I'm looking to purchase a projector and screen for a basement home theater. I've been recommended a SIM2 D80 with a 100" Da Lite screen or a Runco RS100 with a 100" Stewart screen. Which projector and screen will be best for HD-DVD and Direct TV HD viewing? I like bright images, like the kind that plasma produce, but realize I might have to sacrifice a little brightness for the big screen effect. All suggestions are highly appreciated. :)

Runco and the Stewart Filmscreen is your best bet ...

Donutts,
go out and compare with your own eyes ;-)

Best
Armin

donutss,
sorry for misspelling your name

Best
Armin

Compare. Both should be outstanding solutions. If you honestly cant separate them visually or in terms of feature you need, get the cheapest. Da-Lite screens are the only ones i've seen/used that are a good alternative to Stewart. Any dealer operating in this area of the market will lay on a full demo for you and you should be able to arrange a home approval if you are known to the dealer.

After researching the market to death, I yesterday purchased a Sim2 D80, a Crystalio II Pro video processor and a 100" Da Lite screen. I have to wait a few weeks for the install, however, since our basement theater isn't quite ready, yet. I'll repeat here what I heard from a number of people about Sim2 - they make a fabulous product (optics, electronics, features, etc.), they stand behind it, and they don't try to trick consumers with exaggerated specs or marketing materials. Their price point, however, is higher than their mass market CE competitors' prices. The trusted dealer from whom I purchased the units (and who I've worked with for a couple of years) used to sell Runco but dropped them after his customers reported 100% failure rates. This was before Runco outsourced their manufacturing to a third party (NEC?), however, but there it is.

While we tend to focus on the gear itself, your dealer likely will have as important (if not more of) an impact on your ultimate satisfaction with your purchase in terms of install, warranty work, etc. Follow the advice of somebody you trust!

mrtiticus,

I agree 100%. When you're investing this kind of money a dealer/installer you can trust is worth his weight in gold. I also ordered a D80 with a Da-Lite screen. I however will be getting the Esoteric DV-60 based upon my dealers recommendation, to upconvert my standard DVD's, plus it will take my audio to the next level as well. Now comes the hard part and waiting to get everythng installed:) I look forward to hearing how satisfied, or not, you are when everything is up and running. Please post later after you've had sufficient time to give a review.

Pride9

Pride9,

I definitely will report back to this forum, and I hope that you will do the same. Enjoy!