Projector screens!

[mizzou]

I've thought about just doing paint on the wall (it's an 8ft wall 24ft wide), but I think I'd like to have a motorized or pull-down screen instead.

What's everyone's favorite screens? I'm hoping to do 1920x1080 on a budget.

One worry I have is that a screen will have ripples and bends....a perfectly flat and smooth drywall surface will not.

 

[ControlD]

I briefly looked into a motorized screen when I recently setup my projector, and honestly to get anything decent is simply cost prohibitive.

I settled with a fixed frame screen for a fraction of the cost instead.

Will be interested to see what people here suggest. Maybe I missed the affordable pull down screens in my research.

 

[purbeast0]

im a fan of the dedicated frame on the wall as long as it's in a dedicated theater. my 120" screen was like $300 on amazon.

i had no interest in a pulldown or motorized screen because it's a dedicated theater room in my basement. i have no reason to retract the screen, plus it looks like a boss down there.

 

[Excelsior]

Do dedicated/wall. I loved having my Benq 1070 project straight on the wall.

 

[funboy6942]

Here is a motorized one for $118 shipped 120" 16:9....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorized-P...9&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=331610027972&rt=nc

 

[sdifox]

Fixed screen

 

[funboy6942]

I have a manual screen that since day one I have yet to put back in, is that not then a fixed screen

 

[sdifox]

I have a manual screen that since day one I have yet to put back in, is that not then a fixed screen

No. The edges are not even anymore on your screen. Having a frame to secure the screen and delay deformation is a big plus.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I've been trying to figure this out myself. My space is quite a bit more limited. I'm actually debating on even bothering with it for now since there's a decent chance I'll be moving in the next several months.

I got a $200 Best Buy gift card when I bought mine, and thought about getting the 120" Elite Screens "outdoor" version that Best Buy sells. There's also Visual Apex on Amazon that are bit better value (beyond 120" at least, can get a 144" one for $245, whereas a 135" Elite Screen is ~$300). Also the Visual Apex ones might be easier to work with (have collapsable frame, the Elite Screen I think might need tools to be put together), and can be used separate from the legs (if you want to hang it).

If I was settling into a stable living situation I'd probably create my own and use a curtain to adjust for the aspect ratio (which yeah would mean you'd lose size as you decrease the ratio but if you do it right it'd still be plenty).

 

[purbeast0]

Here is a motorized one for $118 shipped 120" 16:9....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorized-P...9&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=331610027972&rt=nc

i personally think that looks hideous. i wouldn't want my house to look like a classroom.

overall i really don't see the point of the retractable screens unless you have a tv behind it on the wall (which i've seen), or you have it hanging somewhere in the middle of a room that isn't up against a wall (which i've also seen). i just don't understand why one would want to roll it up if there is just a wall behind it with nothing on the wall. the empty wall with the ugly spool at the top and wires dangling down looks ugly especially compared to a framed screen.

 

[funboy6942]

i personally think that looks hideous. i wouldn't want my house to look like a classroom.

overall i really don't see the point of the retractable screens unless you have a tv behind it on the wall (which i've seen), or you have it hanging somewhere in the middle of a room that isn't up against a wall (which i've also seen). i just don't understand why one would want to roll it up if there is just a wall behind it with nothing on the wall. the empty wall with the ugly spool at the top and wires dangling down looks ugly especially compared to a framed screen.

Not to offend, but thats you. He asked, I provided. To each his own. I have a manual pull down, and I have yet to have anyone come to my house and have bitch and say "your screen looks like crap". I bought it because I was on a budget, and maybe he is too? $118 bucks is pretty cheap for a electric screen IMO for its a little more then what I paid for my manual. But my main point is, just because YOU find it useless doesnt mean he wouldnt, I just gave him what he asked for, and I have a pull down, and I find it just fine, and YES I had a fixed screen at one point in a 100", and like my 120" retractable just fine as well. I personally see no problem in either, but again, thats just me.

 

[ControlD]

I might be wrong on this, but when I was researching screens most of the cheap pull down / motorized screens were not tensioned. I'm sure they work, but you are at risk of having waves or ripples in a non-tensioned screen.

When you start shopping for retractable tensioned screens is when the cost really starts to go up. It all comes down to how much you want to spend and how important the finer details are really. I spent $249 on my 120" fixed screen, but that would never satisfy a home theater purist either.

 

[funboy6942]

The bottom bar on mine weighs a lot, which pulls down on the screen. Ive had mine for over 5 years now and its still flat with no waves and ive had it out since day one. Just saying. Its a cheap Elite screen, paid like $80 bucks for it at Tiger Direct. Not telling him which way to go, just giving him options too.

 

[ControlD]

The bottom bar on mine weighs a lot, which pulls down on the screen. Ive had mine for over 5 years now and its still flat with no waves and ive had it out since day one. Just saying. Its a cheap Elite screen, paid like $80 bucks for it at Tiger Direct. Not telling him which way to go, just giving him options too.

Cool, that's good to know.

When you start researching these things it is always hard to know what is necessary and what isn't. Especially if you end up at dedicated forums where this is a serious hobby for people.

I have a couple of friends that are looking at putting in projectors (I guess once you see one in action you start wanting one) so I will throw that option out there for them as well.

 

[purbeast0]

Not to offend, but thats you. He asked, I provided. To each his own. I have a manual pull down, and I have yet to have anyone come to my house and have bitch and say "your screen looks like crap". I bought it because I was on a budget, and maybe he is too? $118 bucks is pretty cheap for a electric screen IMO for its a little more then what I paid for my manual. But my main point is, just because YOU find it useless doesnt mean he wouldnt, I just gave him what he asked for, and I have a pull down, and I find it just fine, and YES I had a fixed screen at one point in a 100", and like my 120" retractable just fine as well. I personally see no problem in either, but again, thats just me.

that doesn't offend me, and yes that is me. that's why i said "i personally" as the first words of my post.

 

[eranical]

I recently setup a media room or theater and first wanted to go with a retracting screen since there are small kids at home and was worried they might damage the screen. However when I started researching and calculating the cost I decided to go with a DIY fixed frame screen. For about $100 I made a 138" screen. I used 1*3 wood from home depot and black out cloth from amazon. The effort was worth it. Compared to some friends who went with retracting screens they never put up my picture quality is great. It possibly could be better with even more expensive cloth but for my family this is enough..

 

[Exterous]

I've thought about just doing paint on the wall (it's an 8ft wall 24ft wide), but I think I'd like to have a motorized or pull-down screen instead.

What's everyone's favorite screens? I'm hoping to do 1920x1080 on a budget.

One worry I have is that a screen will have ripples and bends....a perfectly flat and smooth drywall surface will not.

Depending on your room use I would say forget the motorized\pull down option. I got one incredibly cheaply but never retracted it so I disconnected the power cable from it and never looked back.

I moved and the new owner bought most of my stuff so I have been looking into what to do in my new room. It seems spandex is a great screen material and insanely cheap if you want to go the DIY route

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/110-diy-screen-section/1436181-110-diy-spandex-screen.html
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/110-diy-screen-section/1458217-135-diagonal-2-35-1-white-milliskin-over-light-silver-milliskin-spandex-screen-build.html?highlight

I'm going to give that a try when I start my new home theater room build in a couple of months