Fixed or Manual Screen ?

[john_k_antony]

This is their web address - DNI Theatre. Contact person is Alex. They do complete home theater build and home automation. I think they carry branded screens. However I was more interested in DIY screens. You can talk to Alex. I think DNI deals with GrandView screens. They are official dealers of Epson. So you can get it from him. BTW, I bought my TW8000 through a group buy in HFV. I got it from Exodus Infotech in Mumbai (Exodus Technologies) and they couriered it to me. This was in Sep, 2012.

This is their contact info

DNI HOMETHEATRE
K.R.Complex (Opp Bangalore Central),
Bellandur Junction, Maratahalli Outer Ring road,
Bangalore-103.
E- mail: [email protected]
Ph-9845283741, 9538893288-99

 

[soamz]

Okay, if they can ship, then it will be awesome. Let me contact them and see, if thy are comfortable working in my city.

 

[john_k_antony]

Sure man. All the bests with your HT setup. Please do post the pics and progress details.

 

[manoj.p]

While the projector will brighten each corner properly, a 150" diagonal image is definitely going to be less bright than a 100" image which in turn will be less bright than a 80" image. Get the gist?

It's just not about brightness. If the image is small, yes it gets bright as the area is smaller. But then it also means raised black floor, meaning blacks won't look as black but rather more greyish. we perceive contrast as a difference between absolute black and white. Grey blacks will always make the picture look washed out. Too much brightness will also cause white crush. However, more brightness will help if there is ambient light in the room. On the other hand, too big screen means dim picture. It makes loss of shadow detail and causes black crush. Picture does not look vibrant and punchy.

It also depends on the screen type used. If the screen has more gain, then picture will be more bright. Grey picture will make it look bit dim but will enhance contrast. It ultimately boils down to whether we get around 12 to 16 foot-lambert brightness from the screen. So, go with a size.

As for me, I like immersion too. So, I seat at a distance where I don't see the pixels. Usually that is 1.1 x screen width for 1080p. Viewing angle does matter too for overall experience. If it were only punchy picture, we would have all settled on 50" LED tv's.

 

[mad]

Confused about what to go for, fixed or manual pull down screen ?



Fixed are normally highly priced and manual pull downs are cheap. Im looking for a 150 inch 16:9 screen .



Let me know, what would you suggest.



Also, is it wise to import the screen from USA via iShop ? Amazon USA has many options from Elite, Da-lite, FAVI , etc.

you can get one for your size for about 30k in Delhi

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express

 

[nSinghal]

There is a tendency with first timers to go for the maximum screen size possible - I was no exception. But it should be noted that the larger the screen, the greater is the light dispersion and poorer is the contrast/brightness. Do not sacrifice contrast/brightness for large screen. IMHO, for a viewing distance of 15'~18', a 110" diagonal is quite good enough. One must not forget the rough equation:

Proper viewing distance = screen width x 2.

So for a 8' x 4.5' (16:9) screen, best viewing is between 15' and 17'. This kind of screen will yield 110" diagonal. For 2.4:1 (and similar), the screen will be 8' x 3.34' and will yield a diagonal width of 104".

p/s. I have been using the manual pulldown screen for years; it has not developed creases, waves, etc,

I've been watching 133" screen from 17' for about two weeks now (already put 50 hours on the lamp ) and it certainly doesn't look washed out or low contrast. I intend to watch it from about 14' in my new room (once it finishes) so I tried sitting closer. Even at 12' it looked great. Only at less than 7' I was able to notice the pixels (I already wear prescription specs so my bad eyesight didn't play a factor in this) and experienced the screen door effect. And all this when I was using the epson in Eco mode with Cinema color. So appx 600 lumens (acc to projectorreviews). ie 11fl on my screen. For 3d, I do need to use the normal mode (instead of Eco mode) or else its a bit too dim.

Now my room has white POP ceiling, white marble floor, highly glossy sunmica and glasses covering 75% of the left and right wall and still the Image is really good (though admittedly not great). The room lights up as if i turned on a tubelight when using this PJ. So in a dedicated HT room which will be atleast 10x better than my room, I don't think you really need to have a small screen with this epson. It certainly is a light cannon.

But yes, I agree that no amount of opinion and scientific studies can tell you what screen size will be best for you. Best way is to fire up the PJ and see what size looks perfect to you.

 

[soamz]

you can get one for your size for about 30k in Delhi

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express

Which brand and make?

