The official SeymourAV center stage screen thread! - Page 18

I don't think moire will be a problem with the XD material.

Depends on the projector. I have moire with my Mits 6500, and need to buy the wide material so I can angle it more.

Jim -

To get the most brightness as possible from your projector, you should use it at the short end of it's throw. In your case, perhaps not all the way at the 12' 5" limit - some projector optics are out of spec at the extreme ends - but something in the 13' range would be brightest.

Your RS2 clone/Pioneer does not have any moire issues, so you'll be fine. They, JVC, Sony, Panasonic, all have eliminated the inter-pixel gap. They look so smooth that they don't even look like digital. Throw distance has negligible effect on moire, so don't worry about that.

Cheers,
Chris

Thanks for all the comments.
Today I am re-arranging my speakers closer to the wall and testing the sound with 2 channel music. So far it sounds fine so the retractable screen will most likely be placed on the ceiling 3' from the back wall as originally planned. Once I am certain the sound is still good I will move the projector back to about 13' from the new screen location.

Hi Chris,
Thanks again for all your help. I'm really looking forward to installing your screen.


Best Regards,
Jim

is anyone using the fixed screen with carada's horizontal masquerade system? i am going to use one of these and would like to know if a custom frame can be ordered to minimize the spacing between the masquerade and the screen frame. or, is diy with the material the best way to achieve this? i am afraid though of sagging and would like to know experiences after a year or two if the tensioning system sags in any way.

thanks.

The Centerstage material(also known as phifer 4500) or the new blend XD is very taut. It doesn't have much stretch at all if any. The only thing that will sag over will perhaps be your frame if it is made out of wood.

It depends on how your gonna build and attach your frame. I built mine into curved false wall and used clamps to support it at the top and bottom of the screen with the false wall. The served more than one purpose. It secures the screen, it makes for easy removal of the screen and also stretches the frame up and down and makes sure the material remains taut. Theres a link to my screen build thread below if you want to see some pics.

thanks for the tip. i like the idea of the seymour velcro attached to the screen material. if memory serves me correct, this can still be ordered from seymour. have to re-read the post that outlines this. the only other way i can think (without having to make an actual frame for the screen), would be to use a tab tensioning system with a spline. this way, i can always take care of wrinkles if they present themselves.

Anthony -

The velcro perimeter can still be ordered. It's best purpose is for those screens where you need front-access, and the ability to remove the screen to get to the equipment. It's removability is obviously pretty slick. However, I don't like that it doesn't hold enough tension all around. Most folks can get it flat, but velcro doesn't really keep pulling laterally like other tension techniques do.

I do know of one AZ customer that bought the fixed frame Center Stage XD screen for use with Carada's new CIH masking system. I think the system is still in construction, but maybe he'll share with us his experience. Both products are very new, so there'll be more I'm sure...

Cheers,
Chris

thanks for the response chris. i guess i should opt for a more solid mounting, especially with how obsessed i am with being able to adjust wrinkles. the problem is with a basement theater in canada, where seasons change so drastically that i know there will be times when i need to be able to readjust the tension.

my sole purpose is for the screen to be mounted as close to the carada masquerade as physically possible. on most setups, the screen ends up being 1.5-3" from the masquerade. it is only visible if you look at an extreme angle or up close, but i would like to make it less than 1" gap. looking at the carada website, they offer a screen to match their masquerade which is called the mms. it simply snaps into place and is the preferred method of using the masquerade with a carada screen. i was wondering if it would be at all possible to place a custom order of your xd screen material with metal snap rings installed by you so it would simply snapo into a masquerade. i realize it may be a lot of work, but i would pay for the custom order. what do you think... is it feasible?

For those that have emailed Chris... how long does it take for him to usually respond? I emailed him I think 4 days ago and no response yet.

Just read your post and I have emailed Chris with the exact same question. I have a carada criterion screen and I'm thinking about using the XD on the carada frame. I asked him if he could install the snaps onto the material so that when I get it, I can simply snap the XD right onto the carada frame. I'll post back if I hear something. I also asked Carada to offer an AT screen material so that current customers could swap out materials but I don't think they have any plans to do that soon.

Usually pretty quick - 1-2 days worst case. This week he hasn't responded yet to me either (asked him for update on my shipment) so maybe he's on vacation??

Hi,
Chris is real busy now that they have a fixed frame version.
They've had lots of orders to fill for people that have been waiting for this screen. I'm sure he'll get back to you soon.

Scott

Thanks guys. I don't mind waiting, I was just curious what the expected wait time was. Hopefully he'll have good news for me. At the least, I'm hoping that he could give me a stretch factor in the x and y direction and I can install the snaps myself.

