AVS Forum Archive 2 - Da-lite vs Elite electric screens

GATER

08-26-04, 11:47 AM

Ok folks, take this review with a grain of salt. I am by no means an audio/video expert. I just know what I like and what looks good to me. That being said I have to say I am pretty happy with the 94" Elite Electric screen I installed yesterday. Installation was easy as is probably the case with most screens. Just figure out where you want to put it and chose between ceiling or wall hanging. The screen came with all the hardware needed for hanging, and the screen is powered by a three prong plug, no need for hardwiring.Elite screen (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/escreen.jpg)

The screen case is smaller than I thought it would be which is a plus. It also comes with a IR transmitter and receiver. I opted to use the included sensor, which is about an inch long and mounts on the end of the screen under the screen end cap. That way I can use my existing "home theater" remote and "learn" the up and down functions. I have a nice macro now that turns on my equipment, dims the lights, lowers the screen, and ply the movie. Screen lowered (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/escreen1.jpg)

The screen raises and lowers very smooth. I used an SPL meter to gauge the decibel level when in operation. It read around 45-48 dbls in a quiet room. Again, this is my first electric screen so I don't know whether this is quiet or not.

As far as the screen goes, I noticed only a slight improvement over my blockout cloth screen. For the record, the screen is matte white, and I haven't had a chance to calibrate with the new screen yet, so that might make a little difference. I am using an x1 projector at around 13 feet from the screen. I have it connected to an XP-30 panny via component to vga and again, the picture is great, but not a huge improvement over the blackout cloth screen. Maybe an expert can comment on the reason for that? Here is some low quality picsGandalf (digital camera with no tripod, take it for whats its worth (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/x1.jpg)
Aragorn (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/x1a.jpg)
Conclusion: Before I got the electric screen I was using a fixed framed B/O cloth screen that I just got tired of moving form the garage to my viewing location every time I wanted to watch a movie. I was looking for a more convenient way to have a big screen that wouldn't intrude to much on the interior of the house, and something that wouldn't piss the wife off.;) I would say I was looking more for conveniece and ease of use than picture quality. Don't get me wrong, the picture quality is great, but for the videophiles, I don't know how this screen rates amoung the Da-lites, Stewarts, etc. If yo do buy, save your packaging and manuals. You will have 7 days to return if you are not satisfied for a refund, minus a 15% restocking fee, which sucks, but at least you can return it. Like I said earlier, its great for me to have a screen I can just press a button and there she is, for the price that I got. For home theater on a budget, its a great way to go.

hungmeister

08-26-04, 02:55 PM

Thanks for the review Gater!

I was hoping for "this screen is great! Drop what you're doing and order one for each room in your house!!!". :)

But I appreciate the fair and balanced review you gave it.

Can you measure it and tell me if it's true to what the published specs are? The 94" is almost a perfect fit for my space. Anything bigger would be a show stopper. I know it's a lot to ask, but if you could do me the favor, I would appreciate. In particular I need to know the overall width of the screen at the bottom including anything that extends past the actual viewing area of the screen (maybe a horizontal rod at the bottom of the screen?).

Also, you mentioned that you're going from component on your DVD player to VGA on your X1. Is there a reason for that? Would component to component be better/worse? I have options since my projector (which is still unopened in box for the past 2 weeks - BenQ 8220) has both component and VGA in. I also built an HTPC on the side and am hoping to hook it up to the VGA in on the projector, and have my DVD player to component in. The bottom line is the HTPC is secondary, so if component to VGA from my DVD player is better than component to component, I will get adapters for VGA-component, and component-VGA. Hope all this made sense.

Thanks again for your review. If any of this belongs in PM, please redirect.

-Hungmeister

GATER

08-26-04, 04:20 PM

:I was hoping for "this screen is great! Drop what you're doing and order one for each room in your house!!!".

:DWell, unfortunately I can't really call that a review because I have never had a "real" screen before. I have nothing to compare it to so I'm just trying to give everyone an idea of how it performs. It might be crap compared to a Stewart, Draper, da-lite for all I know. :confused:but it will work for me so I'm happy.

hungmeister
If you use the "screen lowered" pic from my previous post as reference, here are some measurements.
Overall width of screen case is 91" end to end
Width of screen when lowered is 84" across including masking
Width of horizontal bar is 86"
Length of screen when lowered is 50" NOT including top mask
There is a mask of up to 5" at the top depending on how much you want
The screen measures 93" diagonal NOT including the 1" mask on the sides
As far as the x1, vga to component is the only way I can connect to my Panny xp-30.
Let me know if there is anything else you need.

hungmeister

08-26-04, 05:05 PM

Great! Thanks for the measurements! I'm putting in my order now!

I probably won't have time to put the screen up until the next weekend (hopefully by then I'll have a new plasma on the wall by then as well).

Also, a friend is lending me a Da-Lite to compare it to. I hope I don't get too disappointed with this, but it's a keeper until I "save up" for the upgrade.

I'm sure this newbie will be happy with this setup. Digital cable/HDTV service scheduled for Monday as well. Yippee!!

I looked at Stewart screens, and though I could get a great deal on them, but I'm already over budget for my "father's day gift". I'll probably "move up" to Stewart for my next screen though. I just hope I didn't burn my bridges over at Stewart. :)

Thanks again Gater!

-Hungmeister

GATER

08-26-04, 07:05 PM

Keep us informed when you get everything set up. I am very interested in how the Da-lite performs against the Elite and your assessment of both.

xmr405o

08-26-04, 07:36 PM

This thread is great....I've been debating about getting one of those screens for a couple of weeks now. However, I'm getting the 60x80 100" diagonal screen.. its over a $100 less than the 94" widescreen.

Illya Friedman

08-28-04, 12:33 AM

If only Elite made a quality perforated screen...

hungmeister

08-30-04, 03:01 PM

I talked to the VP of Elite Screens and mentioned they should expand their offerings. At least offer different screen materials, and as you noted, a perforated screen material is another that consumers want.

I am still in the process of clearing out my entertainment room for the new "gear". Just sold my 61" projection tv to the cable guy. This long weekend will be spent setting up the new gear/wiring everything. I'll post a mini review/feedback on the screen.

I had a demo at the warehouse, and the motor is very quiet. The screen material itself seems identical to Da-Lite. The Elite Home electric screen has fiberglass backing as well which seems to make it a bit more rigid and less prone to wrinkles. Of course, that's an observation I made with the one I saw at the warehouse. I wouldn't imagine that a projector with high contrast 1500:1 or greater would need anything other than a standard matte white screen (that's the only screen material Elite offers). Anyhow, more to come after the weekend install.

-Hungmeister

xmr405o

09-07-04, 01:01 AM

I got my Elite screen a couple of days ago and I set it up today. So far so great! For the price I got it for and the suprising quality...I'd say this is a great buy. For those just looking for a screen you can't go wrong with this screen. My only complaint is the casing it seems kind of fragile but thats about it.

