I'm probably never buying a projector, and I probably don't have the spare change to buy most of the things you review. But I love all the work you put into these videos and always give it a like no matter what. we broke out here tho
The Hook Up stands out in the world of reviewing like no one else! You bring something truly unique to the table by not only covering products but also presenting them with unmatched expertise and clarity. Your attention to technical detail, combined with real-life scenarios, makes it so much easier to decide on future purchases. It’s rare to find someone who does it so well, and I deeply appreciate the thought and effort you put into every review. Keep up the phenomenal work!
Well... I know all the info I need is going to be in there, just going to have to watch this a few times at half speed for it to sink in. Thanks for this, there really isn't enough digestable info out there that breaks down screen types, projector pairings and use cases.
This video will eventually also be on my website, but may take a few days. I actually edited this video down from 28 minutes originally because I was rambling a bit. I plan on having the full original content on my website.
@@TheHookUp Would have been great if you managed to get Severtson TAT-4K screen too. That High Contrast ALR "Woven" screen possibly the only High Contrast Grey screen which is Woven instead of Perforated. That screen may be the BEST of all worlds. I hope you get to test it out next time.
I bought a 120" fresnel screen from Alibaba after seeing one of your videos and couldn't be happier. Thank you for that video. I have 1 hot spot at the lower left hand corner, but it can only seen from about 170 degrees off center. I watch from 0 degrees off center, so I can't see it (I wish the entire screen had that hot spot). I also have 2 skylights in the living room - not an issue in full daylight with a fresnel screen and my UST projector. It's freakin' awesome. Keep up your awesome reviews!
THU just makes sense. Thanks! YT has a few other quality projector channels (Chris Majestic). But THU just methodically goes through all options. THU's content is like what walking into a Best Buy is in Heaven. At Earth Best Buy you spend time trying to find a CSR on the floor. Even if you find a CSR, you labor through questions and half assed answers from minimum wage CSR just wanting to end shift. THU's content is amazing content for options, explanations, candor, etc.
Hello, great video! Which screen would you recommend for a ust ceiling mount projector in a complete dark home cinema with a central view(also in height) of the screen. Greetings from Germany 🙂
As always a very comprehensive overview and video. I wasn't aware that using UST lamellars were an option for long throw at all, tbh. I would still maintain that a plain white non-ALR screen for UST's is wrong. They may not be as bad as using the Black Magic and bouncing light into the ceiling, but plain white materials will still bounce quite a lot of it.
Yes, ceiling reflections will be high with a white screen, but if laser speckle is a concern none of the other materials are as good at mitigating it as white.
Great video. I wasn't crazy then, when I thought my AWOL 2500 with 120" fresnel screen seemed brighter than the 3500 pro with theater ALR... I need to get a 132" or 150" fresnel screen as I preferred the brighter UST projection in the day time.
@@TheHookUp , first of all - thank you for the awesome work! There are several 150" floor rising Fresnel screens at Aliexpress. Do you have any knowledge about them?
I run my AWOL vision to be 3500 lower than normal my room is set up very dark it is a gaming and entertainment room so if I run the projector on normal mid brightness mid contrast everything set to the middle it's extremely bright the complaint I have with my system is the vivid storm screenfluor rising 120 inch the edges have started to curl in and with an ultra short throw projector like the LT 3500 it looks terrible I cannot recommend buying the vivid storm for rising screen, so it doesn't surprise me that it scored so low on all of his tests by the way this is the place to get the most accurate and believable information I've been coming here since he started this page and I've never been let down or received bad information
🧐 Im still using the 'EAZZE D1 Smart Projector' that you covered a while back, its been working great, i use it for my gaming pc in a bedroom as an additional display along with my two monitors 😎📺📺📺🎮👾
Thank you! The note about the surrounding black velvet made me wonder if you've considered exploring the options for constant image height/width solutions? Would be a fun watch, especially if there's DIY and/or smarthome stuff involved
I made a DIY 120" screen for about $75. I made a frame from 1x2's from Home Depot. Covered it in a velvet fabric from Joanns. I acquired a cheap $30 screen from Amazon that I stapled to the frame and then painted with Rustoleum flat white paint from the hardware store. It works great with my 4K Benq projector. It was originally supposed to be a temporary screen. But since I found little difference when compared to the expensive smaller screens I used in the past (went from 100" to 120"). it's been on the wall for two years now trouble-free. my advice is to not nerd out on this stuff too much. Once the movie starts the technical aspects of the screens/projector/room lighting/sound system all disappear into the story you're watching.
That last sentence is a key, but not one most projector folks ever take to heart. As for your DIY screen, I have no doubt that you can make a pretty great non ALR for cheap, but I personally love the way that ALR looks, specifically Fresnel ALR.
@@TheHookUp The best part is if you like it. then thats all that matters. What someone else thinks or likes is irrelevant. I love the fact that you give great advice for people looking for technology. I respect your opinion a lot and have used your advice on many occasions to make what I felt were informed decisions on technology purchases. mostly around home automation.
Did you consider testing just basic matte gray screens? Not the metallic ones, just regular low gain gray, something like 0.5 - 0.6 gain. Could be a better option for triple laser to avoid speckle and use in not ideal rooms.
Perfect! Thx man. My big question was whether the Nexigo Fresnel screen is just a rebranded FScreen. And is it any good. Both questions answered! Just ordered the Nexigo Aurora Pro Mkii and the Nexigo Fresnel 120" screen. Can't wait!
Thanks from Sweden for yet another awesome comparison video! 👏 Have you ever measured a DIY screen made out of 1 layer black and 1 layer white spandex? They seem so easy and cheap to build but it's hard to find a good comparison between this and other acoustically transparent screens like the one from silver ticket.
love your content! the most detailed out by far. just to clarify... im looking at getting the valerion pro 2 for non dedicated cinema room (living rrom) with window light and other ambient light. the projector will be celling mounted and want an electric drop down screen. can you tell me which is best for this set up? thank you
I will also of course be asking for suggestions on groups like the AVS Forum but I'm currently using a Dalite High Power (2.4 gain) screen with my JVS RS1000 and was wondering what kind of problems I might be encountering when I replace the projector with a Valerion Visionmaster Max come spring (hopefully). Beyond being MUCH brighter (which should help lots with the 3D movies I still watch) - will there be other issues that might require a different screen (such as laser speckle)? (I've considered going larger than what I have, but the space I have won't support a screen much wider than 8 feet in 16X9. What I'd really like is a 2:1 aspect ratio screen, but these appear to be difficult beasts to find.) Am I missing something here, but does your video seem to imply that screens designed for ultra throw projectors might also be used for others in certain circumstances?
Answering my own question after reviewing other comments here: there WILL be laser speckle with the Valerion MAX/Dalite High Power combo. The question is whether it's unbearable. I also have a Stewart Firehawk gray 1.4 gain screen. Would there be any benefit using this screen with the Valerion or should I be looking elsewhere? Is it worth the wait until the projector arrives before I decide how unbearable the speckle might be?
