July 14, 2011
1. Think first about what will viewed in the room.
Some people use an onboard theater only to watch movies; others only watch sports. Some mostly play video games; others use it for all of the above.
Why is this important to know ahead of time? Because the answer will help dictate what aspect ratio (or shape) the screen should be. An onboard theater that shows movies 80 percent of the time would benefit from a 2.35:1 aspect-ratio screen, which is wider than a standard 1.78:1 aspect-ratio screen.
The wider screen will accommodate epic films such as “Gladiator” (my favorite) or “Star Wars” without shrinking the viewable image with black bars above and below the image.
The sports fan or gamer will want a 16:9 aspect-ratio screen to get the largest image possible.
The current trend is to use a projector and screen combination that automatically adapts to various picture shapes; motorized “masking” panels will reshape and resize the screen according to the source picture, and a special motorized anamorphic lens attached to the videoprojector adapts the picture to fit the screen. It is the best of both worlds.
2. Don’t assume high-performance components automatically mean a great onboard theater experience.
Audio-video components are simply ingredients in a recipe. Without the right chef at the helm, the results can be quite underwhelming. Careful forethought and expertise are required to execute a top-notch onboard theater design.
Having knowledge of home theater acoustics, sound containment, equipment calibration, lighting, screen material selection, installation logistics, and control systems makes sure the components perform at their maximum.
Once everything is installed, the video and audio need to be calibrated to make sure they send the sights and sound the director intended.
3. Don’t get hung up on projector specifications.
Manufacturers love to print specifications and consumers love to compare them. But projectors are tricky to judge by specifications alone. A specification can’t even be attached to one of the most important picture-quality factors, which is the projector’s optic system. The better the optics, the better the image.
The other important ingredient to a great picture is proper video processing. Every projector has a video processing circuit in order for the projector to operate. There are no industry standard specifications for video processing however.
Manufacturers will spend anywhere from $12 to $8,000 on the internal or outboard video processor, and you get what you pay for. So at the end of the day, don’t choose or dismiss a projector based on its specs alone. Let the picture do the talking.
4. Don’t skimp on the audio system.
We humans are a visual species. We all want the best picture quality because we know we appreciate a crisp, clear image. So, by nature, we tend to place more importance (and budget) on the picture side of a theater vs. the audio.
Once, at a trade show, an audio company equipped two rooms with private theater systems. In the first room, it put a mediocre surround sound system; in the second, a high-quality surround sound system.
Company representatives brought attendees into both rooms and showed them the same movie clip. Afterward, they asked each person which room had the best picture quality. Ninty-five percent of them picked the room with the better sound system. Nobody said that they were the same.
The better the sound, the better the overall experience.
5. Go bigger than you think you want.
Screen size is sometimes tricky to calculate. There are formulas for selecting the optimum size, but this specification is subjective. After all, some people sit in the first row at the moview and others sit in the last row.
The best advice is to get in front of a screen. Get as close as you can without feeling uncomfortable. Measure how far you are away and how wide the screen is. Make sure you do this with your significant other, too, since their preference will probably differ from yours.
6. The room is everything.
Do not short-change the importance of the room’s specifications, including its shape, dimensions, construction, etc. Constructing the right room can do more for an onboard theater’s sound performance than doubling the audio budget.
In a room that is mathematically correct, equipped with a high-performance surround-sound system with the speakers properly located within the room, that uses appropriate acoustic treatments and noise isolation techniques, the sound will be amazing.
Now, enjoy the movie and pass the popcorn.
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