How to Choose the Correct Projector Screen?

Home theater buyers have a tough task when choosing the proper projector but they have tougher and more important decision to choose the proper projector screen.  The home theater screen decision has many branches in the decision tree.  To make the correct decision you will first have to ask a couple questions of yourself before deciding on what screen to buy.  These questions are the following.

What types of media do I watch the most of TV or Movies?

How far do I plan on sitting from the screen?

Where will I put the front speakers in the set up?

Can I control light?

Will I be watching media with the lights on?

What projector am I using?

What’s my budget?

What type of room? Is it dedicated or dual use?

These are the key questions to consider.

If you plan on watch HDTV more than movies you should plan on getting a 16:9 screen  which is the native aspect ratio of most projectors for home theater.  If you are a movie buff than you might consider a 2:35 to 1 screen (this screen is very long rectangle) which is aspect ratio of most blu ray discs.  If you go with 2:35 to 1 screen you’ll need a projector that can handle the different aspect ratios by maintaining a constant height on the screen.

 

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The seating area distance from the screen is the key question on choosing what size screen you can put in your room.  Most people are most comfortable viewing images from about 1.5 to 2 times the screen width. At HTmarket.com the biggest issue we see if with people choosing their size screen is they have a tendency to choose too big of a screen for the size room they have.

Most home theater rooms allow for the buyer to place speakers below and to the sides of a screen this enables you to choose a screen for the best video versus speaker placement. If you have to place speakers behind the screen you will need to choose an acoustic screen that allows this to happen but image quality can suffer as a result.

If your room is going to be dark 90% of the time without light you can go with a 1.0 gain screen.  If you prefer to add brightness to the screen you will want to look for theater screens that offer more gain.  A 1.3 gain screen will allow you to have up to 30% more brightness on the screen.  HTmarket offers movie projector screens with these characteristics.

The projector you buy also factors in your screen decision.  Is the projector bright? does it have adequate contrast?  The budget you decide on to allocate for the screen will factor in your decision process on what you can afford.

Last but not least, is your room dedicated to home theater in this case you will want to look for a fixed projector screen.  If it’s dual use you may consider an electric projector screen that retracts into the ceiling that requires electricity.  The great thing about choosing a screen is that you can customize what you need to your room.  HTmarket.com offers 100’s of screen sizes and selections to choose from popular brands like Stewart, Elite, Dalite, Grandview and Draper.

If you need help be sure to visit our web site and call us. We know projector screens real well and we can help you decide the best course of action.

Panamorph Lens Demo Video

More and more home theater folks are upgrading their theaters to 2:35 to 1 and many are building theaters in this aspect ratio.  It can be a bit complicated and mysterious as most projectors come in 16:9 aspect ratio.  The Panamorph solves the problem. 

We show it in this video.

Visit HTmarket.com for more details.

Best 3D Projector Under 2k

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We often get asked.  What’s the best 3d projector under 2k?  This one has an easy answer the Optoma 3300 3d projector. The Optoma 3300 is listed at $1999 but we do offer coupons to lower this price.

This is by far our best selling projector and one of our best looking products on our web site.

The specs don’t lie.

2000 lumens
5000 to 1 contrast
Only 7.7lbs
HDMI 1.4 input
Full HD 3d
Flexible projector placement

3 year express warranty

2 year lamp warranty

It’s very similar to the Optoma 33 a lower cost version however the 3300 has 25% more contrast, brighter lumens and better warranty in a cool piano black finish.

We stock this projector.  Get it for the superbowl today.  We recommend Elite Screens as a good fit with this projector. Questions or comments let us know below.

JVC Releases New 3D Projectors

JVC just released brand new 3d projectors for the home.   Many improvements over last years models.

Some of the improvements over last years models are higher contrast ratios and brighter bulbs.  One really cool feature is the ability for lens presets in 2:35 to 1, 16:9 and 4:3 this lets the home theater user install a 2:35 to 1 screen without the need for an extra lens.  The lens preset keeps a constant height on the screen.

Here is the line up. JVC uses LCOS technology which shoots out a very smooth image.

JVC DLA-RS45U List Price $3,494.99

The below models are 4K Eshift technology.  This basically is 4k resolution a huge upgrade over last year.

JVC DLA-RS55u List Price $7,995.99

JVC DLA-RS65U List Price $11,995.99

Call HTmarket.com for details on pricing.  We have successfully packaged these projectors with Stewart Screens to bring out the best in this technology.

Pictured below is the Elite 3D Home Theater Package by HTmarket.com this package features either Optoma 3300 or JVC RS45U and includes choice of Dalite Cinema Contour Screen or Stewart Luxus Deluxe Screenwall.  Price starts at 3189.99.

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We think the best bang for you buck is the JVC RS55U paired with the Luxus Deluxe Screenwall with 2:35 to 1 Aspect Ratio.  We have projector ceiling mounts and many other extras like Audioquest cables to help you put together a dream home theater.  We have experts waiting on the phone to help you complete your theater just in time for the Superbowl.

Hiding Audiophile Acoustics In a Southern California Modern Home Theater

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We’ve all seen AV rooms with gear jammed into racks with cables everywhere and acoustical treatments placed in ways that only a recording engineer could love. This is the makings of a divorce more than its the basis of great audio or home theater experience.