GATER

09-07-04, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by xmr405o
I got my Elite screen a couple of days ago and I set it up today. So far so great! For the price I got it for and the suprising quality...I'd say this is a great buy. For those just looking for a screen you can't go wrong with this screen.

Glad to hear i'm not the only one that is happy with the Elite screen. Can't beat the price!

98GSR

09-09-04, 07:23 AM

Gater,

I got the Elite screen about a month ago and have been impressed as well. I do notice that the screen curls forward a little bit on either side close to where the blackout sections are. It's not too noticeable though.

My main question is about capturing the IR codes from the remote. I've tried 2 universal remotes - a Sony VML-900 and my new URC-200, and neither one can LEARN the Elite screen controller's signal! Any tips? What kind of remote do you use?

GATER

09-09-04, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by 98GSR
Gater,

I got the Elite screen about a month ago and have been impressed as well. I do notice that the screen curls forward a little bit on either side close to where the blackout sections are. It's not too noticeable though.

My main question is about capturing the IR codes from the remote. I've tried 2 universal remotes - a Sony VML-900 and my new URC-200, and neither one can LEARN the Elite screen controller's signal! Any tips? What kind of remote do you use?

The remote can be a little tricky. I have the One-for-all URC-8910. After several attempts and trial and error I finally got it to work. Try this: When your universal remote is ready to accept the screen's signal, press and hold the "down" key(or whatever key you want to learn) on the Elite screen remote, then press and hold the key you want it to learn to on the Universal remote. You don't want to do them at the same time, you want the Elite screen remote to start first, then the Universal remote. Did that make sense? Try that and it should work.

98GSR

09-09-04, 11:51 AM

That makes sense, I'll try it. I did notice that if I just tapped REALLY FAST on the elite remote, the universal remote would accept the signal, but then the signal wouldn't work with the screen. Unfortunately, my URC-200 forces you to press the original remote's button twice, so this method may not work.

I'll let you know how it turns out - Thanks!

hungmeister

09-09-04, 05:27 PM

Here's an update of my experience with an Elite 94" 16:9 electric screen. The motor is very smooth and quiet sounding. It's quite cool to just raise and lower the screen (oooh ahhhh). The screen material feels very sturdy and I can't imagine will warp or wrinkle through time. Projecting a DVD movie (Hidalgo) from a BenQ 8220 gave me mixed results - color saturation was lacking and the picture a bit bright. But these shortcomings were more due to my lack of configuring the DVD player and projector appropriately than to the screen itself. I am sure my next screening (my room isn't complete yet -- still have audio and video prewire to get done this weekend), with the DVD player and projector settings correct will improve the picture. The brightness I perceived is simply due to the projector's power.

After mounting, I noticed a slight defect in my screen. I contacted Elite and customer service was impeccable. They were quite surprised that I found a problem with this model so I took some photos and sent to them. They promptly offered me an exchange with no questions asked. I guess there's a first for everything, and I'm the lucky one to get one with a manufacturing flaw (the screen had a wrinkle in one section). Of course the popularity of the 16:9 has me waiting for their next shipment in early Oct. I'll continue to use my screen in the meantime.

Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with this screen for the price. I don't think you can find a better price/performance ratio for any other electric screen on the market. If you're starting out in the HT arena, as I am, save yourself some $$ and get one of these and try it out. Their return policy is very lenient, and once you get it, I doubt you'll be returning it. Save up for a nicer (more $$) screen later, and you can still use this one in the master bed as a 2nd HT screen. These screens are becoming more popular (probably somewhat attributable to the favorable testimonials on avs and other sites), so your wait time for delivery may vary. But if you choose to exercise patience, you'll get the next up and coming models from Elite (hopefully with added options), and maybe price drops for them moving volume.

At any rate, I will recommend Elite to those that ask me about screens. If you can afford and want the peace of mind of getting the best and prestige of owning the likes of Stewart, then you're more fortunate than most. However, if you want a great screen that will work well for HT, and also get nice compliments from your friends (you don't have to tell your friends how little you paid), then go for these Elite.

Have fun!

-Hungmeister

316

09-09-04, 06:14 PM

Thanks for all the input Hungmeister (and others)!

I ordered my screen yesterday and it should arrive in the next day or two. I did not order an elite or a Dalite as originaly posted when I started this thread.

I will be the first to my knowledge to offer some feedback on this brand. I purchased it from HeavyDiscount.

An electric screen with a black case in the size I wanted 133" - 16X9 - 1.3 for $695.00 shipped second day air for FREE, not bad.

I opted for the 2.0 gain upgrade (w/remote) because of the size of the screen. I wanted bigger, but had to settle on the "smaller" 133" screen but did not want it to be too dim so I hope my compromises pay off. We'll see.
My room is large and anything smaller would just not look right. The upgrade cost me an extra 100.00.

In my opinion quality and customer care MUST are equally important, as Hungmeister pointed out. So far customer service has been outstanding.

I'll update when it arrives....

joel_vh

09-10-04, 03:27 PM

Gater could you PM me where you got the screen?

hungmeister

09-10-04, 04:30 PM

Can you provide the information for HeavyDiscount? Do they sell things other than projector screens? Might be worth a look. I'm always in the market for good deals. :)

-Hungmeister

316

09-10-04, 05:23 PM

Sure: http://directfromwarehouse.com and on ebay they are: http://stores.e b a y. c o m/HeavyDiscount_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm

the prices and screens are different on e b a y than they are on the website direcfromwarehouse. They have the boarders on the bay and include free ship last time I checked.

316

09-11-04, 08:49 AM

brand is "Saaria" Projection Screen: http://www.saaria.com/index.html

jayhawkfan614

09-14-04, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by 316
Thanks for all the input Hungmeister (and others)!

I ordered my screen yesterday and it should arrive in the next day or two. I did not however, order an elite screen, nor a Dalite as originaly posted when I started this thread.

I will be the first to my knowledge, to offer some feedback on this brand. I purchased it from HeavyDiscount.

With the popularity of LCD, DLP, etc as well as the long steady history of the CRT projectors it seems to me that there will be more and more companies out there competing for our business which in the end... is good for us.

Personally for me it was very dificult in making my choice in screen size and gain but..choosing this company was a very easy choice to make. An electric screen with a black case in the size I wanted 133" - 16X9 - 1.3 for $695.00 shipped second day air for FREE!

I opted for the 2.0 gain upgrade (w/remote) because of the size of the screen. I wanted bigger, but had to settle on the "smaller" 133" screen but did not want it to be too dim so I hope my compromises pay off. We'll see.
My room is large and anything smaller would just not look right. The upgrade cost me an extra 100.00.

In my opinion quality and customer care MUST go together, as Hungmeister pointed out. So far customer service has been outstanding.

I'll update when it arrives....

316,

Any update ?? How is it ?

budwich

09-14-04, 12:18 PM

I hope your screen is better than those pictured in the link. If you look at those pictured, you can readily see that the sides are "bending" up / in.... probably not a problem if you don't project close to the edge or if there is a reasonably large black border that takes up most of the "edge area" on the screen.... certainly interested to hear your experience with your new screen.

jayhawkfan614

09-14-04, 01:42 PM

I am specifically asking about the quality of the Saaria product, not the Elite.