Stay far away from silver screens (terrible hot spotting). Grey screens can be okay, the main issues with them is that they tend to be PVC so the completely smooth surface has bad laser speckle, and the other issue is that unless they are a perfectly neutral gray it makes it harder to properly white balance the projector.
Seems like the right one might not be out there for me just yet. Need a motorized screen, 120"+, and have windows straight back and to sides, so fresnel ALR feels like a must. Ahh well, my 60" TV will limp on for now.
Thanks for sharing producing this video. I’m a Pro 2 backer, still awaiting deliver. Looking to upgrade my current 100” screen to at least 135” or 150”. My throw distance is about 15’ and the room has ambient light. The Silver ticket sounds like the best bet?
I'm about to pre-order the nexigo aurora pro mk 2 and it will be my first projector. I wasn't sure which screen I should go for : After watching your video 2 times, if I understand correctly, since the Aurora Pro MK2 comes with ALPD 5.0, the Laser Speckle issue is less important and I should go for one of the 2 solid ALR choices: 1) Formovie UST Fresnel 2) Nexigo Fresnel screen (or other equivalent) It seems to me that the discount value from buying the projector is hard to beat, however in your sample at 16:45, I prefer the image on the left (Formovie). So now I'm not sure, should I trust that short sample and make my decision based on this ? Thank you for this amazing video !
Correct, laser speckle should not be an issue with the MK2. Again, aside from the lenticular ridges occasionally showing up on the Formovie Fresnel it's been a nearly perfect screen for me.
Would you say the formovie fresnel is superior to the nexigo fresnel? Or are they the same material. The price is significantly cheaper especially if you’re purchasing the new mk2? I look forward to your review of the newer nexigo mk2…I wonder if it will beat the Hisense px3 out for 2025😊 Thinking of selling my awol 3500 for the MK2 for better black levels
Would the Nothing ALR screen be a good choice for the Valerion pro2? I need a floor rising model, to move in and out of a family room with white walls. The Nothing screen is around $800 cheaper than the recommended AWOL, and wondering if the quality difference between the screens with long throw justifies the cost. Thanks!
Hello , excellent video as always .No mention in your video of the Elite Screen Cinegrey 3D , I just bought this model on 135 inches version Sable fixed frame for my Xgimi Horizon S Max . Do you think the 3D version have less sparkles vs the cinegrey 5d version ?
Well, I guess I'm going to be selling the Valerion Fresnel screen which will come for Pro 2 since I am very sensitive to speckle. Valerion replied to me on FB that "they will definitely post a full review on the screen before the Kickstarter campaign is over", but of course they never did. For sure they new it has the speckle issue. Easy to replace with a woven white though, so not a big deal, and pretty sure someone with a non-triple-laser PJ will appreciate it.
@TheHookUp sure thing. Maybe I'll find a solution to the speckle, but if not then I'm confident I can sell it for more than I paid for it - there are simply no screens like this available where I live. Or maybe I'll put it in the bedroom with a LED PJ... There are never enough PJs and screens anyway 😅
really wish there was a longer version of the video, with all the screens shown head to head, for both USTs and long throws - the availability and prices differ everywhere, the choice of going for the recommended screen might not be always possible. perhaps on the other channel?
Surely one of the biggest problems with most of these screens is that they aren't acoustically transparent? This seems to defeat one of the main points of using a projector in the first place unless your use case is only a large "TV" replacement on a budget. If your use case is a dedicated room with no ambient light obviously the white woven screen ticks that box but what about people with a mixed use use case that want some ambient light rejection but prioritise acoustic transparency? Which grey AT screens are out there and perform the best? And on that subject is there a reason no one seems to have made a grey woven screen? With the exception of the white woven screen most of these are only suitable for a TV replacement rather than home theatre.
I was hoping for a screen recommendation for budget projectors. I have the Groview C26 which doesn’t match any of the light sources presented, but don’t know whether I should go for a budget white screen or a budget grey screen. Have you tested anything against lower light output budget winner projectors?
Great video with a lot of good information. I am a Valerion Max backer with a Pro 2 and have the 120" Valerion Fresnel screen coming. After watching this video, would you say that the difference in brightness between a low mounted and ceiling/top shelf mounted projector makes enough difference in PQ that I should attempt to keep the projector mounted low to keep the screen oriented up? Thanks!
Can you go into more detail with hotspotting information? I used an Elite 3D screen for a few years that had an obviously brighter zone in the center of the screen. It looks like you did an evaluation, but I only saw it mentioned in passing.
What about it? None of the recommended screens have any significant hotspotting. I'm really sensitive to hotspots and would never recommend anything with poor uniformity or hotspotting. Black Diamond, CineGray 5D and the Vividstorm 1.5 gain fusion screen had pretty bad hotspotting.
I don’t have any experience with fresnel screens, but the 2.9 gain one that Hisense was using at CES 2025 for their L9Q seemed to have apparent hot spotting issues, but I’ve only been able to look at stills from other publications, so it’s hard to be sure. Generally speaking, did you see any difference in the hot spotting between different gain fresnel screens? With long throw screens, it has been my experience that the higher the gain (and smaller the viewing angle) the worse the hot spotting is. I don’t understand how fresnel screens can get such high gain without a corresponding hotspot.
The 2.9 gain screen had definite off axis hot spotting, but from a narrow 10 degree viewing angle it was pretty solid. There was even a sticker on the ground that said "stand here", and if you stood there it was quite good.
Any thoughts on the Screen Innovations slate 1.2 material? Regarding laser speckles, Would the perform be closer to the lenticular long throw material from Valerion or the SI black diamond.
If I am ceiling mounting my Valerion vision master and it would be projecting downwards to my screen, would I have to flip the screen upside down if am using a lenticular ALR screen?
So just a quick question here. I purchased the nexigo try vision triple laser 4K projector on your recommendation, I have a 100 in akia White screen right now, I was not able to get the Valerian because the kickstarter had ended. I'll just ask you straight out, with the projector that I went with since it doesn't come with any laser speckle and it was marketed that way. What is your recommendation? I want to go up to a 120-in screen.
I see you have had access to the Formovie Theater Premium, which was not included in your 2024 shootout 3 mos ago. How do you like it compared to the Nexigo Aurora Pro. They are both at the top of my next purchase list. I currently have the original Xgimi Aura, which I plan to upgrade soon, in a completely dark light-controlled theater room.
Good information but for me to much focus on ALR screens and UST projectors. I hope you will make a similar video with more commonly used (LCoS) projectors from Sony and JVC and acoustic transparent screens (micro perf vs woven) from Stewart, Seymour etc. Thanks!
There's almost no chance that I make that video. Those screens are $2000 to $5000 each and perform almost identically to each other. When you're talking about white screens there's just not that much to change.
Mind blown. I've ordered a vividstorm fusion long throw drop down screen for Valerion Pro2 for use in a regular living room with white walls and ceiling, but I only ever watch with lights off at night and blinds drawn (no ambient light - only room reflections). Now I'm thinking that switching to a UST lenticular screen will eliminate the one major flaw with the Fusion screen which is laser speckle, at a cost of reduced gain. But everyone says the Pro2 is a light cannon and they are running it at low laser settings (which also increases colour shifting with EBL). So at a screen size of 100-120" will the Pro2 at laser levels 8-10 still be bright enough for lights off viewing? And will have good uniformity, no speckle, and even better rejection of room reflections and therefore better contrast?
