hunting for a screen with ZERO idea/experience

[mike c]

ok, any pointers on what to look for?
brands to steer clear of?
brand recommendations?
best quality?
budget of 1k? (but don't let that limit you as to recommending really good products)

i'm thinking of using the upcoming panasonic A*1000*

 

[mtrycrafts]

ok, any pointers on what to look for?
brands to steer clear of?
brand recommendations?
best quality?
budget of 1k? (but don't let that limit you as to recommending really good products)

i'm thinking of using the upcoming panasonic A*1000*

Fixed or motorized? The latter is more.
Stewart comes to my mind

 

[mike c]

fixed (to save some money)

stewart comes to mind ... to steer clear of? or recommended?

 

[~JC~]

Stewart

Stewart is superb, not in your budget? My 110" Firehawk was ~2K. If you call them, they will tell you which model is best for your projector.

 

[mtrycrafts]

fixed (to save some money)

stewart comes to mind ... to steer clear of? or recommended?

To recommend. Not sure about cost of fixed screens though. Others like Carada.
AVS has a link someplace on screen comparisons with pictures.

 

[mike c]

To recommend. Not sure about cost of fixed screens though. Others like Carada.
AVS has a link someplace on screen comparisons with pictures.

thanks, will search in AVS

 

[mike c]

Stewart is superb, not in your budget? My 110" Firehawk was ~2K. If you call them, they will tell you which model is best for your projector.

i asked the dealer about stewart ... said it was indeed megabucks ... is there really a big difference?

 

[mtrycrafts]

thanks, will search in AVS

Try this link

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=773065

Go through it.

 

[InTheIndustry]

I use a brand called Perfect VU for a lot of my projects. Great build quality, all of the important options. This should fit close to your price range depending on the deal you can work out with a dealer. In terms of quality, their screens are engineered by same team that designs their IMAX screens. Their products are easy to put together (they only use 4 screws, so if it takes you more than an hour to put it together and hang it I'd be shocked) and is built as good as or better than any other screen I have come accross. These are really nice and classy looking and of course offer just a fabulous picture. I use these with Vidikron DLP & D-ILA projectors in the $8K - $30K range as well as some of the Panasonic & Epson LCD products out there that are considerably more budget oriented. Perfect VU screens are a great fit for just about anything out there. I have absolutely no complaints with them at all.

Hope that helps to give you another alternative to getting a good screen.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Stewart tends to be overpriced for what you get IMO. If you have some special applications or screen surface that your environment demands, then perhaps they will deliver a bit more than a Draper or DaLite screen will, but when it comes to fixed, permanently installed screens with a standard material, it is really tough to beat Carada.

The Carada 1.4 Brilliant white simply looks phenomenal and is ideal for most situations IMO. If you have a room that you will be using with controlled lighting, then that is the screen I would go with. The big three (Stewart, DaLite, and Draper) all have a product COST that is higher than the online delivered selling price of the Carada. Yet, review after review after review supports that Carada quality is pretty darn near the top.

With equally impressive customer service.

 

[~JC~]

Order samples

Almost all of the big companies will send you pieces of their materials for free. I ordered Carada, Dalight and Stewart samples. They all arrived in less than a week. I taped them on the wall, turned on the projector and varied the light level in the room, to cover the bases. I had the whole family in to vote on their choices (only I knew which material was which.) In my situation, the Carada brilliant white was the best in a black room, but it tolerated NO ambient light. The Firehawk was the clear winner under varied light conditions. You should give this approach a try. A screen is a pricey thing!