Which projector screen?

[justin-ni]

Hi Guys,

I've got an AE2000 arriving in the post next week and after an eBay seller shipping me a 100" screen that was actually only 91" viewable, I'm having second thoughts as to whether or not I should go with matt white.

My 2 options are matt white with a gain of 1.2, or glass beaded with a gain of 2.4. The throw distance is about 4m. In the evening I can dim the room down to about 80% pitch black, or a little street light bleeding through the edges my blinds.

I know there's viewing angle considerations as well, but if you guys could recommend one based on room & PJ suitablity, it would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Justin

 

[justin-ni]

Whoops, sorry I've just noticed that there's a board for PJ screens!

 

[Lee]

No worries justin-ni, I'll move it to screens section

 

[KelvinS1965]

Not sure I should offer advice as you've bought someone else's AE2000 for sale. From my experience with the AE1000 and now the AE2000 I'd say don't go for a white screen if your room is less than perfect. I can still get a good picture with mine on a Greywolf II screen (and I've sold my spare screen so this isn't a sales pitch ) even if the hall light is on through the mottled glass windowed lounge door. If I had a white screen, then I think the blacks would wash out much more in this situation, which is similar to your '80%' pitch black. I'd go for the higher gain one, but not if it's white: You could always use a good quality ND2 or ND4 filter to darken the picture a occasions when you can really get the room dark, then take off the filter if you have ambient light or friends round like watching sports or similar.

I would say, however, that if you can get the room down to 100% pitch black and reduce room reflections (even using temporary throws and other dark materials), then the AE2000 is capable of some really good black level performance. I watched 'Cloverfield' on mine last night (with some extra black velvet placed carefully around the front of the room) and not once was I bothered by the 'greying out' that some LCDs can produce.

 

[justin-ni]

Cheers Kelvin,

I've just done a quick test with the window blind slats facing upwards as opposed to downwards when closed and this has stopped practically all of the light coming through the gaps, so at night I can achieve more or less 100% dark which is when I would most likely be watching movies.

However, it would be nice to use it during the day as well, for Sky HD..... and showing off etc!

I would like a grey screen, but my budget is limited and the 'cheap as chips' offerings on eBay only come in white

I'll have to research these filters - can't I just set the lamp to eco mode instead?

Cheers,
Justin

 

[justin-ni]

I would like a grey screen, but my budget is limited and the 'cheap as chips' offerings on eBay only come in white

I've been looking around a bit more - I always assumed the 'branded' PJ screens were big bucks, but this (http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase4.2&prodID=B112129) Greywolf isn't that much more than what I paid for a joke of a screen from eBay. Granted, it is manual though...

Do the manual screens always lock into the same position, or are then like window blinds which lock to wherever you stop pulling down? I don't want to have to adjust lens shift every time!!

I've been reassesing my sizing too, and I've decided that while it would look awesome, 100" at 2.2m viewing distance is just asking for neck cramps! 92" is probably still too big, but one of the main reasons I went for a PJ was for the 'wow factor', so I'll just keep the Deep Heat handy and 92" should do fine

Cheers!

 

[KelvinS1965]

I don't know about the manual screens as I've only had the one electric version....apart from the boxed one I sold last night. Regarding the eco mode on the lamp, I'd challenge any AE1000/2000 owners to a blind test to see if they could tell which setting it was on, it is literally that subtle: A meter might measure 50 lumens difference ( or whatever) but I'm sure I couldn't tell the difference myself. This was the big disapointment I found as I'd borrowed 'data' projectors from work in the past and found the low lamp modes were really obvious and dimmed the image by a useful amount.

Regarding the size, I have 120" from 4 metres back so 92" from 2.2 metres is probably as big as you'd need to go that would be like me having a 160"+ screen which would be mad. Unless you are after the Imax experience for every film. Also for 16:9 format films I have to zoom back so my effective screen size for this mode is approx 96" and that's plenty (though I have been to specsavers so maybe that helps? ).

 

[justin-ni]

If someone could give me info about position locking on the manual Greywolfs that would be cool.

Also for 16:9 format films I have to zoom back so my effective screen sixe for this mode is approx 96" and that's plenty (though I have been to specsavers so maybe that helps? ).

I don't understand, is your screen not 16:9 anyway? Why would you need to decrease image size?

Cheers

 

[KelvinS1965]

I bought an over sized 16:9 screen at 120" diagonal, but I altered the drop limit to make the screen only show a 2.35:1 preportion of it (giving me a 9 foot wide 2.35:1 screen effectively). I thought a 'proper' 2.35:1 screen would be too expensive, hence this obtuse alteration. My screen is mounted in an MDF pelmet painted dark brown which provides the top 'black bar'.