Are you going to be ceiling mounting? The one thing to consider with the UST screen is the orientation still needs to be correct, so for a ceiling mounted projector you lose the ceiling light rejection part.
I was going to mount on the top of my back wall shelf on the gimble but I can mount at any height on those shelves. With the Pro2 that might require some Keystone to avoid blocking the image with our heads but when the Max arrives it's vertical centre alignment and shift should work? Or does the lens have to be aligned to the bottom of the UST screen? The screen has to be drop down so I can't flip it upside down.
The lens has to be lined up no higher than the bottom of the screen. Most roll down lenticular manufactures allow you to pick the orientation of the screen (called Pro-A here): bit.ly/3PIRgxK
Oh cool. I could do ceiling mount UST then. But that would reduce the ALR performance significantly because I have a white ceiling and the screen would then be reflecting a lot of light onto the ceiling? In that case maybe sticking to the 1.0 fusion is best for me and just living with relatively high speckle. But last time they spoke to me they said the screen (which was 0.8 gain when I ordered) would be either 1.0 or 1.5 gain. It seemed they had not decided yet. Very odd since they took my money already!
@@tailee3028 I believe they decided on the 1.0 gain version. I've heard it will still be a few months before it's available in anything other than fixed frame.
What screens would u recommend for dedicated light controlled room using Valerion Max, 2:35:1 screen between 120-135 inches. Currently have screen innovations black diamond 1.4.
Already done, the Nexigo TriVision Ultra uses ALPD 5.0 and I rated it "zero" for laser speckle in my last lifestyle projector review: th-cam.com/video/ClIboELoz74/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EuOKOX7Czt1ctC2V&t=1639
Thank you for the great in-depth video. I’m a Valerion max backer. I want to get the screen choice right. I would like a 120” screen with little to no laser speckle but one that would give me the best blacks possible. I’ve seen lots of videos on white v grey and the grey seems to be better. If this is correct, are there any grey screens that won’t show laser speckle?
Grey screens can be okay, the main issues with them is that they tend to be PVC so the completely smooth surface has bad laser speckle, and the other issue is that unless they are a perfectly neutral gray it makes it harder to properly white balance the projector.
@@TheHookUp Thank you for the reply, much appreciated. If we sit about 3 metres away to a 100 or maybe 120" screen, what screen would you recommend for the least speckle and best image using an electric drop down and with minimal ambient light? White ceilings too. Kind regards, Marc
What about a matte white, non-acoustically transparent screen. Would that have all the advantages of the Silver Ticket 1.1 in terms of lack of hot spotting, no laser speckle, maximum viewing angle, etc... This would be for a standard / long throw RGB Laser projector.
It's not the matte white part that matters, it's: 1) Lack of any reflective coating (matte white should not have reflective coatings) 2) Screen texture. If your matte white screen is PVC or any other 100% smooth surface you would not get the same speckle reducing effect.
I want to buy the Hisense C1 but here in Argentina paying for the screen serving ticket is 400 dollars + 400 dollars extra for the weight of 33 pounds plus taxes! Is it convenient to pay 1000 dollars for the screen I project on the wall or look for a frameless screen and do it myself! I want something that works with what I plan to buy! AKIA MaxWhite 2 costs me 350 final dollars
Still confused here I have no screen. I project on a wall that’s 120 to 130 inches wall to wall and I’m 12 feet from the screen I have an epson 2150 which the don’t make anymore but I’m happy with i noticed if your to close you can see the the pixels of the screen .my room is light controlled no windows but I do have lights above were the screen would be I need something that rejects light from above when light are on and slightly brighter when the are off I don’t need to worry about angles cause it’s wall to wall
Thanks for another great video, with tons of detailed information. I have the Viewsonic x2-4k would a screen for a standard throw projector be best suited? I need to ceiling mount so have been looking at tab tensioned screens but get a bit lost on the material.
I purchased the Hisense C1 after watching one of your other videos, paired with 135" gray screen in a light- controlled room (mainly because no one likes sitting in the dark all day), and am quite happy with it, though I do sense slight color loss. I haven't noticed laser speckle really. IYO, is it worth swapping to Silver ticket woven acoustic?
Hi there. First, thank you for your , what can I say? beyond superior reviews. I have a fairly simple question and if it is not prudent to answer or it is something you may address at another time, no worries. I will keep watching your videos until you touch on this. I was all set to purchase the Hisense px3 UST per your suggestion but I discovered what i consider to be a fly in the ointment with regard to UST projectors. Manufacturers for a decent 100" OLED tv project , pardon the pun, a lifespan of approx. 100,000 Hrs. Trying to compare apples to apples you could get a pretty good UST with screen for about the same price as a good 100" OLED tv. The wrinkle is that the UST has a lifespan projection of approx. 20k-30k Hrs. So, by my calculations, in the same span of time, with the same amount of viewing, I will have to purchase 3 UST projectors to the 1 of the OLED. Which, in essense, means that the UST cost 3X what a decent OLED costs. Am I missing something here?
With a 20,000 hour lifespan, watching 6 hours a day, that's 9 years. 100,000 hours, watching 6 hours a day, that's 45 years. If you are considering having the same TV for the next 45 years that's certainly an option, but I'm guessing you'll want to upgrade before then. Even 9 years is an eternity when it comes to display technology. In the US 100" OLEDs are still $14,000-15,000 though, so not really comparable to a projector. QLED on the other hand is much cheaper.
@@TheHookUp That's a fair point however I am extremely ill and actually have the TV on more like 18 Hrs per day or more. On the other side of the coin though, at that rate I could expect about 3 Years and tbh there will likely be some new/shinier bit of tech to attract my attention by then. Thanks for the reply.
I’ve bought a 120 inch Nothing black series and preordered the new Nexigo as my first projector setup for a multi use room. So the Fresnel screens would be a better match for the Aurora?
Measuring gain on ALR screens is pretty difficult. For this test I decided to leave the measurement probe in the exact same position for every single screen, which lead to a couple strange results. The 1.56 gain from the previous video was when measured in the dead center of the screen, but for this test my probe was lower (closer to natural eye level positioning in the bottom third), due to needing to get measurements for standard throw and UST without moving the probe. I think I may have just hit the focal point exactly on the Formovie, because you can see in the side by side tests the overall screen gain was not significantly different than the F-Screens at 1.9-2.0.
Which would be the best screen between the Silver Ticket WAB and Valerion Fresnel for a dark room with no overhead lights using the Valerion Vision Master Pro 2.
Depends what you're looking for. WAB will reduce the laser speckle to nearly zero, but you'll still need to think about room reflections (painting the ceiling directly above the screen black is a worthwhile first step). The Valerion Fresnel will give you a very bright image with less issues with room reflections, but higher (but not unusable) amounts of laser speckle.
