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Answers to your Home Theater and Automation Questions
Q: Tony M, 9-16-04
I am putting in a home theater and want to use a front projection system to get the
biggest possible picture. I have heard that the older 3-tube style projectors have the
best picture. Should I use one. I can control all the light.
A: Tony,
In absolute terms, yes the CRT front projection system will give the best picture. (NOTE:
This is starting to change) However, there are many things to keep in mind when selecting
a projector. As you noted, light control is important, especially with a front projector. CRTs
biggest advantage over a digital projector are a CRTs ability to produce great blacks,
smooth dark gradiations and low level detail. Some of the new DLP projectors and Sony's
SXRD projector produce excellent black levels. Many are using some sort of active iris
system to track light levels in the image and adjust the iris accordingly.
You can get fantastic deals on CRT projectors now as the demand for them, and
consequently their value, has dropped precipitously in recent years as digital projectors
have improved. The downside to a CRT system is the size of the projector and the need to
have the unit professionally set up, converged and calibrated in most cases. They also
have a very narrow focal plane and therefore need to be set in a very precise location
relative to the screen size. This limits your placement options.
There have been examples of intrepid do-it-yourselfers successfully setting up CRT
systems. However, it is much more compex than setting up a digital projector. Digital
projectors from reputable companies such as Runco, SIM2 and InFocus are very closely
calibrated from the factory and require no convergence. They are much smaller and
lighter, and in many cases have zoom lenses. This offers much more flexibility in
placement.
The picture quality and black level of digital projectors has improved dramatically in the
last few years to where they can have quite good pictures. The added light output offered
by digital projectors allows acceptable viewing with some light on. Many people find this
much more enjoyable for non critical viewing such as sports and TV viewing.
Overall the digital projector, particularly the DLP would be a better choice for most
do-it-yourselfers due to the smaller size, ease of set-up/calibration, placement and higher
light output.
Q: Mark C. 9-21-04
I am wiring my new house for speakers. Is there anything special I should do or look out for?
A: Mark,
You should use UL listed CL-2 or CL-3 cable as required by the national electric code.
Failure to do this could result in your local electrical inspector forcing you to remove all
your speaker and control cable. Keep at least 12" from line voltage wiring except when
crossing at 90 deg. Go in after your electrician and DO NOT use the same holes as your
electrician used for his wiring.
I recommend running a 4 conductor speaker cable and a CAT-5 network cable as a
control wire to a volume control location in each room where you will have speakers. You
should then run a 2 conductor cable to each speaker from the volume control location to
each speaker location.
Running a CAT-5 to each volume control location will enable you to use a remote
repeater or keypad for control of your system from all rooms. If you can control your system
remotely we find you will use it much more often than if you have to go to the system and
turn it on.
If you are using in-wall or ceiling speakers, try to use round speakers in the ceiling and
rectangular ones in the walls. The round speakers integrate better aesthetically with other
ceiling fixtures such as lights and smoke detectors. In addition they tend to have coaxially
mounted drivers so you get more even frequency response from every location.
Rectangular speakers usually look better in wall applications.
Q:Michael R. 10-29-04
I need some help. I'm trying to hook my RCA sub up to my Pioneer receiver. My sub has
the standard 2-wire (+ and -) output but my receiver has an A/V cable hookup for sub
inputs. Is there a way I can make this work?
A:Michael,
Do you mean RCA brand sub or a sub using RCA cables as you would typically find on a
sub? The receiver should have an RCA type sub output. If your sub only has
speaker level inputs you need to set your left and right front speakers to "large" in your
Pioneer's set up menu. Then hook up your speaker level inputs to your sub. Just hook up
your sub just like your front speakers.
Take another length of speaker wire, hook it to the same terminals as your front speakers,
then run it to the inputs on your sub. Make sure you set your Pioneer receiver to "none" in
the set up menu when it asks if you have a sub. It will then route the LFE channel(the
same as the .1 in 5.1) to the front speakers. If you have small front speakers this will
probably cause problems at high volume levels. You will want to get a sub with RCA type
inputs.
Q:Larry 11-30-04
I have a room 13'x 17'. Is this big enough for a media room.
How big can the TV be?
A:Larry,
Your room is certainly large enough for a media room. It depends upon how many you
want to use it at a time. You should be able to seat 4-6 comfortably in a room of that size.
Try not to have seating all the way up against the back wall. Putting seating right up
against the wall will make it much harder to create a good surround field. In addition, the
boundary effect the wall creates can make the bass seem boomy and
overbearing. Try coming 2-3 feet out from the wall. You'll want to experiment with seat &
subwoofer placement to avoid sitting in a null(an area where certain frequencies are
cancelled out).
Regarding screen size:
A good, general rule of thumb for seating distance is 2-3 times the screen width. Applying
this in reverse, you will probably be about 15 feet from the screen, depending upon if you
use a front projector or flat panel display. If you use a rear projection TV you'll probably
be 16-20" closer. That would indicate a screen such as a 42" x 77" or 45" x 80" for a
front projection system or as big as you can afford for a rear projection TV or flat panel
display.
Q: Jake - 1-13-06
I am building a new home and would like to prewire for motorized window coverings. Do
you have any advice on what wire I should run (AC/DC) and where I should "store" the wire
in the wall for future use (header, ceiling, etc.).
A: You'll be covered for many standard DC applications by running 18/4. The best
motorized window treatments (IMHO) are Lutron Sivoia. They are almost totally silent and
very smooth. The wiring for these motorized blinds requires a special 7 conductor cable.
Four of the conductors are 2 twisted pair shielded, and used for communication from a
Lutron keypad or controller. The remaining three conductors at least 2 x 18 ga. and 1 x 16
ga. These are used for supplying power from a Lutron power supply to the blind motor.
