets his new 1440 projector. Nicely. Now where's that white sheet, drawing pins, and very tall speaker stand???

I have used a video projector with roughly 65 inch picture size on the screen. When the lamp went in the projector it was hideously expensive to replace, so I went back to an ordinary TV-set (32" WS). The only time I miss the big picture is when there is in-car cameras in F1, that was awsome, really made you tink you where in the car! When watching movies or ordinary TV programs i don't miss anything.

For the record, I have "downgraded" the sound system from multi channel to a simple NAIT2 2 channel setup. Doesn't miss anything there either, in fact, I find sound that comes from some where else than the picture rather disturbing!

JohanR