Screen Innovations Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 Preview

[admin]

Is the Screen Innovations Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 projection screen cheap? At a base price of $3099, many would say "No". But comparing to the price of a flat panel of the same size, Screen Innovations says that their screen is actual cheaper per inch. We're not sure if that includes the projector but we're willing to bet it is true. The problem with front projection systems has traditionally been ambient light. With the Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 screen's ability to enhance the projector's contrast by over 900% while rejecting ambient light, this may be a thing of the past. With the look and feel of a flat panel TV, the Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 screen will leave your friends wondering how you got such a huge TV without mortgaging your home.

Discuss "Screen Innovations Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 Preview" here. Read the article.

 

[majorloser]

When I first saw the Black Diamond at the trade shows I fell in love with it. But now with this screen I might actually have a good reason to replace my Stewart FireHawk.

Might have to upgrade the Epson 7500UB, too.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I've always liked the DNP screens, and I think the BD screens definitely go hand in hand with them. BD apparently offers side light rejection which is better than the DNP screens.

There are a number of factors with these screens though which I would personally like to test at some point.

1. ZERO EDGE... Most of the time the edge of the screen is there to handle a bit of overspray or uneveness in the projection image. It is extremely common to have about half an inch or so of overspray with any projector setup. Without a good black edge, you may end up with this on the wall instead of the black wrapping of the screen. I just don't consider that a 'feature' on any screen. (personally)

2. Black screen = brighter projector - In my one test where I got to play with a DNP screen in a conference room, the DNP screen looked terrible with a $15,000 Sim2 projector. The business class projector looked far better in the room. Why? Because the lights were on and the Sim2 was just not bright enough for the screen. Perhaps the higher gain of the BD screen would make up for this, but it seems like you may need a brighter projector to really take advantage of these types of screens.

3. Great solution for a lousy room... but why not just fix the room? $3,000 for a BD screen vs. $1,000 for a Carada. $2,000 can buy a lot of stuff in a room. It may buy dark carpet, new paint for the walls, and some blackout shades/curtains for any windows that may be in the room. Instead of patching a weak room with a good screen, why not just fix the room so you don't need the really expensive screen?

I've specified the DNP screen and would recommend the BD screen as well when situations demand light to be present. Board rooms, bars, etc. A nice bright projector with incredible contrast maintained is definitely worth it when the situation demands it, but a good theater should never demand this type of correction to be necessary.

 

[majorloser]

Yeah, that was the one thing I was thinking. You'd need a rock solid mount and a perfectly aimed projector to prevent overscan past the edges. But I sure would love to have a screen without the black felt frame.

And what's wrong with a great screen and a great room? Or a room that can be used for multiple purposes? Dark for movies or brighter for sports?

 

[BMXTRIX]

And what's wrong with a great screen and a great room? Or a room that can be used for multiple purposes? Dark for movies or brighter for sports?

Nothing if your budget and desires allow for it, but given the choice of a great screen or a great room, I would spend my money on getting the room in shape first.

I also would like to see a comparison of this screen against others using typical home theater projectors as my testing in a bright room with a DNP screen (Supernova) was terrible using a home theater projector. You really needed a projector with more guts to it on light output.

 

[SnowmaNick]

Well, "Zero Edge" is a bit of a misnomer. SI states the bezel is 10mm (~.393 inches). But you'd still need to be dead on aiming the projector and setting it up. And hope that your projector doesn't move.

As for BMXTRIX's points about getting curtains, I think that they are targeting a different market. Many people (myself included) have stuck with/gone back to plasmas/LCD tv's because we can't or won't completely control for light.

The SI's are a very intriguing option for those of us with a dual purpose room (my theater is in my living room, and unless I win the lottery I won't ever be able to afford a house with a room just for gear, movies, and music. Feel free to check out housing prices in zip 92651). Black out curtains aren't always a feasible or desirable option either (and some of the fancier window treatment options can cost a lot more than this screen). People with dual purpose rooms have WAF considerations, light leakage from other parts of the house if it is a great room layout, or may just not like sitting in a dark room when they want to hang out and watch a movie or game with each other.

I think this is the market SI is going for, not those with a traditional HT room, or the ability/desire to completely control for light. For people who can treat the room, there are already plenty of great options available. The BD options, especially with the cool edge treatment and ability to mount just about anywhere, just expands who they can market to.

