What do I need to set up an outdoor movie

You could just drag the old HDTV out on the patio, but the neighbors are likely to think your air conditioner just broke and you’re trying to make the best of it. For a real movie night, you need the glow of the light, the big screen magic, and the hum of the projector – in other words, a little more sophisticated equipment. That includes a backyard movie projector, a screen, a media system to play your movie on and the best darn sound system you can rig up.

1.   The Projector

With the popularity of backyard movie nights these days, finding good equipment can be easier than finding a good movie. However, while you can spend over $1000 on a projector, you can find one on Amazon that will run you quite a bit less. The real test of quality for a projector is its features. What features are necessary to show a high-quality feature film? Read on to find out.

Lumen Rating: Let There be Light

The lumen rating indicates how much light a projector can put out. The more lumens you have, the faster you can start the movie and really be able to cut through all the ambient light from street lights, and tiki lamps. How many lumens do you need for an outdoor projector? Aim for at least 2,000. As you increase to 3,000 and beyond, you’ll really understand how impactful the number of lumens can be. At 3,000 lumens, you’ll be able to start the movie right after sunset instead of waiting the extra 30 to 40 minutes for complete darkness to set in.

Maximum Screen Size: What You Need to Know When Size Matters

When you throw your outdoor party, you want to be able to go big and stay home. The rule of thumb when it comes to movies is the bigger the better. However, when you pick out your screen, throw distance needs to be taken into consideration. Maximum screen size refers to the size of the image your projector can project. Throw distance is the distance away from the screen the projector needs to project that image. A 200” screen won’t do you much good if you don’t have the room in your backyard to accommodate for it. To make sure before you buy, check out the throw distance calculator to figure out the ideal sizing for the screen you intend to use.

Resolution: Having Fun is the Most Important Resolution

On an HDTV high resolution is everything. On an outdoor movie night not so much. Remember, movie night is about fun, and fun can hide a multitude of sins – poor resolution among them. When you’re in the market for an outdoor movie projector, a bright and clear image is of prime importance. With a high lumen count and a correctly adjusted focus, you should have all the resolution you need.

The Big Picture: A Comparison

While all these features are important, it’s the big picture that counts in movie land. Although it’s true that you get what you pay for, sometimes what you pay depends on what you’re looking to get. Here is a comparison between two very different and very differently priced digital projectors and how one stacked up against the other.

Epson VS250 3,200 lumens $300

What you don’t pay for is resolution quality. For an outdoor movie night, that’s a sacrifice well worth making. What the Epson VS250 is ideal for outdoor movie viewing because of its bright picture and high luminosity rating, which makes it ideal for cutting through ambient light. What it lacks in resolution is not likely to make your guests throw rotten tomatoes.

Epson HC3000 $1100

Does the Epson HC600 have great resolution? Yes. True 1080 in fact. Does it have a native 16:9 projector? Yes? Is it worth over 3 times more than the Epson VS250? For an outdoor movie night, probably not. Scrutinized closely, the HC300 is the clear winner, but outdoor movies are not about close scrutinization. Don’t rule out movie night if you can’t make the K plus.

2.     The Media System

Far less important than the projector is the media system. Whether it’s on DVD or blue ray, or your laptop, the rule of thumb here, is as long as it plays your media smoothly, nobody is really going to complain much.

However, there are benefits to using a laptop that goes beyond the DVD and blue ray. Newer projectors have HDMI inputs that connect directly to laptops. With the direct connection from the projector to your laptop, you can bring your Netflix binge out in the open.

3.   The Sound System

When you’re watching a movie a good sound system is the bomb. Unfortunately, 5.1 surround sound speakers will take you longer to set up than the running time of the movie. A 2.1 speaker set up, however, is far less complicated and will do the trick rather nicely.

• Take the middle receiver and two stereo speakers from your current surround sound system.
• Place the under the middle of your screen and hang the two stereo speakers on the upper left and right corners of your screen for the most realistic cinema experience.

Alternatively, you can buy a new 2.1 sound system. A receiver with a power rating of 100W per channel will give you the most bang for your buck. Check some inner geekdom from the How-To Geeks for some pro tips of sound set up.

4.   The Screen

Got a bedsheet? You don’t even need to worry about a good percale count if you’re using it for your movie screen. A plain king-sized bed sheet on a clothespin line can make for a screen worthy of showing Casablanca. While you will get a better image on a store-bought screen, we say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Bedsheets have the benefit of versatility (you can hang them almost anywhere), and the fun factor remains the same. Go pro, or go DIY, be sure to set up the projector at the right distance from the screen to get maximum coverage.