
Picture this your speaker system
is perfectly placed. You have successfully managed
acoustical problems in your quiet room. You are in a
perfect seating position to listen and view your re-mastered
UHD HDR BluRay disc of Animal House. Yet something is
missing from our audio/video picture. It's missing the
picture. For this discussion, a TV includes video
displays that range from a dedicated home theater projector
focused on a 100+ inch screen to a 40 inch TV sitting in a
family room.
Room lighting
High dynamic range UltraHD &
HD television offer exciting potential for dazzling
images. However, the potential color gamut and video
resolution of HDR enhanced video depend upon a darker
room. You might ask how dark? There are two
scenarios. Each has a different answer.
The first scenario is a front projection system displayed on a
100+ inch screen in a completely dark room. Light from
any other source will compete with the projected video.
Much as a movie theater omits windows, and why a drive-in
movie theater closes in the daytime, this home theater system
should eliminate competing light. Do
you see the picture? Block all light.
The second scenario uses a direct-view large TV. In a
completely dark room, this type of TV can cause painful eye
strain in a relatively short period. This discomfort is
due to the iris of the eye, opening, and closing as scenes
change from dark to light. To demonstrate the issue,
turn your back to a TV in a darkened room. Observe how
the intensity of light changes.
A neutral color light with a brightness control can solve the
problem. Place the lamp behind the TV aimed towards the
wall. Adjust the brightness until a small amount of
ambient light reflects off the wall. The reflected light
will reduce the range of motion in the iris and allow the eye
to relax. This action permits many hours of comfortable
viewing.
Handbook
Note: Link to
neutral MediaLight Dimmable LED 6500° Kelvin Bulb used with
Lutron dimmer control.
Ambient
room lighting & color
UltraHD
HDR TV offers an amazing-dynamic palate of potential
color. However, any reflected color within your field
of vision will affect your perception of the television's
color. Therefore, choose suitable colors for all room
boundaries.
For example, if a
direct-view TV, choose wall colors of low color temperature
such as neutral gray for all room boundaries (Link to Kodak
reference gray card). Art, fabric, or any objects
within the field of vision should also be limited to neutral
colors. Typical off-whites and vivid colors will
distort the viewer's perception.
(This is much as
noise in acoustics.)
Paint
front-projection-large-screen system rooms flat black.
Flat black absorbs residual ambient light from the projector
and screen. If this is aesthetically unacceptable,
then at least blacken the ceiling area from the projector to
the screen. Choose dark colors for the remainder of
the room. Also, black trim around the projection
screen will appear to provide better contrast.
How
far should you sit from the screen?
The
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)
recommends a viewing distance of at least 1.5 times the
width of the screen. This method keeps the screen
image within 40 degrees of lateral viewing, which avoids
excessive head movement and discomfort. As a final
point, avoid sitting in acoustical room mode peaks and
nulls.
Loose
Ends
Consider
hiring a certified ISF trained video dealer to calibrate the
television color and the grayscale. An uncalibrated
UltraHD TV is like an un-tuned high-performance car.
Isolate the system electronics from electrical noise.
Supply ample-electrical current via a dedicated circuit with
hospital-grade outlets. AC line conditioners may also
assist. Provide ample cabinet-ventilation. You
may need the assistance of a ventilation fan. Provide
cabinet access that allows for easier component installation
and maintenance. Obtain the following installation and
maintenance tools:
- Sound pressure level meter
- Pink and white noise generator
- Tape measure
- Several Hi Rez audio and UltraHD
HDR demonstration sources.
- Joe Kane's Video Essentials
- Full length mirror
- Q-Tips ...... yes, for your ears.
QED
Quite
expertly done.
The room design is quiet. Your listening position, the
speaker system, and television are in place. The
room's acoustics, color, and lighting are
skillfully-handled. Your spouse is pleased. You
have achieved outstanding audio and video performance.
You are now ready to climb into your comfy chair and enjoy
your music or movie.