HP ep7100 Series - Manual (Page 15)

Setting up
User’s Guide 15
Setting up the projector
Planning your layout
Consider the following suggestions when planning your room layout:
■ Select the projector and screen positions and the screen size according to
your room layout and the distance chart below. The zoom control on the
projector gives you some flexibility.
■ Be sure the projector is centered on the screen and perpendicular to it.
Otherwise, the picture might look lopsided.
■ For the best picture, consider purchasing a quality projection screen. Some
screens are designed for wide-angle viewing, while others are designed to
concentrate brightness in the center. A flat surface colored white or light
gray will also give acceptable results.
■ For the most comfortable viewing, center your seating around the projection
line-of-sight. Depending on the screen material, viewing from far off center
might be unsatisfactory.
■ The best viewing distance is roughly the same distance from the screen as
the projector, but personal preferences vary widely.
■ If possible, place the bottom of the screen slightly above the level of the
projector. Or you can mount the projector upside down on the ceiling (see
“Installing on the ceiling” on page 47).
■ Design the room so you can control the ambient light. Most people prefer
viewing with minimal lighting, but you can have acceptable results if you
limit ambient light on the screen. Bright room lighting might cause a
washed-out picture.
■ The most common video source is a DVD player, but sources can also
include devices, such as an audio/video receiver, VCR, hard disk video
recorder, video gaming device, or satellite receiver.
■ Depending on your personal setup, try to locate devices to minimize the
lengths of cables connecting them to the projector. If any cable is more than
3 m (10 ft), consider using high-quality, low-loss cables for best video and
audio quality.
■ For the ultimate home-theater experience, consider including a 5.1 surround
sound system, such as a Dolby Digital system. This system has five speakers
and a subwoofer.
■ For an external sound system, see the following diagram for a possible
speaker layout. Place all front speakers at the same distance from the
listener. Place the subwoofer near a wall or corner. Place surround speakers
at least as high as the listener’s head. Experiment with the speaker
placement.