[Aaron Oz]

David Giles with Carada has been extremely responsive and helpful getting me a sample piece of the 1.4 gain Carada screen material. I only received a sample piece of the screen, so I cannot comment on the build quality of the aluminum screen frame itself.


His email has been extremely responsive, and the sample piece of material showed up much more quickly that I expected. It’s obvious that Carada currently has excellent customer service.


I thought that I would first review the Carada 1.4 gain material against my DIY blackout screen. The reason I'm doing this first is that I believe that the Carada screens are in a price range that most DIY blackout material users might consider buying a screen. This now includes me.


The Carada material is rubbery with some elasticity. Packing tape doesn’t like to stick to it very well either BTW . There does not appear to be any mica or mirrored/shiny elements within the material. The material is a brilliant white material (as the name would suggest) with a very fine texture embedded into the surface.


I taped the sample material directly to my BO material screen (smooth side of the blackout material out). Viewing source was HD CBS Monday night sitcoms and CSI. Projector is CRT in a fully light controlled room, with flat black ceiling and eggshell dark gray walls. Screen size is 80†x 45â€.


Initial impression was that the Carada 1.4 gain material was slightly brighter. As I watched and became more familiar, it become quite obvious that the 1.4 Carada sample material is significantly brighter than the blackout material. Probably my eyes getting adjusted, and becoming more sensitive to light differences.


The next most obvious difference, and what I consider as possibly the most significant was that the Carada screen is MUCH more white than the BO material. What my eye had previously perceived as white is actually not at all white when compared directly to the Carada screen. IMO, this fact alone is worth dumping the BO DIY screen for a Carada. My evaluation continued.


The next most obvious difference for me was the pink and orange color ranges. The colors are significantly more vivid on the Carada screen. I believe that this would be due to the truer white color temperatures, which in turn creates a more brilliant and truer color because the white is no longer off temperature. The end result is that the bright vibrant colors, especially with red and orange hues, are more inviting and enjoyable to watch.


Overall image detail was difficult to determine because in order for me to get proper brightness and contrast on the sample, I had to bump down the brightness and contrast settings. As soon as that’s done, the BO area lost dark detail. However my impression on mid-level detail is that he Carada screen has a slight, yet noticeable increase in detail over the BO screen.


IMO, the Carada sample material is a significant step up from the BO material, with a price that won’t leave the price sensitive in the dark -so to speak-.


My next test will place the Carada material against a Stewart StudioTek 130 screen. Look for this review shortly.

 

[Spellbound]

Glad to hear !!

Thanks for your review.


Looking forward to your next write up....


I know Carada screens fall at a great price point... but what about the Blackout product??

 

[BMAG]

I just made a 94x40 inch 2.35:1 screen using blackout cloth (3 yards at $5.25/yard from a fabric store). I wanted a screen I could roll up for storage so I used a copper pipe ($5 each at Homedepot) at the top and bottom of the screen, in rod pockets. Add $20 for Duvetyne tape for the border, and the total cost is under $50. Carada is selling a very nice similarly sized "scope" screen shipped for ~$600.

 

[Aaron Oz]

Quote:

Originally posted by Spellbound I know Carada screens fall at a great price point... but what about the Blackout product??

As BMAG pointed out, blackout material with a 2x4 frame, or as he as done, a copper pipe in a roll up version, is dirt cheap.


The black out material also provides acceptable results for many. There are just so many of us that have been using this BO material because we don't want to, and/or can't cough up $1500 for a 'real' screen.


Now that there is a 'real' screen option in the $600 range, I'm much more willing to gaduate to a significantly higher quality image than the BO material can offer.


BTW - I've been using a BO material screen for nearly 2 years now.

 

[Spellbound]

Quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Oz Now that there is a 'real' screen option in the $600 range, I'm much more willing to gaduate to a significantly higher quality image than the BO material can offer.

I completely agree. Its about time...

 

[ddog]

Oz


quote,

Now that there is a 'real' screen option in the $600 range, I'm much more willing to graduate to a significantly higher quality image than the BO material can offer.



Ya, paint it and save the $600 bucks. Its about time...


Ddog!!

 

[Aaron Oz]

Paint? Some also get great results making their own speaker enclosures and cross-over networks for their speakers. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.


