Da-Lite High Power (HP) Screens: Pulldown or Fixed to Avoid Ripples?

I would like to know this as-well, I'm stuck in the exact same situation right now.

There are less waves and if your projector is set up as per the caveats of the HP you do not see the waves if you do get them.
If you do get waves, for some strange reason in the distant future, you can cut out the fabric and make a frame. May people buy the Model B as it ls less expensive then buying fabric and make a frame.
If you have room from a fixed frame, it sure does look nicer than the pull down in my mind.. but whatever works best in you location.

Not sure the HCHP is worth buying you should really get some samples of both and see how you like them before you invest.

Personally, I compared HCHP, HP 2.4 and my older 2.8 and would not buy HCHP but I prefer bright to blacks.

Again, if you are not going to set up the projector just over your head 12-20" you are not going to get the benefit..

They don't get a lot of waves and if they do you do not see them when watching.

No comparison, the Optoma screens are not even close to the HP regarding material quality or image.

The Greywolf is one of the least impressive screens that I have ever seen, even when compared against most other grey screen offerings.

The HP is not the best screen for every install but if it works (viewing within view cone) you'll be hard pressed to find a better + gain screen.

Jason

I am about 99.9% certain you will notice no waves in an HP pulldown while viewing (pans or not).

Jason

I absolutely love this video, it shows how the DA-Lite HP compares to a 1.0 gain screen. Then with a sample of the Starbright from Elite. Reviews show Starbright is not worth it, too much hotspotiing from what I read. I really like the 2.4 HP though, I found a drop down 106-inch for $470, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-plCPMOQyU&list=FL636aU841vGVNl4LTBvl80w&index=2&feature=plpp_video



I'm on a tight budget, $600 is the most I can spend on a screen, so even though I would prefer fixed (as does the wife), buying the Sony HW30 drained the bank, not much room, and from my research in the last 24 hours, sounds like saving $300 on a pull-down in-which wrinkles will not be a problem with for some time is not that big of a deal to me. I'm getting the same identical screen that many are paying a grand for, but with less tension by going pulldown, not a big deal, as long as the picture looks just as good and future wrinkles will not be seen, I'm there!


I found this thread helpful as-well, he states you will get the same picture from a DA-Lite HP pulldown as from a stretched HP. Alot of awesome info here.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/773065/high-power-a-review-part-1


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Edited by EtherMagic - 7/27/12 at 11:45pm

I sit about 10 feet back from my 45" x 80" 92" diagonal 2.4 HP roll down screen and you can see waves on pans but it is very rare to see them with this screen material. I don't like that the fixed screen is about 3x the price but if you plan on keeping your screen at that size I would invest in the 2.4 HP fixed screen if seeing waves is a problem for you as once you see 1 you will find yourself constantly looking for them.

Mike

I have a pulldown 104" wide dalite HP screen. The screen has developed a mechanical patern on the left side - where it must be pressing against something on the roller. This pattern is clearly visible - in ambient light - and repeats down for the full height of the screen.

HOWEVER, the pattern is totally invisible once lit by the projector. It's like magic.

In ambient light - with the pattern clearly visible- take a flashlight - and point it toward the screen and the pattern just disappears.

The reason is likely the retro-reflective nature of the material (light is reflected mostly back to the source - so slight changes in incident angle make no difference in the reflection).

I would recommend this material on a manual pulldown - but with one big caveat. My screen was 2.8 HP purchased in 2007. Recent reports have said that the current HP has been reformulated. Many have complained about quality/uniformity issues.

Purchasing a fixed hp 159" 16:9 manual or 235:1 166" fixed soon price difference between the 2 : $800 +- I'm leaning towards the fixed 235:1 , but must be careful and level out mount.

Mine is a pull down HP - 2.35:1 (104" wide x ~44" high) with black above. Purchased from AVS in 2007 with no issues.

do you leave your open or closed when finished?

It covers my pioneer 50" kuru plasma when pulled down - so it goes up after every movie. I've had it since 2007. 1k hrs on the projector - so I would say its been up/down about 400-500 times.