Projectors & Screen Buyers Guide for Home Theater Systems

Home theater systems are very popular today and have become a standard in most American households replacing the older console televisions and stereo components of the past. The home theater usually includes a larger size flat screen TV or projector type that projects the picture on a screen as in a movie theater. The combination of components can include – a DVD player, CD player, preamp receiver, satellite receiver, cable broadcast media, amplifiers and speakers. This collection of components make up a home theater system or media center. Commonly called the family room the home theater is the center of household entertainment and used by all family members for viewing programming, DVD movies and listening to music. The size of the viewing screen in home theater systems the center attraction followed the audio components, speakers and accessories.

Projectors provide the largest viewing area possible and the size can be adjusted by the distance from the projector to the screen surface. There are many choices of projector quality and range in price from $500 to $50,000, of course the higher price units are for video enthusiasts and audiophiles. I chose to install a projector for viewing in my pro home theater system because of its versatility, large picture and easy viewing. I also installed the projector screen in the soffit of the wall unit so it can be stored in place inconspicuously and not cover the wall unit furniture. The custom cherry wall unit fits well into the rooms décor and the home theater room appears to be normal family room with individual large leather recliners, until…. the lights are turned off, the screen is pulled down, projector is on and then it feels, looks and sounds like a cinema movie theater. The screen is 110” diagonal crisp & clear, the sound is true THX with thunderous bass delivered by 5000 watts of power out of five randomly placed 15” speakers in custom enclosures. The rest of the audio system speakers are powered by three 1200watt and one 1000watt audiophile quality power amplifiers.

Some of today’s popular projectors are

• Mitsubishi HC1500 $1,495
• Sony BRAVIA VPL-AW15 $1,299
• Panasonic PT-AX200U $1,999
• Sanyo PLV-Z2000 $2,495
• Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 UB $2,999
• Panasonic PT-AE2000U $3,499
• BenQ W5000 $4,999
• Mitsubishi HC5500 $4,995
• Sharp Notevision XR-10   
• NEC LT35 $1599

Projector screens are available in many sizes, quality and price range also. I choose to use the Da-Lite 73639 Video Spectra 1.5 Deluxe screen. To select a screen size choose the format or ratio, usually 16x9, for which your projector setup will be - HDTV, Multi, Square or widescreen format. View screens are available in electric retractable and manual retractable with mountings for ceiling, wall or floor mounted. If the screen space is going to fixed you can order custom or precut sizes for fixed application. Front projection screens are the most common but they cans be obstructed by objects between the projector and screen. Rear projection screens project the image from behind the screen to avoid obstruction and the mounting of the projector is out of sight. One other option is to use screen paint and paint the surface of a wall your self. For upscale home theater systems I would not recommend using the room’s wall surface as a screen. After you have invested a lot money in the other components of this home theater room, the screen is not the item to go inexpensive. Select a moderately priced view screen and the results will be worth your viewing.

Mount Flat Panel Plasma TV to Wall: Do It Yourself

Before you purchase a large screen flat panel LCD TV to be wall mounted make sure the model you choose can be wall mounted or VESA compatible and purchase a wall mounting bracket that fits your model screen. Within the room decide which wall will be the best for viewing from all angles of seating. Most likely you will want the flat panel TV centered in the width of the room so think of how the room furniture will be placed to accommodate this. Keep the middle of the height of the screen between eye level when seated and standing. If your plan seems like it works move the furniture into place then take down all wall treatments, decorations, pictures and artwork to prep for installation. Layout the horizontal and vertical centers of the overall TV panel dimensions on the wall to get a better idea of where the plasma TV will mount. Locate the video cable source and the route of the cables and power outlet. By now you should have decided if you are capable of mounting the screen to the wall and want to do it yourself. If you have any doubts don’t hesitate to have the screen installed by a professional. Now make a list of tools and materials that will be needed for installing the flat panel TV on the wall.

