Hi,

I am in the process of building a new screen. I like da-lite. While I think Stewart is probably better, the price increase is simply too high for me to justify.

I have endlessly searched threads to get a glimpse of peoples' experiences. I have been able to get some info, but I thought it would be helpful to me as well as many other people to have a thread that really focuses on these materials and how they compare to one another.


If possible can we focus on:
-Cinema Vision
-High Contrast Cinema Vision
-Matte White
-High Contrast Matte White



My experience is as follows:
-----------------------------------
Matte White - Excellent material. Never had a problem. Great color. The only issue is that it washes out the minute a tiny bit of light is introduced.

HCCV - I just received it. I have attached it to a frame. I don't notice a negative impact to color. Perhaps a slight impact on brightness (I compensate by switching out of the PJ's econo mode). Better than MW with small amounts of ambient light. My biggest problem: on brighter scenes (daytime scenes), I see the material. When the scene pans, the image moves but the material texture remains still. Very distracting. It reminds me that the image is being projected on something.

Some of my questions:
------------------------------
1) Does one of the materials I identified above, keep the advantages of HCCV and matte white, but more importantly without the pitfalls I mentioned?

2) Does CV have the same negative properties of HCCV?

3) Is HCMW or CV the best compromise?

Just for reference- what kind of projector are you using?

Hi, HT510 with the intent to replace in 12-18 months. I am very happy with the projector so far.

Well,
I was able to resolve my issue of wrinkles in the corner by putting some good old fashioned muscle into it! In addition, I mounted the screen in its final position: hanging approx. 1 inch infront of the wall.

My updated feeling about HCCV.................................WOW. I am not sure whether the fact that originally for testing purposes, having the screen leaning against the wall (thus slightly angled) had a negative impact, but what a difference a day makes. My latest experience is worlds apart from my initial experience.

I watched
--------------
HDTV: NCAA basketball, PBS Concert Special, various shows
DVD: Twisted (Ashley Judd)

The picture was stunning. And I was even able to watch with some light over our seating area for a more everyday experience.

What I saw
---------------
rich vibrant color
excellent sharpness
very good contrast

What I didn't see
----------------------
streaks
sparklies

I'll keep you posted!

I just bought some HCCV material from another forum member and made my own screen. In a word, HORRIBLE!!!! I mean HORRIBLE. Screen texture is so visible it's not even funny. Not just on a bright uniform images but on any type of image where there's a relatively brighter area. The screen texture also gives the image a constant grainy look. I'm not sure if I got conned with some lame material or if this is what the newer HCCV's look like, but I advise everyone to stay away from this material.

I'm actually going to paint the HCCV material over with white paint because I can't stand it. Flat white painted wall will look better than this screen.

I will tell you that the two things that made a difference for me were being sure the projector was perpendicular to the screen and that the screen was properly tensioned. It took about 3 days of being properly tensioned for the screen anomolies to go away. Are you sure its HCCV?
I purchased from a da-lite authorized internet seller. Nothing was extra (velcro, black border, etc.). The price was rediculously low. PM me for info if you like.

yup, properly tensioned and as perpendicular as it's gonna get, no keystoning used or anything. I used to have a HCMW and had no problems with it. Figured HCCV would be safe but it reminded me of my old Draper M2500. I'll play around with the screen/pj alignment but I'm doubtful.

I'm either going to a carada BW or a high power next. For now, it's gonna be my white painted HCCV LOL.

loganross,

I am looking at the DaLite screens also but with a Panny 900.

All light controlled except for the walls being tan on the top half and an occasional game on with some ambient lighting.

Would the matte white be washed out with the ambient light (just enough to see where you are walking) on those occasional games?

If the projector is ceiling mounted, at about 6'10" with a 15' throw, do you think the material's texture will be seen during the bright scenes described above?

Thanks
Craig

Hi, I am definately no expert. What I can tell you is that with matte white, it was very easy to wash out the screen. I have had no objections to the brightness characteristics of the HCCV. HAve you read the reviews over at projectorcentral.com

Read and reread. I would like to go with the Stewart Firehawk based on the reviews but I think that is definitely out of my budget.

Thanks for the comment on the HCCV. I think that is what was holding me back on that material.

We'll see. I will be making the decision in the next day or two.

I would also be wary of Da-lite, especially the HCCV material. Went through 3 batches of hccv material that all exhibited a fair amount of 'streaking', that is noticeable during pans of light backgrounds. The screen texture is noticeable but less objectionable to me than the streaks. The worst part is that Da-lite didn't acknowledge the issue and wouldn't refund my money without a 20% restocking fee. Even though there are numerous reports of streaks and sparklies Dalite is denying any issues with their material.

Thanks for the heads up. More info, more confusion but at least the decision will be educated.

I have a 110" homemade screen using HCCV. I have a Pany Ae700 projector. Couldn't be happier. Images are great, no issues with textures or such as reported by others here.