For most however, there is neither the means nor the experience to apply paint in a consistent and properly finished manner, with good and predictable gain characteristics.


Goo is the best which I have read about, but you'll still spend a significant dollar amount, and you must still be prepared to roll and/or spray it on.


For those with the means, experience and patience it's a wonderful and relatively cost effective solution. For everyone else, there used to be only the moderate performance from blackout material or Parkland plastic, or a $1200+ 'real screen' option. Now there appears to be another one right in the middle, for $600. That's all this is about.

 

[David Giles]

Thanks for taking the time to do your evaluation Aaron! Obviously I'm thrilled that you liked our Brilliant White material. Now, when are you going to get rid of that B.O.? (err... BlackOut material that is)


David Giles

 

[Rudy81]

David:


I currently have an older Stewart Videomatte 4:3 screen and am looking to purchase a larger (96"+) screen in 16:9 format to complement my Sharp Z9000 DLP projector. Do you have any idea how your screens would compare with what I am using now?


I find your price range much more in my budget.


I should add that my HT is a dedicated room and I have total light control for the HT.


Thanks,

Rudy81

 

[David Giles]

Hi Rudy,


Videomatte is a 1.8 gain material. Our 1.4 gain Brilliant White would be the closest alternative we have to offer. So although it wouldn't be an extreme difference, the Videomatte material would be a little brighter (based on a same-size screen). Also as I'm sure you know, regardless of which material you use, increasing the size of your screen automatically reduces your resulting foot lamberts.


So if you're using the Z9000 on the smaller Videomatte now, and you went with a 96" screen with our Brilliant White, it would definitely be a somewhat dimmer image. If you'll give me the exact size of the screen you're using now, I'll do the calculations to show you the difference.


Of course if you're concerned much about your black levels, the increase in screen size AND slightly lower gain will help in that respect. So you might actually find the result more pleasing, depending on your own tastes.


Let me know if you want a sample of our material so that you can see how it'll look with your setup.


David Giles

 

[Rudy81]

David:


Thank you. My current Stewart screen is 4:3 90" diagonal viewing surface.


I have been thinking about the 96" or 104" 1.78 to 1 HDTV screen size.


I would appreciate any suggestions. I am also sending you a PM.


Rudy81

 

[David Giles]

Rudy,


Forgive me if you've already done these calculations yourself, but just in case you haven't, here they are.


Right now the largest 16:9 image you get on your 4:3 screen is roughly 82.5" diagonal. I'm not sure what real world lumen output you're getting from your Z9000, but let's be conservative and say 500 lumes. With that assumption, you're getting about 44.5 foot lamberts from a 16:9 image right now on your 4:3 Videomatte screen, and that's VERY bright by anybody's standards.


If you went to a 96" diagonal 16:9 screen, and dropped to a 1.4 gain surface material, you'd get about 25.5 foot lamberts (and if you went with a 104", you'd get about 22). That's STILL bright by most standards, and most HT owners would be very happy with it. BUT, it would be a dimmer image than YOU are used to, so you'd have to take that into consideration.


But as a consolation prize, as I mentioned before, your black levels would be inherently better, so you might even appreciate the image more than your current setup (but possibly not, it's a matter of taste).


Let me know if you have any more questions.


David Giles

 

[Huey]

My Dalite Model B Video Spectra screen cost me $150 for a 96"X96" pulled-down permanently and masked off with black curtains and felt to 96"X54". Looks great on my LT150 floor mount (hushboxed). So a "real" screen does not have to cost $600. There are some minor waves but not much. If you go HighPower the waves will disappear altogether on viewing due to retroreflectiveness, be brighter, but will cost about $250 which is still a bargain for a "real" screen. If you are handy, cut the material off the roller (or disassemble the roller box) and stretch on to a wood or aluminum frame and you can get wave-free, custom-aspect screen. It's cheaper than buying the material separately (due to different type of clients: office vs. HT).

 

[Rudy81]

David:


I am looking forward to the samples I ordered. This will allow me a way to compare the screen material. Thank you for all your help.


Rudy81

 

[stingray999]

Aaron,


Would live broadcast good enough to do comparison? Just wondering it would be difficult to tell whether any variation is from the video source or what.


Probably will wait till you order yours and post another review.

