[TrickMcKaha]

I seems to me that the new Panasonic 700 is well suited for use with the High Power screen. It can have a long throw and can easily be placed on a shelf behind the viewers, so the narrow viewing cone will cover the audience. The Panasonic is brighter than some other projectors, so maybe is less in need of the high gain, but with ambient light this combination would be affordable, effective, and easy.


I have not read about anyone doing this yet, however. Is there anyone yet using this combination, and if so, how is it working?

 

[JimP]

I'm in the same boat.


When I ordered the 700 this morning, the sales rep said that the high power was too bright and recommended the high contrast matte white.


Although I lean towards the high power, I can't help but wonder if the HCMW would be a better match.


Something to think about, if the high power is too bright, you could slip a neutral density filter on the projector. If you get the HCMW and its not bright enough, then you're sunk.


I think I might try to get sample pieces from Da-light of both fabrics to see how they work given the screen to projector distance and other variable that would play into this.

 

[jayfsee007]

I am also in the same boat... There are so many of us I think we can safely call it a ship at this point.


I have seen an extended demo of the AE700 on a Stewart Greyhawk screen with a gain of .9 and it was still extremely bright and punchy.

I ordered the projector based on this demo.


Dalite, Draper and Stewart are all very helpful and will send you screen samples if you call their headquarters.


Tonight I just received excellent samples from Stewart that are about 30" by 30".


I would bet that this projector is best suited to a grey screen but there are so many factors that you need to account for that it's best to just get those samples and try them out.


Me... I'm guessing that I'll end up with a Firehawk... but who knows

 

[AugDog]

I went with the high contrast cinema vision. Should be fairly similar to the Greyhawk. I will let you know what I think once i receive the projector this week.

 

[JimP]

The Da-lite high contrast matte white screen that Projector People recommended has a 1.1 reflectance(gain). How does that compare to Greyhawk and high contrast cinema vision?

 

[AugDog]

High contrast cinema vision is 1.1 gain and grayhawk is .9. Both are gray screens.


The HCCV seems to have a different texture (smoother) and coating than the HCMW.

 

[boykster]

Any updates AugDog?


I'm contemplating this combo....


Rich

 

[djbluemax1]

I have the Panny700 with a 106" Da-Lite High Power. For me, the combo works quite well. Matter of personal taste though. If you happen to be the type who obsesses over the absolute darkest black level, then the HP is probably not for you.


As for me, here are the reasons why I like the HP with the Panny 700. Although a calibrated 700 supposedly puts out more light than a calibrated HS51 for example, after calibration this thing is by no means a light cannon.


Things I've noticed with the 700 + HP combo: As Tryg posted in his thread comparing high gain screens with matte white and high contrast ones, I get better shadow detail with the HP. In other words, you see things in darker areas with the HP that you might have missed with a high contrast screen for example.


Another consideration is that although manufacturers call those gray screens 'high contrast', they don't really increase CR. All they really do is lower the black floor so the previous lowest black level is now a little lower since it's projected on a darker screen. Correspondingly, the brightest levels are lowered the same amount for a zero increase in contrast ratio. For this simple reason, I don't really mind the lighter 'black' since everything is correspondingly brighter and your eyes tend to adjust to that. Besides, PJs like the 700 and HS51 have greater CR and darker blacks than the previous gen's Panny 500, Z2, HS20 and even with a HP screen, the blacks look better than one of those with a matt white screen or even a 'high contrast'.


The brighter image also has more punch and I like the color rendition better. Although our eyes and brain adapt to something, after getting used to the punchy presentation from the HP, a high contrast screen tends to look dull in comparison. Although the gray is not supposed to affect the color rendition except for making it a little darker, you would lose some of the vibrance if you went from a HP to a 'high contrast' screen. Careful calibration of the PJ's image is necessary though, especially to make sure that the white point isn't being clipped and highlights are not blown out since this is easier to do on the HP screen but all in all, with the Panny700, I wouldn't go back to a matte white. Although I haven't owned one, I have viewed the Stewart Firehawk in my local dealer's showrooms where they have 3 projectors set up in different rooms. I might try a Firehawk just to A/B it with my HP for comparison IF I could get it at a 66% discount, but right now, I'm very pleased with the 700 + HP and I'm quite happily sticking with it.


P.S. Just for a subjective comparison of older gen LCD + Firehawk vs. newer gen LCD + HP. I find that my 700 has better contrast and deeper blacks on my HP than the store's HS20 demo has with the Firehawk, and of course, the picture is much punchier, brighter and just more vibrant. Huge difference in immersive film experience especially if you like flashy things like watching 'The Fifth Element' Superbit replete with bright colorful images, lots of explosions and a nice plaster cracking DTS soundtrack.

 

[JimP]

djbluemax1


You make a good point about the colors being more muted on a gray screen. Its not just that the brightness is shifted downwards, but the colors are also affected.


I went with a glass beaded Da-lite after comparing it with the high contrast matte white and the high power. To my eye, the glass beaded was very similar to the high power without the brightest whites being blown out. Again, this may have been nothing more than calibration. You do occassionally see a glass bead sparkle on the glass beaded. The high power is very smooth in comparison.

 

[akm3]

High Power *rocks*.


Ignore everything you hear about wanting a 1.3 gain screen or whatever -- you will love the picture on the high power.


(IMHO)


-Allen

 

[REL77]

i just ordered a AE700, but am probably going to go with the High Contrast DaLite... I have WHITE walls, WHITE ceiling, and TAN car[et

 

[boykster]

I am pretty much decided on the ae700, but screen is where I'm on the fence...


I have matte dark grey ceiling, mid/dark grey fabric walls, total light control, black front wall (where screen will go) in a dedicated HT (currently has a 42" plasma) and I'm planning on about an 80" screen or so


Problem is the wife likes to do work while we watch movies / HDTV sometimes, so even tho I have 100% light control, the control will include having lights on (dimly) occasionally...argh.



Rich

 

[djbluemax1]

boykster and REL77,


The situations you mentioned are where the High Power is beneficial. Due to its retroreflective nature, it does a better job of rejecting off axis ambient light. Reflections of the walls and ceiling wash out the image and hurt the CR less than they do with other types of screens. Using a High contrast screen will start out with darker black levels, however the net result is that the reflections of the white walls and ceiling will affect the image much more than on a High Power and reduce your CR. Because the High Power is retroreflective, it reflects the most light along a fairly narrow cone and light coming from outside this cone has much less of an effect on the picture.


It is possible to have lights at the sides of a room where a High Power is mounted and as long as the light doesn't fall on the screen directly, it won't wash out the image the way it would with other types of screens. As long as you make sure that the lights are not direct radiating to the screen on axis with your seating position. For example, a table lamp turned on next to your seating position would wash out the image, but if you have soft focus overhead track lighting shining down on you, you can have it bright enough to read comfortably by without washing out the image onscreen.