[GoBlue]

I have a home theater where I can completely control ambient light. I have a Sony VPL-VW10HT capable of 1000 lumens but I want to run it in Cinema Black mode at 750 lumens. This projector has an issue with black levels so the screen must be able to account for that.


After a lot of reading I'm leaning towards the the Da-Lite Da-Mat material with either the Da-Snap or the Cinema Contour screen at 119" diagonal HDTV Format.


So here's the question, considering the issues with black levels on my projector I've heard there are new gray screens from Stewart and Da-Lite that might be better. Should I be looking in that direction?

 

[JP]

Just do a small bit of searching in the screen and lcd/dlp forums. You will find most people going cray over the improvment of the picture with a grayhawk. I have not seen one first hand yet but all I have seen are a slew of positive remarks and not a single negative remark. Also, Don Stewart himself visits these forums regularly and it sure means a lot to me that someone as "high up" in the industry as himself takes the time to address some of our concerns.

 

[Bulldogger]

Da-lite makes a high contrast da-mat that is gray in color and works very well with the Sony projector. Da-lite sent me some samples which I took to a local shop that has the Sony unit. It worked really well!! As, the earlier poster said, Stewart seems to get very high marks as well. Don Stewart seems to be super helpful and has answered a lot of guys questions. I, however ordered a high-contrast da-mat from cousinsvideo.com because of the great price. I was able to buy a cosmopolitian tensioned elecric screen for several hundrerd dollars cheaper than the Stewart Lexus comminicator that is a pull down model. As I have stated before, I am new at this and not as critical as some here may be. But to my eyes, the high contrast material appears to be of very high quality and produced a very good image with the sony. I suggest you get a sample and try this for yourself.

 

[kelliot]

If you get a Gray screen (ny standard preference), it may work better with the full output of the Sony.


If you really want the lower output mode of the Sony and have ambient light control, a higher gain screen might be an option.




------------------

Ken Elliott

 

[GoBlue]

Thank you everyone for the great responses. I'm more undecided now however. I've seen lots of screen shots of a 10HT against a higher gain screen (like the DA-Mat) and I like it. I also would really like to run the projector at the Cinema 800 lumens, I like the black levels a little better and I don't mind the longer lamp life http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif . SO, given that it's looking like the Da-Mat over the Gray screen may be better. Does that make sense?


While I'm begging for free advice http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif I was also wondering if there were any thoughts about going with a screen size/format of HDTV 119" diag. My room size is 21' by 14 ' and the projector is going to be 12.9' from the wall.


Thanks everyone.

Quote:

Originally posted by kelliot: If you get a Gray screen (ny standard preference), it may work better with the full output of the Sony. If you really want the lower output mode of the Sony and have ambient light control, a higher gain screen might be an option.

 

[GoBlue]

Also, could someone point me to a good place to buy the screen and/or get a quote? TIA!

Quote:

Originally posted by GoBlue: While I'm begging for free advice http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif I was also wondering if there were any thoughts about going with a screen size/format of HDTV 119" diag. My room size is 21' by 14 ' and the projector is going to be 12.9' from the wall. Thanks everyone.

 

[KFung]

GoBlue,


You can't really judge the appearance of a projector from how it looks in a screenshot, taking a picture of the screen doesn't do it justice. Colour could be off, exposure could be off, any number of things could be different, even the monitor you display the picture on affects the quality. The best way is to see it in person...


Regards,


Kam Fung

 

[Martin P]

For what is worth I think the size you are choosing(119"16x9)is the right one. I have the same screen Da-lite Fastsnap with the 1.3 gain material but I went with 110". It is a good screen and I don't think you will be disappointed. My room is slightly larger but I have now moved all the furniture far close because the screen seems too small. If I had to do it again I would go for the 119". Oh I am using a G-11 Dila so the light output is very similar to the Sony and it has more than enough light to watch a movie in a semi darkened room with enough ambient light to read. The picture looks better in the dark but it still looks fine like this and it allows others to do there own thing at the same time. Keep the family together.

 

[car_rod]

I own a Grayhawk and a VPL-VW10HT.


First of all, be sure that 119" diagonal is not too big!

My projector lens distance from screen is 350cm; at that distance the viewing screen area can't be smaller than 80"x45" (mine) neither bigger than 96"x54". Check it twice.


If you have total ambient light control, there is no much difference between the Grayhawk or a well white painted wall: the grayhawk just eats some brightness, the picture is quite dimmed compared to a neutral gain white screen. You can do the choice you want, any screens should be nice. But I agree, if "blacks" on the VW10HT is a issue for you, the grayhawk helps.

With some ambient light, the Grayhawk improves dramatically the picture. The "cinema black on" is not a problem, even with ambient light.


The grayhawk is certainly an excellent screen, but read comments about it with some salt and pepper. I feel that any other screen can do a perfect job. I have none to compare but a white painted wall, as I said, but I assume a branded screen should do a better job than any common wall which is already excellent (again, without ambient light).


If money is not an issue, then go for the Grayhawk, else go for something like the Da-Mat from Da-Lite (I have my doubts about the HC Da-Mat). In any case you couldn't be disappointed.


Personnally I'm disappointed by the Grayhawk, not because of the screen, but because of too much enthousiast comments here about it, so I had much more expectations when I bought it (blindly). This is just a good screen, nothing more, nothing less.


Carlos