Just my 2c worth

Seems like the defects with this screen can vary. Mine did not have any streaking but the screen texture + sparklies was very visible.

I just painted my HCCV with 6 coats of white paint... took an entire evening, but the picture is worlds better now.

I had the AE900U and 3 samples from Dalite (2'x2'): da-mat, matte white + HCCV. Frankly I couldn't see much difference between these. The HCCV was little bit darker overal and showed better blacks but then overal brightness also decreased.

I tried several light settings (my room is completely light controlled) and the HC fabric didn't look much better at little bit ambient light (all not great).
Not sure if I did something wrong and maybe the samples were too small.

I'd like to use a 133" 16:9 screen so I can always go smaller if I need to.
I looked at the perm-wall & da-snap and the price difference is big ($600).
Does anyone know where one could buy just the fabric and if that would save money?

Thanks
Luc

Luc48,
PM me for info

Just want to let everyone know I have a tensioned electric dalite hccv screen and with the panny 900 it is awesome. Had htiq make me a motorized horizontal mask for 2:35.1 just great.

hi william06,
do you have the tensioned cosmo. electrol?
who is htiq and can you link us to something illustrating the mask set up?
thanks,
eric

Im lookin to get a panasonic ae900u and pair it with a home grown dalite screen. Hopin to go with the HCCV. I do a bit of woodworking so i got the tools to build up a nice face frame.

I just need a good source for official dalite HCCV material. How does one get this? Also how do I get samples? Do I just call up dalite and ask them to ship me some? Do samples cost more than shipping cost?

I checked the sellers at the top of the forum but none appeared to sell the raw dalite material :(

Da-lite recommended thefinalclick.com. I bought from them and the price was fantastic. No additional charge for sewn on black border or velcro. AVScience is also an authorized reseller.

Cool. thks.

Im wondering now if I should make provisions for my screen to be removeable so I can send it to the dry cleaner for cleaning? Or is windex sufficient? in which case ill staple the screen to the board.

The material is of a vinyl nature. Not sure you could take it to the cleaners.

I just need a good source for official dalite HCCV material. How does one get this? Also how do I get samples? Do I just call up dalite and ask them to ship me some? Do samples cost more than shipping cost?


I got the High Power sample directly from Da-Lite. No charge for the sample or shipping. All Free.

Mike

Da-lite recommended thefinalclick.com. I bought from them and the price was fantastic. No additional charge for sewn on black border or velcro. AVScience is also an authorized reseller.

how is the quality of the sew job and the black material?

I ordered 6 samples from Dalite today. Looking forward to "That Quality Experience" :D

Sewing quality and amterial quality is very good. It makes stretching the material around the frame safe and less likely to cause a tear.

One note, if you are stretching around the frame, be sure to give special instructions to "carve out" the corners of the material. Without carving out the corners, the material is so thick that wrapping the corner material around the frame is not very feasible.

I will confess that the black viynl material is not as light absorbing as black velvet. In addition, if you don't stretch the material evenly then your border won't be even.

Well I got 5 samples instead of the 6 I asked for. Missing sample being the HCCV :mad: Also my samples are not 2'x2' they are bout 6"x6" :mad:

I can't tell nothing with these samples. As it stands the whitest looks the best. I'll probably end up going with the whitest sample I can find with the lowest gain.

I don't thats the way to go. I would decide what your viewing conditions and viewing material are. Then I would pick the material best suited for those conditions. At the very worst, if you don't like your first choice, you can exchange (subject to a 20% restocking fee). I was very concerned about getting hccv. Now that I have it I love it.

What are your viewing conditions and source material?

Movies viewed is very low light thats directed away from the screen. Sports viewed in moderate light thats still directed away from the screen.

Da-lite representative recommended the Da-mat or the Cinema Vision. I have to concur with their recommendations. However, I am also personally still considering the HCCV or the HCDa-mat. Leading toward the HCDa-Mat since I don't need all the gain. CV might be overdoing it with the gain, though I do have economy mode for my bulb if required. At least they helped me rule out the Matte White and HC Matte White since those are fiberglass.

Not sure about cinema vision, but i can share my experience. Originally I had da-lite matte white (a pulldown screen). The room I have has total controllable lighting. For example, all lights are recessed so they point down and not at the screen. Even when I had just the lights that were over the seating area on very low, there was a negative impact to the image. Now that I have HCCV, I can have the lights on over the seating area at about 40% and there is almost no impact to the image. When we just watched movies at night I didn't care, but now with HD TV there are many times when we have company over where we don't want the room to be pitch black. I could not do this with the matte-white but the HCCV has met my requirements. Not sure what pj you have, but I have an NEC HT510 rated at 1000 lumens, I am happy using the projector in either economy or normal lamp mode. The 1.1 gain of the HCCV is also a non issue. Projector Central also has a very objective test of screen materials, including relative gain measurements. Check it out.