High Def 03

09-14-04, 02:46 PM

Well which one is better between these two screens?

316

09-14-04, 05:55 PM

I was gonna post yesterday but will give more details tomorrow with pics (can you post pics on this site without an outside host?).

The screen arrived yesterday (fast shipping). NOTHING like the ones in the pics on the website, in fact they really ought to remove those pics cause I would never buy one if it looked like that.

Screen functions smoothly and the case looks solid. I had a little dent on the mounting tabs, from shipping I suppose (will show in pics) but no problem really.

Remote looks a little cheesy but other than that the unit as a whole looks solid. Mine did end up with a curl on the left side but Ahmed (the guy I have been dealing with at heavy discount) said it may have shifted and he will instruct on how to bring it back. More than likely this is related to the dent in the mount.

Other than that I think this is an OUTSTANDING bargain. I will be setting up my PJ in the next few days and will keep you updated.

If you want pics in the meantime send me your email address and I'll shoot em off in the morn as I must head off to work in a few minutes.....

James

"Well which one is better between these two screens?"

BTW, unless a guy has owned both its hard to tell which one is better.

The brand logo on this one is just s sticker that can easily be replaced with another brand so I wonder if this manufacturer sells under other brand names? It's common practice.

budwich

09-14-04, 05:56 PM

I was specifically commenting about the pictures of the screens in the Saaria link.

316

09-14-04, 06:03 PM

Lets see if this works...

316

09-14-04, 06:04 PM

pic

316

09-14-04, 06:11 PM

hungmeister

09-16-04, 04:03 PM

Let's see some more pictures! Stop watching re-runs of 5TD Daunte, and get that HT room together!! :)

-Hungmeister

316

09-16-04, 09:26 PM

LOL, Hey Hungmeister, How'd ya know???

I had a setback setting up the PJ but all is well again:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=446517

I will be heading home tonight and take some pics of the screen and give an update asap. (as well as some issues with the screen) Part of the holdup is that I am currently working 7-12hr days! On graveyard to boot, ouch!!

James

jayhawkfan614

09-16-04, 10:22 PM

I know how that is ( getting the Home Theater done). If I wasnt on here reading all the time I would be fnished by now with the Theater ;)

LOL

Interested in your feedback 316, I ordered a screen also.

Off to get carpet tomorrow .... finally !!

316

09-16-04, 11:56 PM

Real quick,

Ahmed is going to replace my screen. I'm not sure yet but will know tomorrow if he is going to send a new one first or if I am going to have to ship this one back first. I prefer the former over the latter for obvious reasons :).

The insrtuctions he gave me to fix the curl did not work and when I did get the PJ up and running I noticed two horizontal lines running the width of the screen about 8" & 13" from the top. These appear to be under the "surface" so a replacement is nessesary.

Jayhawkfan,

I hear ya, I'll be ordering my carpet in a week or so. I want to get the PJ mounted first. This site is so full of information its liak an addiction! Lots of great guys too:)
What size screen did you order?

jayhawkfan614

09-17-04, 07:47 AM

316,

I ordered a 45X80 , and the same type as you did. Now I am concerned, seeing as you are having issues. I guess I will find out next week when mine arrives.

316

09-17-04, 09:52 AM

Jayhawk,

I hope you ordered the 1.3 not the 2.0 on that size of a screen. If so don't worry, check this out.

I just got off the phone with Ahmed.

As I've stated previously, "quality and customer care MUST go together....So far customer service has been outstanding."

I have been given a few options (I love options).

1) They will send me out a replacement screen, no problem. If I choose this option I will go with the 1.5 as I have found that the 2.0 produces some hot spots that I do not like, not unexpected just did not think they would be so evident. They may show less when I mount the PJ to the ceiling but I am not going to take any chances. The shipping damage and defect may have been a blessing in disguise.

2) They have a shipment of fixed screens on the way with velvet masking! These are going to be going for about $1400.00 and they will give it to me for my original auction price $695.00 So I will be getting a $100.00 refund (price differnce I paid for the 2.0 W/remote) If, I choose this option.

Of course I will have to wait but it may be worth it. This is the kind of customer service I expect. When things go wrong a company that goes above and beyond to make it right.

My budget did not allow for a fixed screen with masking, hot digitiy!

Which option would you choose?

James

316

09-17-04, 09:58 AM

Picture looks better in person...

316

09-17-04, 09:59 AM

shot

316

09-17-04, 10:17 AM

I still need to tweak everything better, this is all after a two hour setup from a newbie.

BobSalita

09-19-04, 08:59 AM

I see www.tigerdirect.com sells Elite. Suggest you take a look.

jayhawkfan614

09-22-04, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by 316
Jayhawk,

I hope you ordered the 1.3 not the 2.0 on that size of a screen. If so don't worry, check this out.

I just got off the phone with Ahmed.

As I've stated previously, "quality and customer care MUST go together....So far customer service has been outstanding."

I have been given a few options (I love options).

1) They will send me out a replacement screen, no problem. If I choose this option I will go with the 1.5 as I have found that the 2.0 produces some hot spots that I do not like, not unexpected just did not think they would be so evident. They may show less when I mount the PJ to the ceiling but I am not going to take any chances. The shipping damage and defect may have been a blessing in disguise.

2) They have a shipment of fixed screens on the way with velvet masking! These are going to be going for about $1400.00 and they will give it to me for my original auction price $695.00 So I will be getting a $100.00 refund (price differnce I paid for the 2.0 W/remote) If, I choose this option.

Of course I will have to wait but it may be worth it. This is the kind of customer service I expect. When things go wrong a company that goes above and beyond to make it right.

My budget did not allow for a fixed screen with masking, hot digitiy!

Which option would you choose?

James

I got the 1.3 Gain version. It should be here tomorrow. It will be a little bit before I get it up and get a chance to use it as I too still need to hang the projector and have carpet coming soon also.

If fixed works for you that is great. I have kid issues so I like the idea of being able to put the screen up , and I will have a 50 inch Sony KL-W9000 behind the screen for general viewing purposes.

Let me know how it works out for you.

HT&AV-Geek

09-23-04, 09:46 PM

Hey guys,

I too was curious about these Elite screens and how they compared to the big U.S. brands. So, I got with a customer (a buddy) that purchased one from them to see what his experience was. To say the least it was awful.

I have a part time business where I do custom installation of home A/V equipment and wanted to know a bit more about this new screen company. I have used products from the big screen companies here in the U.S. (Da-Lite and Stewart) and wondered if it even compared. What I have to say is that I am not impressed at all. My buddy had ordered the plug in electric style screen from Elite. When he got it the packaging seemed to be o.k. but that is where it ended. From there it went down hill fast. He hung the unit and called me to come over and see it. Based on what I have seen from the other two screen companies I have worked with, I would say that this product is far from being equal in value. The fabric looked horrible with huge "V's" throughout the viewing area. The case was basic and when we looked up inside it we noticed that it had rust inside. Also, the ends of the batten at the bottom of the screen were finished with a really cheap cover. It fell off with the slightest bump. I also noticed that the screen moved really slow in both the up and down directions. The inline switch unit was interesting but looks like it could break with a good hit. So he will have to keep the kids away from it.

