Did I make the right choice? Help!!

[strongisland]

First, I like to thank all for the wealth of information here in this forum. I'm in the process of putting together a H.T. in my basement and have been totally relying on the information found in the forum. I have a PT-AX200u on order as well as a sheet of Wilsonart Fashion Gray, D381-60, 5x8. My basement is totally light controlled as there are only two small windows that will be blacked out. My question is, should I have gone with Designer White over the Fashion Gray? My throw distance is 12', ceiling mounted at 7.5' high with seating at 12'. Seeing how I just ordered the laminate yesterday I might be able to change this if its strongly recommended I do so. I know I'm asking after the fact but the more I read the more confusing it gets sometimes.


Thanks

[mechman]

I believe this is the pj that wbassett just bought.

It really all depends. What are your concerns? White is always good in a controlled light environment. And Designer White Laminate is the best DIY white out there (this opinion is soley mine and does not represent anything other than my opinion).

[Blaser]

This projector seems quite a light canon, well at least as powerful as mine (Pro UB). Indeed for anything smaller than 115" screen I would not go DW. Too bright and blacks will be raised quite a bit and I would not chose Wilsonart Fashion gray for anything bigger than 100" as well.
This being said, Mech and Bill are better placed to talk about any colour shift, also Bill has the same projector.
I kinda feel I have complicated your life ...Just have Bill's opinion and make your decision.

[strongisland]

mech,

I thought you were using FG. I read in several posts that this particular PJ is a light cannon and felt that the FG would be a better fit for it. At least in theory. LOL.

[mechman]

I am, for another week or two anyways.

mech

[Blaser]

Afternoon Mech,

After playing a while with my new projector, I am under the impression that a high gain screen will have a better effect on perceived contrast ratio, making blacks higher but white also quite a lot higher.
I don't know why but I am more and more falling in love with the BW screen

BTW, I have purchased a grey lens just to see what the image would look like, black levels were enhanced but the loss of pop concerned me. Indeed due to the pop of the BW screen without the lens added to the projector, I had the impression that the lens deteriorated the CR, and blacks appeared almost as equal though...

Any thoughts?

[mechman]

blaser wrote:

Afternoon Mech,

After playing a while with my new projector, I am under the impression that a high gain screen will have a better effect on perceived contrast ratio, making blacks higher but white also quite a lot higher.
I don't know why but I am more and more falling in love with the BW screen

BTW, I have purchased a grey lens just to see what the image would look like, black levels were enhanced but the loss of pop concerned me. Indeed due to the pop of the BW screen without the lens added to the projector, I had the impression that the lens deteriorated the CR, and blacks appeared almost as equal though...

Any thoughts?

Ahmed,

It's all a matter of choice/preference. And by the way folks Ahmed is talking about Carada's Brilliant White screen, not Black Widow.

Which grey lens did you get? And yes higher gain screens do tend to boost whites and what not. But that's all at a cost. The High Power is great for everyone within it's viewing cone. However folks like me who have people over to watch sporting events, have folks outside of that cone.

In my opinion, as digital projectors progress, high gain screens will be unnecessary. I couldn't imagine watching something on a High Power with either Bill or your projectors.

[Blaser]

When I said higher gain screens I meant something like the Brilliant White. Indeed it has a very good angle of view. I can't imagine watching anything on a higher gain screen than that as well.

The lens I bought is nothing to specs, I just saw it in a store, it was something very cheep that I bought for fun (just to imagine what a ND2 filter would do as an approximation)...

Indeed I am quite hesitant about reducing the light output from the projector, indeed picture appears sometimes very bright (above all on satellite material and commercials), but on movies that's another story. For ex. LOTR looks perfect, Finding Nemo as well, Ice age propably a bit too bright, but lot of POP and I am beginning to get used to it.

I am not sure I still want to sacrifice all that for darker blacks , and relatively speaking, the CR is still the same and I am under the impression the lens affects more the brightness of the picture than it enhances the blacks (that sure is an impression because mathematically speaking that is not true)....

[strongisland]

Is there anyone out there with a PT-AX200u using a laminate screen? If so, I would like to hear from you and find out your likes and dislikes with this set-up.

[cynical2]

strongisland wrote:

Is there anyone out there with a PT-AX200u using a laminate screen? If so, I would like to hear from you and find out your likes and dislikes with this set-up.

I have the predecessor (PT-AX100U) with DW in a light controlled environment. Initially, it struck me as brighter than I preferred (this was coming from a neutral grey OTS paint), and I regretted not getting FG instead. And, this is on a 150" diagonal 2:35 screen for movie viewing.

I was convinced that I was going to paint over it with BW. However, it's now quite pleasing to me (after about 6 weeks of viewing)...so now, I'm debating what to do.

The bottom-line is that I think you'll be thrilled with FG paired with the AX200. However, the only way to know for sure is to try it out and decide if it suits your taste. If it doesn't there's lots of other options that we can help you with. My bet at this point is that you're going to be quite content...but we shall see.

Good luck!