[martinr]

Hello All,

I am in the process of purchasing my first home theater system, using the Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector in a dark basement at night for movies with some light in the basement during the day for sports/TV. 

My retailer in Colorado Springs is recommending the Vutec 110' elegante series screen for $495.99.  This has a 1.0 gain - I am wondering if there is a better screen match to the Panasonic projector for the $$ like the Elite EZ frame which is a little more expensive or the Jamestown Home theater screen:  http://www.jamestownhometheaterscreen.com110_screenDiagonal.html

Any screen suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Martin

[ctviggen]

You could also try a D-Lite High Power screen; it would be near that price.  How is your projector mounted?  On the ceiling or floor or wall?

[martinr]

You could also try a D-Lite High Power screen; it would be near that price.  How is your projector mounted?  On the ceiling or floor or wall?

It will be ceiling mounted

[Bob in St. Louis]

There is a "Projector Calculator" tab on the ProjectorCentral website.
There, it will guide you to the required level of screen gain for your projector, with the given screen size, throw distance, and ambient light.

If you got cash, there are some killer screens out there buy the likes of Stewart, Da-light, Carada, and many others.
I'm using Kilz2, and it looks great. 
Is it "perfect", no, probably not. But it looks fantastic. It cost $15 and the "experts" on painted screens say this is the most neutral (non-biased in the light spectrum) you can get. A great starting spot for painted screens.

Bob

[ctviggen]

The only problem with the projector central calculator is that you can't tell how it was determined.  It probably uses the highest bulb setting with a new bulb.  In my situation, I plan to use only a movie mode, which will entail a lower bulb setting.  Therefore, the screen won't nearly be as bright as what Projector Central says.

If you can DIY, then I recommend that.  If you can't, then the High Power Da-Light is a good option supposedly.  Unfortunately, I can't answer that.  I had my Da-Lite Model C in the garage in a box for two years while my family room was under construction.  I put it down, adjusted the projector to the screen, then showed my wife how the screen goes up.  After that, the screen would not come down.  There's an adjustment piece that was supposed to be screwed in that was not screwed in and that popped off.  Now, when I put this piece back on, it freezes the screen and won't let the screen go up or down.  I've been in contact with Da-lite, but no one can tell me what to do to fix it. 

[raindance]

This a quite a bright projector - 1600 lumens. My recommendation is matte white screen fabric. I don't like high gain screens unless you have a very low output projector, such as a CRT. If you want slightly improved contrast, then a high def grey screen MAY be OK - I don't like the way they affect white quality.

Vutec will probably be fine and with unity gain you have a wider viewing angle. Make sure the screen you choose is tensioned and perfectly flat or it will annoy the crap out of you.

If you PM me some more info such as room dimensions, I can help some more.

By the way, the projector central calculator is a POS.

[Bob in St. Louis]

The only problem with the projector central calculator is that you can't tell how it was determined.  It probably uses the highest bulb setting with a new bulb.

Hmm...Interesting. Never thought of that before.
Seems like a good starting spot though....imho

Bob

[GHM]

Definitely go high gain if viewing TV and sports during the day with ambient light. The 4000 is one of the dimmest projectors in its class. The only projector dimmer is the  Sanyo PLV-Z4000. 900 to 1000 lumens is about as good as it gets brand new. If you want to use it in econo mode longer.. go high gain.
As the lamp ages it will get dimmer.

[raindance]

It's going in a dark basement for heaven's sake. And 1600 lumens is not dim. We all forget - the brightest CRT projectors were 400 lumens!!!

If it were going in the living room where there were windows (and no shades), then I might suggest a high gain screen, after evaluating the room. Actually I'd probably recommend a direct view display in that case...

[martinr]

Thanks for all of your comments,  Colorado Springs Home Theater likes the vu-tech screen,  says the frame is good quality....the other screen I was considering was an elite EZ screen, Springs home theater says the two screens are comparable but likes the frame and screen tension on the Vu tech.
The panasonic projector gets very good reviews....the last decision point I have is on the BLue ray player...is there a BLue ray DVD player that upscales regular def. DVD's, streams netflix and works over a wireless N router?... Springs home theatre recommends a panasonic wired Blue ray player but I would like to go wireless if I can egt the same or better quality as wired...

Thanks again,

Martin

[martinr]

I just received another bid from a company here in Co springs....

I am trying to stay under 5K for my HT

Of these two systems, which would you recommend?

System 1. 
Panasonic PT-AE4000U 1080p Projector
Vutec 110” Projection Screen
Jamo S606 3-way Tower Speakers (pair)
MTX 6 ½” In-Ceiling Speaker pair
Yamaha RXV-567 AV Receiver
Panasonic Network Blue-Ray Player
Harmony One Remote Control

I have a def technology 2000 center I will use with this and a kenwood 45 watt sub

System 2

1 Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8500UB

1 Dragonfly 110” 16X9 screen with 1.25 gain


1 Yamaha RX-V567 Theater receiver

1 Sony BDP-S570 Blu-ray with WiFi

Speakers

1pr Sinclair Brighton BT26 tower front main speakers

1 Sinclair Brighton BC25 center speaker
1pr Paradigm CS60R in-ceiling rears

1 Paradigm PDR10 subwoofer

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Martin

[GHM]

That's easy as for as projectors go..the 8500 is considered the best under $3000. It is brighter and has the best black levels as well. It is a little cheaper than the Panasonic only because the 8700 model has been released. It has the best warranty and besides not having the anamorphic option is the most flexible unit of the two.

Save some money and go with the Jamestown screen. You can then dump more into your projector if need be. The JVC-HD250 should be right around $3000 or just below. It will without a doubt destroy them both if absolute quality is a concern.

It's going in a dark basement for heaven's sake. And 1600 lumens is not dim. We all forget - the brightest CRT projectors were 400 lumens!!!

If it were going in the living room where there were windows (and no shades), then I might suggest a high gain screen, after evaluating the room. Actually I'd probably recommend a direct view display in that case...

For heaven's sake the person plans to have lights on for TV and sports viewing. For the last time this projector doesn't have 1600 lumens when calibrated. Actually it is less than 400 lumens. On its best day it can't provide anything near 1600 lumens.

[Bob in St. Louis]

....the last decision point I have is on the BLue ray player...is there a BLue ray DVD player that upscales regular def. DVD's, streams netflix and works over a wireless N router?... Springs home theatre recommends a panasonic wired Blue ray player but I would like to go wireless if I can egt the same or better quality as wired...

Wouldn't a PS3 fit the bill?
I know it's capable of wired/wireless, Bluray/DVD, Netflix....But an not sure about upscaling (and I'm too lazy to look it up right now.  ) Plus, the obvious ability of playing games. Even if you don't play, it would be cool if kids, grandkids came over and could be entertained on the system.
just a thought.

Bob

[Bob in St. Louis]

p.s. Don't forget to post pictures of your room in the sticky thread.
It's been a bit sparse lately. 

[martinr]

p.s. Don't forget to post pictures of your room in the sticky thread.
It's been a bit sparse lately. 

Thanks Bob,
I may add a gaming system later

I will post pictures once I  put together  the theater......