SeymourAV also offers a grommet/eyelet version (which is what they use for their fixed frames). This might be a viable alternative if you're not absolutely tied to a snap solution, as it doesn't require exact positioning and retensioning should be easy. The downside is putting in the hooks/screws on the frame so that there is something for the loops to be attached to. Take a look at the video on the SeymourAV website; attaching the screen looks very easy.

With snaps you'd have to be very sure that the eyelets and snaps line up (and of course that they match in size).

Chris wrote me back...

Looks like he can't customize the XD with the snaps so I'd have to do that.

Unfortunately due to the way my screen wall is built, I can't do the grommets without reconfiguring the wall framing which is not something I want to do. I'd rather build a DIY frame at that point.

i think the only other way (other than velcro), that will allow for a good way to fix wrinkles in the future would be what member "silverbullete55" used to build his screen. he used something called t slot covers found on post #431 of this thread. a diagram of how they work is in post #441. i think i may end up going that route and using scheme A, which will allow me to place the screen very close to the carada masquerade. all of this of course will be done, unless seymour releases their own horizontal masking system at cedia this year.

Group,
I just installed a Seymour center stage retractable screen (2.35 to one; 105" wide). The screen quality and workmanship greatly exceeded my expectations. The customer service from Chris was second to none.

The install went relatively well but I have a few recommendations:
* Make sure the mounting track is level with no bowing. Place a level on the track to make sure no dips are made after you fasten the screws into solid wood. If needed shim out the track to make sure it is flat.
* Don't even think about installing by yourself. I tried and quickly realized it is virtually impossible and dangerous. The 10' long screen only weighs about 60 lbs but it seems much heavier due to its length. With a helper is it easy.

I moved my couch to about 12 feet from the screen and the picture looks great. After watching a few movies I will update with a more detailed review.

Thanks for a great product Chris!


Jim

Congrats on your screen!! I ordered an electric a little over a week ago. Curious how long it took you to get yours?

Thanks!!

I ordered one of his new fixed frame screens... hopefully installing it today! Took about 2 weeks for delivery.

thanks for the info and good luck with the install. Would love to see some pics.

Thanks!

My electric took about 2.5 weeks for delivery.


Jim

Below are links to before and after picts.
http://tinypic.com/r/2vmznvc/3

http://tinypic.com/r/t5sosn/3


Thanks!
Jim

Really nice setup, Jim. I always enjoy seeing where these installations go, since no two are the same and I never tire of seeing another array of speakers and wondering how they sound.

Are you able to raise the center channel up, or do you still use the smaller screen in the back?

Also, does the screen in the back create any splashback issues? We've had many screens drop in front of other screens (2.35 in front of 16:9 screens, or 16:9 in front of 4:3) and have had good feedback, but if the smaller screen is far enough back, I wonder if it can splash some residual light. You otherwise have great light control - it took me a second to find the case in the pic.

Very nice setup, I'll bet movies look and sound great in your room!

Mike

Thanks Chris and Mike,
The picture and sound is great.
The speakers are DIY with Supravox 8" field coil drivers in open baffle (run full range with music and crossed over at <100 Hz for movies), fountek ribbon supertweeters (crossed at 10 Khz and above), and four 15" Hawthorne "Augie" woofers in open baffle.

There is a very small amount of light coming through and hitting my old screen. So far it is not noticed except if you are looking directly at it behind the retractable screen.

I haven't decided what to do for the center channel yet. My options are to build a wooden stand and raise my current B&W CMC speaker up or rob one of my surround back speakers with its stand (B&W CM2). As you see from the pict I do not have three matching front speakers. After running the auto EQ it sounds fine to my ears.

Thanks,
Jim

These shots were taken at the same location in my home theater so it gives a good perspective of the new screen size increase.

Jim

I read this entire thread this morning. I plan on purchasing a 2:35 or 2:37 120" - 140" fixed screen at the start of the new year. I was also intrigued by the discussion of 2 screens vs 1 screen + masking.

I thought that Seymour had masking panels for sale, is that not correct? I don't see anything on the Store page.

Also, I want my screen to cover as big of the wall as possible. 14' (building a false wall) I read in another post and Chris confirmed (would like another confirmation) that I can place my electronics partially or fully behind the screen/wall and a Harmony would be able to work through it.

Yet another question. Do you get these screens and choose the gain that you want? I am narrowing down to a 3000U projector and a 130" screen 2.35/2.37. The projector calculator needs at least a 1.0 Gain but 1.2 looks preferred.

Thanks,