I just ordered one...I painted a screen, but my sheetrock guy did such a horrible job that I decided to buy a screen and see what happens. The price didn't seem outrageous, and at this point ( started the new house in February ), I simply want to wrap up my projects and enjoy...
Anyone have one? I ordered the Classic Cinema White...any thoughts?
I recently purchased a Carada screen to go with my Panasonic L300U. I chose the high contrast grey material and an 80" 1.78:1 frame. I can definitely say that you won't be disappointed with Carada's product. Initially I was interested in Carada because I wanted an 80" screen and nobody else had one. Then I noticed their prices were much more reasonable than most other screens (besides homebuilt). After receiving the screen I can say for certain that the low price does not result in low quality. The frame is very tight and strong. It is also covered in a light absorbing material that kills any over-projection. My friend with a Da-lite screen was impressed with my Carada screen. They are also very responsive to inquiries via email. Overall I think you made a good choice.
I recently purchased a Carada screen to go with my Panasonic L300U. I chose the high contrast grey material and an 80" 1.78:1 frame. I can definitely say that you won't be disappointed with Carada's product. Initially I was interested in Carada because I wanted an 80" screen and nobody else had one. Then I noticed their prices were much more reasonable than most other screens (besides homebuilt). After receiving the screen I can say for certain that the low price does not result in low quality. The frame is very tight and strong. It is also covered in a light absorbing material that kills any over-projection. My friend with a Da-lite screen was impressed with my Carada screen. They are also very responsive to inquiries via email. Overall I think you made a good choice.
Jer..
Thanks...I have had a great experience with David Jiles of Carada. He has answered many questions and offered opinions of what I needed. He is super to work with...I have never found customer service better ANYWHERE.
Please keep us posted. I'm very eager to hear what you think of the carada, especially compared to the ddog DIY you were working on (until the sheetrock got in the way).
Originally posted by eameres Please keep us posted. I'm very eager to hear what you think of the carada, especially compared to the ddog DIY you were working on (until the sheetrock got in the way).
Eric.
I am hoping to try the screen this weekend. Between high school homecoming on Friday and college homecoming and football game on Saturday and son's football game Saturday night, it will be hard, but I am going to check them compare them this weekend and I will post......
my 96" diag. 84" wide Carada screen is due to arrive tomorrow Fri. 10/3, and I was planning on posting my opinions once I had a chance to put it together & view some stuff. BTW I’m now a huge FP convert, it really make home viewing a joy.
My experience with Carada & David Giles, was great. He answered some (more like a lot of) questions, and when you compare what Carada has to offer [both price & quality wise] it appears to be a no brainer. I wanted a professional looking screen with out paying an arm & a leg, and would last for years while I went thru a few FP upgrades.
I currently have a DIY blackout, which I fully believe is fine for those just starting out, or with a limited budget. When you’re ready to more to the next level of screens, there is a lot choices and decisions to be made. I also was not interested on spending my time searching for that illusive perfect DIY screen [life is just too short]. I figured over time, and cost of materials would end it being more than, just getting a good screen now and enjoying the heck out of it.
Originally posted by jrgriff my 96" diag. 84" wide Carada screen is due to arrive tomorrow Fri. 10/3, and I was planning on posting my opinions once I had a chance to put it together & view some stuff. BTW I’m now a huge FP convert, it really make home viewing a joy.
My experience with Carada & David Giles, was great. He answered some (more like a lot of) questions, and when you compare what Carada has to offer [both price & quality wise] it appears to be a no brainer. I wanted a professional looking screen with out paying an arm & a leg, and would last for years while I went thru a few FP upgrades.
I currently have a DIY blackout, which I fully believe is fine for those just starting out, or with a limited budget. When you’re ready to more to the next level of screens, there is a lot choices and decisions to be made. I also was not interested on spending my time searching for that illusive perfect DIY screen [life is just too short]. I figured over time, and cost of materials would end it being more than, just getting a good screen now and enjoying the heck out of it.
I’ll keep you posted.
What projector are you using and what fabric did you get? Just curious..
I too was projecting on my wall and finally decided to purchase a screen after almost a year of agonizing over which brand, what size, which screen material, which frame, etc.
Well I saw some information in this forum about Carada screens so I went to their site to check it out. I liked the fact that they were promoting how high quality their product was and not how cheap it was. I took the plunge and bought the 110" screen with 1.78 aspect ration and the Cinema white material.
