Projection screen recommendation

[murthyvs]

Hi all -

I have just ordered an Epson 8100 and its getting delivered this Friday! I havent yet ordered a screen ... and I am looking for some good recommendations. My budget is $300 max. I am not in a man cave. 100-120" screen size is what I am looking. Primary use: HDTV and Bluray movies. Would be nice to have mounting hardware included but definitely not a concern.

Thanks!!

 

[BMXTRIX]

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Widescreen_Fixed_Frame_Screen_105_p/ff169lt-100gy.htm

This is by far one of the best screens you will be able to get for the money. Your budget is really (really!) low, so a fixed on-wall grey screen is likely your best way to go.

The Focupix isn't as good as a lot of other brands, but it's way less money, and it's easily the best at the price which I have seen.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'man cave'.

A projector ideally goes into a home theater, but since that isn't always possible any room with controlled light will work. Controlled light being the key. Dark paint on the walls and ceilings can be added to any room. Dark carpet is tougher, but is a good consideration.

Controlled lighting is the first step in the process to home projection nivana.

 

[murthyvs]

Thanks much. Yes, I know my budget is low but cant do much about it.

I dont have controlled light environment ..

Is there another recommendation that you have if I stretch my budget to $500?

Thanks!!

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Widescreen_Fixed_Frame_Screen_105_p/ff169lt-100gy.htm

This is by far one of the best screens you will be able to get for the money. Your budget is really (really!) low, so a fixed on-wall grey screen is likely your best way to go.

The Focupix isn't as good as a lot of other brands, but it's way less money, and it's easily the best at the price which I have seen.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'man cave'.

A projector ideally goes into a home theater, but since that isn't always possible any room with controlled light will work. Controlled light being the key. Dark paint on the walls and ceilings can be added to any room. Dark carpet is tougher, but is a good consideration.

Controlled lighting is the first step in the process to home projection nivana.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Nope, no recommendations that I have seen which are better for under about $800 or more. That screen does really well for the money.

The 100" Elite Screens Prime Vision in Cinegray material may be the next step up.

Model # PVR100H1

It looks like it might be about $700.

If this is an entry level setup, then I would stick with the Focupix for now.

 

[murthyvs]

Thanks. I will go ahead with Focupix for now.

Nope, no recommendations that I have seen which are better for under about $800 or more. That screen does really well for the money.

The 100" Elite Screens Prime Vision in Cinegray material may be the next step up.

Model # PVR100H1

It looks like it might be about $700.

If this is an entry level setup, then I would stick with the Focupix for now.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks. I will go ahead with Focupix for now.

You might consider the Dalite High Power for well within your budget. This is a great screen for shedding offaxis light, so long as you are on axis as much as possible with the projector's angle to screen, AND that you can be sure that there is no on axis ambient light hitting the screen.

There are setup issues for sure with this screen. If the PJ will be well above your head for example, forget it. If there is a window directly behind the PJ, forget it.

You can run search functions in this subforum using the keywords dalite high power if interested in learning more.

Otherwise, I believe your PJ is supposed to have a lot of lumens for the price point, IIRC . . . . gl.

 

[murthyvs]

Hi BMTRIX,

Thanks for your timely suggestion, I got the Focupix and it looks good.

Just checking to see if you have good calibration settings for Epson + Focupix combination in a normal living room.

Thanks much!

Nope, no recommendations that I have seen which are better for under about $800 or more. That screen does really well for the money.

The 100" Elite Screens Prime Vision in Cinegray material may be the next step up.

Model # PVR100H1

It looks like it might be about $700.

If this is an entry level setup, then I would stick with the Focupix for now.

 

[BMXTRIX]

It is always good to get a calibration disc for your Blu-ray Disc player.

Not only are all screens very slightly different, but the room you are in affects calibration as does the projector and lamp itself. Over the life of the lamp, you should recalibrate for optimal quality.

While recalibrations every week may be (way) to much to ask, once every 500 hours or so could greatly improve performance over the usage of your projector and a good calibration disc isn't to much to spend to get the most of your system.

Actually, I usually say that the best thing anyone can do to improve their system is to go out and spend a couple hundred bucks on some paint brushes, rollers, and DARK paint!

 

[murthyvs]

Hi BMXTRIX,

Thanks for suggesting Focupix - I am extremely satisfied. Can you please suggest me a good wall mount for my Epson 8100? It was projecting from a bookshelf but it has to go ..

Thanks in advance!

 

[stealthrt]

Call me crazy but i made my own screen using a kitchen vinyl flooring backing! The back of the flooring had a nice texture surface and i went to AVSforums to get a mix of a screen paint called "Mississippi mud".

Mississippi Mud
Mississippi Man had created a “Goo”-like paint mix to provide increased contrast and image detail enhancement. This was used independently early on, but through the collaboration with CMRA, was incorporated into the “Light Fusion” screen.

All Paints are Flat Latex
1 quart of Behr Deep Base (1300)
1 quart of Behr Ultra Pure White Flat “Ceiling”
1 quart of Behr “White Opal” Pearlescence (Behr Premium Plus with Style Pearlescent White Opal No. 751)

or the new-isher Silver Metallic/Mississippi Mud (SM/MM) and Light Fusion:

A quick AVS Screens forum history recap, as this topic has probably generated the most acronyms and lengthy posts. At the time, the references to these formulas were probably the most difficult for a new member to follow. It's probably less of a concern now since these formulas have not been discussed in a while. But just in case you are referencing some of the older threads:

MM Mississippi Mud (see above)
SD Super Deluxe
SM Silver Metallic
SM/MM Silver Metallic/Mississippi Mud
SP Superplex
SD/MM Super Deluxe/Mississippi Mud
LF Light Fusion

When CMRA first starting experimenting with plexiglass, Super Deluxe was the formula for the top coat. This was applied to a sheet of plexiglass and silver metallic paint was applied to the other side. This screen was also referred to as Superplex.

Working with Mississippi Man, they determined that Mississippi Mud was a preferred topcoat and switched over to that. Additionally, instead of the plexi with silver metallic, a mirror was used instead. So the use of MM on top of a mirror was coined Light Fusion due to a plasma-like glow that is supposedly exhibited.

The SM/MM is a similar concept, except it is silver metallic painted on a wall as a base coat and Mississippi Mud on top.

Link:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=359152

I've used that for 5 years now and its still awesome!

David