 

[manoj.p]

Have you thought about buying screen material and building the screen instead? It can be cheaper that way. Here is a comparison of different materials.
http://accucalhd.com/documents/accucal_front_projection_screen_report.pdf

See if you can get Seymourav Centerstage XD material to India. That will cost about $260 + shipping for 98" wide x 13 ft long size. (It comes in 98" width and is sold at $20 per foot) That screen is mostly color neutral and has great reviews. Consistent On-axis/off-axis performance.

 

[soamz]

You mean just get the screen material and hire a local carpentar and build the frame and just tense and hang the screen on that frame to make it a fixed one ?

 

[manoj.p]

Yep.

have to enter 10 chars.

 

[vinay]

Soamz,

I think you should importantly re-consider contacting a professional and related keeping in mind that most of the decision's will be taken by them and often be over charged, they will prefer the brand where they get more commission and other benefits while they will also directly or in-directly insist that you source most of the things through them and with all the good ideas which you will get for making the room will be seconded that they are not good and often they may not have a proper reason to say so while it will be a another story that will their ideas be right and truly customer friendly on assorted matters?

On this and other forums you will get too many ideas therefore in your case you will not require a professional.

The DIY route is too good and is catching up big time, last week there was a full page article on front page about DIY.

V.

This is their web address - DNI Theatre. Contact person is Alex. They do complete home theater build and home automation. I think they carry branded screens. However I was more interested in DIY screens. You can talk to Alex. I think DNI deals with GrandView screens. They are official dealers of Epson.

 

[just4kix]

@soamz,
I would agree with Vinay on all counts - well maybe, except fixed screen, but just maybe. But then one must be very well acquainted with all facts, figures, nuances, technicalities, etc., if DIY is the option.

So soamz, these are the questions you must ask yourself: are you capable of making all the design considerations yourself? Seeking the answers from FMs is only going to give you some directions and vague approximations but never exact answers.

 

[vinay]

Just4kix

You are very right in your point of view. According to me there is a sure way to tackle this major issue.

There are so many threads with a lot of actual photos about making of a entertainment room, these information's are more then enough to get a feel how the things are going to be about DIY and yet if new entrants feel that it is impossible to do, lack of time, inclination etc then for sure they will have to seek a professional help.

Since there are several forum members who have done a good job with DIY towards dedicated entertainment rooms therefore there will be less chances of big problems as long as a lot of planning is done step by step and every information is shared with fellow members and corrective steps are taken constantly where the need be.

If there are certain things which we are not able to handle even with the help of forum members then for those areas a professional help can be thought upon, but such a situation is mostly just not going to arise with brilliant king advisers like Manoj and others being around.

It is very true that exact answers and directions can not be available via members but most of it can be tackled with greatest of great ease, for example Soamz and many others have so many queries, i clearly see that most of it get addressed very well with diverse views so one can take a call which is better sensed etc.

In a DIY, the amount of satisfaction and money saved will be a lot and needless to say much rightly will be the end result.

The amount of efforts which we can put in collectively as members a professional may not be able to match while that is a another story many of the ideas a professional may be picking from the forum threads.

V.

@soamz,
I would agree with Vinay on all counts - well maybe, except fixed screen, but just maybe. But then one must be very well acquainted with all facts, figures, nuances, technicalities, etc., if DIY is the option.

So soamz, these are the questions you must ask yourself: are you capable of making all the design considerations yourself? Seeking the answers from FMs is only going to give you some directions and vague approximations but never exact answers.

 

[soamz]

Yes, that is the reason, Im mostly doing it in DIY manner only. Only for the projector and screen, since I have no idea about placements, I might call something from Profx , but if I get to understand it after getting the projector, then I will do it all myself.

 

[vinay]

Soamz,

With your kind of good aggressiveness, i can bet you will be able to do the placement with help of fellow members.

V.

 

[soamz]

Soamz,

With your kind of good aggressiveness, i can bet you will be able to do the placement with help of fellow members.

V.

Yeah.. Just waiting for the projector to get delivered, so I can start my tests on a white simple wall .

Will be in Bangalore from 8-11th March , so will try to find out who all from Bangalore here have done their dedicated HT rooms, so can go visit them during that weekend. :clapping:

 

[bikram_singh]

Soamz,

With your kind of good aggressiveness, i can bet you will be able to do the placement with help of fellow members.

V.

Hey I saw the video of your mini theater, and I liked the idea of hidden projector that comes down mechanically. Could you please tell me how you accomplished it? I may want to implement it in my media room too.

Thanks

 

[radhakrishna]

Mr John I want to buy 150" curved, fixed screen please send make and price

 

[prasanna.kole]

Can wr get motorised pull down screen for 150 inch ?

 

[bhargavk]

If you have good space its best to go with fixed frame screen.