@@TheHookUpCool thanks. In that case I would go with the Fresnel screen. Is there any markings on it to show which way is correct or do you just have to try both ways with projector on. Thanks
Did you test using the UST lenticular ALR with a longer throw ratio like 2.1? Worried that the further projection distance will result in even lower gain in this set up. Planning on a 2.1 throw ratio in a room with some ambient light with valerion max and trying to decide what will be best. Thank you so much for your hard work!
I didn't, but I can. I would expect it to have a lower average gain, but slightly better uniformity. Using the Valerion Pro 2 at 1.47:1 throw the bottom of the screen is around 0.33 gain, but the top is closer to 0.5 because the angle of the projection is steeper at the top. As you move back you won't have less than your 0.33 minimum gain, but you may only get to 0.4 or so at the top.
@@TheHookUp got it. I didn't consider that some of the light in your valerion test would already be coming in perpendicular to the screen, which now surprises me that this works at all considering the sawtooth pattern. Would be interesting to see if your hypothesis holds true at the longer distances, but it makes sense to me that it would now.
@@CH-pp5pywill you be mounting the Max on the ceiling and the UST screen upside down? Considering that myself but worried about the UST screen no longer being able to reject room reflections from the ceiling.
@@tailee3028 yes that's what I will at least try. I will have the ceiling painted a dark color and have my lighting configurable in a way that should be able to avoid casting light from above. But I won't know for several more months until I get the projector if this works or not.
So speckle is like graininess and it’s mostly seen in areas of uniform color? What factors make it less noticeable? Longer throw placement, larger screen size, further seating distance, etc. Because I am planning to use a floor rising 150” ALR screen 0.9 gain with valerion pro2, sitting 5.5m away. Thank you!
The brighter the triple laser light source the more noticeable the speckle will be. The only thing that I've seen effectively reduce it is screen texture.
Lots of information to digest. I have a formovie UST fresnel screen. Haven’t unboxed it yet. I gather from all the testing a lifestyle projector would work fine with it in a dark room?
@@TheHookUp You recommended the Hisense c2 Ultra "standard throw" projector with the AWOL UST with a 0.3 gain for ST. Why is that any different than using the UST fresnal screen?
Awesome comparison as usual, very insightful! Seems the Silver Ticket WAB would be best for both Hisense PX3-Pro (have now) and Valerion Max (backer)? Almost fully light-controlled room and have a 150" Silver Ticket gray 1.0 presently (don't want to go smaller). Silver Ticket also has a WVS (Woven Acoustic Material With Black Backing)--assume it's the same/similar thing as WAB?
WAB is not good for UST projectors, you can pretty clearly notice the texture of the screen as it casts a shadow directly above it due to the steep projection angle.
I run my AWOL vision LTV 3500 lower than normal on brightness my room is set up very dark it is a gaming and entertainment room so if I run the projector on normal mid brightness mid contrast everything set to the middle it's extremely bright the complaint I have with my system is the vivid storm screenfluor rising 120 inch the edges have started to curl in and with an ultra short throw projector like the LT 3500 it looks terrible I cannot recommend buying the vivid storm for rising screen
@ The bottom of the lens should be lined up with the bottom of the screen. If you want to ceiling mount it the bottom of the lens should line up of the top of the screen and the screen should be flipped.
Amazing video once again!! But what confuses me is that AWOL say their UST Lenticular screen has 0.6 gain whereas you have it mentioned at 0.713 gain, is there any reason for the difference at all?
Hello In your opinion, is this screen "Elite SPECTRUM - ELECTRIC PROJECTION SCREENS FRAME & SCREEN MATERIAL MaxWhite" good for my C2 Ultra? No tingling? Thanks in advance for your answer
Thank you!For you it would be better to have a screen alr? because sorry I am French and I understood most of the things in your video but not everything ...
It is interesting that ST WAB has a gain of 1.1, although other reviewers measured 0.8-0.85 and said that there is no AT woven material with a gain of 1 or more.
Hi Rob! I am a Pro 2 backer and I don't have ambient light. The Silver ticket WAB seems like the best choice for me but I have a problem. In Spain the price on amazon it's the double. Also on their website (due to the shipment to Spain). So I was wondering if you could recommend me a similar option but not that pricey for around 300-400€. Even if it's from Ali Express haha! Thank you so much again and greetings from Barcelona! :)
@@TheHookUp Thanks Rob! So then what do you think it would be the best option for a Valerion Pro 2 on a budget of 400-600€? I don't have ambient light. Do you agree on the Silver ticket WAB? Could you recommend me other options? For instance, Elite Screen it's easier to get in Europe; but I don't know if it would be a good option and what exact model would suit the best for me.
Ok so rare situation here. Golf sim doubling as a home theater. I want a drop down high quality screen for movies mounted to drop down in front of my impact screen. BenQ AK700ST will be the projector. It's throw ratio is between UST and Standard Throw. Please recommend what screen type I need! So confused.
Yeah, you'll definitely want a better screen than your impact screen. The AH700 has a long enough throw that you won't need to worry too much about screen cupping, and the AH700 is single laser, so you don't need to worry about laser speckle. I'd recommend a nice white motorized dropdown screen, but the exact one would depend on your budget. If money were no object I'd go with Neve by Stewart Filmscreen in a flush mounted ceiling unit, but those are like $4500.
@@mpkultra There are only a few ALR screens that would work for your situation (drop down, ceiling mounted, short throw) and I think in all cases you'd be better off with a white screen.
Are you going to do a review of the Aurora Pro Mk2? And I understand that the best screen for that projector is a Fresnel like the one sold by Nexigo itself?
@@TheHookUp is there any way to have a quick Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 vs Aurora Pro MK2 comparison, as I have a MAX on order and deadline for discounted MK2 pre-order is already on Feb 10th ?
What screens would u recommend for dedicated light controlled room using Valerion Max, 2:35:1 screen between 120-135 inches. Currently have screen innovations black diamond 1.4. A bit worried about laser speckle.
You'll definitely have speckle with the black diamond, probably an unbearable amount. Not many off the shelf options for 2:35:1, but you could probably have someone build you a replacement to slot into your current SI frame.
@@TheHookUpThought so. Was eyeing the elite screens cinegrey alr 138” 2.35 screen but specs aren’t that different. May just keep my Sony 715es and sell the max whenever it arrives. Or I build one like you recommend. Thx. Great channel.
As I said, I really like using the Valerion with a Lenticular UST ALR screen. The important thing to know is that if you're using a floor rising screen the projector's lens needs to be lined up with the bottom of the screen. If that placement doesn't work for you then the new standard throw lenticular materials are available in floor risers from Valerion, VividStorm, and Nothing Projector. Of the 3 I liked the nothing projector standard throw lenticular material the best.
Can I still watch the video AFTER I bought a Silver Ticket 150" white screen 2 years ago only to learn that I should have gotten a silver or something to improve contrast?
I've been looking at the Vividstorm Fusion - mainly because they are one of the few options that come in a floor-rising or wall mounted option. Can you comment on how important projector throw angle - aka ceiling mounting - would be and if this would cause the screen rejection, hotspot or light falloff issues?