Being that I have installed products like this in consumers houses, I thought it was very interesting that the unit did not have any type of electrical approval (i.e. UL or CE) If you think about most things you plug in to the outlet in your house, most everything has at least a UL approval rating. This is just to keep your house safe from potential fire hazards. That brings me to another point. Since the fabric looked so horrible, we took the unit apart to see if we could help the "V" issue. What we did was to cut off the top of the screen and remount it to the roller. Just for curiosity, I took a small piece of the area we cut off outside with a lighter to see if it was treated with any flame resistant materials. To my surprise, it burnt so fast I could hardly let go in time. This would appear to me as a serious issue. I sure don't want anything in my house that could potentially burn up if someone had a careless cigarette etc.

So as you can see the experience my buddy and I have had with Elite screens was not nearly as positive as some have posted here. I just thought some of you might be interested in our findings.

Gook Luck and Happy Viewing,

Jimmy

316

09-23-04, 10:39 PM

316

09-23-04, 10:47 PM

Guys,

I just discovered a pretty big mistake in my setup. Being new to this CRT stuff and 16X9 screen, scaler etc..I just found that I made the most basic of errors. No I did not forget to plug my equipment in or leave the lenses caps on, I uh, did not have my DVD player set up to 16X9 format.
Ahem, this makes a BIG difference. I swear I remember doing it but obviously I was WRONG. Sheesh! :o

Borg

09-24-04, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by HT&AV-Geek
Hey guys,

I too was curious about these Elite screens and how they compared to the big U.S. brands. So, I got with a customer (a buddy) that purchased one from them to see what his experience was. To say the least it was awful.

I have a part time business where I do custom installation of home A/V equipment and wanted to know a bit more about this new screen company. I have used products from the big screen companies here in the U.S. (Da-Lite and Stewart) and wondered if it even compared. What I have to say is that I am not impressed at all. My buddy had ordered the plug in electric style screen from Elite. When he got it the packaging seemed to be o.k. but that is where it ended. From there it went down hill fast. He hung the unit and called me to come over and see it. Based on what I have seen from the other two screen companies I have worked with, I would say that this product is far from being equal in value. The fabric looked horrible with huge "V's" throughout the viewing area. The case was basic and when we looked up inside it we noticed that it had rust inside. Also, the ends of the batten at the bottom of the screen were finished with a really cheap cover. It fell off with the slightest bump. I also noticed that the screen moved really slow in both the up and down directions. The inline switch unit was interesting but looks like it could break with a good hit. So he will have to keep the kids away from it.

Being that I have installed products like this in consumers houses, I thought it was very interesting that the unit did not have any type of electrical approval (i.e. UL or CE) If you think about most things you plug in to the outlet in your house, most everything has at least a UL approval rating. This is just to keep your house safe from potential fire hazards. That brings me to another point. Since the fabric looked so horrible, we took the unit apart to see if we could help the "V" issue. What we did was to cut off the top of the screen and remount it to the roller. Just for curiosity, I took a small piece of the area we cut off outside with a lighter to see if it was treated with any flame resistant materials. To my surprise, it burnt so fast I could hardly let go in time. This would appear to me as a serious issue. I sure don't want anything in my house that could potentially burn up if someone had a careless cigarette etc.

So as you can see the experience my buddy and I have had with Elite screens was not nearly as positive as some have posted here. I just thought some of you might be interested in our findings.

Gook Luck and Happy Viewing,

Jimmy

Jimmy, If you are going to post something like this we need pictures. What is the exact model number? I'm also curious as to why your "buddy" didn't return the screen. I would have returned it in a heartbeat. I also find it hard to believe that "it burned so fast you could hardly let go in time." I think most people can let go of a firecracker in time after lighting it.

Jason Turk, have you gotten any Elite screens in yet? I'm curious of your opinion on the build quality, etc.

GATER

09-24-04, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by HT&AV-Geek
Hey guys,

I too was curious about these Elite screens and how they compared to the big U.S. brands. So, I got with a customer (a buddy) that purchased one from them to see what his experience was. To say the least it was awful.

I have a part time business where I do custom installation of home A/V equipment and wanted to know a bit more about this new screen company. I have used products from the big screen companies here in the U.S. (Da-Lite and Stewart) and wondered if it even compared. What I have to say is that I am not impressed at all. My buddy had ordered the plug in electric style screen from Elite. When he got it the packaging seemed to be o.k. but that is where it ended. From there it went down hill fast. He hung the unit and called me to come over and see it. Based on what I have seen from the other two screen companies I have worked with, I would say that this product is far from being equal in value. The fabric looked horrible with huge "V's" throughout the viewing area. The case was basic and when we looked up inside it we noticed that it had rust inside. Also, the ends of the batten at the bottom of the screen were finished with a really cheap cover. It fell off with the slightest bump. I also noticed that the screen moved really slow in both the up and down directions. The inline switch unit was interesting but looks like it could break with a good hit. So he will have to keep the kids away from it.

Being that I have installed products like this in consumers houses, I thought it was very interesting that the unit did not have any type of electrical approval (i.e. UL or CE) If you think about most things you plug in to the outlet in your house, most everything has at least a UL approval rating. This is just to keep your house safe from potential fire hazards. That brings me to another point. Since the fabric looked so horrible, we took the unit apart to see if we could help the "V" issue. What we did was to cut off the top of the screen and remount it to the roller. Just for curiosity, I took a small piece of the area we cut off outside with a lighter to see if it was treated with any flame resistant materials. To my surprise, it burnt so fast I could hardly let go in time. This would appear to me as a serious issue. I sure don't want anything in my house that could potentially burn up if someone had a careless cigarette etc.

So as you can see the experience my buddy and I have had with Elite screens was not nearly as positive as some have posted here. I just thought some of you might be interested in our findings.

Gook Luck and Happy Viewing,

Jimmy

Wow! That doesn't sound to good.:( I haven't had any problems with my elite screen. Of course, this is my first screen so its all relative. I just watched the Empire Strikes Back last night and combined with my Infocus 4805, the picture was fantastic. I'll post some screenshots later, but so far I'm very happy. Like it was mentioned earlier, I think we'll need one of the avs forum gurus to give us the real scoop.:)

VampireSita

09-24-04, 12:54 PM

Hey Geek,

Are you an engineer or something? Elite simply offers affordable screens for customers who do not have the money you do to buy a fancy product.

Borg

09-24-04, 09:41 PM

Geek's two posts on this thread seem fishy to me. He almost sounds like one of those guys who are paid to post negative things about competitor's products on forums and review sites around the internet. And yes, there are people who do that for a living (I know someone who does it). I mean, who wouldn't return a defective screen? And who looks for a UL rating....and tests it with a lighter to see how much it burns? If I'm wrong Geek, I'm sorry, but it does seem fishy.

arnolds

09-25-04, 12:46 AM

Thanks to Gater's lead, I picked one up today at their local office in Tustin. Great customer service!

