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So for a $8.5 million house, i?d definitely expect a reasonable budget for a home theater room. I would start thinking less than 6-digits in that case.

But without a budget, it?s pretty pointless to start planning. Plus you need to collect requirements as well, then start the technical and room design.

Equipment selection comes last.

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Yep, i?m located in Germany.

Great to hear your daugther?s spending so much time in good old Europe. ?

Germany just started opening up since COVID figures dropped significantly. As usual, we (Germans) are pretty cautious, but we?ve got far less casualties than you do – so after all, i?d say we?re doing better than you. ?

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Cheers, Thorsten

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It is a massive undertaking.? All provisioned for Component Video but fortunately with CAT 5 cable at most/all TV Display locations.? Again, Kaleidescape has a nice promotion going on so I would tend to favor the Sony product line.? I’m cogitating on the VPL-VW715ES or 915ES models.? Lumens are 1800-L & 2000-L.? I will likely suggest the 915ES and also provide a lower-cost option(s)…715ES or JVC NX7?

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Thorsten, you sound like you might hail from across the pond?? My daughter recently moved to Austria but was previously in Dusseldorf for about 5 years.? She arrived home last Thursday evening, tired but in one piece.

Europe isn’t doing as well as the US in terms of the pandemic and is still fairly “Locked-Down”.

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Thanks again for your input and insights.

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Mikeyman

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Sounds like a nice project. Would be a shame not to take the advantage and just replace the projector instead of a full redesign. ?

The MSRP of the RS900DPL was around $9.000,- >10 years ago.

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Cheers, Thorsten

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Me Too!? I have not been presented with or informed about any budget requirements. That said, the house was recently purchased (out of bankruptcy) for $8.5 million in less than three days on the market.? It was initially done well over the top.? There is a Runco Projector there presently and I believe it was a Runco RS900 DPL.? I know Runco was a high-end provider but how high is the operative question? I never sold the Runco product so I’m a bit in the dark on price points. That said, I did suggest to my contact that the unit could well be over $20K and up.? And that would be in late 90’s early 2000 time frame dollars. To be a bit more perspective on this project, the twin garage floors are covered in “Marble”? Not your normal Bunny Rabbit by any means! ?

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Thanks one and all.

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msm

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Would be good to know the budget for the projector. ?

For a home theater, i?d stick with the home cinema optimized consumer projectors: JVC, Sony, Epson.

For such a small screen, all of them have enough light to provide enough brightness (assuming it?s not an acoustical transparent screen with gain <1).

I?d most likely go for a JVC N5 or Sony VPL-VW590ES (AFAIR the US name is VW715ES). If HDR is a requirement and budget doesn?t allow for an external video processor with dynamic tone mapping, i?d go for the JVC. Its built-in Tonemapping is better than the Sony?s.

A 4:3 screen is pretty 90s – i?d go for a 16:9 or Scope-screen based on viewing preference (priority on movies or tv series/sports).

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Rest (seating distance, viewing angles, elevation, projector position, lensshift, zoom capabilities, etc.) would be part of a detailed cinema design.

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Cheers, Thorsten

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David,

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Your comments and points are “On-Point”? Like you, I have always preferred color accuracy and Contrast over a “Light Cannon” approach.? In this particular system, it is a dedicated Home Theater Room and light is not a concern. Nor are the seating positions.? I didn’t do the project initially so I am presently unaware of the Screen Gain.? I am or hope to have the make and model soon.? My best guess is a 1.3 Gain?? Memory for the various playback formats is a factor (for most folks).? I hope to install a Kaleidescape Strato System but will likely have an AppleTV 4K (or two/three) in the project.? The Screen size is yet unknown but it is at least a 120” and could possibly be a 4:3 Aspect Ratio “fixed screen”?? That too is yet to be determined.? There is no masking provision, presently.

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Clearly, I will need to flush-out all these parameters before presenting my overview of What, When, and How all of this new AV Giddy-Up functions as a cohesive Smart Home System.? In closing,? I have not personally seen any of the newer Sony projectors.? It is clear that Sony is “Real Proud” of their products based on the price points.? I always try to provide value and also try to avoid the sticker shock that oftentimes accompanies these types of projects.? Regardless, I always keep the “Paddles and Oxygen” nearby when presenting our proposals…one never quite knows when a client might require emergency medical attention…”Clear” ?

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Incidentally, there is a sales promotion on Sony/Kaleidescape purchases on some specific Sony projectors until Sept. 30^th.? Provides a $3,000.00 credit (from Kaleidescape) to the homeowner and a credit to the Dealer on that purchase.

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Thanks so much for your valuable insights.?

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Mr. Mikeyman

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For movies and TV viewing I would recommend looking a Sony and Epson. For presentations or Golfing there are many less expensive options that would do well. In order to make a quality recommendation, I would want to know at least three things.
1. What is the ambient light situation? Dark room? Bright room? Are you willing to spend on a quality ALR Screen?
2. What is the screen gain and dispersion characteristics? Is someone sitting off axis or is all viewing from a small cone in front?
3. What is the final screen size and aspect ratio going to be? Do you need lens memory for a 2.35 to 1 screen?

The newest Sony projectors have the best video processing chip sets, but are more expensive and give up a little pure light output in favor of better contrast, shadow detail, gray scale linearity, color and motion handling. Be aware that brightness and color brightness are not always the same. Many dealers, (like me) are selling their older demo Sony projectors at cost or below in order to put the newer units on display.