Projection Systems - Balancing Size, Quality, & Comfort
When it comes to home cinema projection, there is one question that rules them all: “How big should we go?”.
This article sheds light on the topic, and aims to guide you in making the best decision for your home cinema. But let me preface this information with a small piece of very non-technical advice.
If you want a massive screen; if you want to be IMAX levels of immersed in the action; if you want Dave next door to walk in and say “Damn, that’s a big screen”… Then you should absolutely go for it. In home cinema design there is a large element of preference vs reference. Your preferences matter, and building a room that provides you the value you’re looking for is one of the keys to your continual enjoyment of the space.
Just be aware that there is an element of viewing comfort involved in specifying your screen size, which I detail in the below sections. It is often possible to create the IMAX feel in the front row of a home cinema, but still maintain optimal viewing angles in the back rows, for greater comfort during long movie sessions.
Now without further ado…
What Is Optimal?
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), 20th Century Fox, and THX don’t seem to be able to agree on the matter (see image).
Regardless, we can gather that the optimal viewing angle for all movies (DVDs through to Blu-Ray quality) is roughly between 43-50 degrees horizontally, which is the range where SMPTE, 20th Century Fox, and THX suggestions converge.
Importantly, SMPTE suggest 61.8 degrees as the closest viewing angle for modern content (Blu-ray quality). This is not only based on how sharp the image will look (pixel density), but is also the result of visual acuity studies, in which eye strain was measured while watching content for an extended period of time.
As a result, despite the impending resolution increase from 4K to 8K, the narrowest viewing angle suggested (61.8 degrees) is unlikely to change.
How To Apply These Suggestions
Start with the front row. Make sure it isn’t too close… unless you’re trying to impress your neighbor, Dave, as prefaced.
Most rooms will have space for one more row. This is often the main viewing position, and will naturally sit close to the 43-50 degree zone, if your front row is as close as possible.
Ensure you leave enough room between the rows for seats to recline, if applicable.
If your room can accommodate 3 rows of seats, the same rules apply, but you will be tying to keep the last row within SMPTEs recommendation of 33.3 degrees horizontally for farthest seating.
Additionally, where possible, keep seating positions away from the center line of the room, and 1 meter from any wall.
These are the worst positions for audio quality.
In situations where following these audio guidelines will move rows outside of the recommended viewing angles, it is preferable to focus your efforts on perfecting the performance of one row of seats, and leaving the additional row(s) for others, like your neighbor, Dave.
If you or your client needs help with configuring a home cinema to its maximum potential, please feel free to reach out at contact@intuitiveliving.au, or fill out the form on our Contact page.
We would love to help you with your project so you can enjoy the allure of the big screen for many years to come!