To all of those planning to buy screen material from Dalite - there is another option, but there's also a few caveats. The first, is that your screen size cannot be larger than 110" diagonal, which in my opinion is large enough for most rooms. And, I've fooled around with different sizes, and it seems that once you go much larger than 110", the picture quality starts to suffer, even with a 1280x720 resolution. The second, is that you cannot use HCCV material for your screen.

Anyway, the trick is to buy a Dalite model B pulldown screen. Believe it or not, if you find a discounted dealer, purchasing the model B is cheaper than buying the material itself. So, you can just buy the pulldown, and then cut the material from the casing at the top, and the tension bar at the bottom. The materials available are matte white, HCMW, glass beaded, high power, and video spectre 1.5. I purchased my last 72x96" model B from a dealer on ebay for less than $200 + shipping - and then cut it down to ~ 96x54" (110" diag).

I have a manual pulldown Da-lite Model B matte white screen and I just love it.

I tried one of those Grey Wolf screens and all the white areas looked like they had glitter on them.. I then ordered this screen. While I was waiting for it I used a matte white window shade...LOL It is much brighter than the shade with higher resolution.

I painted the white case black with copper end caps, then put black and yellow caution tape acorss the top to match my room.. which is a Sci Fi theme.

Love it.

For the money, the model B's are hard to beat, and I've been very pleased with every one I have owned. However, a problem can arise when using model B pulldowns. Occasionally, users may experience a wave effect in the screen material. Usually, the severity of the problem varies from screen to screen, with most users reporting no waves, while others have found the waves to be quite severe. One method for diminishing the waves, if they are very slight, is to leave the screen in the down position for a period of time, which tends to smooth out the material. In addition, certain materials make the waves more apparent than others. HCMW and HP seem to make any waves present not noticeable, while Video Spectre and MW materials may tend to highlight the waves under certain conditions. This highlighting usually occurs when stray ambient light shines on the screen from an oblique angle. Of course, none of these problems pertain to those cutting up the screen for the material. Also, Dalite has replaced screens for those customers who have experienced a problem with the model B.

Good post. the screen I just replaced is a Model - B. I also like your idea about buying cutting (except for the potential of a big hunk of metal being dumped instead of recycled). The thing is though that you stated that you could not get HCCV, which is also a good screen material. Also, the material alone is very inexpensive, even when buying from certain certified da-lite dealers (as low as $258 for 110" HCCV). In addition, I like the idea of getting the material with velcro or loop holes and border sewn on.

Thanks, I didn't realize that dealers were offering discounts off the cut to size material prices listed on the Dalite web site. As an example, HCMW is listed on the site as $8.20/sq ft and High Power is listed as $24.00/sq ft. With a 110" diagonal screen, which is approximately 36.6 square feet, the costs would be $300 and $878 respectively. In addition, they show a border installation price of $.80/sq ft, which would lead to an additional $30 cost. Because I assumed these figures were valid, I was led to believe that the model B cut-up solution, was the best option for those looking for the lowest price/sq ft. If the material is in fact cheaper than I assumed, then perhaps I'll build a monster screen for my back yard as a goof. Hey, It'll be like the drive-in all over again. No more making out in the back seat though.

Can someone explain the difference between the High Contrast Cinema Vision and the High Contrast Matte White screens? They both have 1.1 gain, 50 deg viewing angle, and the descriptions of the two on the Dalite site seem almost identical. ???

The HCMW material appears white, while the HCCV material is grey in color. The HCCV material tends to offer a better black level in comparison to the HCMW, especially when there is some ambient light in the room. And although both screens have the same gain rating, images tend to appear somewhat brighter with the HCMW surface.

Thanks Dibenzlyacetone (you're an organic chemist?). I was confused because the description of the HCMW says 'gray base material'; I guess it just doesn't show up as gray, like the HCCV.

Thanks Dibenzlyacetone (you're an organic chemist?).
Actually no, I'm just a lowly, older pre-med student. As such, when I attempted to find a user name associated with my first name (Dan), everything I attempted to use was unavailable. At that point, I then tried - at length - other related names to no avail. So, I decided to use the name of a compound (dibenzylacetone) that I was required to synthesize in organic chemistry lab. So I thought; who the hell would possibly have taken this user name - and thankfully, I was correct. As an aside, Dibenzylacetone was used many years ago as a component in sun screen lotions, because of its ability to absorb ultraviolet light. However, it was not the healthiest thing in the world to slather on your skin, so it was supplanted by other compounds.

I was confused because the description of the HCMW says 'gray base material'; I guess it just doesn't show up as gray, like the HCCV.
To my eyes (I've used this screen material), the HCMW seems to be comprised of a gray base coat, that is then just barely covered with a white top coat.

Regards,
Dan

The Matte White screens are fiberglass, the CinemaVision screens are Vinyl. Vinyl stretches, fiberglass does not IIRC.

I tried a couple of their screens and ended up with a Model C, high powered.

