Da-Lite JKP Affinity

[Soundman]

What's the scoop on this screen? I remember hearing about it originally from CEDIA 2008, but can't seem to find much about it now. It's suppose to be a great screen. Does anyone know more about it?

 

[jostenmeat]

It's designed by Joe Kane (JKP = Joe Kane Productions), and he used to work for Stewart previously.

The biggest unique attribute of the screen is supposed to have superb uniformity. What does that mean? That you can have a very wide seating arrangement, and it will look uniform from these positions.

However, to do so, it has negative gain, at 0.9.

A less unique attribute is that the screen surface "disappears", but I don't see that as an issue with a decent screen.

The biggest negative? Pricing. Word is that only B&M dealers get to sell it, and it will be sold at full MSRP. Even AVS store won't have them, AFAIK, and formerly they could sell anything that is Dalite.

This screen is not available yet. Try in one to two months.


What is full MSRP? One person got a quote on a 16:9 119" for more than $2,400. Are you still interested?

 

[Soundman]

It's designed by Joe Kane (JKP = Joe Kane Productions), and he used to work for Stewart previously.

The biggest unique attribute of the screen is supposed to have superb uniformity. What does that mean? That you can have a very wide seating arrangement, and it will look uniform from these positions.

However, to do so, it has negative gain, at 0.9.

A less unique attribute is that the screen surface "disappears", but I don't see that as an issue with a decent screen.

The biggest negative? Pricing. Word is that only B&M dealers get to sell it, and it will be sold at full MSRP. Even AVS store won't have them, AFAIK, and formerly they could sell anything that is Dalite.

This screen is not available yet. Try in one to two months.


What is full MSRP? One person got a quote on a 16:9 119" for more than $2,400. Are you still interested?

Probably not. That doesn't seem like the best marketing technique in today's economy. I'll keep looking. Thanks.

 

[lsiberian]

I'd suggest the Carada screens.

 

[Soundman]

I'd suggest the Carada screens.

This will probably be an upgrade down the road. I always research things to death before I buy. I'm a little ridiculous in that way. Right now my HT room ues a 65" DLP rear projection, but the long term goal is to go projection, probably a JVC with a nice screen. I'm still working on seating and lighting right now. I'll probably pull the trigger on this about a year from now, but like I said, I start really early and things tend to change. I still have fun with it though. Which Carada were you recommending?

 

[jostenmeat]

Which Carada were you recommending?

They make only two screen materials, with two different trims/borders, AFAIK. BMXTRIX the resident guru has been a long time proponent of their value. And he's seen a lot of screens.

FWIW, if you ARE 1) going with JVC, 2) you find your setup is conducive, and 3) you're going big . . . I highly recommend the dalite high power.

There are a number of JVC owners that are very happy with the combo. Of course, JVC owners are typically happy with almost any screen too.

However, it's like the exact opposite of the Affinity. Poor uniformity (brightness will change considerably once breaking a 20 deg viewing cone), it has mega positive gain rather than the negative gain, and it's . . . affordable.

The JVC has very good blacks, so the raised levels have much less chance to be offensive, and these PJs don't quite have the lumens that some of the competition does (where gain would help when going big).

The HP has excellent brightness uniformity (from the same spot; and there is zero hotspotting that is common with high gain screens), the screen disappears, looks like a giant plasma, rejects offaxis ambient light better than anything else.

All I can say is that my combo has the most beautiful pic that I, or anyone I know personally, has ever seen.

 

[Soundman]

They make only two screen materials, with two different trims/borders, AFAIK. BMXTRIX the resident guru has been a long time proponent of their value. And he's seen a lot of screens.

FWIW, if you ARE 1) going with JVC, 2) you find your setup is conducive, and 3) you're going big . . . I highly recommend the dalite high power.

There are a number of JVC owners that are very happy with the combo. Of course, JVC owners are typically happy with almost any screen too.

However, it's like the exact opposite of the Affinity. Poor uniformity (brightness will change considerably once breaking a 20 deg viewing cone), it has mega positive gain rather than the negative gain, and it's . . . affordable.

