Maximize screen height or width?

[babbage]

We're installing a sim in our basement and have some odd space constraints having to do with the size of a pit (13'9" wide) we're digging for it. Most of the ceiling will be 9'6" high, though a couple of points (along the edges) will dip to 9'.

It looks like we have two realistic options for what size screen we can fit in the pit:

* Option 1: 9'x12' (4:3)

* Option 2: 8.5'x13' (16:10)

The question is, should I go for the foot of extra width and wider ratio at the expense of height or grab the height at the expense of width. The actual difference in surface area is 2.5sf (Option 2 is bigger), but which experience hitting will be better?

There's also a third set of options, but I'm still considering feasibility:

* Option 3: 9'x16' or 8.5'x15.1' or even 8'x14.25' (16:9)

The hitch with Option 3 is that the screen would extend over the lip of the pit, so we'd lose the bottom corners of the screen about 21" high by 13.5", 8" or 3" respectively. Would that block critical data display? Movie watching also could get annoying, though maybe the 3" option isn't so bad, but that seems awfully short.

What do people think? What size screen should we install?

[runpuddrun]

nearly everyone will say go as big as you can with the space allowed. If it were me, I'd go with Option 2. I'm severely limited in where I could do mine (only space in the house with at least 9' ceilings is the garage) so I'm on a janky 8'6"x9'6" screen ceiling height of 9'. i guess you have to decide if you want 4:3 or 16:9/10 and go from there

[jasonreg]

I have a 16:10 set up almost identically sized to your option 2. I find it really immersive, and would recommend it highly.

That said, don't over think it too much but I really do like the extra height I get. Only issue is the 16:10 format really limits your projector options. I would say, throw ratio (needs to meet your installation requirements), availability of the projector in your price range, lumens (more the better, but no less than 3K, then picture size ratio - in that order is how I would conduct my search.

[goferz]

I have almost identical dimensions as options but sort of an inverse problem with a vaulted ceiling being the limiter instead of a pit. I was leaning towards something like your option #1 4:3 and 12x9 (see pic) but now I'm thinking about making it a bit shorter and fitting a 16:9 or 16:10 to make the most of a 4k projector and not be cutting off pixels and also make it easier to switch from sim mode to movie mode.

But still a bit on the fence with your original question. Should I maximize height or width?

[Daniel.Armenio]

I am also interested in these answers for a slightly different issue. I am also trying to decide between the 4:3 and 16:9 but don't have the height restriction.

My phase I plan is to go with a mevo+ and run e6 on an iPad. Eventually upgrade to a Uneekor EYE XO with a PC running TGC19 down the road. I would be locked into 4:3 with the iPad for now but i'm thinking i would like to have the ability to go to 16:9 for TGC19 on the PC when i upgrade. So I am leaning towards going with the 16:9 screen/enclosre and just living with the fact that there will be gaps on either side of my screen until i upgrade.

For some context, this will be going into a garage space that is 19' wide X 22.5' long X by 11' high. The screen options i am considering are 16'x9' or 12'x9'. The only reasons i am really considering 12'x9' is due to the iPad 4:3 display and the extra useable space i would have on either side of the enclosure for a putting area, bar, or most likely... my kids' toys

If you have a 12'x9' enclosure, do you wish it was wider or is it adequate? What are some of your pro's and con's?

[goferz]

I think you'll have an easier time with projector selection and resolution options if you plan on the wider screen and just deal with the side bars while you are using the iPad.

[preludesam]

I agree, if you ever plan on going 16:9 go ahead and setup for that. It’s much easier to change the aspect ratio than installing a new screen and surroundings. Plus if I had a bigger space I would have definitely gone 16:9.

[Daniel.Armenio]

Thanks for the responses. I have decided I am going to go for the 16:9. I will forego the iPad for now and see how I like running it on the iPhone 13 Pro which will get me closer to 16:9 until I upgrade to a PC. I'm also planning on grabbing a used AppleTV on the cheap and a bluetooth mouse. I'm thinking I could mirror the iPhone to the AppleTV so I dont have to mess around with a hanging HDMI cable. Then connect the bluetooth mouse to my iPhone to make navigating the app easier.