I really prefer the High Powered screen with my Infocus 7200.

The 7200 is a light cannon and with a high gain screen, the end result looks VERY vibrant and VERY bright.

HD looks amazing on it.

The Matte White screens are fiberglass, the CinemaVision screens are Vinyl. Vinyl stretches, fiberglass does not IIRC.

It depends, a model B with Matte White material has no fiberglass backing.

I just got my model B high power and I love it. I can't believe what a nice job it does rejecting off axis ambient light. It basicaly amplifies only light coming directly at it. It's funny, I have a computer desk and a strong light about 45degrees off axis and I can see the shine from the light at the desk, if I move over to the seating area I just see a flat screen, until I turn on the projector and it looks very nice. My room is pretty long (pj 20ft from screen at 6'6" high, seats at 14" and 19") but I must say I think this is a very nice screen especially at $273 for 106in model B.

I had a wall painted with a mist evening grey which looked nice with all the lights out but was worthless with any lights on really. I can now watch anything during the day (light controlled for the most part) with lights on without a problem. I really can't believe what a difference this screen made. No big dropoff in brightness, it seems very linear moving from one side to the other. I did a lot of debating on this or HCCV/Graywolf or similar and I am really happy I went with the high power. The extra gain is really apparent and for anything but really dark movies is great with ambient light. I think the gain more than makes up for any lack of contrast from a gray screen.

Glad to hear that. I am building my first theater, and I am on a low/tight budget for construction (DIY) and equipment. I have been overwhelmed by all the options and factors when trying to choose a screen. Long story short, I purchased a panny AE900u which I am thrilled about and just bit the bullet and ordered a 106" HP Model B. It will be in a basement, 95% control over lighting. As of now, I love seeing the projected image on my textured plaster wall so I think I will be extremely happy with an actual screen. It was just very difficult to choose a screen and then material. Thankfully there is a ton of info out there on this site and others which helped keep me sane. Looking forward to receiving my Da-Lite HighPower Model B!

I have a 116" wide 16:9 HCCV Da-Lite and could not be more pleased with the picture quality. I certainly don't get the feeling that I'm looking at something being projected--colors appear life-like and three-dimensional, and the construction quality is top-notch. Highly recommended.

It depends, a model B with Matte White material has no fiberglass backing.

According to the dalite representative, Matte White and High Contrast Matte White are both fiberglass. I have samples of both and they both are not elastic like the Da-Mat or Cinema Vision. NOt sure what you mean about backing as I didn't know backings were included in the descriptive name.

The Matte White versions feel and look like a rigid canvas material. The da-mat versions are smooth textureless and vinyl. The CinemaVisions are smooth and vinyl but they have a sparklyness to them like automotive or model car paint. The da-mat high contrast is much darker than the cinema vision high contrast. The regular da-mat is definitely "white." While the regular Cinema Vision is a bit golden IMHO. Aha, thats probably why I like the cinema vision on faces, but the HCCV for architectural shots. CV is more skin tone colored. However, I have all pieces on the wall now and am not optimizing my projector for each one for a fair comparison.

I'm leaning strongly toward the CV myself.

Hi,
I have been getting a lot of PMs stating that the HCCV pricing that I paid was way below what is currently being quoted. I am suprised. At first, I thought that maybe they made a mistake when I placed my order, but I had received qoutes in the same range from other vendors.

My general suggestion is to shop around. Also, Da-Lite will provide a list of vendors, including online vendors. In addition AV Science is a vendor and their price was very competitive.

avscience never returned my email.

Im having trouble choosing between cinema vision and HCCV. It seems like the CV is golden skin tone and the HCCV is blueish and gives a high tech feel. Excellent for buildings and structures. The HCCV is only very slightly darker than the CV. I think im gonna pull the trigger and get the CV. Time for the price dance.

HCCV is slightly cooler than CV according to reviews. however, I have always compensated using the source picture controls so it never bothered me. My projector (NEC HT510) has a number of presets. Rather than manuually calibrate, I selected the preset i found most pleasing. The result was 100% compensation for the coolness of the screen.

I definitely feel HCCV has a bit of blue in it if that is what is meant by cool. While the CV has a bit of tan, you could say the CV is 'warm.' :)

I think the HCCV has less color than the CV though. I like the CV plain as i like its color, but I really suspect the HCCV will clean up nicer. ANd it does not matter if its light or dark, they both have about the same contrast to me with the edge going to HCCV. And when it is dark the HCCV laooks almost exactly like the CV. I wonder if the CV is taking some of its color from my incandescents...

Decisions decisions. I think I'll ask my wife to pick :p

How would you characterize the HighPower in terms of 'cool' and 'warm'? (I know it's brighter.) And wrt ambient light, how would you characterize the effectiveness of the HP and the HCCV (the HP dealing with it via it higher brightness and narrower viewing angle, and the HCCV via its gray screen)?