Yes, at 10:41 you can see that for standard throw lenticular there is almost no difference in brightness or uniformity as it relates screen orientation when using a ceiling mounted projector. That said, the Fusion is not available in floor rising at this point. You can try to order it but they will cancel your order (I know because I tried to order both on Amazon and on their website). You can order it in fixed frame right now, but it will be March at least before we see drop down/floor rising versions.
Interesting. I ordered a drop down fusion back in November and they told me today they aim to fulfil my order in Feb. But they also said they were still working on it and the final version would be 1.0 with thinner material and less laser speckle than the ones reviewed here. I don't know if I believe them.
so what I need does not exist, nice. 120inch+, acoustic transparent, wide viewing angle, ceiling mount motorized. Must work for 45 degree viewing angle. Valerion Vision Master Pro2 projector. Could also use ALR from the right since that's a wall of glass, but shades will work. Top rated for my projector are either fixed mount or smaller than I want. 😞
If you like and have a load of 3D content you don't have any other option between buying a Tv or a projector. So for 3D enthusiast out there there's really only one option and it's an expensive one... 😢
I'm probably never buying a projector, and I probably don't have the spare change to buy most of the things you review. But I love all the work you put into these videos and always give it a like no matter what. we broke out here tho
Love your content. Nobody else is doing it this well in this space.
The Hook Up stands out in the world of reviewing like no one else! You bring something truly unique to the table by not only covering products but also presenting them with unmatched expertise and clarity. Your attention to technical detail, combined with real-life scenarios, makes it so much easier to decide on future purchases. It’s rare to find someone who does it so well, and I deeply appreciate the thought and effort you put into every review. Keep up the phenomenal work!
Perfect exactly what I needed to buy my new projector screen for the Valerion vision master projector. Thanks you’re awesome
So much info in such a short space of time! Thank you!
Well... I know all the info I need is going to be in there, just going to have to watch this a few times at half speed for it to sink in. Thanks for this, there really isn't enough digestable info out there that breaks down screen types, projector pairings and use cases.
All of his video have a written format on his site, perfect for detail to sink in and to reference 6 month later
This video will eventually also be on my website, but may take a few days. I actually edited this video down from 28 minutes originally because I was rambling a bit. I plan on having the full original content on my website.
@@TheHookUp Would have been great if you managed to get Severtson TAT-4K screen too. That High Contrast ALR "Woven" screen possibly the only High Contrast Grey screen which is Woven instead of Perforated. That screen may be the BEST of all worlds. I hope you get to test it out next time.
I bought a 120" fresnel screen from Alibaba after seeing one of your videos and couldn't be happier. Thank you for that video. I have 1 hot spot at the lower left hand corner, but it can only seen from about 170 degrees off center. I watch from 0 degrees off center, so I can't see it (I wish the entire screen had that hot spot).
I also have 2 skylights in the living room - not an issue in full daylight with a fresnel screen and my UST projector. It's freakin' awesome. Keep up your awesome reviews!
THU just makes sense. Thanks!
YT has a few other quality projector channels (Chris Majestic).
But THU just methodically goes through all options.
THU's content is like what walking into a Best Buy is in Heaven.
At Earth Best Buy you spend time trying to find a CSR on the floor. Even if you find a CSR, you labor through questions and half assed answers from minimum wage CSR just wanting to end shift.
THU's content is amazing content for options, explanations, candor, etc.
Great as always. I was waiting for this so bad.
Hello, great video! Which screen would you recommend for a ust ceiling mount projector in a complete dark home cinema with a central view(also in height) of the screen. Greetings from Germany 🙂
F
Just what I needed! Thank you for your great contents. Always have the most needed information!
thanks for your amazing work. My go to channel for all things projector
Awesome useful info as always.
As always a very comprehensive overview and video. I wasn't aware that using UST lamellars were an option for long throw at all, tbh. I would still maintain that a plain white non-ALR screen for UST's is wrong. They may not be as bad as using the Black Magic and bouncing light into the ceiling, but plain white materials will still bounce quite a lot of it.
Yes, ceiling reflections will be high with a white screen, but if laser speckle is a concern none of the other materials are as good at mitigating it as white.
This is excellent! As usual!
Great video. I wasn't crazy then, when I thought my AWOL 2500 with 120" fresnel screen seemed brighter than the 3500 pro with theater ALR... I need to get a 132" or 150" fresnel screen as I preferred the brighter UST projection in the day time.
100%, Fresnel is the best. I can't wait until floor rising Fresnel is common.
@@TheHookUp , first of all - thank you for the awesome work! There are several 150" floor rising Fresnel screens at Aliexpress. Do you have any knowledge about them?
As always... thanks so much for your effort!
My screen: ceiling
Cost: 0
Fun factor: 100%
Thank you for your great work, it's always a pleasure waching your videos.
I run my AWOL vision to be 3500 lower than normal my room is set up very dark it is a gaming and entertainment room so if I run the projector on normal mid brightness mid contrast everything set to the middle it's extremely bright the complaint I have with my system is the vivid storm screenfluor rising 120 inch the edges have started to curl in and with an ultra short throw projector like the LT 3500 it looks terrible I cannot recommend buying the vivid storm for rising screen, so it doesn't surprise me that it scored so low on all of his tests by the way this is the place to get the most accurate and believable information I've been coming here since he started this page and I've never been let down or received bad information
🧐 Im still using the 'EAZZE D1 Smart Projector' that you covered a while back, its been working great, i use it for my gaming pc in a bedroom as an additional display along with my two monitors 😎📺📺📺🎮👾
Very helpful!
Thank you!
The note about the surrounding black velvet made me wonder if you've considered exploring the options for constant image height/width solutions? Would be a fun watch, especially if there's DIY and/or smarthome stuff involved
You mean masking? The screen that I watch 90% of the time is a 120" floor riser with the PX3-Pro, so masking really isn't an option.
@TheHookUp Yep masking. Ah that's a shame
great video!
Hey, would love to see you review the Yaber K3.
Cool thumbnail!
I made a DIY 120" screen for about $75. I made a frame from 1x2's from Home Depot. Covered it in a velvet fabric from Joanns. I acquired a cheap $30 screen from
Amazon that I stapled to the frame and then painted with Rustoleum flat white paint from the hardware store. It works great with my 4K Benq projector. It was originally supposed to be a temporary screen. But since I found little difference when compared to the expensive smaller screens I used in the past (went from 100" to 120"). it's been on the wall for two years now trouble-free. my advice is to not nerd out on this stuff too much. Once the movie starts the technical aspects of the screens/projector/room lighting/sound system all disappear into the story you're watching.
That last sentence is a key, but not one most projector folks ever take to heart.
As for your DIY screen, I have no doubt that you can make a pretty great non ALR for cheap, but I personally love the way that ALR looks, specifically Fresnel ALR.
@@TheHookUp The best part is if you like it. then thats all that matters. What someone else thinks or likes is irrelevant. I love the fact that you give great advice for people looking for technology. I respect your opinion a lot and have used your advice on many occasions to make what I felt were informed decisions on technology purchases. mostly around home automation.
Did you consider testing just basic matte gray screens? Not the metallic ones, just regular low gain gray, something like 0.5 - 0.6 gain. Could be a better option for triple laser to avoid speckle and use in not ideal rooms.