If I watch a 16:9 program I have to zoom back (ie: make smaller) the image as it would be too tall to fit on my screen (this gives black bars on each side of the screen). Kind of a 'poor mans' Constant image height setup.

It makes sense to me, but reading that back maybe it isn't so clear?

 

[John7]

Another + for the Greywolf II here.

The difference between this and a matt white Draper Luma is stunning

Much improved contrast levels, great blacks and vivid colours. I tried this with my old projector (Panny AE700) before I sold it and the difference was amazing.

I'm now running a Sanyo PLV Z2000 with an electric 92 inch Greywolf II - fabulous, even with some ambient lighting.

I can't suggest where to get one from though - I had a hell of a job tracking one down as Optoma no longer import this into the UK. Last time I checked, there were still some stocks o the smaller ones around and a few fixed screens if you search hard enough.

 

[KelvinS1965]

I can't suggest where to get one from though - I had a hell of a job tracking one down as Optoma no longer import this into the UK. Last time I checked, there were still some stocks o the smaller ones around and a few fixed screens if you search hard enough.

Yeah, I couldn't find a web page to link to for my advert apart from a smaller 72" on CVSmedia's website. You might find a manual one somewhere, but I don't know where to start.

 

[justin-ni]

Thanks Kelvin, makes sense now! Didn't realise you had it in anamorphic

Yes John I've noticed that most places are "Out of Stock" when searching for the model which I linked to above (by the way, what's the different between a Greywolf, and a Greywolf II?)

I'll definitly have a harder look now, I'm sold on the idea!

Cheers

P.S. John, do you know if the Greywolf manuals lock at a constant position?

 

[KelvinS1965]

Just seen this 92" in the for sale section, but doesn't say what finish the screen is:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837865

Cheers,
Kelvin

EDIT: Greywolf II screens have a much less textured surface from what I've read, compared to the original Greywolf screens.

 

[John7]

Thanks Kelvin, makes sense now! Didn't realise you had it in anamorphic

Yes John I've noticed that most places are "Out of Stock" when searching for the model which I linked to above (by the way, what's the different between a Greywolf, and a Greywolf II?)

I'll definitly have a harder look now, I'm sold on the idea!

Cheers

P.S. John, do you know if the Greywolf manuals lock at a constant position?

THE manual screen has a ratchet/pawl mechanism so it "locks" when you stop pulling - it has no other tensioning system other than the weight of the bottom bar

 

[John7]

I'll put some piccies up of mine later - electric is defo the way to go - press the button on the IR remote and it drops automatically until it hit the limit switch (user adjustable)

A BIG thank you to CVS media for my one by the way - great guy (Nick) and great service.

Kelvin's right BTW - the old version has larger beads and is more "grainy".

With the Greywolf screen, your projector ideally should be mounted on-axis, i.e roughly vertically centered to the screen or you may experience 'sparklies' (stray beams reflecting off the glass beads). A ceiling mounted projector would typically suffer more from this effect. I have not noticed it as my projector is mounted just above seating position.

 

[justin-ni]

THE manual screen has a ratchet/pawl mechanism so it "locks" when you stop pulling - it has no other tensioning system other than the weight of the bottom bar

Hmm then I'll definitly want the electric one, I don't want to have to bother readjusting my PJ every time I deploy the screen.

With the Greywolf screen, your projector ideally should be mounted on-axis, i.e roughly vertically centered to the screen or you may experience 'sparklies' (stray beams reflecting off the glass beads). A ceiling mounted projector would typically suffer more from this effect. I have not noticed it as my projector is mounted just above seating position.

That could be a problem, see attached for my planned layout! Will the effect be very noticable?

Cheers

 

[justin-ni]

Bump

Can someone tell me if my proposed setup (see above) will cause any major issues with a Greywolf II?

Cheers!

 

[AV Nik]

Do the manual screens always lock into the same position, or are then like window blinds which lock to wherever you stop pulling down? I don't want to have to adjust lens shift every time!!

I've been reassesing my sizing too, and I've decided that while it would look awesome, 100" at 2.2m viewing distance is just asking for neck cramps! 92" is probably still too big, but one of the main reasons I went for a PJ was for the 'wow factor', so I'll just keep the Deep Heat handy and 92" should do fine

Cheers!

Hi Justin,
Most of the branded manual screen lock in intervals of apriox' 5-6 inches and generally lock in the same positions every time. I have been using a couple of Panoview matte white screens plus many others including Sapphire, Beamax, Da-Lite, Draper and they all lock in the same position each time.
I've heard horror stories from people buying off ebay (not all screens off ebay are nasty) where the rocker/lockers are similar to rollerblinds which rarely have a static gear/cog to lock onto.