The HP screen shouldn't change the color balance significantly, because it's a white colored screen with a very high gain. And since the screen is retroreflective, it's primarily reflecting the light from the projector, back towards the projector area, and the viewer. Thus, ambient light that strikes the screen from other angles, tends not to be reflected towards the viewer. This can be compared to how a house cat's eyes seem to light up when the light source and the viewer are lined up with one another. Also, have you looked at this thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=261808&page=1&pp=30

bump

I've been using a manual pull model C matte white 11-foot diag. the worst part for me is my room has alot of light pigments since I was not allowed to make that part of the basement 'a dungeon.' I have 2-zone recessed lighting: 6 cans in the front part (closer to the screen) and 4 cans in the back part. I can kill the front zone, and dim the back zone. Despite the lack of dark pigments, I can get a very enjoyable view and still be able to see enough to walk around and see other viewers. the back zone is back far enough not to interefere directly with the screen/ all this using a Panny PT-L300U (waiting for Panny AEx00 1080 PJ).

Anybody here have the Panny AE900U

I have a room with lots of windows. Dont really watch TV during the day but want the option (if possible)

Dark walls, planning on wall mount if possible. Projector 12-15 feet away from screen. Planning to get 106 inch screen.

Should I go with HCCV or CV??

Thanks

Hey, just wanted to thank all the HP owners who declared their love for HP and persuaded me not to get another type. I concluded that just about everyone who has one loves it, and you can count me in!

I am using it with my Panasonic 900, which I have on the back wall above the couch, a couple feet above viewers' heads.

The blacks look really black to me. Everything looks great, has the pop of a plasma.

Sharpness drops off as little bit beyond the side of the screen, but is still highly watchable even at extreme angles.

A little advice about the snapping process. Took a lot of work and cursing before I figured out a way to do it.

The HP screen material is not very flexible. It's a two person job. You have to put the screen face down with the snap side UP (contrary to the instructions). Snap lengthwise starting from either end, then go to the opposite side, snap two, then back, snap two, etc. (they don't tell you this). Then do the sides starting at the middle, again alternating opposite sides. The final corner required a little nudging of the snap by hammering a screwdriver at the base of the snap, though yours may fit more perfectly. For HP, use the special HP brackets for the bottom instead of the 2nd rail, because the HP is not flexible enough for the bottom rail (you'll understand when you get it). And actually, I used neither, the special HP brackets would have been slightly visible. It's not completely flush with the wall at the bottom, but is barely noticeable unless you are looking to see if it's flush at the bottom.

Hello. What is your opinion on my Da-Lite screen?
Model C 60cm Black Drop 16:9 132x234cm HC Matte White (93227C) 895.00 €
Is this looking OK to you? I kind of expected little better quality:

I was looking at the Costco website today and saw that they are carrying some Dalite screens--but didn't see any HighPowers among them. Does anyone know whether or not you can get a HighPower from Costco?

Bill;


Costco does not carry the HP from da-lite. I did some research a while back and they only carry one fabric which is not HP.


Cheers

Does anyone know where one can buy a HighPower that has a 30-day 'no fault' return policy? One can get a GrayWolf II at Costco or at Circuit City this way, but I don't know of anyone that sells a HighPower under these conditions. Would be great to be able to try it out before making a final commitment.

Hello. What is your opinion on my Da-Lite screen?
Model C 60cm Black Drop 16:9 132x234cm HC Matte White (93227C) 895.00 €
Is this looking OK to you? I kind of expected little better quality:

For a brand new screen it does not look good. Waves should only form after years of use (if at all). Are the waves noticeable when watching a show? If so, I would contact your supplier and ask them about it.

For a brand new screen it does not look good. Waves should only form after years of use (if at all). Are the waves noticeable when watching a show? If so, I would contact your supplier and ask them about it.

Hi.
Moving picture is the most disturbing thing with this screen and also bright scenes bring those waves and bumbs and lines very easy to see.
Yes, this screen is only two months old and has looked like this from beginning.
Keeping the screen pulled down doesn´t help those big waves to straighten but those small horizontal lines does seem to get less visible.

I´ll contact my supplier with these pictures and ask for their opinion. Thanks.

...I called my supplier and after seeing those pics he told me that screen definitely shouldn´t look like that. I will have my money back.

Does anyone know where one can buy a HighPower that has a 30-day 'no fault' return policy? One can get a GrayWolf II at Costco or at Circuit City this way, but I don't know of anyone that sells a HighPower under these conditions. Would be great to be able to try it out before making a final commitment.

Call jason at avs and ask him about it. they sell all of the screens. I am sure he can answer your questions. I've purchased two screens from AVS now and had no problems with either.

Anyone used a Da-lite Wide-Power Screen surface before? For example Insta-theater series?

Yes. What do you want to know about it?

RG

Is it a good for like normal home theater application? Cuz i am searching for a standing screen like insta-theater or the likes, and 2.2 gain seems to be a bit high. Back to my question does it hot spot?