The JVC has very good blacks, so the raised levels have much less chance to be offensive, and these PJs don't quite have the lumens that some of the competition does (where gain would help when going big).

The HP has excellent brightness uniformity (from the same spot; and there is zero hotspotting that is common with high gain screens), the screen disappears, looks like a giant plasma, rejects offaxis ambient light better than anything else.

All I can say is that my combo has the most beautiful pic that I, or anyone I know personally, has ever seen.

HP?I thought we were talking about Carada?

 

[jostenmeat]

HP?I thought we were talking about Carada?

Actually, this thread was only about the Affinity, until lsiberian gratuitously pushed the Carada into this thread. So, I did address, somewhat, your Q regarding Carada, and to be more specific, the BW material is more often recommended by people here.

It appears there are actually three materials, the BW, along with Cinema White, and Contrast gray.

However, even if the differences between BW and white are marginal (for I highly doubt the screen has a true 40% gain), if you wanted the best uniformity then the white will be better than the BW for that. See, the more gain there is, the less uniform it will be, generally. Also, the more gain there is, the more chances of hotspotting. (Which is why I brought up one of the numerous unique traits of the Dalite HP: huge increase in gain with ZERO hotspotting).

So, seeing that the Carada was gratuitously introduced into this thread, I thought it would be only fair that I should recommend the greatest screen/pj combo I have ever seen (HP + JVC). I've had a DGA director, as well as a former employee of ToddAO come over, and they both say the same thing: greatest pic they've ever seen. And I'm doing that with a lower line, superceded, openbox JVC. I pointedly asked the former ToddAO employee, "It's better than the one they had at work, I bet?". He said yes, but that my sound system wasn't.


So, other side bonuses with the HP? Check this out: the current JVCs have an adjustable static iris. This means you can maintain very consistent brightness throughout the life of the bulb, if you wanted. If one has a fear of being slightly too bright for the first 100-200 hours, just close the iris up a bit during that time. Since the HP is retroreflective, I already do this to some effect by lowering or raising the piping of the PJ mount, in order to decrease or increase retroreflective gain according to the life of the bulb. I suppose this method in combination with a static iris could give you very, very consistent brightness.

You really couldn't do the above with any other screen. And besides, it's amazing! (so long as you understand what I said in the previous post).

 

[Soundman]

Actually, this thread was only about the Affinity, until lsiberian gratuitously pushed the Carada into this thread. So, I did address, somewhat, your Q regarding Carada, and to be more specific, the BW material is more often recommended by people here.

It appears there are actually three materials, the BW, along with Cinema White, and Contrast gray.

However, even if the differences between BW and white are marginal (for I highly doubt the screen has a true 40% gain), if you wanted the best uniformity then the white will be better than the BW for that. See, the more gain there is, the less uniform it will be, generally. Also, the more gain there is, the more chances of hotspotting. (Which is why I brought up one of the numerous unique traits of the Dalite HP: huge increase in gain with ZERO hotspotting).

So, seeing that the Carada was gratuitously introduced into this thread, I thought it would be only fair that I should recommend the greatest screen/pj combo I have ever seen (HP + JVC). I've had a DGA director, as well as a former employee of ToddAO come over, and they both say the same thing: greatest pic they've ever seen. And I'm doing that with a lower line, superceded, openbox JVC. I pointedly asked the former ToddAO employee, "It's better than the one they had at work, I bet?". He said yes, but that my sound system wasn't.


So, other side bonuses with the HP? Check this out: the current JVCs have an adjustable static iris. This means you can maintain very consistent brightness throughout the life of the bulb, if you wanted. If one has a fear of being slightly too bright for the first 100-200 hours, just close the iris up a bit during that time. Since the HP is retroreflective, I already do this to some effect by lowering or raising the piping of the PJ mount, in order to decrease or increase retroreflective gain according to the life of the bulb. I suppose this method in combination with a static iris could give you very, very consistent brightness.

You really couldn't do the above with any other screen. And besides, it's amazing! (so long as you understand what I said in the previous post).

Thanks for clarifying. What's the price range of the Da-lite HP? Getting some ideas and haven't been able to find that one.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks for clarifying. What's the price range of the Da-lite HP? Getting some ideas and haven't been able to find that one.

