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I'm looking for a manual screen that I can view movies in 16x9 aspect ratio in the living room. It can be portable, or mounted to the wall. I've scoured the internet and have come up with mixed results, no clear winner. I'd like to keep the cost around $100. |
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Epson sells one that pulls out sideways instead of up and down, so that it easily hits 16:9 and also has a stop at 4:3. it comes witha stand and a wall bracket. I have it and love it, the difference in quality of using a real screen instead of a white wall is dramatic. More than your budget but worth the extra, it is solid http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=ELPSC80 link |
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Thanks lloydalter The reviews on Amazon for the Epson are good, with the exception that the screen "sags" in the middle. Have you had that problem? If not, it sounds like a great deal. Thanks! link |
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If you have budget concerns, the best option is to make your own. Buy blackout liner from a fabric store (it is the backing people use for curtains). Build a small frame and stretch the fabric across. IF you Google it you will find people have had great results. link |
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I'm with Hedgie. I went the DIY route for my home theater setup. I made a frame out of window and door trim that you can get at Home Depot or similar store. I use the blackout curtain liner and a heavy duty stapler. Stretch. Staple. Stretch. Staple. The screen I built is 80" x 45" and weighs so little it hangs on the wall with a couple of small picture hangers. It's been in place for 8 years. It cost far less than $100. The only drawback is that it's fixed - it's not portable or retractable, but that wasn't an issue for me. link |
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This is a bit more of a DIY approach, but it worked great from me. DuPont makes a product called Tyvek House Wrap. It's used underneath siding on your house to keep moisture from coming in. It also is very durable and comes in a big roll you can buy at any Home Depot. One side has the logo printed on it, but the other is completely white, very reflective, and works great as a projector screen. I bought a role, cut off a piece the size I wanted and attached the top and bottom edges to pieces of PVC pipe. I can then run a rope through the top piece of pipe, and hang the screen between two trees, from the gutter on my house, or attach it to a wall inside. Alternatively, you could build a self standing frame out of PVC. I've been using mine for about a year, and it has held up great. No worries about it getting torn, because I can just make a new one from the additional Tyvek I have on the role. A 12' roll costs about $150. You can buy a 3' roll and tape pieces together, but this creates seams which I imagine you don't really want. |