 

[Rudy81]

David:


Thank you for sending the Carada screen samples so quickly. I put them up against my Stewart Videomatte to see the differences with my Z9000. I was particularly pleased with the Brilliant white. Interestingly enough, I saw the Carada sample just as bright or slightly brighter than the Videomatte which has a 1.8 gain. I don't quite understand why that would be. Just to make sure I had my son take a look at the 3 samples and he also noticed that the Carada was just a little brighter.


I just need to decide if I should go with a stock size, or order a custom size. I don't mind paying the price for the next size larger, but I know I would loose the ability to return it if I was not pleased.


In any event, thank you for the samples.


Rudy81

 

[David Giles]

Hi Rudy,


Hmm, that's odd that our Brilliant White would appear brighter than the Videomatte. Only thing I would mention is to make sure you have the correct side of our material facing the projector. I'm sure you have the side with our sticker on it facing forward, but it's possible that we could have accidently put the sticker on the wrong side. Just in case, take a close look at the sample. The front side is matte and has a very slight textrure to it. The back side has no texture and is slightly shiny. Let me know what you discover.


Anyway, you're welcome for the samples. I think you'll be just as impressed with our frames.


David Giles

 

[Rudy81]

David:


The stickers are on the correct side, slightly textured and not as "shiny" as the back.


The brightness difference was very slight, but noticeable.


I'm sure your frame quality is outstanding. BTW, do the screens come with hardware to hang the screen? If not, what is the recommended method to hang the screen.


Rudy81

 

[David Giles]

Quote:

The stickers are on the correct side, slightly textured and not as "shiny" as the back.

Well that settles it then. I really don't know why the Videomatte would be slightly dimmer. I knew Stewart screens were good, but I didn't know they "mellow with age"


Yes, our screens do come with hardware for mounting the screen on your wall. You can of course also hang the screen directly from the ceiling if you wish, but we don't provide hardware for that type of installation.


David Giles

 

[darinp2]

Quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Oz The next most obvious difference for me was the pink and orange color ranges. The colors are significantly more vivid on the Carada screen. I believe that this would be due to the truer white color temperatures, which in turn creates a more brilliant and truer color because the white is no longer off temperature. The end result is that the bright vibrant colors, especially with red and orange hues, are more inviting and enjoyable to watch. ... However my impression on mid-level detail is that he Carada screen has a slight, yet noticeable increase in detail over the BO screen.

Just wanted to point out that some of the results you saw are common to comparing materials of different brightnesses at the same time. Your eyes will adjust to the images you see at any one time, so that would explain why you would see less detail on a darker screen when placed next to a brighter screen. I'm not saying the extra brightness isn't something that you will like, but there isn't really any such thing as true white. White is relative to the surroundings and is just what your eyes and brain perceive as white. Even if you take a very high gain screen, if you place that next to a higher gain you will not be able to perceive white on the lower gain screen. It will look gray. This is one reason that some people have written off gray screens after comparing them side-by-side with a white screen and concluding that you can't get white on a gray screen. That is true if you put it next to white material, but that isn't how people watch movies.


One person has posted that comparing two different gain materials at the exact same time with one projector is a lot like comparing Coke and Pepsi by using two straws and comparing them at once. I agree with a lot of that. The side-by-sides can be very useful, but you should remember that your eyes and brain don't get to do some of the adjustments that they can with a single screen.
Quote:

Originally posted by Rudy81 Interestingly enough, I saw the Carada sample just as bright or slightly brighter than the Videomatte which has a 1.8 gain. I don't quite understand why that would be. Just to make sure I had my son take a look at the 3 samples and he also noticed that the Carada was just a little brighter.

Since the Videomatte 1.8 material has a fairly narrow viewing cone (with the positives and negatives that come with that) it would be interesting to see how the brightnesses compared at different viewing locations. I believe that the Firehawk is basically this 1.8 screen with a gray layer to give it 1.35. However, I've found that the 1.35 really only applies to one hotspot on the screen (unless you have a huge throw distance). At many locations it is lower than this (I think it varies from about 1.0 to 0.5 to different points on the screen from my viewing position), so it is possible that you were seeing something similar. The Carada Bright White doesn't seem to have this same kind of cone, so it is possible that you could have found a spot in the room where the Videomatte would have looked brighter. Did you try moving around to see how that affected things? I would expect the Carada BW to be much brighter at certain angles.


--Darin