What is the best quality 2.35 ratio UK made screen?

rigman · 22-01-2009, 3:47 PM

I was looking to get a Carada brilliant white 1.4 gain screen when my room was ready but the $/£ rate is not favourable and seems to be getting worse by the day. I would also like to support the british worker at the moment so..

I am wondering what is the best quality british made screens are. I am looking for fixed 2.35 ratio one with gain and around 10 foot wide.

thanks
Darren

stubie_do · 23-01-2009, 5:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigman

british made screens

Well that certainy narrows it down from 2000 down to about 2.

DRH Screens
Harkness Hall

and now I'm struggling to find another one.

Help anyone?

Gary Lightfoot · 23-01-2009, 7:39 PM

What are you like at DIY? You can make a wooden frame and stretch/staple some screen material over it like I did. I made a black velvet border for it and some side masking curtains all from the same material, and it doesn't cost the earth. The screen material is the most costly part but the rest will be quite cheap overall.

Gary

stubie_do · 23-01-2009, 10:59 PM

Yes that was it "Lightfoot Screens"

Gary Lightfoot · 23-01-2009, 11:40 PM

LOL

Delivery is extra of course

rigman · 24-01-2009, 9:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Lightfoot

What are you like at DIY? You can make a wooden frame and stretch/staple some screen material over it like I did. I made a black velvet border for it and some side masking curtains all from the same material, and it doesn't cost the earth. The screen material is the most costly part but the rest will be quite cheap overall.

Gary

I am not that bothered too much about cost.
Its just that with the exchange rates I feel like I am paying more for something that is worth much less if that makes sense. It was much cheaper 6 months ago. Buying British would mean I am probably paying the same now as I would have done 6 months ago.

However if the British material is not up to the same spec as the US screen material then that would it would be foolhardy and I should just bite the bullet.

Good idea on the diy option I will be building a screen wall in the new room. I have just bought all the wood for it. I have spent the last 3 weeks bulding frames for soffits and columns.

What material did you get Gary.

Gary Lightfoot · 24-01-2009, 7:50 PM

I think most companies will make you a 2.35:1 screen, and will charge the cost of the next size up 16:9 screen, so try contacting people like Beamax and see what they can offer.

I used Draper M1300 material because it measured at 1.25 gain in comparison to Stewarts ST130 material which was 1.3 gain, but the M1300 was much cheaper (£80 for an 8ft wide 2.35:1 screen).

Gary

CinemaChap · 24-01-2009, 8:36 PM

I use a DRH screen in my room, very please with it.

rigman · 06-02-2009, 12:06 PM

Well despite my patriotism I have decide in the end and odered a 128" diag 2.35 ratio screen from Carada which is being built as we speak

Will not be able to use it for a couple of months until my new room is completed but gives me something to look forward to.

Now looking for a reasonable price anamorphic lens

nobby · 06-02-2009, 7:53 PM

looking into buying one myself, not sure what to do ... looked into carada as well, can i ask will you have to pay VAT on the item when it reaches these shores as well?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigman

Well despite my patriotism I have decide in the end and odered a 128" diag 2.35 ratio screen from Carada which is being built as we speak

Will not be able to use it for a couple of months until my new room is completed but gives me something to look forward to.

Now looking for a reasonable price anamorphic lens

rigman · 07-02-2009, 11:57 AM

Yes probably but it still works out cheaper than some of the screens from the uk supliers at the size I wanted.

I also looked at getting a SMX screen but when I was told the price 4K

I changed my mind

Carada have an excellent reputation as being very good screens so I just bit the bullet. I think it is 5% inport duty and then vat.

nobby · 08-02-2009, 3:36 PM

ok

good stuff, will look into this

have you received your carada yet?

if so what was the lead time in terms of production and delivery?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigman

Yes probably but it still works out cheaper than some of the screens from the uk supliers at the size I wanted.

I also looked at getting a SMX screen but when I was told the price 4K

I changed my mind

Carada have an excellent reputation as being very good screens so I just bit the bullet. I think it is 5% inport duty and then vat.

rigman · 08-02-2009, 6:42 PM

The build time is 3 working days. I have heard from order to delivery takes 8 days although I will believe it when I see it.

I bought the 117.9" wide version which made it an oversized parcel. This means they had to do a different courrier service which was more expensive

Had I gone slightly smaller then it would have been sent economy but I did not want to go any smaller so I did not compromise my 16:9 viewing.

My new room will not be done for a couple of months so I am not in any real hurry.

I will let you know when it turns up.

rigman · 14-02-2009, 10:31 AM

Received a call from a courrier yesterday and a bill for £123 for import duty, vat and a backhander fee.

They are delivering it on Monday

So not too bad 12 days from order to delivery.

Hope it lives up to the hype

nobby · 14-02-2009, 2:27 PM

nice one mate

12 days is not too bad considering

bit of a kick re taxes ...

i was on my way to purchase a carada criterion 120" 2.35 screen when Gordon Fraser contacted me and has ordered up a custom spec A series fixed frame from Beamax on my behalf ... total cost around 850 for me inc postage ... similar size of screen to the one i was to go with carada, but it has a 1.2 gain in screen and i have a wait time of 3-4wks

... but if GF is happy then i am happy ... he has to do the calibration work on my system so i may have to wait on his services anyway!

keep us posted on your progress, i will be sure to discuss mine, and stick a few pics up where possible

very interested to see what this new viewing format will being to my room/cinema experience

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigman

Received a call from a courrier yesterday and a bill for £123 for import duty, vat and a backhander fee.

They are delivering it on Monday

So not too bad 12 days from order to delivery.

Hope it lives up to the hype

rigman · 14-02-2009, 4:48 PM

I will not be hanging it on the wall for a couple of months at least as I am waiting for an extension to be built.

I will be posting a build thread when the extension is done and have loads of ideas and ambitions which I hope will not exceed my diy skills

I have spent the last 2 days in the garage cutting MDF in prep as well as built all the columns and soffits.

Quantas · 15-02-2009, 11:29 PM

Well as you know I got a Carada, a tiny bit smaller than yours at 96" across and mine still seems huge.....ooh er missus....So yours will be enormous how big is the extension gonna be

rigman · 16-02-2009, 10:35 AM

The room full size will be 21 foot x 12 foot. There will be a foot either side of my screen. It will be above my 3 front speakers which are M&K S150 on the dedicated ST1 stands. The screen will be on a stud frame which will stand around 1 foot off the front wall. I am doing that as the front wall will have 12 inch corner bass traps and 4" deep acoustic treatment.