No, it does not hot spot. And I'm not sure I believe the 2.2 gain rating. It's nowhere near as bright as a high power (I have a very small screen that I made from some scrap high power material), however it keeps pretty uniform brightness across a very wide angle.It's fine in a HT application if you can't do a wall or pull-down. If I could have done a pull-down I would have gotten a high power.

The other thing is that if you have any vreeze in the room, the screen will move with it very easily. Hasn't really been a problem for me. Overall I have been very satisfied with the screen.

RG

Im looking at getting a HP either 110" or 106" and was wondering if you guys recommend the Model C or B? Im not 100% sure what the difference is? Thanks

Im looking at getting a HP either 110" or 106" and was wondering if you guys recommend the Model C or B? Im not 100% sure what the difference is? Thanks


According to other posts on the AVS forum, the Model C uses a 3" diameter roller which is supposed to minimize the waves because the larger roller (Model B has a 2" diameter roller) doesn't sag in the middle which could create waves on the screen material.

According to other posts on the AVS forum, the Model C uses a 3" diameter roller which is supposed to minimize the waves because the larger roller (Model B has a 2" diameter roller) doesn't sag in the middle which could create waves on the screen material.

Ok thanks, I will probably get the C............I actually had a 133" Model C and loved it, but had to sell it when I moved. So it looks like 106" HP Model C for me now :)

For those who own or are evaluating the HCCV -

Does your sample have a black backing or not? I have received two samples from Da-lite. one sample that has a black backing and and one that does not. The sample with the black blacking seems to provide a much smoother surface. Maybe this is because the other sample is not being stretched and the sample with the backing provides some kind of structure to the fabric which in turns provides a smoother surface.

For those that actually own the HCCV fabric -

Is this difference just with the samples I have received, or are there those out there that actually own the screen with the black backing and without?

loganross, pocologo -

I'd espeically be interested in hearing if your two screens were different since you had such difference experiences and feedback.

It is frustrating trying to order a screen. The sales people have no freaking idea what its all about. Its like trying to find a good doctor...

I have prices that vary widly from every supplier I called and even if I call the same supplier twice. I am damn sick and tired of this. I think I'll call my cousin who is a dealer and see if he can get me a Da-Lite screen without all the damn headache. He deals with greyhawk and those other screens too expensive for me, but this is just over the top.

If you had a good experience with a screen seller please PM me as I have dealt with nothing but confusion.

I ask for black border and velcro and I get black backing, black border, lace and grommet and velcro for $225 more than the price was supposed to be. :( Some quote the velcro, some ignore the request and quote without velcro.

Its like I need to fax it in to them or something with a picture. Da-Lite representives know what they are talking about but they don't sell the stuff directly :(

It is frustrating trying to order a screen. The sales people have no freaking idea what its all about. Its like trying to find a good doctor...
If you had a good experience with a screen seller please PM me as I have dealt with nothing but confusion.
:(

Try one of the Dalite dealers on ebay. I've used a few of them, and each time I was very pleased with the service. They also tend to have the absolute lowest prices.

dnoyeB - You might try calling Jason at AVS. I was also getting very frustrated with all the choices setting up my HT system and the pushy salespeople in my town, and Jason gave very good advice about how to match my system. I got a DaLite HP screen with a Panny 900 and and the items worked as described. He also knew lots of details about how the different DaLite screens worked with different projectors and different rooms and helped me finalize a choice. Best of luck.

Last week I ordered 106" worth of HCCV material. Looking around here perhaps I should have stuck with the HC Matte White, but I guess there's no going back now. I'll be stretching it over a frame for a grand screen size of 100.25".

So, has anybody recently made a screen with the HCCV material? I read earlier on this thread that there were some problems with non-uniform screens in the HCCV material. I got the HCCV over the Matte White because I figured with the smoother surface the screen would disappear better. Has Da-Lite owned up to defective HCCV material and offered refunds or replacement material?

I got the HCCV also because while my room is light controlled with black walls, I wanted to be able to watch with ambient light. I also want as black a black as I can get, which is why I'm also holding out for a HD73.

Of course, it will be better than what I have now... a single sheet clamped onto my finished 100" frame...

Couple of "dumb" questions...so forgive me.

1) On Da-lite's web site, they list screen sizes for Video format and HDTV format. Are they implying 4:3 and 16:9, respectively? Why dont they just say that?

2) how do you clean the screens when they get dusty?

Last week I ordered 106" worth of HCCV material. Looking around here perhaps I should have stuck with the HC Matte White, but I guess there's no going back now. I'll be stretching it over a frame for a grand screen size of 100.25".

