Film Screens

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Is anyone familiar with Screen Innovations' Black Diamond projector screen?
Screen Innovations Projection Screen Video Page Black Diamond Screen
It looks amazing with and without ambient light.

Yes, I am. I still went with Stewart.

[W9TR]

+1 on Stewart. Great company, great support.

To the question of screen gain specifically.

If you have a dedicated theater with no ambient light issues, get a white matte screen. I prefer the Stewart StudioTek 130 material. It exhibits very low color shift and the off axis viewing is excellent.

If you are trying to reduce the effects of ambient light in a multi-purpose room, go with a gain screen. If you don't need great off axis performance, go with Firehawk G3 material. It has excellent attenuation of ambient light, but it's gain falls off very rapdly off axis. If you need good off-axis performance, then Greyhawk G3 is for you.

[howiebrou]

Serge,

Not sure how your centre channel will be set up but with my Meridian being quite tall an acoustically transparent screen was a must.

The visual clarity will never match an acoustically opaque screen but it can get pretty close.

This also allows you to place the centre speaker higher up which is a better match for the left and right speakers and also allows you to lower the screen height which eliminates neck craning. Lots of people mount their screens too high to allow the centre speaker to be used. Ideally the middle of the screen should be head height measured as you sit and watch.

Now go and buy a single Sasha for the centre channel!

[UFTE]

Any feedback/thoughts on Da-Lite screens? My dealer sold both Da-Lite and Stewart screens and I chose the Da-Lite based on my budget. I needed the perforated screen as my center channel sits behind in an entertainment center as well as the automatic roll down feature. Stewart perforated screen with the roll down feature was approx 2x the comparable Da-Lite. My thought was that since Stewart had the THX logo with their product, they marked it up. The other screen types between the two were pretty much same same price wise.

[crytklmass]

I guess im in the same boat. I just sold my old projector and viewed the Epson 8100. I must say I was displeased. Im sure for that price its a great projector, but im looking or better. I hear th 8500ub is good and the next model up. Approx. 4,000 is good. I would want 1080p and 16x9/ 2:35:1. Screen size at leat 100" - 110" It will be in a basement completely blacked out unless I install some dim lighting. Im assuming a bright white screen is best. I have a Vu Sonic Silver Screen now. I would prefer a mounted screen. Seating distance can be as farther away than the projector. Probably 15 - 20ft. I can buy another vu sonic 110" for $999 (is that a good option) is bright white the best. 90% of the time will viewing movies. Cannot receive cable where we are, maybe dish network. Next question is which projector will I like for the next 5 years. I can already tell the viewsonic 8100 is out. but I really didnt want to spend 4,000 either. The sales personis offering a free bulb, mount, and 3 yr warrantly. I might be able to get him to lower the price more. or is the middle of the road 8500ub a great screen for half the cost? What does this have to be so difficult.?

[W9TR]

Bob,
You want a matte white, low gain (1.3 or less) screen.

If you can, take a look at the JVC RS-20/750. These can be had for south of six Grover Clevelands and will hold you for the next five years. I know it is more than you'd like to spend, but so was your Mac gear, no doubt. The kilobuck projectors just don't cut it yet, as you've seen. No nuance at all. The RS-20 PJ is the closest to CRT I've seen at a decent price point. I still use a Sony G70 CRT, btw. It's all about black level and skin tone rendering, and that's where the JVC is really good. The difference is like looking at a masterwork oil painting vs. a printed poster.
If you go up the line with any of the Epsons, as good as they are, watch what you're going to buy for most of a movie. That's the only way you'll know if it will be good enough for you.

[PHC1]

Ok, with JVC RS35 in mind and using Projector Central Calculator Pro, it tells me I need a screen with a gain of .7 My guys contacted JVC, they recommend between 1.2 and 1.4. They also got on the phone with Stewart and they recommended without hesitation the StudioTek 130 G3 at 1.3 gain... The review of JVC RS35 states the reviewer used a StudioTek 130 G3 with superb results. I guess I will follow the advice of the 3 sources rather than relying on the calculator from Projector Central.

[Waboman]

No question, the Studiotek is da shizzle. Since I have a light colored room and watch a lot of sports with the lights on, I went with the Stewart Firehawk G3 which is a gray screen. If you have complete light control, the Studiotek is the way to go.

[chessman]

I have a Stewart Firehawk (gray) (1.3 gain) in a basement HT that has white walls and beige carpeting, and pretty good light control, and it has been outstanding, both in total darkness and when lighted enough to wipe out a lot of other screens.

[W9TR]

Serge,
With a dedicated theater room and total light control, your best option is Studiotek `130. It is a reference material with almost zero color shift.

If you have a multipurpose room with some light control, there are other options and your screen material choice will be dictated by your room configuration and off-axis viewing needs.

In the bad old days of early DLP and LCD projectors, some companies recommended a 0.7 gain screen to 'improve' the black levels of these horrible, horrible projectors.