Well I'll throw in my two cents on this one;
1. Stewart is right on the money about the screen. Avoid a perforated screen. But I'd offer different reasoning. One of the problems I see with projectors is a lack of optimal lumen power or brightness capability. A perforated screen absorbs more light than a solid white screen. Absorbing light with Lumens at a premium simply makes it more difficult to get the optimum contrast ratio. The audio stuff is correct as well, but from a video side, those lumens absorbing perforated screens are a loser.
2. Projector mount/Wiring/Cabling-- Critical!. You maywant to really spend some time thinking this out carefully. Reason? Stuff is cheap and if done wrong, regrets will occur later/sooner. You will want a code-meeting electricl outlet in the ceiling frankly. This is just my opinion. You'll have a metal pipe like mount attached to ceiling joists coming down through a removable trap door with a circle cut in the middle ti fit the pipe. Of course this is one scenario out of many- the point I am making is to try and visualize exactly what you are doing. Try the hometheter builder forum at avsforum.com. I have a whole folder of pictures from each construction phase from different home theater construction projects. I see no reason why many of these wouldnt still be viewable. I also agree with using PVC conduit for cabling pass through. I like the idea of guide wires to allow pull through as well as removal of new and old cables. You are attaching material flags to cables and pulling through, always leaving ebough behind to do it again.
3. Projector recs-- I am weak in my knowledge in this area. heres what I know-- the technology changes fast so folks dont always put a lot of money into this one at first. If memory serves, there was a Yamaha FP reviewed in Widescreen Review magazine within the past year that got praises from the writer, a member of our HT group here in Houston. He seemed pretty up on that one for the cost. Also, those lamps for these things seemed a bit pricey.
4. Speaker placement-- all that stuff that Stewart said.Instead of wiring for one rear channel though, you might consider wiring for two. IN the back the placement for an eventual 9.1 or 9.2 theater ( even if never done in your medium sized space) is cool with the two rears being close together, hopefully avoiding the door opening al together. Also, kinda wondering if you are considering two subs, one in front and one in back. Not necessry but ya never know. Anyway-- I'd really focus on one good HT sub and not go too much on monies into the other speakers given what you have writeen. The sub can make an HT experience really great. A single good sub. So-- which one? Well since we are HT and no music-- HSU makes several at differeing price points. Check em out. Get the VTF/STF 2 or higher. OR-- look at SVS subs. The cylinder ones are tall and black- but you will leave the rom shaken after Master and Commander. IN the basement is good-- no nails to come out of the walls. SO here we are talking a PB2 plus or a PB Ultra. I have heard all the subs I am referring to. Speakers- ya know-- lots of fine choices for HT here. Remember- you are crossing over to the sub at 80 HZ with your 5.1 receiver; so you don't need to pay for full range speakers; just down to 60 HZ or thereabouts will be just fine. There really are so many very acceptable options that it would be hard for me to say this is better than that blah blah blah. I agree in driver matching/brand matching. My main comment is that finding a good maker of center channels probably is a starting point for paring down the field. To that end-- why not visit ascendacoustics.com? They make a good center, and AScend CBM 170s, at 328 a pair, are cost effective, power efficient at 8 OHMS with 90+ sensitivity and quite good acoustically as far as flat anechoic chamber response curves. 4 of em plus a center and an SVS or HSU sub and you and your wife should be contented acoustuically for HT viewing. I like AAD E-Series as an inexpensive yet pleasing HT expereience as well. And Klipsch RB series is fine for HT, despite not even coming close for audiophile music. Totem Dreamcatchers are nice, but are more pricey and power hungry than the ones mentioned above. Paradigm makes a nice center channel series as well and decent mains surrounds. I dont carer for Definitive technology, Phase Velocity or Bose for HT. I dunno-- so much stuff out there. BTW-- I dont recommend in ceiling speakers at all. Sorry.
1. Stewart is right on the money about the screen. Avoid a perforated screen. But I'd offer different reasoning. One of the problems I see with projectors is a lack of optimal lumen power or brightness capability. A perforated screen absorbs more light than a solid white screen. Absorbing light with Lumens at a premium simply makes it more difficult to get the optimum contrast ratio. The audio stuff is correct as well, but from a video side, those lumens absorbing perforated screens are a loser.
2. Projector mount/Wiring/Cabling-- Critical!. You maywant to really spend some time thinking this out carefully. Reason? Stuff is cheap and if done wrong, regrets will occur later/sooner. You will want a code-meeting electricl outlet in the ceiling frankly. This is just my opinion. You'll have a metal pipe like mount attached to ceiling joists coming down through a removable trap door with a circle cut in the middle ti fit the pipe. Of course this is one scenario out of many- the point I am making is to try and visualize exactly what you are doing. Try the hometheter builder forum at avsforum.com. I have a whole folder of pictures from each construction phase from different home theater construction projects. I see no reason why many of these wouldnt still be viewable. I also agree with using PVC conduit for cabling pass through. I like the idea of guide wires to allow pull through as well as removal of new and old cables. You are attaching material flags to cables and pulling through, always leaving ebough behind to do it again.
3. Projector recs-- I am weak in my knowledge in this area. heres what I know-- the technology changes fast so folks dont always put a lot of money into this one at first. If memory serves, there was a Yamaha FP reviewed in Widescreen Review magazine within the past year that got praises from the writer, a member of our HT group here in Houston. He seemed pretty up on that one for the cost. Also, those lamps for these things seemed a bit pricey.
4. Speaker placement-- all that stuff that Stewart said.Instead of wiring for one rear channel though, you might consider wiring for two. IN the back the placement for an eventual 9.1 or 9.2 theater ( even if never done in your medium sized space) is cool with the two rears being close together, hopefully avoiding the door opening al together. Also, kinda wondering if you are considering two subs, one in front and one in back. Not necessry but ya never know. Anyway-- I'd really focus on one good HT sub and not go too much on monies into the other speakers given what you have writeen. The sub can make an HT experience really great. A single good sub. So-- which one? Well since we are HT and no music-- HSU makes several at differeing price points. Check em out. Get the VTF/STF 2 or higher. OR-- look at SVS subs. The cylinder ones are tall and black- but you will leave the rom shaken after Master and Commander. IN the basement is good-- no nails to come out of the walls. SO here we are talking a PB2 plus or a PB Ultra. I have heard all the subs I am referring to. Speakers- ya know-- lots of fine choices for HT here. Remember- you are crossing over to the sub at 80 HZ with your 5.1 receiver; so you don't need to pay for full range speakers; just down to 60 HZ or thereabouts will be just fine. There really are so many very acceptable options that it would be hard for me to say this is better than that blah blah blah. I agree in driver matching/brand matching. My main comment is that finding a good maker of center channels probably is a starting point for paring down the field. To that end-- why not visit ascendacoustics.com? They make a good center, and AScend CBM 170s, at 328 a pair, are cost effective, power efficient at 8 OHMS with 90+ sensitivity and quite good acoustically as far as flat anechoic chamber response curves. 4 of em plus a center and an SVS or HSU sub and you and your wife should be contented acoustuically for HT viewing. I like AAD E-Series as an inexpensive yet pleasing HT expereience as well. And Klipsch RB series is fine for HT, despite not even coming close for audiophile music. Totem Dreamcatchers are nice, but are more pricey and power hungry than the ones mentioned above. Paradigm makes a nice center channel series as well and decent mains surrounds. I dont carer for Definitive technology, Phase Velocity or Bose for HT. I dunno-- so much stuff out there. BTW-- I dont recommend in ceiling speakers at all. Sorry.