I have had experience with both materials, and to be honest, I preferred the HCMW. With the higher gain of the HCMW, the image tends to pop more, and colors are more vibrant. In addition, I never really experienced any problems with the HCMW material, while a good friend had an issue with the HCCV surface degrading over a period of 4 years. This friend, however, did clean the screen - perhaps improperly - and this may have hastened it's demise. So, you could try calling about a change to your order, as things move slow as hell with thse types of orders. Also, If you want to attain a very good black level, you should also consider the Sanyo PLV-Z5. This unit, has a fantastic contrast ratio, and is sharp as hell. Lastly, remember that any super low black level will become mediocre at best, with ambient light in the room -even with a high contrast material - so don't expect miracles.

when i spoke to dalite they answered some of the questions recently asked as far as the black backing if you get cinema contour frame you get backing permwall you don't except with high power it only comes that way as far as hccv vs hc mat white the first is vinyl only available in fixed frame the second is fiberglass only available in roll up performance is similar so choice of these two will depend on style of screen

I have a Matte White Model B with a huge V shaped wave pattern that is distracting during light scenes or during horizontal camera movements.

I would like to upgrade to High Power, but am torn on the Model B vs. C point - will the beefier Model C roller really reduce waves?

Apart from the price difference between the two units, the shipping charges for Model C are more than $70 than for Model B, so its a significant difference.

Is anyone having a free shipping on screens sale?

I have had experience with both materials, and to be honest, I preferred the HCMW. With the higher gain of the HCMW, the image tends to pop more, and colors are more vibrant. In addition, I never really experienced any problems with the HCMW material, while a good friend had an issue with the HCCV surface degrading over a period of 4 years. This friend, however, did clean the screen - perhaps improperly - and this may have hastened it's demise. So, you could try calling about a change to your order, as things move slow as hell with thse types of orders. Also, If you want to attain a very good black level, you should also consider the Sanyo PLV-Z5. This unit, has a fantastic contrast ratio, and is sharp as hell. Lastly, remember that any super low black level will become mediocre at best, with ambient light in the room -even with a high contrast material - so don't expect miracles.

My order has already shipped, and will be here Wednesday.

I've seen a Z4 in action, and the screen door would be way too obvious at my distance. (1 screen width) I also don't want to compromise the image by using a dynamic iris.

Most movies and gaming will be done with no ambient light. I just want the ambient light capability for when somebody wants to get a snack or be able to see while eating. Otherwise, it will be dark.

I'm mainly concerned with streaks and screen visibility.

My order has already shipped, and will be here Wednesday.

I've seen a Z4 in action, and the screen door would be way too obvious at my distance. (1 screen width) I also don't want to compromise the image by using a dynamic iris.
Some individuals notice screen door more than others. As far as I'm concerned, with the newer LCD units such as the Z5, I have to be less than 4 feet from the screen to be able to discern pixels - and I have 20/20 vision. Now with your set up, you must then be sitting about 8 feet away from the screen. Man, that's pretty damn close to a 100" screen.

Most movies and gaming will be done with no ambient light. I just want the ambient light capability for when somebody wants to get a snack or be able to see while eating. Otherwise, it will be dark.
HCCV works pretty well in this type of situation, however, where the light is positioned in the room greatly effects how washed out the image will be.

I'm mainly concerned with streaks and screen visibility.
I've never noticed any streaking or screen texture on my friend's HCCV screen, and I've logged in quite a bit of time with his set up. So you should be happy with your screen in that respect.

I have a Matte White Model B with a huge V shaped wave pattern that is distracting during light scenes or during horizontal camera movements.
I would like to upgrade to High Power, but am torn on the Model B vs. C point - will the beefier Model C roller really reduce waves?

The high power material tends to reduce the visibility of waves to zero. Partly, because the high power material seems to be thicker than the HCMW and Video Spectra materials that I have used on the model B. And this extra thickness, helps to prevent the formation of waves in the material, which acts in addition to the reduction in wave visibility due to the retro-reflective property of the high power.

To all of those planning to buy screen material from Dalite - there is another option, but there's also a few caveats. The first, is that your screen size cannot be larger than 110" diagonal, which in my opinion is large enough for most rooms. And, I've fooled around with different sizes, and it seems that once you go much larger than 110", the picture quality starts to suffer, even with a 1280x720 resolution. The second, is that you cannot use HCCV material for your screen.
Anyway, the trick is to buy a Dalite model B pulldown screen. Believe it or not, if you find a discounted dealer, purchasing the model B is cheaper than buying the material itself. So, you can just buy the pulldown, and then cut the material from the casing at the top, and the tension bar at the bottom. The materials available are matte white, HCMW, glass beaded, high power, and video spectre 1.5. I purchased my last 72x96" model B from a dealer on ebay for less than $200 + shipping - and then cut it down to ~ 96x54" (110" diag).

Can you elaborate on why not to buy HCCV?

Some individuals notice screen door more than others. As far as I'm concerned, with the newer LCD units such as the Z5, I have to be less than 4 feet from the screen to be able to discern pixels - and I have 20/20 vision. Now with your set up, you must then be sitting about 8 feet away from the screen. Man, that's pretty damn close to a 100" screen.

