Opinion on this projector screen?

[SicilianKing]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Projecta...&skuId=9439422

I have always used the wall for my projector, but I heard I would get a much better picture if I got a screen. I noticed this one is pretty cheap, but are there must better ones out there? Would I truly notice a better picture with the more expensive screens?

[chris gerhard]

I haven't heard of a Projecta Model B screen. I used a Da-Lite Model B pull-down screen for years and it worked great but it is difficult to completely smooth out any waves in a pull-down screen. I made one for myself 3 years ago to mount permanently on the wall and like it better. If you must use a pull-down, I am sure that one is fine. One concern is making sure you get the correct gain for your installation. I use a gain of 1.1 in my homemade screen and don't recall if that is the same gain my Model B used, but it must have been very similar.

I would recommend a permanent mounted screen over pull-down but believe you will find an improvement with using a proper projector screen compared to a bare wall. You can also paint a screen, using Goo or a similar substance designed for that purpose and get good results.

http://www.goosystems.com/

Chris

[SicilianKing]

I do not see any of these waves that you speak of?

[CaptainCanuck]

Googling the screen a bit it seems to get good reviews but i see no gain listed on the stats.
I also have used a da lite screen for years.
I have tried a high gain grey screen as well but i wouldn't recommend a high gain screen.I'd keep it around 1.0 somewhere.
I don't think the price for a screen matters as much as if it's power operated,pull down or fixed.
Fixed gives you a better picture i've been told but they're expensive.
A pull down screen gets physical waves in it if you don't raise it into the stored position after each use.

[SicilianKing]

I did not know that...I just tried to raise the screen for the first time..and it doesnt seem to go back in. Must be a trick to it or something...

[SicilianKing]

So as long as I figure out how to put the screen up, and do it after each use, I should have no problem with the waves? I currently have the same model, but a 92" from Best Buy, that I will be taking back. I just have to figure out why it seems to difficult to put it back up.

I did figure how to raise the screen back up. As soon as I figure out if that will solve any wave problems, I will pull the trigger and order the 106'' screen. I am also looking to buy a house soon, and if there is no dark theater room, I believe a pull down screen would be best in that situation. I could keep the screen in the living room, and just raise it when it is too light outside, and use a tv instead.

[CaptainCanuck]

Originally Posted by SicilianKing

So as long as I figure out how to put the screen up, and do it after each use, I should have no problem with the waves? I currently have the same model, but a 92" from Best Buy, that I will be taking back. I just have to figure out why it seems to difficult to put it back up.

I did figure how to raise the screen back up. As soon as I figure out if that will solve any wave problems, I will pull the trigger and order the 106'' screen. I am also looking to buy a house soon, and if there is no dark theater room, I believe a pull down screen would be best in that situation. I could keep the screen in the living room, and just raise it when it is too light outside, and use a tv instead.

Yeah theres a bit of a trick to raising the screen.You have to pull it down a bit sharply just for a couple inches then let it rise until it reaches its end.
I can't guarantee you'll never get any waves in the screen but my first screen i bought a long time ago i just left it hanging most of the time and after awhile because of humidity or for whatever reason it got some waves in it.
I bought a new one a couple yrs ago and since i've been rolling it up between viewings i've had no similar problems.
Make sure though when you raise and lower it to just pull down at the centre point using the handle and not near the ends to keep equal tension on the whole length .I'm sure that would cause ripples as well if i didn't do it.

[Favelle]

Three words: MAKE YOUR OWN! A custom-built screen tailor made for gain, black levels, and reflectivity will absolutely OWN any commerical offering under $800.

Its a whole other world out there:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...prune=30&f=110

[kaliphonia]

I've been very happy with this screen which I purchased recently. It's an Elite Screen - fixed frame. Price is very reasonable at only $376 on Amazon.

They have other sizes than the 100" too, but this is the one I have.

http://www.amazon.com/Elite-Screens-...dp/B000N3TZS2/

[AV_Integrated]

There are any number of screens on the market and you can buy cheap ones to expensive ones as well as make one yourself.

At the bottom of the barrel is the manual roll up screen. Spending more than about 100 bucks on this is a bad decision because they typically develop waves which become stunningly obvious in any 'pan' shots after about a year. In 10+ years of install work, every single non-tensioned roll up screen (electric or manual) has had waves in it. Sometimes they've been several years old, some right around a year old.

The absolute best quality in a screen is going to come from a decent weighted material with a nice fixed frame. The material can be white to dark grey (near black), and can have negative gain (subtracts perceived light) to significant postive gain, but typically a 1.3 or so gain white screen in a typical home theater is a pretty good way to go with most digital projectors right now.

On the cheap side, you have things like Elite Screens. I've personally used www.htdepot.com for their fixed screen which is a great value and suprisingly high quality for the money.

I regularly use Carada screens - www.carada.com which is one of the absolute best that I've seen for the money. I've also used Stewart, DaLite, and Draper which are the 'big three' manufacturers and for fixed screens, are simply overpriced.

Buying a roll up cheap screen may temporarily give you better results than a wall, but not for long.

I do not think anyone should buy Goo Systems paint. There are dozens of options and a great DIY section over at AVS Forum which really can help you dial things in if that's the way you want to go, but your best option is to use something different than your wall to paint on. Walls are - VERY - not flat. Drywall is poorly put together most often and your wall has waves and imperfections that are hard to get rid of. There are alternate surfaces you can use which will be far easier to prep and deliver better results.

Generally, with do-it-yourself options there is a lot of focus on the screen, and IMO, not enough focus on making a really nice frame. I would strongly suggest that a professional looking screen includes a raised velvet lined frame.