From the time I placed the order I could tell this guy was organized. All invoice and tracking information was professionally organized and presented. When the package arrived I was pleased to see that his boxes were custom fit and also first rate, I was beginning to feel better about my purchase. When I opened the box everything was maticulously protected with foam wrapping and I could begin to see the high quality of the materials that were used.
I assembled the screen and everything fit with custom precision. Not a single glitch with any of the manufacturing of the product. It's actually pretty amazing how tight everything fits.
At one point I had considered building my own screen but at this moment I realized what a mistake that would have been. I am a pretty particular consumer when it comes to quality and Carada has exceeded my expectations in all regards.
I am now happily viewing movies and high definition TV and pleased that I waited the year until I found these guys.
What timing! I just recently installed a Carada screen and wanted to post about it.
My quest began with a projector. Once I got the Sony Cineza installed, I realized my old stereo system wouldn’t do. So next thing I knew, I was at store pulling out the mastercard for a brand new Atlantic Technologies System.
So my budget was blown for a screen. I did call someone in from a “home theater†store to see what they could do. They estimated $5K and they wouldn’t do any of the wiring and patching of any holes in ceilings walls for a motorized Da-Lite screen.
So I researched on this forum, and read a lot about screen-go and various painting techniques, and to try different things until I got it just right.
I was absolutely depressed and thought I had made a mistake – should I have gone plasma at the same collective price but smaller screen?
Then I stumbled on Carada, and went with what I thought – a low-budget version of a screen.
Let me tell – the experience was great and I recommend them:
(1) Gain and other technical things. I’m not a techno geek, but I can say this - I have lots of ambient light in my walk-out basement, and with the screen installed, I can see the picture quite clearly without having to tell my guests – wait for nighttime. I ordered the Brilliant White. Also, on X-box – I can see all the defenders coming at me from all angles in vivid detail – I’m on a successful win streak but losing on the home front where my wife is wondering if I’ve moved out and she hasn’t seen me in days.
(2) Quality of Materials. Da-Lite makes you pay extra for black-trim. Get real! It came with it, and my wife who hates all my “equipment†– loves the look. Our basement rec area is a show-stopper and all the gossip amongs my envious friends. The screen is also very durable, My beagle pounced on it- but I shooed her off with no damage. Also, the builders left one –screw jutting out which I didn’t see until it was poking a hole through my screen. I removed the screw, and the screen returned to shape with no damage.
(3) Packaging and Assembly. Everything is wrapped three times over – not a worry. Assembly – Just a couple of hours – mostly for me doing the measure 4 times before nailing screws in – if you can hang paintings – you can hang this screen, and there’s plenty of wiggle room for slight adjustments
(4) Expertise – I wasn’t sure what screen to get – I needed a 106†screen but thee were none listed on the sight. Customer service helped me decide, and I got a 106†screen that exactly fits my image
(5) Delivery – No long waits – In about a week, I was enjoying my screen.
I don’t get to contribute to this forum often, but in this instance, I hope I’ve done the homework and research to be able to contribute some value back to all the expertise I’ve tapped into.
Seriously, I'm looking at Carada for a 110" (1.78) screen for my X1 and appreciate all the feedback I can get on the company and product. Anyone else using a Carada screen with an X1? What screen material did you go with?
I have an X1 on order from Dell, I spoke with Dave@Carada and he had not seen the X1 on one of his screens yet. He did hook me up with a very nice guy from NY that has both. He said his X1 looks fantastic on the standard white screen in his setup.
I have an X1, which BTW for $$$ ya simply can't beat it.
B/O was purchased from Hancock Fabric at $5.95 a yard 54" wide. Frame is 1x3" 8' wide. I built it as big as I possibly wanted (with NO black framing), and then started to experiment with sizing.
My X1 mounted on the ceiling 15’ feet back, just about 1-2’ behind me. I do believe it is very easy for people to want to go too big, but I wanted to best quality picture, keeping it big and getting the “WOW†factor injected. Not too hard to do coming from a 36†tube TV.
Packing from some companies can be a bit lacking. I recently ordered a wooden multi-media rack [not going to mention the manf.], but all the pieces were simply banded via plastic strapping, and then slipped into a box. Nothing, I tell nothing was in-between any of the boards. To say the least I was not too happy after paying a little more than 200 bucks for it.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys! Makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Jim, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with our packaging. Please be sure and let us know if you have any constructive criticism. Of course it's easier on the ol' ego if you just say everything was perfect.
