Help with choosing a projector screen

Posted by: intothevoid on 30 June 2010

I need help with this! Choosing a screen is proving to be quite tough.

My dedicated theatre room is 4.7m front-to-back, 4.3 side-to-side, with 2.5m high ceiling. Seating is roughly 3.5m from the front wall. Black out blinds already fitted so fully light controlled.

I have a ceiling mounted Mitsubishi HC3500 (which is excellent

) projecting a maximum 125" image directly onto a white wall. Not ideal I know, but even so the image is damn good.

As it's a dedicated room I am looking for a fixed frame screen, but I have a couple of questions that you may be able to help with:

1. What level of screen gain should I look for? Numbers are usually in the range of 0.89 (Sapphire) to 1.2 (Beamax)
2. What size screen should I get? i.e. do I reduce the projected image to intensify the light available e.g. 106", or go for the biggest image I can e.g. 120"?

The trouble with picking a screen is that I can't demo in situ. I'm tempted to go for the biggest image I can, but may be in danger of "over-doing it", if you get my drift.

I've looked at Sapphire, Beamax, Celexon, Carada, ScreenLabs, and Screen International, and I can't make my mind up

Budget is tight

, at a max of £500. One last requirement; I'd prefer a velvet frame.

TIA, Steve

Posted on: 30 June 2010 by IWC Doppel

By fully light controlled do you mean treated with dark fabrics like velvet around the screen, walls floor and ceiling ?

If the room is a dedicated room, this IS a significant upgrade. By significant I mean an increase in measured inroom contrast of 10x .....

Typical FtL targets range from 10-12 if very well light controlled to 20 if less well controlled. This means take the calibrated ANSI measured (Specs are usually ambitious and lamps lose lumens as they age) x the screen gain then divide by the square foot of the 16:9 screen.

I am at the lower end but with a very well light controlled room (yes I have velvet on the ceiling too, and the pile is in the right direction....) I am running 8 FtL with a 136" Carada Critereon Screen.

Have a look on the THX web site to organise screen width to seating distance. I sit 14' back from a 136" diagonal, if I sit further back I lose the engagement, further forward and it is a little too in your face

Beamax are reputedly good, I can vouch for the Carada having no visible screen problem, hot spots or other. Stewart are the best, but ££££

Posted on: 01 July 2010 by intothevoid

@IWC,
Thanks for the reply.

Yes I do mean fully light controlled - velvet covering the walls and ceiling - a complete black hole.

My PJ produces 1200 ANSI lumens; A 120" screen with a gain of 1.0 yields 27FtL, whereas a 106" yields 37FtL. This seems very high compared to your figure, even allowing for your larger screen. I think I need to check my maths

I've emailed Carada for a shipping cost to the UK, but I expect it to bump up the cost significantly.

I've also found a Sapphire screen which has a gain of 0.89. If my maths IS correct this would be suitable.

Decisions, decisions...

Posted on: 01 July 2010 by IWC Doppel

Soudns like you have more than enough Lumens, some even place filters on the lense to improve black levels.

I would also check the calibrated specification as this will often be some 20-30% less, add a bit of bulb life and a further 10% is not unusual. I would go for something like a 0.9 or 1.0 gain. You probably have Eco Mode which will save bulb life and reduce Lumens too