I will admit that I haven't seen the Z5 in action. But I have seen the Z4 next to the AE900. The Z4 had horrible screen door easily visible from more than 1 screen width. I prefer DLP. I currently have a first generation DLP home theater projector with a 1X color wheel. I like the better overall contrast and color uniformity offered by DLP.

I like being closer to screens. If I'm playing video games and experience a little vertigo, that's a good thing.


I've never noticed any streaking or screen texture on my friend's HCCV screen, and I've logged in quite a bit of time with his set up. So you should be happy with your screen in that respect.

That's encouraging. It sounds like the people who posted earlier in the thread probably just got a bad batch of HCCV material.

Can you elaborate on why not to buy HCCV?

I did not intend to discourage any individual from purchasing the HCCV material. HCCV is definitely a good choice for those needing a screen that will be mated with a bright, low contrast projector. In this case, the lower gain, and the darker gray surface will be offset by the extra lumens available with a bright projector. And at the same time, black levels will be improved on a projector with poor contrast. Also, you have to remember that HCCV was developed back when the typical projector for home theater use had a contrast ratio of less than 800.

As such, in the post that you are referring to, I was not claiming that HCCV was inherently inferior to the other materials. I was in fact, only stating that the HCCV material was - unfortunately - not available with the model B screen as an option.

Hi;

I want make a fixed screen for my infocus in72: The HCCV seems the right choice, but I doubt if I may buy the black backing option;

One seller says that black backing option is useless and other say that make the surface less prone to the waves and wrinkles, and eliminate light bouncing if you have a withe wall behind.

Who's right?

Thanks.

The B is only good for sizes smaller than 52"x92" (or 69"x92" if 4:3). THe C is for the larger sizes.
Remember folks, A/V Science, the owner of this forum, is a dealer for all this stuff and is 1. less money than even ebay and 2. we actually know what the heck we are talking about unlike most the other .com places.

I just ordered mine too!!! I am too excited!!!! Will let you know which one I like..
I am also considering building a aluminium frame for my 133 inch 2.40:1 screen. Any ideas where to buy? Live in Fort Knox area is there an online store?

I just completed a 112" screen using HCCV stretched over a wooden frame. I am experiencing some problems and am unsure if they are related to not having a proper tension. When an image pans/moves my eye is left focused on the screen grain instead of moving with the image. Any advice? I have a panny ax200u and 17' throw with a 15' viewing distance.

I just completed a 112" screen using HCCV stretched over a wooden frame. I am experiencing some problems and am unsure if they are related to not having a proper tension. When an image pans/moves my eye is left focused on the screen grain instead of moving with the image. Any advice? I have a panny ax200u and 17' throw with a 15' viewing distance.


I upgraded my beloved In72 to a new In78 and decide to buy a dalite hccv bigger; I ordered samples because the dalite guy says to me tha I don't need the hccv because my new pj has very good contrast.

They send me da-mat, hcda-mat, cv, and hccv and the hccv is more darker that the one year old I have and have too a lot of sparkles. It's unbelievable, I understand now complains tha people have with hccv sparkles.

I'm testing the firekawk g3 now; this don't have sparkles at all, but lost a lot of brightness if you move a little of the central axis of the screen;

I want my old hccv.........:confused:

Thanks for the reply. I have now lived with the screen for a little while and rarely notice these effects now. I can say however that I probably would not purchase this screen again.

I own a 92" HCCV Da-lite fixed screen and I am using it with a Sony VPL-AW15 projector. The image is great, but depending on where you head is, you can see very bright "pixels". I am guessing that this is just a reflective bit on the screen that is acting like a mirror sending 100% of the light from the proejctor to my eye. If I move my head 2" in any direction, it goes away. Just about all of my viewing locations have one of these. Does anyone else have these? Can I "fix" the screen by scratching at them with a clean fingernail? Will this do damage to my screen?

Howdy,
Back again after three years. I installed with an NEC HT510 and it was great. 1 Year ago I upgraded to the Marantz VP4001 (which is a much brighter projector). Thats when the sparklies became apparent and have been driving me nuts.

I am about to upgrade: Benq W6000 or Infocus SP8602.

I want to replace the screen to something without sparklies. I do need a screen that will deal with minimal ambient light (walls and ceiling are off-white). What are you former HCCV users projecting on now?

I don't find there is a huge difference between my HCCV and my Firehawk G3. I've even lowered them both so I have a " split screen " which is interesting. While I see some surface texture in some scenes in some movies ( with both screens ), most of the time I can't see the screen material while viewing movies. It's fairly source dependant with my setup. And related to how bright the movie is ( we watch at around 19 - 20 foot lamberts ).

All screens have pros and cons. I tend to find I like the HCCV screen material overall, despite it's few negatives ( which most all screens have ).

Thanks for your input. I will give you a call about purchasing a screen.