Publisher, Jerry Del Colliano of HomeTheaterReview.com (https://hometheaterreview.com/) took a different approach with his dedicated home theater system. While packing equipment neatly organized in a Middle Atlantic AXIS rack and connected with Transparent Audio cables – Del Colliano’s room also slickly hides 48 RPG “BAD panels” and 2 RPG Modex bass absorption plates behind a “whisper wall” fabric wall system. This stadium seat theater packs a 7.1 sound system, Classe electronics and a new set of Paradigm S8 speakers but also is professionally tuned by acoustician, Bob Hodas.

Many lessons can be learned from the HomeTheaterReview.com theater including how to keep a double rack cool with incoming cool air and exhaust fans. The effect of video calibration on the JVC RDS-2 projector by Kevin Miller of the ISF is also of note as many home theater enthusiasts can benefit from a modest video calibration for their projection system.

To learn more about this theater and or to read up on home theater educational articles (https://hometheaterreview.com/home-theater-education/) check out the resources that HomeTheaterReview.com has to offer for you. Everything from HDMI to Aspect Ratios to Home Theater Seating to Audiophile Topics are explained in professionally written prose.

The New Look of HTmarket.com

If you’ve been to HTmarket.com in the last few days, you’ve surely noticed the site looks completely different than it used to! Don’t worry-  it’s the very same company, with the same experienced people. All that’s changed is the website’s appearance and navigation, which has been redesigned to make it even easier and more convenient to shop for everything a home theater needs.

In addition to a new company logo and graphics, the new design features a drop-down navigation menu along the top of the front page, as well as a prominent search bar and a tabbed Best Sellers section, among other new features. You should also check out the top right corner of the page and peel it back for hot deals on home theater seating , projector screens , popcorn machines and more!

Head over to HTmarket.com the home theater superstore’s new look!

Autumn Woods Theater

We received the following photos from Paul, who recently used HTmarket.com to equip Autumn Woods Apartments in Indiana with a theater of its own! This is really cool. As you can see, it has true stadium seating, floor lighting and sconces, and a ceiling-mounted projector. Take a look:

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The seating shown is Contour Rocker Home Theater Seating. These classic row seats are wood with black laminate, and have woven fabric covering (the color of the seating shown is Navy).

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The projector is an Epson Powerlite 8500UB Projector , mounted using an OmniMount Large Universal Ceiling Projector Mount. You can see the popcorn machine in this shot; it’s an Art Deco Popcorn Machine with matching pedestal.

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The 16:9 Projector Screen is a Dalite Da-Snap model with Pro Trim and Cinema Vision material.

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Home Theater Projector Screens

A large TV is nice, but if you want the best home theater experience possible, a projector screen is the way to go for the biggest, most impressive picture possible. It’s the way to go to have the greatest home theater in town.

HTmarket.com offers projector screens from the best in the business, made from the highest quality screen materials available. There’s many materials, sizes and models to choose from. If you’re looking for a high-gain material, consider a Dalite Screen with a High Power screen material. Need a projection screen for HD movies? Stewart’s FireHawk G3 screen fabric was designed with 1080p projection in mind. And every Elite Screen comes with a 2-year warranty, along with everything you need to install and operate your screen. There’s a lot of screens and options to choose from, so if you need any help finding the ideal screen for your needs and budget, you can contact the HTmarket.com team for expert advice.

Whichever screen make or model you choose, you can be sure that HTmarket has the screen you need at the best price. Be sure to check out the daily promotions for great offers on any Elite or Stewart Screen, as well.

Home Theater Guide

Whether you’re creating a new home theater or just looking to improve upon your current one, it’s a good idea to go over the fundamentals and consider new ideas. There’s many aspects of a home theater that merit careful consideration, from choosing projectors or home theater seating to creating that perfect atmosphere you’re looking for.

To help you learn the fundamentals and better plan your theater, HTmarket.com has put together a resource which collects a ton of useful information in one place. Check out their handy Home Theater Guide. You’re sure to learn something, and you might get some cool ideas for your theater while you’re there!

Top 10 Home Theater Add Ons

HTmarket.com presents the top ten home theater add ons which are great additions to existing theaters.

  1. Home Theater Seating: Replace old furniture to make your theater look more like cinema.
  2. Popcorn Machines: Smell and taste of popcorn is an inexpensive option to add sizzle to any theater.
  3. Posters and Frames: Authentic movie posters in changeable frames are a great way to add the theater elements to the home theater.
  4. Reels and Reel Clocks: A simple clock reel adds to the theater. Reel tables are a great way to show off real movie reels with glass tops by Goldberg Brothers.
  5. Acoustic Panels: Drastically improve appearance and sound quality at one time with acoustic panels.
  6. Signs and Marquees: Distinguish the entrance to your theater with chase lights.
  7. Velour Ropes and Posts: Low cost add on to add some class to your home theater.
  8. Velour Drapes: Great way to trim out screen and make it look more like a real theater.
  9. Personalized Items: DVD intro’s to personalized signs putting your name on your theater is a great way to bring it home. Make it your own theater with engraved personal items.
  10. Lighting, Wall Sconces and Stars: Adding star ceilings and other lighting helps set the right mood in the theater. You can add a complete star ceiling using fiber optic tiles. It looks like a far away galaxy in your theater room.