I would also ask if you can actually find a 92" Grey Wolf 2 screen? I've been led to believe the only Grey Wolf 2 screens available are the 72" electric and the 84" pullup screens plus Optoma/Panoview have stopped making them at the moment so these are all that's left.

If you project off-axis onto a Glass Beaded screen, you will find that one side of the room has a clear view of the image but the other side views a dark grainy image which generally is unwatchable. This is the floor in Glass Beaded screens (Retro Reflective).

A 92" screen @ 2.2m viewing distance, although awesome and has a massive wow factor for anyone watching, will cause at the least - eye strain. If you intend to use it once or twice a week, I would say it's not that much of a problem and you will certainly be 'emersed' into the film or game. If you could sit half a metre further back, I believe you would be a lot more comfortable.

With regards to 'Off-Axis' projection, this is all down to the projector. If you can buy something like a Sanyo Z2000 with lense shift, the 'Keystoning' would be less severe however, not many projectors can accomodate the angle you describe in your floor plan so I would try and reduce the angle you wish to project from, if possible.
Although an additional expense, some have utilised optical mirrors to help with shorter rooms/projection distances which can also be helpfull when projecting off-axis.

Hope this helps?

 

[justin-ni]

Thanks Nick,

That's good news about the locking intervals, if this is indeed the case, I wouldn't really have a problem with a manual screen.

I've been looking around on Froogle / Google, and the DS-GWII9092P seems to be a GWII model in 92", Panoview 92 inch GrayWolf Screen is one example - whether or not it's in stock is another matter!

As I'll be off axis vertically, would the image be clear to viewers above or below (seating position) the centre?

I'll be able to move the sofa back by about a foot, so hopefully that'll ease the eye strain a bit

I have purchased an AE2000, so I belive the vertical lens shift on this model should be enough to deal with my setup.

Cheers!

 

[AV Nik]

You will see a brightness difference when seated to standing where standing will be brighter.
Although I appreciate using the projector off-axis may result in light reflected off the screen surface, onto the walls, I would still recommend a Matte white or High Contrast grey screen with that projector.
Da-Lite and Beamax offer a better 'Diffused' surface on their matte white surfaces whereas many others are simply 'dimpled' or 'leathered' which is a lot more reflective (light bounce) than 'Diffused'.
Hope this helps.

 

[justin-ni]

Thanks for all the advice Nik, it's appreciated I'm still very new to projection, but i've got a better idea of what i'm looking for.

Cheers

P.S. The Da-Lite and Beamax sound good for matt white, but could you recommend a similar diffused surface grey screen? Ta.

 

[justin-ni]

...could you recommend a similar diffused surface grey screen? Ta.

I think I've found what I'm looking for... Would 203cm x 114cm (92") Draper Luma Manual Home Cinema Screen 16:9 High Contrast 207104 give me the diffused surface and constant locking position which I'm looking for?

Thanks again!

 

[justin-ni]

Hi Guys,

Just quickly saying thanks for all the advice and tips, ended up getting the 92" Draper Luma from Nick, and it's a really nice screen - works brilliantly with my AE2000. I'll hopefully get some pics up of it in action soon, but in the mean time you can check out the setup here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/memb...stin-nis-home-cinema-computer-room-setup.html

Thanks again,
Justin

 

[KelvinS1965]

I didn't want to start a whole new thread and as this one started with a question regarding an AE2000 I thought I'd post here. I've just ordered a custom made 2.35:1 112" wide tab tensioned, electric Matte White 1.5 gain Beamax screen, ordered from CVSMedia I got my AE3000 recently and as it has a lens memory function to assist with my 'poor mans' CIH setup, so it will be good to have a properly masked 2.35:1 screen to project onto.

I went for the Matt White in the end as I now have complete light control in my room and I've added various pieces of black cloth and velvet to assist with minimising any room reflections. The high contrast version was only gain of 1.0 and probably would be too dim for my size and my PJ. I wanted a little bit of gain just to allow me to carry on using an ND filter, to give a bit of headroom for when the lamp dims or if I want extra brightness like when we have visitors and need slight ambient lighting on.

I'm just hoping that the extra width of this screen will fit between my wall mounted speakers otherwise I'll have to move the left one. I don't know how much further out the tab tensioning sticks compared to an untensioned screen as I've not seen one for a long time?

I also wanted to thank Otto from Beamax for his help with my endless questions about samples and size options, equally the excellent service from CVS Media as I kept changing my mind and asking for 'just one more' quote.

Now I've got about 4 weeks to wait to receive this new screen, so I'll have to manage with my Greywolf until then.

PS: Please don't PM me asking me to sell the Greywolf as I'll put an add on the forums one I've received the Beamax, I can't projected onto a wall, so I don't want to be without a screen now I've got my AE3000.