Before installing read the manufacturer’s owner manual for installation specifics or additional mounting hardware required. Newer models of flat screens will accept a VESA standard bracket which is listed in the specifications. Match up the screen size and weight to a compatible mounting bracket. There are also choices in mounting brackets for swiveling screen left to right and up and down for finer adjustments of view angle.

Recommended tools - tape measure, cordless drill, stud finder, hammer, prybar, screwdrivers, pliers, level, square, utility knife, drywall saw, finish nails, wood lag bolts, washers, scrap wood, plywood, electricians pull string or snake, electric outlet box w/coverplate and electrical tape.

Installing & Mounting a Flat Panel TV on the Wall in Wood Framed Construction

• Unpack and inspect TV screen (do not lay screen flat on face) and mounting bracket, read installation instructions for both and gather any additional hardware for mounting and check overall measurements of screen. Take apart the mounting bracket as there are to parts to this one side mounts to wall and one mounts to TV.
• Layout the centers of the screen dimensions level, square and plumb, on the wall at the predetermined location where unit will be set. From these dimensions mark out the outside size centered within these marks. Within this area plan if you will install an ac outlet and audio/video outlet for TV monitor.
• Locate the centers of the studs using a stud finder or hammer a finish nail thru the drywall until you find a wood stud, repeat to the left and right of the first nail hole to find each edge of the stud. From the center of the located stud measure over to the left and right 16” or 24” depending on your house frame layout and repeat steps to locate the studs, continue this to go within the TV’s overall width. These points (studs) are where the mounting bracket must be fastened with bolts or heavy screws to, if the studs are not centered in your layout location of the screen you will have to attach a backing plate (backboard ¾” plywood or framing lumber) spanning the existing studs- 2 or 3 of them.  The TV screen mounting bracket will be screwed to this backboard. Make backboard or backplate smaller than the overall size of the screen.
• If a power outlet and video source are near and the exposed cables are ok there is no need to add an outlet.
• Electric outlet and video cable - if you are planning to install a power outlet just for the TV screen, find an adequate voltage existing outlet to connect to (turn off circuit breaker) or run a new circuit to a location behind the screen (check installation manual for outlet location). If you choose to conceal the wires behind the drywall install a single gang electric box and fish the UL listed wire to the box. Locate the position of the outlet box trace the outside of the box with a pencil and cutout the sheetrock to allow for installation of the remodel type electric box to be installed. Test outlet for power after it is installed. Keep in mind you should use some type of power surge protection for the ac power to the monitor. Suggestion for audio video wires/cables, these wires are very low millivolts of power and can be run behind base mouldings, crown or chair mouldings and under carpeting out of walk traffic areas safely. Follow the same steps for audio & video cables.
• Install Mounting Bracket - check all measurements, location and clearances one last time before fastening bracket. Take the wall mount portion of the mounting bracket and hold in place at desired spot, hold level & plumb and mark all mounting holes for lag bolts or large screws. Pre drill a pilot hole at all of the marked screw locations in the studs with a drill bit smaller in diameter than the bolt. (If masonry wall construction use an approved masonry/concrete anchor bolt with washers, if metal stud wall construction drill a pilot hole thru metal stud and install a toggle type bolt for fastening.) Install the bolts in pilot holes and keep loose until all bolts are close. Use a level and hold it in place to check while final tightening all bolts.
• Install the TV bracket on flat panel TV and the installation instructions show.
• Double check all bolts and fasteners to ready for final installation of TV screen.
• Hanging the Flat Panel TV Monitor - With some help move the flat panel TV near wall at place of installation. Connect audio/video wires, cables and ac power plug into outlet.
• Lift the TV into place and connect the flat panel bracket to the wall mounted bracket, check that it is secure before letting go of grip. Re check wire & cables that they are clear from behind brackets and turn on power source to test. Follow owner’s manual for TV setup procedure.

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