[bnewton]

I'm building a theater in my basement and plan to install a Stewart 110" 16:9 screen, most likely the Luxor fixed screen. I'll also need to get the THX microperf treatment since I pretty much have to put my center channel behind.


The projector is an NEC XG-1100 CRT with new tubes, and the room has 100% light control.


The question is, which material? I had planned to go with the Studiotek 130, but now wonder if the GrayHawk might be a better choice.




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Barry

 

[DMan]

Barry,


Small world...I'm right up the road from you in Lawrenceville. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif I too have built a Home Theater in my basement and I use a Stewart screen as well. You definitely want to use the Studiotek 130 material as it's a perfect match for CRT projectors! The GreyHawk material is made for digital projectors like LCD, DLP, and D-ILA.


You may want to keep your screen size under 100" diagonal as CRT projectors typically look much better with screens this size or smaller. I was using a Draper 110" screen and it looked pretty good but only because it was a high gain (2.3 gain) screen. But since going to a Stewart Studiotek 130 screen 92"diagonal (80"x45") the image is much brighter and sharper.


Let me know if you need any help setting up your projector? I have a color analyzer for setting up a projector's grayscale. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif




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DMan
The Academy Home Theater

 

[LeeAntin]

Barry,


The Grayhawk screen is for digital PJ's that suffer from lack of contrast ratio. You really don't want to use this for a 3 gun CRT type PJ.


If you go with a 110" 16x9 you can go with the 1.3 but keep in mind that after about 3 to 6 months of usage you will lose 40% of the original brightness. This is normal for all CRT type PJ's.


Lee

 

[bnewton]

Thanks for the info. I think I want to stick with the 110" dimension since the entire theater is pretty much designed around that. If it's really that important, I might be willing to drop to 100" or something, but I currently have a 94" 16:9 Stewart Studiotek in my den (which I intend to sell since I need perforation on the new one) and it works pretty well with my NEC GP3000 (also will be sold) once it warms up. The picture is pretty bright with no hot spots or any other problems.


I wonder if the 10% light loss due the the perforation would then suggest moving to the Ultramatte 150? Of course, this may be offset by the brighter XG-1100 projector and complete light control in the room.


My current plan is to stick with the Studiotek 130, but will consider the Ultramatte 150 if a lot of people think it makes sense.



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Barry

 

[DMan]

John,


We need some more information? Light control in your room? Room Dimensions? etc..?


If you plan on using a CRT front projector, then you must decide whether to use a 7", 8" or 9" model. Obviously the larger the size of the tubes the better the image will be, but at a substantial price increase. Also, you typically want to stay under 100" diagonal for a 7" CRT and under 120" diagonal with 8" and 9" CRT projectors for optimum image quality.


The throw distance for CRT projectors is a fixed distance based upon your screen size. The throw distance for most CRT projectors is approximately 1.5 x width of your screen. So a 80"x60" (100" diagonal) screen would put the CRT projector ~120" (10' feet) away from the screen. It is best to go by the projector's installation manual as this formula is very general and does not always work for every projector.




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DMan
The Academy Home Theater

 

[DMan]

Barry,


I would think that going with the Ultramatte 150 material at a 100" diagonal size would yield much better results, especially since you are planning on using the MicroPerf. I know another AVS forum member that is using a Stewart 100" 16:9 Ultramatte 150 (without perforations) with a Sony 1252 (7" CRT projector) and he is very pleased with the results.


Enjoy,




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DMan
The Academy Home Theater

 

[bkwong73]

Hi Barry,


I am currently looking for a used Stewart screen for my first Front projection.


So let me know if you intend to upgrade to a bigger Stewart screen and you could email me if you are interested in selling your current screen. My email address is [email protected]


Sincerely, Brian Kwong

 

[DMan]

John,


The NEC XG135 is a fantastic projector. If you plan on using a 16:9 screen, I would try and keep the size ~100" diagonal for maximum light output as well as image quality. The best fixed screen you can get for that projector would be a Stewart Luxus Deluxe screen with the VeLux option, and using the Studiotek 130 or Ultramatte 150 fabric. If you don't mind some light loss then you can get the Microperf option, as again Stewart makes the best perforated screens as well.




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DMan
The Academy Home Theater

 

[bnewton]

jtfrad3-


If you are on a budget and don't end up getting the XG-135LC, we should keep in touch. I may have an extra NEC XG-1100 projector in about six weeks, and while this is a small step down from the XG-135LC (not LC and only 110kHz scan), it's still a pretty nice projector (and much cheaper).


I'm in the process of getting one XG-1100 working for myself, but I have hopes that I can get a second one that I have working as well. Since I don't plan to double-stack http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif , it will be for sale. Most importantly, it's here in the Atlanta area.


I agree with DMan that the Stewart screens are the nicest. I have a 94" diagonal 16:9 Studiotek 130 screen currently, and it is by far the best screen I have seen (and I have seen quite a few of them). I'm definitely going with Stewart for my next one despite the price.


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Barry

 

[belmore]

Barry,


I have a Zenith Pro-900x (7" CRT) projecting onto a Stewart Videomatte 200 110" 16x9 micropref screen. It looks beautiful and is plenty bright (the contrast is only at about 50%). Dennis Erskine designed my home theater and convinced me to go with this screen. I was very skeptical because of its size and high gain, but it has worked out wonderfully.


Bruce

 

[DMan]

This thread is turning into an Atlanta area HT group. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif Seriously, I have been pondering the idea of starting up an Atlanta Home Theater Group for some time, so this may be as good a time as any.


I know of two HT stores in Atlanta that have already given me the "go ahead" to bring in a group of people to meet, and discuss HT, and demo HT equipment.


Perhaps I will make a new thread very soon in the HT General section to see how many interested HT enthusiasts in Atlanta we can get to come?


till then,




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DMan
The Academy Home Theater

 

[bnewton]

Sounds interesting. It sure would be nice to have a group in the area where people could go and get advice. We could even have a rotating movie night or something to check out each others' theaters.


I can say that in exchange for getting help setting up my equipment, I would be willing to pass it along and help out others.


Thanks, belmore, for the feedback on the higher gain screen. I'm starting to lean toward the Ultramatte 150 as a compromise.




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Barry