Perfect! Thx man. My big question was whether the Nexigo Fresnel screen is just a rebranded FScreen. And is it any good. Both questions answered! Just ordered the Nexigo Aurora Pro Mkii and the Nexigo Fresnel 120" screen. Can't wait!
Yes and yes. Ha.
Just like after a good large bowel movement, I have to rest now.
Thank you!
Siiiiii con vos en español ahora come vi todos tus videos pero meta leer la traducción jeje
Thanks from Sweden for yet another awesome comparison video! 👏
Have you ever measured a DIY screen made out of 1 layer black and 1 layer white spandex? They seem so easy and cheap to build but it's hard to find a good comparison between this and other acoustically transparent screens like the one from silver ticket.
love your content! the most detailed out by far. just to clarify... im looking at getting the valerion pro 2 for non dedicated cinema room (living rrom) with window light and other ambient light. the projector will be celling mounted and want an electric drop down screen. can you tell me which is best for this set up? thank you
He did conclusions, watch the end of the video, he had Valerion ceiling mounted.
Thanks for this! Have you tried any of FSCREEN's "hard panel" screens or have any input regarding hard panel screens?
I have not.
I will also of course be asking for suggestions on groups like the AVS Forum but I'm currently using a Dalite High Power (2.4 gain) screen with my JVS RS1000 and was wondering what kind of problems I might be encountering when I replace the projector with a Valerion Visionmaster Max come spring (hopefully). Beyond being MUCH brighter (which should help lots with the 3D movies I still watch) - will there be other issues that might require a different screen (such as laser speckle)? (I've considered going larger than what I have, but the space I have won't support a screen much wider than 8 feet in 16X9. What I'd really like is a 2:1 aspect ratio screen, but these appear to be difficult beasts to find.) Am I missing something here, but does your video seem to imply that screens designed for ultra throw projectors might also be used for others in certain circumstances?
Answering my own question after reviewing other comments here: there WILL be laser speckle with the Valerion MAX/Dalite High Power combo. The question is whether it's unbearable. I also have a Stewart Firehawk gray 1.4 gain screen. Would there be any benefit using this screen with the Valerion or should I be looking elsewhere? Is it worth the wait until the projector arrives before I decide how unbearable the speckle might be?
Hi, what do you think about de Ultimea´s lineup of projectors? The Apollo and Poseidon. Could you add them on your next comparison/test videos?
What gain can I get from painted wall?
Thanks for this, hate to ask but...what about silver/grey screens?
Stay far away from silver screens (terrible hot spotting). Grey screens can be okay, the main issues with them is that they tend to be PVC so the completely smooth surface has bad laser speckle, and the other issue is that unless they are a perfectly neutral gray it makes it harder to properly white balance the projector.
Seems like the right one might not be out there for me just yet. Need a motorized screen, 120"+, and have windows straight back and to sides, so fresnel ALR feels like a must. Ahh well, my 60" TV will limp on for now.
Thanks for sharing producing this video. I’m a Pro 2 backer, still awaiting deliver. Looking to upgrade my current 100” screen to at least 135” or 150”. My throw distance is about 15’ and the room has ambient light. The Silver ticket sounds like the best bet?
Silver Ticket WAB is a great choice for a room with no ambient light.
I'm about to pre-order the nexigo aurora pro mk 2 and it will be my first projector. I wasn't sure which screen I should go for : After watching your video 2 times, if I understand correctly, since the Aurora Pro MK2 comes with ALPD 5.0, the Laser Speckle issue is less important and I should go for one of the 2 solid ALR choices:
1) Formovie UST Fresnel
2) Nexigo Fresnel screen (or other equivalent)
It seems to me that the discount value from buying the projector is hard to beat, however in your sample at 16:45, I prefer the image on the left (Formovie).
So now I'm not sure, should I trust that short sample and make my decision based on this ?
Thank you for this amazing video !
Correct, laser speckle should not be an issue with the MK2. Again, aside from the lenticular ridges occasionally showing up on the Formovie Fresnel it's been a nearly perfect screen for me.
Would you say the formovie fresnel is superior to the nexigo fresnel? Or are they the same material. The price is significantly cheaper especially if you’re purchasing the new mk2?
I look forward to your review of the newer nexigo mk2…I wonder if it will beat the Hisense px3 out for 2025😊
Thinking of selling my awol 3500 for the MK2 for better black levels
Great 👍 thanks
Would the Nothing ALR screen be a good choice for the Valerion pro2? I need a floor rising model, to move in and out of a family room with white walls.
The Nothing screen is around $800 cheaper than the recommended AWOL, and wondering if the quality difference between the screens with long throw justifies the cost. Thanks!
Hello , excellent video as always .No mention in your video of the Elite Screen Cinegrey 3D , I just bought this model on 135 inches version Sable fixed frame for my Xgimi Horizon S Max . Do you think the 3D version have less sparkles vs the cinegrey 5d version ?
I've never used the 3D version.
Well, I guess I'm going to be selling the Valerion Fresnel screen which will come for Pro 2 since I am very sensitive to speckle. Valerion replied to me on FB that "they will definitely post a full review on the screen before the Kickstarter campaign is over", but of course they never did. For sure they new it has the speckle issue.
Easy to replace with a woven white though, so not a big deal, and pretty sure someone with a non-triple-laser PJ will appreciate it.
Definitely check it out first. It's an awesome screen other than the fact that it doesn't eliminate speckle.
@TheHookUp sure thing. Maybe I'll find a solution to the speckle, but if not then I'm confident I can sell it for more than I paid for it - there are simply no screens like this available where I live. Or maybe I'll put it in the bedroom with a LED PJ... There are never enough PJs and screens anyway 😅
I went with spandex. Tested against manufacturer sample pack and blew them away, barring alr. But alr jacked with picture, darker in corners.
dude great vid. thx!
We have a fixed framed from 2015 with a short throw, not ultra short throw, that about 100" with about 1.5 m cast length.
Any thoughts on the Silver Ticket ECLIPSE and FLARE UST screens and how they would compare to the others in ambient light?
I have not used those materials.
really wish there was a longer version of the video, with all the screens shown head to head, for both USTs and long throws - the availability and prices differ everywhere, the choice of going for the recommended screen might not be always possible.
perhaps on the other channel?
Surely one of the biggest problems with most of these screens is that they aren't acoustically transparent?
This seems to defeat one of the main points of using a projector in the first place unless your use case is only a large "TV" replacement on a budget. If your use case is a dedicated room with no ambient light obviously the white woven screen ticks that box but what about people with a mixed use use case that want some ambient light rejection but prioritise acoustic transparency? Which grey AT screens are out there and perform the best?
And on that subject is there a reason no one seems to have made a grey woven screen?
With the exception of the white woven screen most of these are only suitable for a TV replacement rather than home theatre.
I was hoping for a screen recommendation for budget projectors.
I have the Groview C26 which doesn’t match any of the light sources presented, but don’t know whether I should go for a budget white screen or a budget grey screen.
