Just received and mounted my new DNP Supernova BLADE 08-85 Screen. Pics and impressions inside. - Page 3

There are screen companies which promise no hot spotting on their optical screens. Examples:
1) http://www.skylinescreens.com/tecnologia/ 2.5 gain
2) http://www.ssidisplays.com/front-projection-screens/reflection 3.0 gain
3) http://www.spyeglass.com/downloads/Front-Projection/ISIS-2012.pdf 3.0 gain

These screens are intriguing. I'm thinking of ordering samples.

Uniformity can be mean a couple different things but the application needs to be considered. Often unifomrity will talk about the screens coating and how it is applied, there are different methods and you can see differences in uneveness with various methods. If you are talking about brightness uniformity because of bad angles that is a different matter and is set up dependant and can affect either type of screen. It is not that a higher gain AR screen has uniformity issues with its coating but that the angles don't reflect to the viewer. If you do a line drawing showing angles of incident to the angles of reflection the edges of the screen are being reflected away from the audience where the center of the screen gets reflected toward the audience. For higher gain AR screens a curved screen is usually used so that more light gets reflected back to the audience. It is actually beneficial with AR screens even of a lower gain like <1.5 to use a curved screen. But as stated it depends on the lens of the projector. With the right lens a curved screen can be a great solution. But you don't see that combo much until you get to the more expensive systems.

As far as angular vs. retro-reflective depends on the situation. For some having the PJ placed near their head is just not a practical location, especially if considering good seating placements for audio as well. It just doesn't fit many people's needs for HT or media rooms. Enthusiasts will often make this work to get the biggest screen but sacrifice other parts of the HT experience just have to the biggest most immersive screen. The last several years we have seen more projectors placed in media type rooms where people can move around, play their Wii, Kinect or move and not be shadow puppets. This just isn't possible with most retro-reflective set ups.

I know there is almost a cult following among enthusiasts with the HP screen and if used in the right situation can be a great solution. And the brightness can be addicting. But each situation is different and one needs to determine the right screen and projector for their environment.

I wouldn't say it's a cult, it's just that it can be a really great screen and bang/buck leader for a lot of people.

Also it's very common for people to dismiss it for their situation because they believe it only works with table mounting, where in fact the ceiling mounting may mean nothing more than lower than optimum gain (but well above unity), while maintaining its other advantages of brightness uniformity, reduced sensitivity to ambient light, and invisibility of waves.

Hi Guys,

I have had my dnp blade for about a month and I must say that I am very impressed by image uniformity as well as contrast. To be fair the screen is sitting in light controlled space matched to a Sony vpl 1000 projector. Admittedly I was a little concerned about 3d viewing but I must say I feel there is plenty of brightness coming from the Sony projector. My blade is 120 inch diagonally - I shall try to take a couple of pics of the next days.

HC

Fully agree Mike and thank you for all your good assistance. I am real happy with Sony 1000 - plenty of light this setup:D

Is there any frame on the Blade? In your pictures it seems that there is tiny frame, but on the DNP website the Blade has no farme at all. Have you just scaled the projector image so that there is small "frame" left on the edge?

No frame at all. It's 100" 3mm thick and 28lbs I think

I have a great favor to ask an owner concerning vertical viewing angles. Can somebody emulate my setup (or interpolate) and comment on brightness drop-off and visibility of screen structure? I am worried with this position as illustrated below I will get uneven image (dark corners).

Edited by Elix - 4/3/13 at 6:17am

I got email from DNP and the new version of the screen has mounts glued on the backside so no screws going through the screen anymore. The website isn't updated yet with the new version.

Im doing DIY version of this screen and I had already planned to glue or use double sided tape to attach the mounts on the backside.

By the way, what material/color is the backside of the screen?

Yeah that kinda sucks. To tell you the turth I wouldn't have bought the older model for even 10$. Well, I would, for testing purposes. Those screws and mounting holes would have bothered me too much. Maybe you can resell the screen and buy the new model before everyone knows about the new mounting system they said it's so new they don't have any pictures yet, but they will send me drawings.

hey... just checking if anyone in the chicagoland area has a DNP in their home theater... ...and some free time to show it to a fellow avs member?

OR

would anyone have a fairly sizeable DNP sample (at least 12" or more) they could share...

OR

or know where i could get such a sample.

Wow - that is some picture OP. I will have to consider something like this when the time comes for me - I'm building a media room (not an enclosed home theater) so I'm going to want a nice picture while the lights are on. The good news is that there is no natural light in the space I'm finishing...

Hi Chaps,

I am looking at the 08-85 DNP partnered with a JVC X55 in an untreated lounge. I do have an issue with Projector placement as it will be in a shelf in the rear wall with a horizontal offset from the screen centre.

Can you tell me if I will lose brightness or suffer any other anomalies with this positioning please? I have some flexibility with vertical placement as there are several shelves I can use but have illustrated the option closest to my head height/centre of screen. I may adjust the screen drop and projector height (upwards) if this viewing angle doesn't suit.

I had hoped to view 3D but am getting the impression this screen/projector combo will be really poor? (Please appreciate this will be my first projector setup so my expectations may not be reference).



Thanks.

Adam

08-85 has very wide horizontal viewing angles so there'll be no issues with your setup, I think.

Thanks.

What is your take on the prospect of 3D?

3D is going to be tough on this screen due to lack of brightness. Only several projectors will be able to handle it well on this screen, and only on small screen sizes <100": Sony HW50, BenQ W7000, Epson 5010~6020. But that's only my take on it.

Thanks, as i expected really but disappointing as I hope to progress to CIH at some point and none of the bright projectors have lens memory IIRC?

Has anyone seen the Draper React 2.1, there seems a lot of people saying they are 'better' than the DNP screens over on AVF and at the very least better value for money?

Cheers,

Adam

Sorry I am not sure, it has been a while since anyone posted specific prices and most f those were for electric screens.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/projector-screens/

There are a few dealers on here that could give you a quote, IdealAV for instance or Kalibrate: sales@chromapure.co.uk

Adam

Good news, DNP Blade now comes in 23-23 so it's way brighter but still holds up to ambient light.

My 08-85 is for sale if anyone is interested

I felt 3D was too dim on dark scenes with the 08-85 even with my Epson. I believe they recomend 3500-4000 lumen projector calibrated. Bright movies are no problem even in the day.

Hi friends: I bought a 120" DNP Supernova classic model. It's a non-tensioned screen. However I noticed some vertical undulations in its surface and they cast shadows in the image projected. I talked to my dealer about that and he advised me to keep the screen unrolled as much time as possible. The problem, according to him, would be caused by the time the screen remained rolled up. I'm worried about the problem, mainly for the money I paid to get this screen . I thank , in advance, anyone who could give me informations or advises on the matter, Waltie

Did you already change to the DNP 23-23? Can you live with the sparkling issues?
I'm in the same (almost) situation as you are. I want light control and I want a nice picture in 2D but also in 3D.
I did see DEMO of both material (0.8 and 2.3 gain) and I'm not sure what I should do.

I could see sparkles/shining with the 23 23 but could not with the 0.8 gain. However the brightness was perfect for 3D with the 23 or with ambient light. However with light off, it would be way too bright with almost any projector! I want to project on a 120" screen ( I already have one cheap white 120" screen at home).

I think this shining effect is proportional to brightness. Maybe it can be almost "removed" with the 23 material with low brightness output from the projector for 2D viewing (manual iris or neutral grey filter).

The other option is to find a reaaaally bright projector for the 08 85 material that could work for 3D viewing but which one (sony 1000ES put aside)?

Do they offer a motorized version?