I got the 100" 16X9 electric screen to replace my manual pull down, Da-Lite Model B w/ CSR.

The packaging was top notch and tight.

It could use a little more detailed instructions but I was able to set it up by myself. Unit weighs about 65lbs.

The da-lite was a little brighter but the Elite Screen is an excellent value. The electric motor is awesome. Even my wife thinks so!

Yes, its not the best screen out there, but for the price, its a great option for many HT geeks.

layingback

09-25-04, 12:06 PM

Hi, Those of you in this thread who've bought Elite screens, are you buying the VMAX or the HOME series? Anyone seen both, to pass an opinion on the fabric differences? And the benefits? The price diff seems big (eg. $330 vs $569 @ projector.com for the 60x80).

FYI, per Elite Screens site the differences between the two series are (VMAX first, HOME second):
- Sync motor vs Tube motor
- "Metal" vs Aluminum case
- No hanging bracket vs included brackets
- RF vs IR remote
- Matte White vs Matte White with Fiber Glass backing
- Non-adjustable vs Adjustable drop/rise positions
- Fixed vs removable 3-way switch

In addition from pictures VMAX appears to have simple white case vs more substantial white case with black end caps, and HOME has a more elegant - at least less industrial - looking remote.

jehagain

09-25-04, 08:19 PM

VMAX screens don't come with hanging brackets? how do you hang it?

layingback

09-25-04, 09:01 PM

:-) Baling twine?

I assume that as they say that the Home units come with 90 degree brackets that can be mounted above (to ceiling or pelmet), as well as to a wall, I'm guessing the VMAX comes with just wall brackets...

RBurnthorn

09-26-04, 09:05 AM

Gator,
Can you PM me as well on where you got yours for so cheap?

Thanks!

bjamez05

09-26-04, 07:16 PM

i have a dalite electric cinema contour 106 inch screen for $850. Its AWESOME!!

pbracken

09-29-04, 02:58 PM

I just received my Elite HOME90IWV (87" 4:3 screen). I installed it on the ceiling last night, and all went well. The instructions are a very bad translation into English. The manual on the Elite website is much clearer.

One of the differences between the VMAX and HOME series is the addition of a fiberglass backing on the HOME series to increase stiffness. I swear mine does not have this backing. The screen seems very thin and flexible, and it curls on the screen edges. Does anybody else have a HOME series screen, and if so how stiff is the screen? I can tap the screen on one side and watch the ripples propagate all the way across the screen surface to the other side, just to give an idea of the stiffness (or lack thereof) of my screen.

Other than this concern, I am happy with the screen so far. The curled edges don't seem to show up too bad while viewing.

layingback

09-29-04, 03:18 PM

Surely you should be able to see the fiberglass backing? If it is there of course? But as I'm still in the shall I/shan't I stage, I can't give you feedback.

You could try emailing them, I got a very quick response (~ 1 hr) when I emailed info@elitescreens.com with a question.

But you say the screen is very thin and flexible, does that mean it's translucent? Is it just vinyl? (I need to use it in front of a window...)

TIA

pbracken

09-29-04, 03:51 PM

I don't know about how opaque the screen is. I'll try shining a flashlight through it and see. It is definitely vinyl, and it is pretty smelly. I can smell the plastic vinyl odor when I walk by it. I am hoping that dissipates over time.

I thought I would be able to "see" the fiberglass backing. It is just black on the backside. I sniffed the back, and it also smells of vinyl. I suppose I shouldn't go around saying I sniff projector screens ;)

316

09-29-04, 06:15 PM

Too late, that cats out of the bag! You screen sniffer you, shame on you!!LOL.

You should see the fiberglass (the glass weave) and you will feel it. If you have to ask the question, odds are you do not have it.

GATER

09-29-04, 09:12 PM

The curled edges don't seem to show up too bad while viewing.

My Home series screen also has slight curling on some of the edges, but like you said, it does not interfere with the picture at all as it is aroung the black masking.

GATER

09-29-04, 10:04 PM

I have a few screen pics of the Elite screen in action. I took these with a 3.2 mp camera seated right next to the projector at around 13-14 feet away. I did not use the flash so the pics are a little darker than the live image is. I have the 4805 connected to a panny xp-30 via component with the Elite 94" home series screen. VADER (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/DARTH.jpg)
LUKE (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/LUKE.jpg) R2 (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/R2.jpg)
Believe me, the picture looks fantastic, I just wish you could see how good these look. These pics don't do it justice, but you get the idea.

316

09-30-04, 12:23 AM

Looks good Gater! I know what you mean about the pics, must be a trick to it to make it look like some of the guys screens esp on e b a y. Must be trick photography??

pbracken

09-30-04, 06:30 AM

I was just reading the post about the Eilte screen having no UL or CE identifier. My screen has an ETL logo for US and Canadian certification, which is considered equivalent to a UL certification. Just do a Google search on "ETL listed", and you will get an explanation of what it means. I also think that post was meant to dupe people.

As for real complaints, my HOME screen definitely does not have a fiberglass backing based on 316's comments on how it should look and feel with the fiberglass. The back of my screen is very smooth and flexible. Looks like I'll be calling Elite today, and test their customer service.

I did shine a flashlight through the screen from behind. I could barely see the light when I put it up against the back of the screen. I would imagine that if you installed this screen in front of a window, and the sun were shining directly on it, you would see some light coming through. I don't think you would see any light bleeding through from indirect sunlight.

The edge curling on my screen has become a nuisance. The curl extends beyond the black border area and into the screen itself. I could actually see distortion in a scene that was panning across the screen. I am blaming this on the fact that my screen does not have the fiber backing, so I am not going to make broad assumptions about the Elite product line based on this defective screen. Everybody makes mistakes sometimes, and they will hopefully make it up with good customer service.

Wish me luck.

:eek:

layingback

09-30-04, 12:09 PM

pbbraken, Thanks for the opacity info. I don't expect to be able to use FP in any strong sunlight, but it's v. reassuring to hear that I'll not likely see window outlines, etc., showing through significantly in lower light situations. (No drapes really feasible on this wall of windows, but no significant light penetration - beyond the odd star - once it starts getting dark.)

But I will be interested in the results of your discussion with Elite on the fiberglass backing, as to me that's the main justification for the ~40% price increase over the VMAX (although I suspect that the user-adjustable up/down stop is what really increases the cost).

Thanks.

pbracken

09-30-04, 02:50 PM

I called Elite today and talked with Jaime. He was nice enough. He said he had never heard of anyone having a problem with a HOME series screen that didn't have the fiberglass backing. He said the screen whould be very flat. He also said that you could not see or feel the fiberglass backing in the screen, which goes against 316's post. He asked me to take a picture, and he would discuss with the product manager to figure out how they could help me. I figured I'd let you guys see the picture too. What do you think? Do I have a right to lodge a complaint? I'll post when I get a reply from Elite.

