.

IMO that number is very dependent on three things.

First the ambient light level in the room. When things get low the slightest competing light will wash out the image. One candle 10 feet away can diminish a 5000:1 CR down to 500:1

The second is the texture and color of the room.

And the third is your eyes. We all have different levels of processing low light levels. Older eyes often have more trouble really no different than how older ears can’t hear the extremes.

I never understood the super low lumen projector high gain screen thing. When that was the best that was out there maybe but today’s projectors can sport some lumens and screens of low gain IMO have several big advantages. That’s just IMO and many others opt for low lumens and very high CR.

I agree with Bud

I personally wouldn't recommend going below 10. I'm always miserable when I do. and 10 is the lower limit for me. Consider this with bulb aging etc.


Brightness preference also has a lot to do with viewing preference. While I may like 15 foot lamberts for movies I can easily double this for TV stuff or Sports. 30 ft lamberts or more for sports!

now the high gain screen offers a couple things.

1. allows you to buy a projector that is more precise in the image, not built for sheer horspower. also you car then generally run in low bulb mode too

2. higher perceived contrast. poeple will spend thousands more to get a bit more contrast out of another projector...why not a few hundred for just the screen.

yes there are downsides to high gain but not if set up and used properly