CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

freidich · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:38 am Post subject: screens for crt

What are the characteristics of a good screen for CRT's? Other than a gain <1.3, is there anything I should know? Is it possible to judge the quality of a used screen on craigslist in person? And what are the best brands/reasonable prices to spend on such a screen? Thanks again guys.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

How much are you willing to spend?

What Size?

Do you want to build your own frame or get a complete screen and frame?

Athanasios

freidich · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:54 am Post subject:

I haven't really determined a budget and anything from 80" to 200" for a screen. I was more interested in seeing how much x dollars gets you vs 2x vs 4x, etc. Also if I were to find a high-quality used screen, is it possible to see flaws in it without watching a movie on it or spending a lot of time? And I have no problems with building the frame if it saves a lot of money, but if the price is comparable, a complete solution is preferred.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Well of all the companies I have dealt with or asked for screen material prices Hurley Screens had the best prices.
I go their 1 gain MW-16 lace and grommet material. a 13 foot 2.4 aspect screen was under 400 dollars I think.

Very inexpensive and a nice material.

Athanasios

Phoenixed · Joined: 13 Oct 2011 Posts: 514 Location: The mitten

I made mine from Wilson Art (~1.5gain) after using a Jamestown screen. Jamestown was around $250 and he uses SMX Centerstage (~1.0gain) material which is acoustically transparent. Both are 100"

freidich · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:06 am Post subject:

Are any of the Stewart or Da-lite screen materials particularly good or particularly bad for CRT's? Also, thoughts on manual and electronic pull down screens? I understand that the screen is more prone to wrinkles, but is this less of an issue with high end screens from Stewart or Da-lite?

freidich · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:07 am Post subject:

for front projection. This is the list of current stewart screen materials. http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/residential/resources/screen_materials_overview/screen_materials_overview_residential.html

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 1356

If cost was not an issue I'd order Stewart Studiotek 130 G3 screen material. Its finer grained than the original ST 130 formulation. I tried Videomatte 200 but experienced significant 'sparklies' with the G90 to the point that it was unacceptable. If you have total light control try the ST130.

If you are floor mounting the projector take a serious look at the Dalite HP. Very little hotspotting which is often the achiles heal of high gain screens. For the performance its a fantastic bargain.

KellenerSptM5 · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 198

I used Seymour AV's Center Stage XD and had really good results. It's a acoustically transparent screen, not sure if you want or need that. They sell it by the foot for DIY, I believe I dealt with a guy by the name of Chris when I ordered my material. He was very helpful.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:34 pm Post subject:

KellenerSptM5 · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 198

Phoenixed · Joined: 13 Oct 2011 Posts: 514 Location: The mitten

Centerstage is awesome stuff. Specially for the DIYer.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

I am thinking of going with HP for my floor mount CRT. It would make it easier when I switch to digital to shelf mount the pj.

LOTREE · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:17 am Post subject:

I'll second the WilsonArt, durable, scrubbable, washable. Completely satisfied with mine. I paid $94 for 49" width x 8'. An aluminium U channel frame can be built for around $70-$80 or less, depending on the price of material in your area. L brackets, bolts, lock nuts and a long roll of velcro and you're set. A laminate trimmer or router with laminate bit is required though.

Ile · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:07 pm Post subject:

Been used Draper M1300 material (framed diy) and Stewart studiotek 130 (tab-tensioned roll down) in previous systems.

My current screen is diy laminate screen and it's so close to those much higher priced screen materials, that there's no reason to go back.

Laminates around 1.3 gain is bit high for my taste (like studiotek), so color sift bothers around IRE90-100 area. There guite few movies with long full white fields, so it's not real problem. Very Happy

M1300 was more like 1.2 gain. I really liked that material alot, but wanted bigger screen and went with laminate.