High Def 03

09-30-04, 03:36 PM

Does anyone else have pictures of there Elite screens to compare?

316

09-30-04, 05:09 PM

Glass is glass. It all has a weave and you need a resin, wether epoxy or polyester based to attach it to the surface. While it is possible to bury the weave in the resin, this would only add to the weight and would then be even more evident of the screen having been glassed. :)

If you go to your local Good Guys they carry Vutec screens in a 1.0 matt and they are glassed. ANY person can see the glass, it IS detectable. You can see the edges where the glass and screen end. For the record, I glass and paint. When I am finished painting you cannot see the glass because it is burried under the resin, primer, and paint. One other thing, if you bend the material far enough, the resin and or paint will crack and expose the glass. I would venture to guess that they would use a .075 oz cloth (glass) at least.

Now I could be making all this up and Jaime over at Elite could be using some type of top secret fibreglass. If so, I sure would like to find out what kind it is so I may use it as well.:rolleyes:

For the record, the Saiira screen is NOT glassed.

pbracken

09-30-04, 08:57 PM

I received an e-mail from Jaime, and he pulled through for me. He said that the screen was defective based on the picture I sent, and they are going to replace the screen. I have to wait until October 15th as they are out of stock right now. I told him I wouldn't mind waiting.

Although it was unfortunate I received a defective screen, I am OK with it because of Elite's excellent customer service.

Borg

10-02-04, 03:38 PM

Just got done installing my Elite electric home series screen (93" 16:9). I am pleased with the results. Very good construction, and the screen material seems nice. Granted, it's your basic matte white but for me that's what I prefer. It looks identical to Gater's screen so I won't post any pics. I don't have curling on the edges like pbraken...but it sounds like that will be resolved nicely.

So right after I installed it, I decided to do the most important test of a screen...the flame retardant test of the screen material. I cut out a piece from the bottom (who watches the bottom anyway...) and took it outside with a lighter......Just kidding!!!.....inside joke for those of you who have read the whole thread.

Seriously though, I am very pleased with this setup and would recommend Elite to anyone who wants a matte white screen. My brother in law has a dalite model c manual (matte white), and in my opinion it is of equal quality.

GATER

10-03-04, 08:57 AM

So right after I installed it, I decided to do the most important test of a screen...the flame retardant test of the screen material. I cut out a piece from the bottom (who watches the bottom anyway...) and took it outside with a lighter......Just kidding!!!.....inside joke for those of you who have read the whole thread.

Ya had me going for a second there.:D

Seriously though, I am very pleased with this setup and would recommend Elite to anyone who wants a matte white screen. My brother in law has a dalite model c manual (matte white), and in my opinion it is of equal quality.

Thats good to hear. I have been wondering how the elite would fare against the established companys. thanks for the info.

hungmeister

10-05-04, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by pbracken
I received an e-mail from Jaime, and he pulled through for me. He said that the screen was defective based on the picture I sent, and they are going to replace the screen. I have to wait until October 15th as they are out of stock right now. I told him I wouldn't mind waiting.

Although it was unfortunate I received a defective screen, I am OK with it because of Elite's excellent customer service.

I'm waiting for the same shipment for my replacement. My screen is warped in the center. It's barely noticeable in movies, but I'm the type that if I know it's there, I'll see it every time.

By the looks of your photo, it does appear that your screen isn't in perfect shape. Good luck with the replacement.

-Hungmeister

hungmeister

10-05-04, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by GATER
I have a few screen pics of the Elite screen in action. I took these with a 3.2 mp camera seated right next to the projector at around 13-14 feet away. I did not use the flash so the pics are a little darker than the live image is. I have the 4805 connected to a panny xp-30 via component with the Elite 94" home series screen. VADER (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/DARTH.jpg)
LUKE (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/LUKE.jpg) R2 (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/R2.jpg)
Believe me, the picture looks fantastic, I just wish you could see how good these look. These pics don't do it justice, but you get the idea.

Nice shots.

I went to Circuit City over the weekend to look at some of the new TVs. I have my screen and projector all setup for night/movie viewing, and need something for daytime viewing.

To my chagrin, most of the rear projection LCD/DLP, and even Plasma's have terrible image quality. In fact, older CRTs were much sharper and colors more saturated. The video source was HD content. The only thing that looked promising was LCD monitor/tvs (Sony, Panasonic, Sharp were what I looked at). It's making me rethink whether I should get a big rear projection LCD (I'm looking at the 50" or 55" from Sony). My projector to screen is so much sharper (HDTV content) than what I saw come out of these "new" RP-LCD and DLP sets. What gives? I thought new meant better? For what they cost, it sure doesn't impress me much.

I'm almost sorry I bartered away my old RPTV (Sony 61"). What are you guys using for daytime/ambient light viewing?

-Hungmeister

(sorry to change the subject)

GATER

10-06-04, 02:59 PM

I'm still using my Panny 47" hd ready widescreen. Its still going strong after 3 years of use. I'm been really happy with it.

cmorreale

11-22-04, 10:27 PM

so did anyone ever find out about the fiberglass backing on the home version?

VampireSita

11-23-04, 07:13 PM

According to Elite Screens, the fiberglass backing is only applied to the 120 and above models for better flat support.

ShinyPrincess

11-28-04, 08:37 PM

Well i am close to buying the Elite 100IWH and i was wondering what else is out there that is comparable to this screen and close to the same price? I have heard Dalite mentioned but i think its more in cost and i dont think they come with a remote. Any advice?

316

11-28-04, 10:50 PM

ShinyPrincess,
The Saaria might be worth taking a look at. Mine came with a remote and was in my opinion the biggest bang for the buck.

jlew

12-22-04, 04:13 PM

Interested to know how you guys are making out with the Elite screen now that some time has passed...

Njmurvin

12-22-04, 04:33 PM

I would like to know as well.

I am seriously considering a purchase of an AE700U and the Home series 100IWH. The combination hits a nice sweet spot of about 3 large by the time I add cables, etc.

My application is a pretty dimly lit room with mostly night viewing. I plan to leave my 60" Hitachi Ultravision SD RPTV (an oldie but a goody) in its alcove and have this screen drop down in front of it for "special" viewing (DVD movies, HD sports, etc.).

Am I wasting my money on this Elite screen? Should I put that five to six hundred toward a higher end screen?

Neil

txmetabaron

12-23-04, 04:57 PM

Neil,Jlew,
I just got my home 120 HDTV format and so far so good.
The packaging is awesome,delivery took 3 days from CA to TX.
The price is obviously right on target.Installing was pretty easy,but the screen is somewhat heavy so you will need to use heavy duty fastener.

I haven't watched an entire movie yet,so I can't comment on contrast even though it looks very good to the naked eye,controlled (dimmed,even)light with my HTPC/Sanyo Z2.

I will post screen shots later one,but I can tell you I am very happy for now with its PQ

Even passed the WAF,as it is nicely finished.The mechanism is very quiet too.