 

[majorloser]

Agreed, a room that is set up for watching movies may not be the perfect dual purpose room for sports entertaining. Extra light may not be avoidable, but sometimes a little extra light is wanted. I know in my theater I have LED lighting around the rear of the room so people can have light for eating and drinking. It also provides light for conversation and general moving about the room. It's great when freinds come over to watch football games. I would love to have a 100" plasma or LCD instead of a projection system so light would never be an issue, but I ain't part of the 1%.

 

[Adam]

"I have to settle for a front projection system in my dedicated home theater. I am the 99%."

 

[majorloser]

"I have to settle for a front projection system in my dedicated home theater. I am the 99%."

No, you're "The other 1%"

 

[BMXTRIX]

My concern, and something that I havne't seen put to the test, is a standard family room setup with a standard home theater projector with this type of screen.

My DNP test in a boardroom under flourescent lighting was absolutely TERRIBLE! With a business class 4,500 lumen projector (Sanyo) it was stunning. While a white screen was washed out, the DNP screen maintained contrast and had a ton of pop. But, the home theater projector didn't have the lumen output to produce a watchable image on the white screen, and then on the DNP it was simply drowned out.

This is, once again, where it seems like you have to be part of the 1% to get what you are dreaming of. A really good $10,000+ high lumen, theater oriented, projector with a ton of light output, along with the $3,000+ screen.

Might as well drop $10K on the 90" Sharp!

And if you livie in 92651 and have a home with a nice theater to go with your 4 bedroom home, then you are likely in at least the top 5%! I thought our area was pricey, but I'll take 4K sq. feet for $600K anyday over 1K sq. feet for $750K+!

 

[SnowmaNick]

Inherited the house, only way we could live here.

As for the performance of the BD screen, I'm with you. I'd love to see how one actually works in a living room with a $3k-$5K projector.

Beyond that, I'll just live with a 60"-70" LCD from Costco. Those 84"-90" LCD's should be under $6k within the next five years. I'm a patient man.

 

[BlakeSI]

Check out the videos

We have videos on our web site that show a Black Diamond 106" ($3499) Zero Edge in a family room with an Epson 6010 ($3200).

 

[BMXTRIX]

We have videos on our web site that show a Black Diamond 106" ($3499) Zero Edge in a family room with an Epson 6010 ($3200).

That's pretty good to see. The Epson 5010 is identical and around $2,500.

I just want to reiterate my point that the area that the projector is shown in is pretty well shaded from light and really isn't indicative of the typical family room in the modern open design home, but is more of an alcove design such as is common in no home I have ever seen before in my life.

I love the DNP screens - I am sure I would love the BD screens as well. We will likely have several installed over the next year in commercial jobs, but for home use the screens are still competing with rooms that are not going to be home theaters as often as family rooms and while the video was good, that looked nowhere near as good as basic blackout room home theater setup.

I'm more interested in just tests and results to see different situations with that screen in different environments with different projectors and how it may help or hinder the overall image quality in any given situation.

Anyone in a less than ideal situation, looking for the absolute best image quality possible, certainly should be looking at this screen.

But, I really start wondering why anyone would consider it in a room which has no windows and is painted a dark color with proper directional lighting throughout the space.

Thanks Blake for coming here and listening to my ramblings - can you tell I do A/V engineering for a living?

 

[CDNTheater]

Big still = 2 piece

Hi, just a different perspective,

Having a 115" Zero Edge Black Diamond screen, mine, yours (everybody's) only other option for that size of TV is a 103" Panasonic at $56,000!!!! Now that's expensive, + the mount, + the remodelling of your wall, +++++.

At $10,000 (and yes it will go down, but for now) for the 90" TV (plus all the mounting costs) a 113" Black Diamond screen and a good projector (Mitsubishi's new HC8000 at $2999) will now give you a very, very close, viewing experience to the TV, is 1.5x larger, 90" has 24 sq/ft of viewing surface vs. 37.6" sq/ft of viewing surface of the 113" screen and costs $6,949 (est.) Enough of a savings for a nice little trip for 2. $3,050 less!!

With the improvements and cost reductions of projectors over the past couple of years, going big still means 2 piece and with what Screen Innovations has done creating Black Diamond, 2 piece is bridging the performance gap to TV's very quickly (lights on or off). No more do you need a dedicated room. If your a gamer, its the only way to go! Grand Turismo 5XL on a 115" Zero Edge... unbelievable! You owe it to yourself to check it out and BD is not even the most expensive, other brand names (not going to mention) top white screens are more expensive and really really under-perform SI's BD. YouTube has some great short videos on why BD, very compelling and yes BD does make that big of difference. If there is anything constant in consumer electronics is that someone will find a way to make a better wheel...SI's Black Diamond is a much better wheel!
Thx!