STACK #224 June 2023

TECH FEATURE

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THE SILVER SCREEN It’s a term we often associate with movies and Hollywood, but what does it actually mean? In the early 1900s, the film industry was a new phenomenon and burgeoning movie theatres made an important discovery. In a quest to optimise the viewing experience, the reflective qualities of silver paint were found to improve contrast and sharpen the image. The term silver screen stuck!

So, you’ve brought a brand new projector from JB. Congratulations, you’re about to enjoy a whole new level of entertainment by transforming the house into a home cinema that the whole family can enjoy. But when you finally get the projector home, how do you know that it’s in the correct position and the settings are optimised for the best viewing experience? PRECISE PROJECTION

projection exaggerates those imperfections.

So you’d recommend a dedicated screen every time? I highly recommend a screen at all times to get the best out of your laser projector. Are ambient light rejecting screens popular in homes? Yes they are very popular. It’s nice to see those slim bezel screens and they are very comparable to LED/LCD screens in picture quality and brightness. What type of projector would you recommend for a dark room/home theatre? I enjoy watching a movie or TV series and have an overhead projector at home, with matte black painted ceiling and walls. But any time light is introduced to the room, I can immediately see a washed out image on the screen. My next projector will definitely be a short throw laser projector. I always start by aligning the image very close to the screen. Projection should always start slightly larger than the screen. Then I manually adjust it to the exact alignment. Can a projector ever replace aTV? I believe so. Many modern homes usually have an open plan living area, which is good for a 100-120" size screen from a laser projector. You can watch free-to-air channels, enjoy your favourite apps like Netflix or YouTube, and connect devices like Foxtel and game consoles. I love the simple yet high quality audio tonality of the Sonos Arc with a full-size subwoofer and surround speakers. The big sound of the Sonos Arc and subwoofer definitely complements the large picture you watch on a 120" screen. Emotion is engaged when you have a very good sound system, and this makes you appreciate how good a movie really is. What's the best audio solution for a projector setup? Do you have any calibration or set up recommendations?

Words Paul Jones

J B Hi-Fi’s professional nationwide installation service doesn’t just hang TVs securely on a wall. Setting up projectors and ensuring that the best possible picture is achieved is another speciality service.

we play a 4K demo video – this always provides the ‘wow’ factor and we get a big smile from the customer. Are short throw and ultra short throw projectors the most popular? Hisense and Samsung short throw projectors are the most popular brands we install. Do you install many ceiling mounts for homes, or are they predominantly used by businesses, small theatrettes, and community halls, etc? I used to install a lot of those overhead projectors, but the trend has shifted towards short throw projectors in the last 12 months. How do you get the best picture on a clean white wall? Getting a good picture on a clean white wall seems difficult. I find it hard to get the right colour. Many walls appear uneven, and the laser

We spoke with technician Rafael Mustapha about what’s involved in the installation process, and his personal recommendations for the perfect home cinema setup.

Rafael Mustapha JB Hi-Fi Installation Technician

What’s involved in a basic projector installation? First we assemble the screen following the sequence as per the instruction manual. We also ensure there are no ripples or gaps in the corner. Then we test the projector and mark the position of the screen before we hang the screen and align the projector. When the set-up is complete,

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