Have you tested anything against lower light output budget winner projectors?
Great video with a lot of good information. I am a Valerion Max backer with a Pro 2 and have the 120" Valerion Fresnel screen coming. After watching this video, would you say that the difference in brightness between a low mounted and ceiling/top shelf mounted projector makes enough difference in PQ that I should attempt to keep the projector mounted low to keep the screen oriented up? Thanks!
No, I think it still looks great ceiling mounted.
What would you recommend for an alr(daylight viewable) 84 inch dropdown screen for a long throw projector?
I have the elite screens spectrum and my biggest complaint is that it does not have a memory for drop down.
will you be covering the new benq w2720i?
Can you go into more detail with hotspotting information? I used an Elite 3D screen for a few years that had an obviously brighter zone in the center of the screen. It looks like you did an evaluation, but I only saw it mentioned in passing.
What about it? None of the recommended screens have any significant hotspotting. I'm really sensitive to hotspots and would never recommend anything with poor uniformity or hotspotting. Black Diamond, CineGray 5D and the Vividstorm 1.5 gain fusion screen had pretty bad hotspotting.
I don’t have any experience with fresnel screens, but the 2.9 gain one that Hisense was using at CES 2025 for their L9Q seemed to have apparent hot spotting issues, but I’ve only been able to look at stills from other publications, so it’s hard to be sure. Generally speaking, did you see any difference in the hot spotting between different gain fresnel screens? With long throw screens, it has been my experience that the higher the gain (and smaller the viewing angle) the worse the hot spotting is. I don’t understand how fresnel screens can get such high gain without a corresponding hotspot.
The 2.9 gain screen had definite off axis hot spotting, but from a narrow 10 degree viewing angle it was pretty solid. There was even a sticker on the ground that said "stand here", and if you stood there it was quite good.
Any thoughts on the Screen Innovations slate 1.2 material? Regarding laser speckles, Would the perform be closer to the lenticular long throw material from Valerion or the SI black diamond.
If I am ceiling mounting my Valerion vision master and it would be projecting downwards to my screen, would I have to flip the screen upside down if am using a lenticular ALR screen?
Yes.
Would it be worth it to buy a screen for a low budget projector such as the casaris omnistar l80 ? Which type of screen would you recommend ? Thanks !
Did you by chance test out the Vividstorm fusion slimline ENHANCED ALR? I am looking for a ceiling mounted motorized 120" screen for my Valerion Pro 2
Yes, it is in the video, labeled as Fusion 1.0 gain.
So just a quick question here. I purchased the nexigo try vision triple laser 4K projector on your recommendation, I have a 100 in akia White screen right now, I was not able to get the Valerian because the kickstarter had ended. I'll just ask you straight out, with the projector that I went with since it doesn't come with any laser speckle and it was marketed that way. What is your recommendation? I want to go up to a 120-in screen.
Specifically mentioned in the video at the end, I recommend any of the Fresnel screens from F-Screen (Nexigo, Spectra, XGIMI, AWOL)
dad, please tell me if the happrun JQ820 is worth getting.
I see you have had access to the Formovie Theater Premium, which was not included in your 2024 shootout 3 mos ago. How do you like it compared to the Nexigo Aurora Pro. They are both at the top of my next purchase list. I currently have the original Xgimi Aura, which I plan to upgrade soon, in a completely dark light-controlled theater room.
Beginning of March I'll have a mid year follow up with the Theater Premium, Aurora Pro MKII and Hisense PX3-Pro
@@TheHookUp Great timing. I won't be making a purchase until March anyway.
Good information but for me to much focus on ALR screens and UST projectors. I hope you will make a similar video with more commonly used (LCoS) projectors from Sony and JVC and acoustic transparent screens (micro perf vs woven) from Stewart, Seymour etc. Thanks!
There's almost no chance that I make that video. Those screens are $2000 to $5000 each and perform almost identically to each other. When you're talking about white screens there's just not that much to change.
Mind blown. I've ordered a vividstorm fusion long throw drop down screen for Valerion Pro2 for use in a regular living room with white walls and ceiling, but I only ever watch with lights off at night and blinds drawn (no ambient light - only room reflections).
Now I'm thinking that switching to a UST lenticular screen will eliminate the one major flaw with the Fusion screen which is laser speckle, at a cost of reduced gain.
But everyone says the Pro2 is a light cannon and they are running it at low laser settings (which also increases colour shifting with EBL).
So at a screen size of 100-120" will the Pro2 at laser levels 8-10 still be bright enough for lights off viewing? And will have good uniformity, no speckle, and even better rejection of room reflections and therefore better contrast?
Are you going to be ceiling mounting? The one thing to consider with the UST screen is the orientation still needs to be correct, so for a ceiling mounted projector you lose the ceiling light rejection part.
I was going to mount on the top of my back wall shelf on the gimble but I can mount at any height on those shelves. With the Pro2 that might require some Keystone to avoid blocking the image with our heads but when the Max arrives it's vertical centre alignment and shift should work?
Or does the lens have to be aligned to the bottom of the UST screen?
The screen has to be drop down so I can't flip it upside down.
The lens has to be lined up no higher than the bottom of the screen. Most roll down lenticular manufactures allow you to pick the orientation of the screen (called Pro-A here): bit.ly/3PIRgxK
Oh cool. I could do ceiling mount UST then. But that would reduce the ALR performance significantly because I have a white ceiling and the screen would then be reflecting a lot of light onto the ceiling?
In that case maybe sticking to the 1.0 fusion is best for me and just living with relatively high speckle.
But last time they spoke to me they said the screen (which was 0.8 gain when I ordered) would be either 1.0 or 1.5 gain. It seemed they had not decided yet. Very odd since they took my money already!
@@tailee3028 I believe they decided on the 1.0 gain version. I've heard it will still be a few months before it's available in anything other than fixed frame.
Is that you i see in a commercial for replacement windows?? Just curious.
Lol, no. Are you talking about weather tight mike?
What screens would u recommend for dedicated light controlled room using Valerion Max, 2:35:1 screen between 120-135 inches. Currently have screen innovations black diamond 1.4.
one of ALPD5 new features is reduced speckle, would be interesting to check how much of it is true
Already done, the Nexigo TriVision Ultra uses ALPD 5.0 and I rated it "zero" for laser speckle in my last lifestyle projector review: th-cam.com/video/ClIboELoz74/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EuOKOX7Czt1ctC2V&t=1639
@@TheHookUp wow, that was fast, continue with the great work
Thank you for the great in-depth video. I’m a Valerion max backer. I want to get the screen choice right. I would like a 120” screen with little to no laser speckle but one that would give me the best blacks possible. I’ve seen lots of videos on white v grey and the grey seems to be better. If this is correct, are there any grey screens that won’t show laser speckle?
Grey screens can be okay, the main issues with them is that they tend to be PVC so the completely smooth surface has bad laser speckle, and the other issue is that unless they are a perfectly neutral gray it makes it harder to properly white balance the projector.
