which screen to build in HT/Game room

[bgw599]

I just received my HC720 today. It is my first projector and my first HT that I will be setting up in my finished basement.

Room info:
The room does have some ambient light but I can control the lighting pretty well. With that being said I also use the room as a game room so there would be times that I would want ambient light. Room size 13x 25. Screen size I would like is 110". Right now all walls are white but I can paint any color if that will help with PQ.

Here are the types of screens I have been looking into and why:

Wilsonart DW - 5x10 sheet Build a frame or pegboard mounting.
I like this option because No painting of screen.
not sure if painting walls will help this screen with ambient light.

Wisonart fashion gray - 5x10 sheet frame or pegboard mount
May have to put 2 coats of poly on it to get rid of hot spots
this screen is suppose to be better that DW in ambient light.


I aslo heard of Wilsonart platnium but not sure if anyone has any data on it.


BOC - Build frame and stretch blackout cloth over it.
This may be cheaper than laminate but not sure how the PQ matches up against laminate. No painting is another benefit. Unless of course I need to have the screen gray for ambient light.

Paint - I could paint the screen but I am not to confident in my painting abilities. I also have a 4' foundation so I have a shelf around the perimeter of the room not sure how hard it would be to match the existing sheetrock and then paint.

Buy a screen from eBay or monoprice - Electric Projection Screen (108 inch, 16:9) not sure how they match up against the DIY screens and I kind of like the built in look but this is still currently one of my options.


Any thoughts on what screen might be best for my situation?

[wbassett]

Welcome to the Shack bgw!

What brand is that projector? That way we can look up the specs and get a better idea of what will work with it and your setting.

Last question (for now ) what's your budget?

[bgw599]

Thanks wbassett,

my projector is an EPSON Home Cinema 720.
For a budget I would like to stay under $300

[wbassett]

Okay I see you as having around 16fL of light at the screen, which is excellent. You don't have to worry about gain, and you can handle a screen down to an N8 in shade. Since you will have a game room too and occasionally have lights on, I'd recommend an N8 shade.

Your budget is pretty open and allows for a wide variety of screen options, DIY or commercial.

So now the question is, what is your preference? DIY, commercial, paint, no paint (there are both commercial and DIY screen paints, so painting applies to either preference).

[cynical2]

Given bgw's aversion to paint, WA Platinum might be a good option...mech was talking to someone that was going to try it out. This was maybe a month ago...did they ever close the loop and say if they had any hot-spotting issue that required a topcoat?

[bgw599]

I would preffer DIY my budget can go up to $300 but the more I save the more I can use towards other things.

I would prefer not to paint but I will if it will make a big difference in picture quality.

[mechman]

Well laminate's not $300!! How'd you like to be the Wilsonart Platinum guinea pig? No one has stepped up to the plate yet. If it does hotspot I've got better stuff than the Behr products for a topcoat!

mech

[bgw599]

I don't mind being a guinea pig, but keep in mind I am a newbie so I have nothing to compare the Platinum to. Well that really isn't true I borrowed a screen from someone at work so I could compare it to that. I would be willing to give it a shot if I had some direction on how to do some testing and comparisons. Is the Platinum suppose to be in-between the FG and the DW?

FYI
I did fire up the projector last night just connected to a SD DVD player and I was impressed with the picture. It was displayed on the 80" screen that I borrowed. I am sure that I will have to do some calibration and fine tuning on the brighter settings but it handled the ambient light well.

[rookie88]

is there any more to this thread and if so where do i find it? i'm looking at the same scenerio and find this very helpful

[bgw599]

That was the end of the thread. I did not go with the Platinum. I ordered a 5X10 sheet of Wisonart DW yesterday from HD. I went with the DW because I am planning on painting the screen wall black and building a stage on the floor and ceiling also black (figure that will cut down on reflection). I am also painting the walls which are white a darker color (probably a slate blue) and the ceiling will be a lighter shade of the wall. With the darker colors and pretty well controlled lighting I thought the DW was the best choice.

[rookie88]

Hey, how is that pj working for you? It sounded pretty good when i was looking for them online.I plan on going with the same pj but i am going to paint my wall(i'm pretty handy at tinkering). I have yet to dig in my pockets though, probably will by the end of the month. The problem i'm having is finding color samples before shelling out of pocket. I got the formulas for the grays of SW paints but i would like to find something comparable at say wally world.

Does the pj give you a good pic. on the DW with and without light? I have a bright white ceiling but expect to paint it to reduce glare. My walls are a sky blue (I think the color is called salisbury) but looking into a red. If you have any pics could you post them it would be helpful to me(and the wife).

I'm new at this thread chat and completely oblivious to the digital picture loading online but willing to give it a shot.

Thanks,

steve