So for less than $6 per inch,including shipping,I think it is an awesome deal...
just my opinion of course ;)

GATER

12-24-04, 03:55 PM

I am still very happy with my Home series 94" electric. I don't think it can be beat for the budget home theater. Some older shots:
vader (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/DARTH.jpg)
luke (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/LUKE.jpg)
screen down (http://home.comcast.net/~mkrienke/escreen1.jpg)

LaserGecko

12-31-04, 06:15 PM

I don't think I saw an answer for this, but the Elite VMAX series mounts to the wall with an integrated keyhole notch molded in the plastic endcap. It mounts to the ceiling with a metal loop attached to the endcap.

Eventually, I'd like to flush mount it to the ceiling with 2x4's over the joists and a dropped length of allthread, but for now, it's quite happy with molly bolts.

Is it the world's best screen? Obviously not.

Is it good quality? Yup! The motor is quiet and just the right speed. Movies look great on it.

Is it an incredible value for a $350 (eBay, shipped price) motorized 100" 4:3 screen? Hell yeah!

VMAX is the value line. It doesn't have some features like mounting brackets or fiberglass backing like their Home series, but after much discussion with the guy from Projector.com, I decided it would be more than adequate for now. Heck, it might be more than adequate for a long, long time.

(BTW, you don't have to put fiberglass in a curing resin in every use. It can be used in nonrigid applications like screens and Silpat baking mats where it's encased in silicone.)

I'd recommend it for anyone looking to get started with a real HT.

foxdvd

01-01-05, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by LaserGecko

Is it an incredible value for a $350 (eBay, shipped price) motorized 100" 4:3 screen? Hell yeah!

I'd recommend it for anyone looking to get started with a real HT.

Any waves? Wrinkles?

LaserGecko

01-01-05, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by foxdvd
Any waves? Wrinkles?

So far, no wrinkles. The edges do curl in a little in the middle when fully extended, but it's not a problem yet. Mine doesn't look significantly different than any other non-tensioned screen that I've ever seen.

GATER

01-03-05, 12:32 PM

The edges do curl in a little in the middle when fully extended, but it's not a problem yet.

My "home" series does this as well. As you said though, it does not distract at all from the image. My screen curls slightly at the edges, at the black border.

layingback

01-04-05, 03:49 PM

LaserGecko, Thanks for answering the long outstanding question.

As it happens my new house build turned out to require 2-3" more drop than the Elite Home 4:3 screen can handle (~5"). So I came back to look for alternates just after you posted the answer on the VMAX.

I thought I'd have to go to something much more expensive to get the extra drop, but just last week Elite (quietly) announced a new model, which I thought might be of interest to many here.

It's essentially a mid-line product between the VMAX (business) and Home lines. Most importantly (to me) it has 18" drop. It is based on the VMAX line, uses the VMAX case and mounting, but has the user adjustable up/down position added, and both the original RF and an IR remote (user can use either not both). So 2 of the significant differences between VMAX and Home are eliminated (adj up/down, IR control). Case is reportedly available in black or white.

Pricing is between the 2 models but closer to the lower-priced VMAX line. Part numbers are same as for VMAX but with an 'X' in place of the 'U'.

LaserGecko

01-05-05, 11:54 PM

I'd like to update this to let ya'll know that there are a couple of, well, they're not wrinkles, how about "sags"? What's the proper descriptive term for that on the forum?

They're nothing major and are only noticable when someone opens the sliding door to the kitchen and allows direct side illumination. Of course, this is probably the case with any non-tensioned screen.

It doesn't detract from our viewing experience, so I am still currently recommending the screen as a great entry level screen (or actually the step up model, mentioned previously).

Oddly though, my VMAX has an IR remote. Having opened up the control case (don't ask!), it would be rather easy to remotely mount it since the power wires connect to screw terminals on the PCB.

budwich

01-06-05, 08:54 AM

I think your "sags" are usually a precursor to "waves" in the form of "Vs" from the top on each side to the middle of the bottom rail. Hopefully, they won't get worse. It usually depends on how wide your span is and how good the roller is in maintaining its straightness... plus how heavy the actual screen material is.

LaserGecko

01-06-05, 09:05 AM

If they do, then it's back to the factory for warranty exchange!

plahaise

01-18-05, 01:28 PM

Hi all,
I just thought I'd share my results with the screen I just bought. I live in Los Angeles area & was able to drive to a warehouse in City of Industry to pick up the screen in person. It was a VMAX120UWV. I bought it through Projector People. It is a 4x3 screen, and the edges do curl, though it is only the black portion. The screen lowers _very_ slowly, but it is not a bother, and it is very quiet & smooth. The screen came with both an IR and RF remote & mounting brackets, which I did not use (I used the built-in holes at the ends of the screen). It also came with a wired remote, which is absolutely necessary to install, as it has the IR and RF receiver in it, and screen power runs through it. This wired box sits between the screen and 120v wall socket, and has the same up/down/stop buttons on it as the IR and RF remotes. The wiring from the screen to the wired box and from the wired box to the wall is removable (very nice). The wired box itself is very big & ugly, but won't be an issue if you put it out of the way & run an IR repeating system to it. I had to adjust the lower stopping point of the screen, and did so via an allen key in the far end of the casing - a manual procedure (trial and error), but it works.

Now for the interesting part. The drywall guys put screw holes into the casing & destroyed the screen. So, I had to buy another one. I called up my dealer at Projector People & bought the same exact one. Then, I went down to City of Industry to get another one. I had to open the box because it's the only way I could transport it in my car. Upon doing so, I quickly saw it was the wrong screen, although the model number is exactly the same, including the UPC symbol/numbers. On ths unit, the wires were all hard-wired & couldn't be removed. There was no RF remote and the IR remote was much smaller, resembling a car alarm remote. The power was on the opposite end of the screen, too. At that moment, I made calls to Projector People, who called Elite, who called me & told me to get the screen with a manufacturing date of Oct '04 or newer. The first one I got was Oct '04. This one I just opened was Aug'04. They got me a Nov'04, and it was just like the Oct'04 one I got. I was happy. Turns out, the Oct'04 and later are "3rd generation" units. So, which screen you want (2nd gen or 3rd gen) will depend on your installation needs/wants. For me, I needed another 3rd gen because I couldn't change the installation. Personally, I would opt for the 3rd gen, anyway, as it is more flexible (cables come apart and you get the RF remote). You should specify when ordering. I'm almost sorry I told you guys about this & the generation differences, as I'm sure I just threw you all one great, big monkey wrench.

Today, i'm going to buy another one, though I'm debating between the home and vmax (it would be a 101" (roughly) diagonal 16x9 for my infocus 4805). I need to call elite to get the differences. For the money, i'm impressed. Yea, I wish the curling would go away, but you probably won't notice it in a darkened room watching a movie head-on. I have no idea if more expensive screens from higher-end companies will have no curling, but I don't have the $ for those companies.

