Am I thinking the right thing?

[ivseenbetter]

I am trying to build a theater room. It is roughly 29' long, 17' wide, and just under 9' tall. There are a few small window but I plan to use blackout curtains to control the light. I plan on painting the walls a paperbag brown and the screen wall and ceiling a much darker chocolate brown. I want 120" screen (on the width wall) and I am planning on using the panasonic 2000u projector. My seating position is roughly 13' back. Will I be served well by a simple white screen or do I need a gray screen? Oh, the projector will be ceiling mounted.

I will use this room a lot for movies but I do intend to use if for superbowl and UFC events as well when I will need a few lights in the background. Does this mean I will need a high gain screen?

Right now my plan is to get a White Cinetension 2 screen. I haven't been able to find many reviews on the 2 model but the original Cinetension seemed to do ok. I need an electric screen because it needs to drop down in front of a door.

Let me know if I am barking up the wrong tree with this screen. I can't spend 2 grand for a screen but I might be able to squeeze out 1 grand. I just don't want to make a mistake on this because I know the screen is important.

I modeled my room in sketchup located here: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...ae3294e4529063

[mechman]

Gray or white? It really will depend on the amount of light that's going to be hitting the screen. If it's not really going to be a lot of light I'd stick with the white. However, if you think there will be considerable amount of ambient light a gray screen wouldn't be a problem - as long as we're talking about the newer Panasonic AX200U. Is that the pj you have?

As for the Elite Cinetension, their CineWhite material is top notch. The High Gain material has a bit of graininess to it in bright white scenes. I haven't seen their gray material.

[ivseenbetter]

I am actually planning to purchase the PT-AE2000U. I thought the fact that it was 1080p would make it a better purchase over the AX200U. Of course, I have recently heard that the 200U gives such a good picture that it may actually be the better investment so I am a bit torn on that.

I have read that the Cinetension screen is good but when you say that, are you referring to the newer Cinetension 2 screen? I am wondering what they are doing differently to give it the "2" moniker.

Ultimately, I want to purchase a screen and projector for my room for around a total of 3K. It has to be motorized though because it drops down in front of a door. Right now I figure I can get the AE2000U and a Cinetension for right around my price limit. If I can find enough proof that the AX200U would give me a picture that is as good as the 1080p AE2000U (but brighter) than I would go for that and it would give me a better budget for the screen.

[mechman]

ivseenbetter wrote:

I have read that the Cinetension screen is good but when you say that, are you referring to the newer Cinetension 2 screen? I am wondering what they are doing differently to give it the "2" moniker.

I actually said their CineWhite screen material is good. I have had absolutely zero experience with motorized screens or pull down screens. And after checking out Elite's web page on their Cinetension 2 screen, CineWhite is not an option. Nor is the High Gain material. It only shows two options, Matte White and High Contrast Gray.

Can you confirm these are the only two options you have? I may have to get a hold of them again and get samples of all of their materials for spectrum images.

[ivseenbetter]

So far they seem to be my best option for a pull down/motorized screen in the price zone I want to pay. If there are other options I am open to suggestions. I would love to hear your opinion if you are able to get ahold of this for a review though.

[cynical2]

ivseenbetter wrote:

I am actually planning to purchase the PT-AE2000U. I thought the fact that it was 1080p would make it a better purchase over the AX200U. Of course, I have recently heard that the 200U gives such a good picture that it may actually be the better investment so I am a bit torn on that.

That choice depends a lot on seating distance and screen size. The closer you are to the screen, the more difference you'll see between the 1080p and 720p pjs.

[wbassett]

I own the AX200u. It is a very nice projector with no detectable pixel structure. It accepts 1080p/24 input as well. Projector Central described it as 'the poor man's 1080p projector'.

According to them, only with text can you really tell the difference and they said if a person wasn't told it wasn't a 1080p projector they would easily think it was.

I'd say it depends on the price difference too and what you're looking for. If you absolutely must have true 1080p, then the AE2000U is your only option between the two, but if you can be satisfied with the Ax200, that will be more money you can put towards your screen... just some food for thought.

[chas]

And after checking out Elite's web page on their Cinetension 2 screen, CineWhite is not an option.

According to this blurb...CineWhite = Matte White:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Elit...neTension2.htm