In the course of my shopping for a projector system I've noticed that shops in Malaysia tend to recommend a smaller size compared to what you read on the Internet.

Example, I tell them my seating position is about 12.5'-13' away and most shops recommend 92" screen. When I ask about 106" they say it's too big.

Looking on the Internet, 2 common rules of thumb I see is to sit 1.5x the screen width, or 3x the screen height. At 12.5' or 150", this would yield a screen of around 100" wide or 50" high. This means a 16:9 screen of somewhere between 100"-115" diagonal.

What do you all think?

Actually I'm now considering a 110" Carada screen. Planning to use the PT-AE3000 and it should have enough throw at about 14' away from the screen.

I'm just concerned if 110" is a bit too big and I should scale down to 106" or smaller.

Somehow the Sony never entered my consciousness when choosing projectors. Why do you say the HW-10 will blow away the AE3000?

I read one comparison which gives the AE3000 a slight edge: http://www.projectorcentral.com/ae3000_hw10_shootout.htm

Also compare on Trusted Reviews where the AE3000 is rated higher:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2...RD-Projector/p1
http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2...CD-Projector/p1

Wow, that is close for a 115" screen? No eyestrain?

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Added on June 16, 2009, 9:14 pmIndeed those are also contenders in this price range.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 16 2009, 09:14 PM

Tough isn't it choosing between different projectors? Every one has its pros and cons. Yeah, the motion judder is one issue which means that frame interpolation is going to be a feature that will gain importance. I was just reading this on Projector Central:

However, the HD8200 has one key advantage over the RS10, which is frame interpolation. It is interesting to watch these two units side by side with the HD8200's frame interpolation on Low. On many films, the HD8200's picture is smoother and more stable, whereas the inherent motion judder in 24p transmission is obvious on the RS10. Though the RS10 has better brightness and dynamic range, it is easy to imagine users opting for the HD8200 for its superior smoothness of motion. Once you see a side by side demo of this nature, it becomes obvious just how much motion judder there really is in a lot of 1080p/24 source material.

Then there's comparison of contrast, brightness, black levels, etc...

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Added on June 17, 2009, 2:25 pmIs Projector Central really biased towards Panasonic? First time I'm hearing about this allegation.

I did check out the shootout at Projector Reviews. Their conclusion:

Sony VPL-HW10 vs. PT-AE3000 Bottom Line:
I'll finish this, where I started. We have here, two very comparable projectors, more similar than different. In overall picture quality they are about equal, despite the modest black level advantage of the Sony VPL-HW10.

The Sony is better for those who are completely focused on the best movie viewing image, while those watching a mixed assortment of content, may favor the Panasonic for the extra lumens in brightest mode. If you are one of those who focuses just on movies, the Sony can easily handle a screen one or two sizes larger, but if you need to deal with ambient light for non-movie viewing, than you'll lean to the Panasonic.

I think it really boils down to this. The PT-AE3000 tied with the Epson for top honors in this category, the Sony did not pick up an award. I see the reasons as follows:

The Panasonic has more placement flexibility. It has the assorted anamorphic related features, while the Sony needs an outboard processor. Panasonic offers a good (the best so far) creative frame interpolation abilities, while the Sony has none. The Panasonic has more lumens for dealing with ambient light. The PT-AE3000 projector is one of the quieter projectors when it comes to audible noise, and the Sony HW10, while in the same category, is a touch noisier.

But, if you are a movie focused individual, and don't worry about having some lights on for sports and HDTV viewing, you will likely favor the Sony, thanks to the brighter "best" mode, and slight black level performance advantage.

The Panasonic should have wider overall appeal, but those buying the Sony for the reasons I have stated, should prove to definitely be pleased with their choice, and likely would not be as enthusiast with the Panasonic.

Again, both are close and each has pros and cons. Projector Central also had similar conclusions so I don't see any obvious bias. In the end from reading all the comparisons none of them says the Sony blows away the Panny.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 17 2009, 02:25 PM

This TW4000 same as the 6500UB in US right? I wonder what is the price in Malaysia?

Anyway, look at these 2 screenshots just inviting comments from everyone which do you feel is better?



This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 22 2009, 01:55 PM

Just called up Epson Malaysia. The TW4000 is not in Malaysia yet and the official price unknown at the moment.

True. Too wide a screen can affect speaker placement. I think optimal is between 22-25 degrees per side.

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Added on July 21, 2009, 9:35 amTried that before and it compressed the soundstage, at least for me. I found that pointing straight worked best for me.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jul 21 2009, 09:35 AM

I've put 1 piece at the first reflection point to test (haven't stuck it yet). How high should I place it?

Wow, 150" @ 17' is big. Very much like front row seating at the cinema.

The other concern is whether your projector is bright enough to handle that size. Assuming your screen is 1.0 gain, a projector needs to be 1100 lumens to get you just above the recommended 16 foot lamberts brightness.

Which Optoma are you using?