The screen I installed has a Mitsubishi XD450U shining on it. I have only seen it during the day, so I can't really comment on the quality of how it looks in a darkened room (I also don't have any previous screen experience.)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know what I went through. I've gotta say, though, my experience with Projector People & Elite were great - they were both very responsive as I was standing at the warehouse, more than an hour drive from home. Donna Morettez (unsure of spelling of last name), at x2272 was fantastic. That day I was at the warehouse, she assured me she wasn't going to leave for home until the matter was resolved (it was at the end of business day in her time zone). Again, I was impressed. Even elite was responsive - I had 2 Elite people trying to get a hold of me at the same time - one on my home phone, and one on my cell. The fact that they knew of the generational differences & manufacturing dates was also impressive & that they took care of it right then and there.

So there's my story.
-Paul

Njmurvin

01-18-05, 04:32 PM

So, I'm reading that:

1) The latest gen VMAX has IR remote option
2) Home series screens <120" (I'm looking to buy a 100) have no fiberglass stiffening and they all curl on the edges anyway

Why should I spend the extra bucks on the Home series?

chunu

01-18-05, 04:45 PM

Appreciate everyone for their information and review!

I have similar quesion as Njmurvin. What is the real difference (screen-wise, not
mounting etc.) between the HOME and VMAX vesions?

Thanks in advance,
Chunu

LaserGecko

01-18-05, 05:45 PM

Fiber Glass provides a flatter screen surface (only on models 120 and above)

There's a .PDF of the differences between the VMAX and Home models at:
http://www.elitescreens.com/HomevsVmax.pdf

DaveW42

01-18-05, 10:45 PM

The information supplied earlier that there is no fiberglass blacking on screens less than 120" is incorrect. I asked for verification on this from Elite Screens and a representative emailed the following reply to me:

"I received confirmation that the fiberglass material IS on all of the HOME screens-except for the 75" and 90" diagonal viewing /Home
screens-"

I own a 100" Home Series screen (4:3). It sure looks to me like there is a fiberglass backing.

I believe the 3rd generation VMAX screens have an 18" black drop at the top (this is a difference between the 2nd and 3rd generation screens as well). I went with the Home series to reduce the chances of waves/curls.

I will post more later after I have had a chance to watch a few movies on the screen (I just got it last week).

Dave

plahaise

01-18-05, 11:08 PM

Njmurvin,
The latest gen for VMAX has RF, too, as well as good old IR

I just bought the HOME 100IWH screen (16x9 aspect - viewable area is 81" by 46", with the entire screen 84" by 48"), but have not hung it yet. The case is white, and it is a bigger case than the VMAX. The remote (IR only) is much more elegant (small, tall, thin, white - 4 1/4 inches long, by 1 1/2 inches wide by almost 3/4" thick.). Also, the IR receiver almost looks like you could have it visible without anybody complaining about how it looks (like the remote, it also has 3 buttons on it - up/down/stop). The screen has a 3-prong 120v power cord coming from the screen (not detachable). The IR receiver unit connects to the screen via a special 6-pin connector. This is quite a different design from the VMAX where the power/IR receiver runs through 1 big ugly box. Also, the Elite guy said the HOME screen lowers faster than the VMAX, and that their HOME series is a more "upscale" line than the VMAX. He said the HOME version is still in its first generation, but they're using their VMAX series to implement consumer requests in an attempt to make their VMAX series more like the HOME series. This sounds kind of weird to me, almost as though the screens are done by different companies, and both packaged under Elite brand (that's pure speculation on my part - so please forget I wrote this sentence.) At any rate, i'm anxious to see if the screen does have fiberglass & how badly it curls. Also, the Elite guy said the HOME screen drop & rise is adjustable, just like the VMAX.
I'll keep you posted on my findings as the unfold, so to speak.
-Paul

LaserGecko

01-18-05, 11:58 PM

FYI, that information was taken from their website today, so it's what Elite themselves are telling people.

plahaise

01-19-05, 08:06 PM

Ok. I just got the HOME 100IWH. I like it better than the VMAX screen. It lowers much faster, and is noiser than the VMAX as a result. And, if it's curling, it curls about 2 millimeters in the black area. What that really means is that there's no edge curling on my screen. However, it did arrive with a smudge on the screen - yellow in color. Could be glue? I need to call Elite to find out what's going on.

Installation went great. It's a one-man job, thanks to an ingenious way to mount the screen by getting all the brackets mounted, then attaching a slide-able special screw assembly that can slide across the whole screen & is meant to slide into the bracket assembly you already mounted.

I will probably watch a movie tonight, or at least part of it. I'll keep you posted...
-Paul

CalypsoCowboy

01-27-05, 05:52 PM

Can anyone PM me where you got your screens. I've seen a couple of dealers, trying to figure out whos reputable.

KramerTC

02-19-05, 09:11 PM

Bump.
Would like to know if you guys are still happy w/your Elite screens. Any waves, curls? I really like the extra 18'' drop on the VMAX line. Perfect for my application; I have a ceiling fan and the screen would need to hang lower.

hd03king

03-29-05, 12:59 PM

OK it's been a while since anyone has commented about this screen, just wondering what is everyone's opinnion after using the screen for a couple of months? I am asking because right now Tigerdirect has the Elite Screens VMAX92UWH 92in 16:9 Electric Screen on sale for $269.99. It seems like a pretty good deal.

hd03king

KramerTC

04-04-05, 10:15 AM

hd03king,

I take it that they must be pretty happy with their screens or we would have heard from them.

High Def 03

04-04-05, 10:22 AM

I have had mine for a couple of months and i like it it does bend though. I think all the electric screens in this range have bending issues.

LaserGecko

04-04-05, 12:20 PM

I'm happy with mine for the price I paid. We use it 2-3 times per week and have not noticed the screen getting any worse (edge curling) than it was after the first week or so. Same way with any wave formation.

After four months of ownership, it's the same screen as it was after unrolling it ten times or so. It's in good shape and we're quite pleased.

txmetabaron

04-05-05, 02:10 PM

As far as I can tell,the screen is great as it has maitained its initial aspect over the last 5 months(and 50-70 roll up and downs).
The only thing is a slight wave that is present from 90 deg,but invisible when projecting on it,even from 0.8 diag viewing distance.
I posted a couple of snapshots from my Z2/elite screen here (http://forum.av123.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1359&thumb=1).
Hope that helps.
As you can tell,The Z2 performs nicely with lights on in the room too...
Sweeeeeeeet,

BlazeMaster

04-09-05, 09:31 PM

I have a few questions about the Elite screens myself and also looking for suggestions from those whom own these screens. My applications for this screen will be used in my bedroom and it has to be a pull/down or electric method because I'm planning on mounting this right over the bedroom closet. The closet door swings right or left to open and the screen will be pull down/ retracted quite often, at least once a day. Am I better off going with the Da Lite Model B w/ CSR or the Elite electric or manual pull down. I want either of the 2 brands that are good with dealing with pulling down pretty often. One more question about the Elite electric ones: you can stop them the up/down at any place you want right? It doesn't stop in a incremental height? The reason I'm asking this is because I'm not sure how tall the closet is at the bedroom I'm moving to, so the up/down movement has to be able to stop at exactly the height I want it to, according to the image that the projector projects it at. Thanks for you help.