|| General Features and Wiring Layouts|| Media Room / Home Theater ||
||Dolby, THX and AC-3 || Picture Size || Satellite and Antenna ||
|| Whole House Audio || Running Wire || Feedback and Your Contributions ||
Picture Size
The use of 30"-40" tube television monitors and larger 50"-60" rear projectors are increasingly common. Such large screens demand proper viewing distance, and this is a consideration that should be addressed in the initial design phase. A common ratio to consider to determine the diagonal screen size for the room is: For every 2 to 4 feet of distance from the screen the picture should be 1 foot in S size. An example would be; if the seating is 14 feet from the screen the screen size should be anywhere from a 40" to an 80" diagonal.
Front Projection
Although not as common as rear projection TV's, you should still plan for accommodating a front projection system during initial design. For viewing distance, the guideline to use for a front projector location is one and a half times the screen width back from the screen. For example, if you use a 6' wide screen, the projector would be mounted 9' from the screen. If a ceiling projector isn't to be installed, terminate the wire into a junction box with a blank plate over the face. LCD projectors mount further back typically 2:1 distance. Because LCD projectors have an adjustable focal length you can mount them in the same location as a three-gun front projector.
Whether a standard TV is spected or not, upgradability to a front projector should be considered. In either case three runs of coax and three runs of signal-level stereo wire for the antenna, external 1, and external 2 input to the TV (coax for video, signal-level wire for right/left audio) should be run. If a ceiling front projector is possible (or under consideration) ceiling access and position need to be considered. I also recommended running a 4-conductor 22 gauge stranded wire cable to major TV locations for possible automation control. Be sure to leave the cables long enough to extend into the room a few feet so you have room to connect the equipment before installing it into its cabinet position.
If the equipment is being concealed behind closed doors an IR receiver on the front wall or face of the cabinet may be advisable. There is a device called "Leap Frog," which attaches to the front of an IR remote control, and converts the infra-red to radio waves, which is transmitted to a receiver in the media room equipment stack. The receiver then converts and re-transmits IR signals to the equipment via small IR emitters (up to four emitters can be placed in front of the equipment). This is convenient for extending remote control to areas of bright light, such as a patio. I also recommend wiring for an IR repeater system throughout the project, using the same 4 conductor 22 ga. wire as for the automation control. This same wiring can also be used for multi-zone control keypads in the future.
|| General Features and Wiring Layouts|| Media Room / Home Theater ||
||Dolby, THX and AC-3 || Picture Size || Satellite and Antenna ||
|| Whole House Audio || Running Wire || Feedback and Your Contributions ||
EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORMATION
Updated: January 1, 2001
CLEARANCE SALE
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