bjmarchini asked:
I don’t want to spend more than $100 for a screen and am only looking for a screen 60-80″.
I don’t want to spend more than $100 for a screen and am only looking for a screen 60-80″.
I have read online about goo systems, but I live in an apartment and don’t want my landlord to freak out.
I see alot of manual screens for less than 100, and read reviews where a diy type of frame costs more.
Will I get descent results with a manual screen versus a diy type of thing? I **** spending the time and money to try and build a screen that is no better or maybe worse than a budget already built screen.
Create your own ideas
Go for the Elite screen. Depending on the screen fabric they are using I doubt the DIY is going to buy you much more than a plain old manual screen.
weeder
The issue with cheap pull down screens is that they tend to wrinkle up or take the form of the role when not used for a bit.They can also blow around if a fan or a/c is on. Fixed is always preferred but not always pratical.
Elite screens are good commercial screens and even a cheap one should work fine. Most screen look good when you can’t see a comparison. Just look out for a silly high gain like something over a 2 and you should be ok. Also make sure the screen is gray and not bright white, it shows better blacks.
I built a screen once. It looked nice and was really easy but i probably would never do it again. Just not cost and time effective
Great question about manufactured screens vs. do-it-yourself (DIY) screens.
If you decide to make the screen yourself you will be close to hitting the $100 mark just for materials. The next question is how much is your time worth? You will spend hours prepping, painting, constructing and deconstructing your DIY screen in an apartment. When you move you are left with nothing. Also, the video quality of a projected image on a painted wall is subject to inconsistencies in the texture on the wall. The light will reflect off of the wall texture in randomn and inconsistent angles creating inconsistent brightness.
Buying a manufactured screen will give you better control over your video image. These screens are created for the purpose of reflecting light perfectly off of the screen so that you get the best image possible. Of course different screen companies do it better than others but the general idea is that they do it right.
I have used my wall as a screen and I have used a fixed frame projector screen. I love the color accuracy, image clarity, better contrast and consistant brightness I get with my screen. It was worth the upgrade for watching movies, HD programming and video games.
Last tip. If you have the space for a fixed frame screen it would be better than a pull down. Pull down screens will blow in your air conditioning (especially the cheap ones) and distort your image while you are watching it. A fixed screen is fixed on the wall and is the best way to control the screen surface so you get the best picture.
I have a Tribal Projector Screen and love it!!!