But seriously, we want to make sure our packaging is second to none, so don't hold back if anything comes to mind.
I'm using a grey 88" Carada with my Sharp Z10000/Samsung HD931... and have been just pleased as punch. I built my first screen several years ago, but Dave's attention to detail and fine construction ended that hobby (both Daylite material and Parkland experiements with DIY frame). The fit of the frame pieces together was about as precise as is possible to get I think.
I'm planning to experiment with the Classic white material (I got both) after I get used to the grey first.
Don't have the best light control at the moment and the higher gain of the white might be what I run till my next HT is finished.
If you want personalized service and know that ANY issues will be swiftly dealt with, AND know you got great product for the money, Carada should be on your short list. I've been so impressed with this fellow web-direct upstart I plan to add it to our own site's links page (never mind I had to pay full price ;^).
I should've checked out Carada before I bought my da-lite cinema contour high power. I have no complaints with the high power material itself--its fantastic. Its the expensive frame that left something to be desired.
Boy, for their top of the line fixed frame the fit and finish was like b-stock. 2 of the corners don't line up properly and there are several holes on the back of the frame which seem like drilling mistakes. I've seen stewart frames and well.....the da-lite was not as nice.
I guess $$$ doesnt equal quality......my 2 cents....
Originally posted by gimmin74 I should've checked out Carada before I bought my da-lite cinema contour high power. I have no complaints with the high power material itself--its fantastic. Its the expensive frame that left something to be desired.
Boy, for their top of the line fixed frame the fit and finish was like b-stock. 2 of the corners don't line up properly and there are several holes on the back of the frame which seem like drilling mistakes. I've seen stewart frames and well.....the da-lite was not as nice.
I guess $$$ doesnt equal quality......my 2 cents....
gimmin74,
Please contact me regarding your dissatisfaction with the frame fit for your screen. If it is not right and you are not happy, we are not happy. Bottom line, just like you mentioned, you paid good money for the top of the line screen and if it is not right, we need to know about it. So please, contact me and I will see to it that the situation is rectified. Our company takes great pride in our products (especially the top end products) and if a customer is not happy with it, we need to know that. We will do everything in our power to rectify the situation and meet your requirements.
I was about to say that Dalite isn't known for those kind of product quality issues, and to contact Blake and he'd take care of you. But he beat me to it, which just shows he's on the ball!
Ron,
Thanks for the compliments!
Quote:
I've been so impressed with this fellow web-direct upstart I plan to add it to our own site's links page (never mind I had to pay full price ;^).
Uh Oh! If just a small fraction of the legions of SVS fans start looking at us, we're going to be BUSY.
Oh and to return the compliment, your woofs ain't too shabby either! (tongue-in-cheek understatement there! I've had dual 16-46CS+'s since they came out in Jan 2002 - AWESOME!)
I received my 96" 1:78 to 1 screen from Carada last week. It arrived in a couple of days after my order was placed. I selected the Classic Cinema White screen material with a gain of 1.0 for use with my InFocus X1 projector. The screen was very easy to assemble, seems very strong and with its black border looks great. Having seen some of my friend's screens, I think my Carada is comparable quality for a much better price. With their 30 day return policy I don't think you can go wrong.
If it was a defect with the screen material I would return it in a heartbeat. But I can't find one so its not worth the hassle to return something so big. Don't get me wrong folks......I really, really love the picture of the high power.
Hey Blake,
It was kinda a pain though setting up the frame because there were holes drilled in several places around the frame and didn't know which ones to put the snaps in. It wasn't until I unrolled the screen that it was clear where the snaps should be. Anyway to close the gaps in the corner a bit?
I have to mention I got a great deal from the guys here at AVscience so I guess I can't complain.
I installed my classic cinema screen yesterday and it is great. I must admit the Ddog screen I painted on the wall looked pretty good also, but the bad sheetrock work would not allow me to leave it as it was.
The carada frame is very strong and everything was predrilled and went together really well. The look is very professional. I must admit, when my 5 year old came down and saw Tarzan on the screen and said it was great and looked better than the movie theatre, it made all the work worth it. I don't think you can do better than the Carada, especially for the money.
David, what are the different gains for the screens you offer?
Can just the screen material be purchased at a later time and if one decides to change it with another type?
And, what material would you recommend for a HD2 projector, in a light controlled room at 110"?
Thanks, Rick
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