Fixed frame is expensive, but I don't have a quote for you. Call AVS. Or try Projector People.

A very recently posted PDF shootout, of Carada Cinema White, and 5 Dalite materials.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=153778&d=1254101235

Specifically regarding HP, it produced the greatest color shift, but it was noted that retroreflectors produce less hotspotting than other high gain materials. Which you know already, because I told you that.

Hotspotting was not tested.

Other recent threads discussing HP. There are JVC owners in every one of them.
Da-Lite High Power screen Rocks!!

This guy tried the following, as he wants something different from his Carada Cinema White. Using a RS2 I believe.
Elite PowerGain vs Da-lite HighPowered

This one here has essentially become the owner's thread. 1883 posts.
HIGH POWER a Review! Part 1


Special notes for you regarding this material. It's pretty much the most recommended material if using a pull down, even if one has zero need for the gain. See, it's much stiffer, and the way it works makes waving very hard to see. I will say it's impossible to see except on a large scale pan, and that only I've noticed it. No one else has noticed it in my system, and that's even after pointedly asking people who've been over many times.

You can try a pull down, anywhere from about $200 to $900 depending on size, options, and roller mech, and if it's not pleasing, you can rip the fabric out and frame it. $900 being the beefier roller mech, custom painted, with CSR, at over 75 sq ft. IOW, it's very affordable as a pull down. Ideally, you want a fixed frame.

The problem is due to the very stiff nature; there is virtually no give, making framing more difficult. But, it's been done. It's said that buying the manual is a cheaper way to get the fabric, than simply ordering just the fabric. It doesn't make sense, but that's how it goes.

Good luck.

 

[Soundman]

Fixed frame is expensive, but I don't have a quote for you. Call AVS. Or try Projector People.

A very recently posted PDF shootout, of Carada Cinema White, and 5 Dalite materials.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=153778&d=1254101235

Specifically regarding HP, it produced the greatest color shift, but it was noted that retroreflectors produce less hotspotting than other high gain materials. Which you know already, because I told you that.

Hotspotting was not tested.

Other recent threads discussing HP. There are JVC owners in every one of them.
Da-Lite High Power screen Rocks!!

This guy tried the following, as he wants something different from his Carada Cinema White. Using a RS2 I believe.
Elite PowerGain vs Da-lite HighPowered

This one here has essentially become the owner's thread. 1883 posts.
HIGH POWER a Review! Part 1


Special notes for you regarding this material. It's pretty much the most recommended material if using a pull down, even if one has zero need for the gain. See, it's much stiffer, and the way it works makes waving very hard to see. I will say it's impossible to see except on a large scale pan, and that only I've noticed it. No one else has noticed it in my system, and that's even after pointedly asking people who've been over many times.

You can try a pull down, anywhere from about $200 to $900 depending on size, options, and roller mech, and if it's not pleasing, you can rip the fabric out and frame it. $900 being the beefier roller mech, custom painted, with CSR, at over 75 sq ft. IOW, it's very affordable as a pull down. Ideally, you want a fixed frame.

The problem is due to the very stiff nature; there is virtually no give, making framing more difficult. But, it's been done. It's said that buying the manual is a cheaper way to get the fabric, than simply ordering just the fabric. It doesn't make sense, but that's how it goes.

Good luck.

That looks like some good info, Man! I haven't had a chance to look through it all, but thanks. Of course, I would prefer a fixed frame, but cost may be a factor.

 

[DTV TiVo Dealer]

My understanding of the benefits Joe Kane designed into his Affinity screen are as follows:

1. The smoothest possible surface. This was accomplished by using virgin vinyl with no coating. Typically, screens have sprayed on surfaces which have a texture.

2. No color casting across the entire screen, pure white uniformity with no color shifting.

3. True color reproduction and excellent depth of modulation.

This is what I have learned from Joe during my numerous visits to his presentations and my personal one-on-one discussions.

I have a Cinema Contour fixed Affinity Scope screen in our store theater demo room and it looks fantastic with JVC's HD990 and Panamorph's anamorphic lens.

-Robert