Motorized Screens

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Flat vs. Curved

With a flat screen (top), some of the light disperses away from the left and right sides of the image. With a curved screen (bottom), that light is reflected back toward the picture area, creating a brighter image.

If you're looking at a motorized screen and the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. You'll find several motorized models selling for less than $500. These seem to work about once for every hundred dollars you spend, so if you want the unit to raise the screen more than five times, spend a little more and get a decent motorized chassis and good screen material. The motorized version of Screen Research's ClearPix2 woven screen is quite good. Draper also has some great tensioned and nontensioned screens available in motorized units with a variety of screen materials to choose from.

Making the decision to buy a high-quality screen is half the battle. With all of the choices available, deciding on which is the right screen might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but remember that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The last major item in an audio path is the speakers, and the last video item in a front-projection home theater is the screen. Consult with a home theater professional if you're still not sure which screen to buy, or if you'd just like to take a look at more of the available options. Many CEDIA members have demo rooms and will be willing to help you find the best screen solution, even if it's for a do-it-yourself project.

Sean Greer is both the owner of and senior design engineer at Experience AV Home Theater (ExperienceAV.com) in Montrose, Colorado.

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