A Discussion of FP Screens

I would like to enter into a discussion about Front Projection Screens.

I welcome anyone to join in that either has or has had a FP screen.

We can discuss:

1. Gain
2. Motorized versus Fixed
3. Perforated
4. Color of screen
5. CIH

I have owned (all by Stewart, all fixed):

1. A 1.0 white non perf.

2. A 1.0 white perf

3. A 3.0 Platinum perf

4. A 4.0 Silver perf.

This is my first PJ system.
Custom Carada 141" in 2.37AR Brilliant White.
Main reason for my choice...
BW is 1.4 gain and my throw distance is approx 21' + screen size being 141", i needed the extra pop.

Screen size was decided after projecting on the wall and when I found the size that worked for the room I ordered the custom size.

As for choosing Carada, I didn't want to break the bank and Carada had a good rep and they were very nice to deal with.

BTW my set-up is a constant image height set-up.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg44/farout777/IMG_5637.jpg

A truly handsome installation Farout.:thumbsup:

Did you do any research into using a screen other than a white?

How far back is the first seating spot? measured - eyes to screen center - in feet.

Thanx Lee!:hithere:
Seating distance is around 16'.
I looked into gray screens but at .8 gain I didn't think that was right for me, even though I have total light control.

So Lee your last 2 screens listed were 3 and 4 gain screens?

Thanx Lee!:hithere:
Seating distance is around 16'.
I looked into gray screens but at .8 gain I didn't think that was right for me, even though I have total light control.

So Lee your last 2 screens listed were 3 and 4 gain screens?

Yes - both were 1.78 AR 144"

My history of FP screens:

1990 - made my first real home theater - used my large Dining Room - 12 x 16 with a 10 foot ceiling. Built false walls to cover the windows then covered the walls with thick black carpeting. 3 recliners at the end of the room.

It was strictly for LD Letterbox movies so I ordered from Stewart, a 100" 1.85 AR 1.0 gain fixed screen. My PJ was a Panasonic PT101Y - a 480i PJ.

Mounted my speakers the same way as you have them in your photo. And I ran into a problem - I kept looking down at the front speaker instead of up at the screen. So I tried mounting it above the screen facing down at an angle - and that caused me to look up.

So I called Stewart and asked them about a perforated screen material that I had read about. They called it Micro perf (not the same as the THX perf). They told me that from 14 feet away - you can not see the perfs.

So I ordered a 100" Micro perf 1.0 - built another false wall and put the center channel directly behind the screen as it is in a commerical movie theater.

BINGO! Problem solved.

Then I built my second home theater (same house) in 1997 when the kids stopped using the basement (hehe - ALL MINE!). I had gone to the 1997 CES show in Vegas for the express purpose of looking for an HD PJ. Fell in love with the Zenith Pro 900. And their demo was on a 130" 1.78 AR white screen.

I talked with both Stewart and Zenith at the show - about using a larger screen - 144" and was concerned about the light drop off. Stewart recommended a Silver 400 as not only would it increase the gain but it would improve the contrast ratio as Silver screens are used for 3D applications.

Got it all installed and was very happy with the result. it looked even better than the demo I had seen in vegas . . . with one exception. It had a small "hot spot" about 2 feet to the right of screen center and it drew my eye to it all the time.

I stayed in touch with my contact at Stewart and one day he called me! He was calling to tell me that they had come up with a new screen material - a Platinum 300 - less gain than the Silver 400 but the "coating" was 100% uniform and they could guarantee it in writing. With the Silver 400 - I had to sign a waiver - they would do their best to get the coating evenly applyed and they almost did.

They gave me the P300 at cost - about 40% less than I paid for the S400 screen material and shipped it.

And I loved it even more! No hot spot and I still had outstanding contrast ratio without driving the controls of the PJ to 11.:lol:

It had a slight greyish tint to it as opposed to the silver which was . . . silver.

From the Plat. 300 research came their Gray Screens.

:crying: . . I miss my HT in Long Island.

Hey Lee, are you related to the Stewart Screen Empire?:D

Hey Lee, are you related to the Stewart Screen Empire?:D

:lol: - they put out a high quality product and spend as much time with you as you want - discussing their products.

Remember - they do commerical screens including IMAX screens.

Yes they are more expensive than most other screens.

Stewart is a very innovative company and that's all they do - sell screens.