I am putting in a home theater and want to use a front projection system to get the
biggest possible picture. I have heard that the older 3-tube style projectors have the
best picture. Should I use one. I can control all the light.
A: Tony,
In absolute terms, yes the CRT front projection system will give the best picture. (NOTE:
This is starting to change) However, there are many things to keep in mind when selecting
a projector. As you noted, light control is important, especially with a front projector. CRTs
biggest advantage over a digital projector are a CRTs ability to produce great blacks,
smooth dark gradiations and low level detail. Some of the new DLP projectors and Sony's
SXRD projector produce excellent black levels. Many are using some sort of active iris
system to track light levels in the image and adjust the iris accordingly.
You can get fantastic deals on CRT projectors now as the demand for them, and
consequently their value, has dropped precipitously in recent years as digital projectors
have improved. The downside to a CRT system is the size of the projector and the need to
have the unit professionally set up, converged and calibrated in most cases. They also
have a very narrow focal plane and therefore need to be set in a very precise location
relative to the screen size. This limits your placement options.
There have been examples of intrepid do-it-yourselfers successfully setting up CRT
systems. However, it is much more compex than setting up a digital projector. Digital
projectors from reputable companies such as Runco, SIM2 and InFocus are very closely
calibrated from the factory and require no convergence. They are much smaller and
lighter, and in many cases have zoom lenses. This offers much more flexibility in
placement.
The picture quality and black level of digital projectors has improved dramatically in the
last few years to where they can have quite good pictures. The added light output offered
by digital projectors allows acceptable viewing with some light on. Many people find this
much more enjoyable for non critical viewing such as sports and TV viewing.
Overall the digital projector, particularly the DLP would be a better choice for most
do-it-yourselfers due to the smaller size, ease of set-up/calibration, placement and higher
light output.
Q: Mark C. 9-21-04
I am wiring my new house for speakers. Is there anything special I should do or look out for?
A: Mark,
You should use UL listed CL-2 or CL-3 cable as required by the national electric code.
Failure to do this could result in your local electrical inspector forcing you to remove all
your speaker and control cable. Keep at least 12" from line voltage wiring except when
crossing at 90 deg. Go in after your electrician and DO NOT use the same holes as your
electrician used for his wiring.
I recommend running a 4 conductor speaker cable and a CAT-5 network cable as a
control wire to a volume control location in each room where you will have speakers. You
should then run a 2 conductor cable to each speaker from the volume control location to
each speaker location.
Running a CAT-5 to each volume control location will enable you to use a remote
repeater or keypad for control of your system from all rooms. If you can control your system
remotely we find you will use it much more often than if you have to go to the system and
turn it on.
If you are using in-wall or ceiling speakers, try to use round speakers in the ceiling and
rectangular ones in the walls. The round speakers integrate better aesthetically with other
ceiling fixtures such as lights and smoke detectors. In addition they tend to have coaxially
mounted drivers so you get more even frequency response from every location.
Rectangular speakers usually look better in wall applications.
Q:Michael R. 10-29-04
I need some help. I'm trying to hook my RCA sub up to my Pioneer receiver. My sub has
the standard 2-wire (+ and -) output but my receiver has an A/V cable hookup for sub
inputs. Is there a way I can make this work?
A:Michael,
Do you mean RCA brand sub or a sub using RCA cables as you would typically find on a
sub? The receiver should have an RCA type sub output. If your sub only has
speaker level inputs you need to set your left and right front speakers to "large" in your
Pioneer's set up menu. Then hook up your speaker level inputs to your sub. Just hook up
your sub just like your front speakers.
Take another length of speaker wire, hook it to the same terminals as your front speakers,
then run it to the inputs on your sub. Make sure you set your Pioneer receiver to "none" in
the set up menu when it asks if you have a sub. It will then route the LFE channel(the
same as the .1 in 5.1) to the front speakers. If you have small front speakers this will
probably cause problems at high volume levels. You will want to get a sub with RCA type
inputs.
Q:Larry 11-30-04
I have a room 13'x 17'. Is this big enough for a media room.
How big can the TV be?
A:Larry,
Your room is certainly large enough for a media room. It depends upon how many you
want to use it at a time. You should be able to seat 4-6 comfortably in a room of that size.
Try not to have seating all the way up against the back wall. Putting seating right up
against the wall will make it much harder to create a good surround field. In addition, the
boundary effect the wall creates can make the bass seem boomy and
overbearing. Try coming 2-3 feet out from the wall. You'll want to experiment with seat &
subwoofer placement to avoid sitting in a null(an area where certain frequencies are
cancelled out).
Regarding screen size:
A good, general rule of thumb for seating distance is 2-3 times the screen width. Applying
this in reverse, you will probably be about 15 feet from the screen, depending upon if you
use a front projector or flat panel display. If you use a rear projection TV you'll probably
be 16-20" closer. That would indicate a screen such as a 42" x 77" or 45" x 80" for a
front projection system or as big as you can afford for a rear projection TV or flat panel
display.
Q: Jake - 1-13-06
I am building a new home and would like to prewire for motorized window coverings. Do
you have any advice on what wire I should run (AC/DC) and where I should "store" the wire
in the wall for future use (header, ceiling, etc.).
A: You'll be covered for many standard DC applications by running 18/4. The best
motorized window treatments (IMHO) are Lutron Sivoia. They are almost totally silent and
very smooth. The wiring for these motorized blinds requires a special 7 conductor cable.
Four of the conductors are 2 twisted pair shielded, and used for communication from a
Lutron keypad or controller. The remaining three conductors at least 2 x 18 ga. and 1 x 16
ga. These are used for supplying power from a Lutron power supply to the blind motor.
Copyright 2004-6 1 touch movie.com
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
Home Theater and Automation
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1 Touch Movie.com