AV amplifier—as covered routing the
audio and HDMI inputs—our quiet home
theater PC, and any consoles. We’re using
a Google Chromecast directly into the AV
amp for streaming services and running
Plex from the home server.
As we’re renovating the room, we
can route the audio cables under the
floorboards and behind new baseboards.
For the projector, we’re going to route a
long HDMI cable up behind cupboards,
behind the coving, and around to the
projector. This HDMI cable will be 21 feet
long (see the box on speccing long HDMI
cables to ensure they are up to the job).
Be aware some electrical screens have a
“trigger” line that connects to compatible
projectors, so that’s another thing to
route, though many screens just offer
a remote. We’re also planning a wall-
mounted 42-inch TV over the fireplace
and have planned for the HDMI, power,
and aerial cables to be routed down into
the unused fireplace to the AV amp.
With everything hooked up, your home
theater is ready to go, almost. You’ll
certainly want to give it a few test runs and
color calibrate the projector, many people
offer base settings online and you can
tweak it to taste from there. Reasonablecalibration can be achieved with your eye
and the supplied series of test patterns
and brightness charts.
On the PC side, there can certainly be
awkward audio settings, so ensure the
correct audio device is being used with
the Windows mixer. If you have a non-
HDR projector or display but have HDR
content, ensure you have the K-Lite codec
pack from https://codecguide.com with
its MadVR plugin that will re-encode HDR
video on the fly. Otherwise, recent builds
of VLC use a Tone Mapper that does a
reasonable job with minimal CPU use. If
you’re watching a lot of local video, try a
media center server such as Plex or Emby
to help catalog your library—this can be
viewed via a networked PC, Android box,
Chromecast, or similar streaming box.
Home theater installs are complex
beasts and you can understand why
there’s a small industry carrying them
out. Trying to bring together the best of the
audio, visual, networking, and computing
worlds, into a bespoke space with decor
on top is a daunting challenge. Never mind
ensuring it’s all calibrated and set up for
the best experience. We haven’t even
scratched the surface but, hopefully, this
has inspired you enough to try.Samsung’s Q60 range offers great
picture quality but not the 120Hz
refresh rate craved by gamers.TVs ARE
BIG TOO!
The main issues encountered
with projector installations
are the additional cabling and
accommodating the screen. With
many 75-inch TV models now
costing less than an entry-level
4K projector, it might make sense
to opt for a decent big-screen TV.
This is a great time to consider
a gaming TV. The default
high-end 4K capabilities of the
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series
X mean manufacturers have
invested in developing PC-style
modes as selling points rather
than an afterthought.
We’d recommend the LG C1
range, which starts at 48-inch
and goes up to 83-inch screens.
This OLED panel supports HDMI
2.1 with a 4K 120Hz refresh plus
the HDMI 2.1 Auto Low Latency
Mode and Variable Refresh Rate
that works with both G-Sync and
Freesync, offering a low 13ms
input lag. Starting at around
$1,100, it matches similar priced
large gaming monitors.
It’s also worth taking a look
at the Samsung Q70 range,
starting at 50-inch and going up
to 85-inch screens. This makes
use of Samsung’s Quantum Dot
Neo QLED display panels. With
VRR Freesync (no official G-Sync)
and 4K 120Hz support in gaming
ALLM mode, input lag is just 9ms
and there’s even super-wide
32:9 ratio support. If you’re on
a tight budget and 120Hz isn’t
essential, consider the entry-
level Samsung Q60 range.Entry-level DLP pixel-shift 4K
protectors are a budget option
and can support 120Hz.Ultra-short throw laser
projectors are a possible
alternative to a huge TV.MAR 2022 MAXIMU MPC 55
© SAMSUNG