@@TheHookUp Thank you for the reply, much appreciated. If we sit about 3 metres away to a 100 or maybe 120" screen, what screen would you recommend for the least speckle and best image using an electric drop down and with minimal ambient light? White ceilings too. Kind regards, Marc
Have you ever looked at the slate alr screen material from SI? I see a lot of installers recommending it, but havent never seen it in person.
I have not.
What about a matte white, non-acoustically transparent screen. Would that have all the advantages of the Silver Ticket 1.1 in terms of lack of hot spotting, no laser speckle, maximum viewing angle, etc... This would be for a standard / long throw RGB Laser projector.
It's not the matte white part that matters, it's:
1) Lack of any reflective coating (matte white should not have reflective coatings)
2) Screen texture. If your matte white screen is PVC or any other 100% smooth surface you would not get the same speckle reducing effect.
I want to buy the Hisense C1 but here in Argentina paying for the screen serving ticket is 400 dollars + 400 dollars extra for the weight of 33 pounds plus taxes! Is it convenient to pay 1000 dollars for the screen I project on the wall or look for a frameless screen and do it myself! I want something that works with what I plan to buy! AKIA MaxWhite 2 costs me 350 final dollars
Still confused here I have no screen. I project on a wall that’s 120 to 130 inches wall to wall and I’m 12 feet from the screen I have an epson 2150 which the don’t make anymore but I’m happy with i noticed if your to close you can see the the pixels of the screen .my room is light controlled no windows but I do have lights above were the screen would be I need something that rejects light from above when light are on and slightly brighter when the are off I don’t need to worry about angles cause it’s wall to wall
Thanks for another great video, with tons of detailed information.
I have the Viewsonic x2-4k would a screen for a standard throw projector be best suited?
I need to ceiling mount so have been looking at tab tensioned screens but get a bit lost on the material.
Yes, X2-4K will require a screen meant for standard throw projectors. It's single laser so you will not run into issues with laser speckle.
Awesome, thanks for the reply
I purchased the Hisense C1 after watching one of your other videos, paired with 135" gray screen in a light- controlled room (mainly because no one likes sitting in the dark all day), and am quite happy with it, though I do sense slight color loss. I haven't noticed laser speckle really. IYO, is it worth swapping to Silver ticket woven acoustic?
Hi there. First, thank you for your , what can I say? beyond superior reviews. I have a fairly simple question and if it is not prudent to answer or it is something you may address at another time, no worries. I will keep watching your videos until you touch on this. I was all set to purchase the Hisense px3 UST per your suggestion but I discovered what i consider to be a fly in the ointment with regard to UST projectors. Manufacturers for a decent 100" OLED tv project , pardon the pun, a lifespan of approx. 100,000 Hrs. Trying to compare apples to apples you could get a pretty good UST with screen for about the same price as a good 100" OLED tv. The wrinkle is that the UST has a lifespan projection of approx. 20k-30k Hrs. So, by my calculations, in the same span of time, with the same amount of viewing, I will have to purchase 3 UST projectors to the 1 of the OLED. Which, in essense, means that the UST cost 3X what a decent OLED costs. Am I missing something here?
With a 20,000 hour lifespan, watching 6 hours a day, that's 9 years. 100,000 hours, watching 6 hours a day, that's 45 years. If you are considering having the same TV for the next 45 years that's certainly an option, but I'm guessing you'll want to upgrade before then. Even 9 years is an eternity when it comes to display technology.
In the US 100" OLEDs are still $14,000-15,000 though, so not really comparable to a projector. QLED on the other hand is much cheaper.
@@TheHookUp That's a fair point however I am extremely ill and actually have the TV on more like 18 Hrs per day or more. On the other side of the coin though, at that rate I could expect about 3 Years and tbh there will likely be some new/shinier bit of tech to attract my attention by then. Thanks for the reply.
I’ve bought a 120 inch Nothing black series and preordered the new Nexigo as my first projector setup for a multi use room. So the Fresnel screens would be a better match for the Aurora?
I also bought the Aurora Pro Mk2 and bought the 120" screen that Nexigo sells at a promotional price of $1,199.
Did Formovie make an updated UST screen? I believe last time you measured it at 1.5 gain, and the official spec is still 1.0.
Measuring gain on ALR screens is pretty difficult. For this test I decided to leave the measurement probe in the exact same position for every single screen, which lead to a couple strange results. The 1.56 gain from the previous video was when measured in the dead center of the screen, but for this test my probe was lower (closer to natural eye level positioning in the bottom third), due to needing to get measurements for standard throw and UST without moving the probe. I think I may have just hit the focal point exactly on the Formovie, because you can see in the side by side tests the overall screen gain was not significantly different than the F-Screens at 1.9-2.0.
Which would be the best screen between the Silver Ticket WAB and Valerion Fresnel for a dark room with no overhead lights using the Valerion Vision Master Pro 2.
In a dark room, white material is the king
Depends what you're looking for. WAB will reduce the laser speckle to nearly zero, but you'll still need to think about room reflections (painting the ceiling directly above the screen black is a worthwhile first step). The Valerion Fresnel will give you a very bright image with less issues with room reflections, but higher (but not unusable) amounts of laser speckle.
@@TheHookUpCool thanks. In that case I would go with the Fresnel screen. Is there any markings on it to show which way is correct or do you just have to try both ways with projector on. Thanks
@@kafmister3199 Yes, there's a sticker on the back to tell you which way is up.
Did you test using the UST lenticular ALR with a longer throw ratio like 2.1? Worried that the further projection distance will result in even lower gain in this set up. Planning on a 2.1 throw ratio in a room with some ambient light with valerion max and trying to decide what will be best. Thank you so much for your hard work!
I didn't, but I can. I would expect it to have a lower average gain, but slightly better uniformity. Using the Valerion Pro 2 at 1.47:1 throw the bottom of the screen is around 0.33 gain, but the top is closer to 0.5 because the angle of the projection is steeper at the top. As you move back you won't have less than your 0.33 minimum gain, but you may only get to 0.4 or so at the top.
@@TheHookUp got it. I didn't consider that some of the light in your valerion test would already be coming in perpendicular to the screen, which now surprises me that this works at all considering the sawtooth pattern. Would be interesting to see if your hypothesis holds true at the longer distances, but it makes sense to me that it would now.
@@CH-pp5pywill you be mounting the Max on the ceiling and the UST screen upside down? Considering that myself but worried about the UST screen no longer being able to reject room reflections from the ceiling.
@@tailee3028 yes that's what I will at least try. I will have the ceiling painted a dark color and have my lighting configurable in a way that should be able to avoid casting light from above. But I won't know for several more months until I get the projector if this works or not.
So speckle is like graininess and it’s mostly seen in areas of uniform color? What factors make it less noticeable? Longer throw placement, larger screen size, further seating distance, etc. Because I am planning to use a floor rising 150” ALR screen 0.9 gain with valerion pro2, sitting 5.5m away. Thank you!
The brighter the triple laser light source the more noticeable the speckle will be. The only thing that I've seen effectively reduce it is screen texture.
Lots of information to digest. I have a formovie UST fresnel screen. Haven’t unboxed it yet. I gather from all the testing a lifestyle projector would work fine with it in a dark room?
The Formovie UST Fresnel is not a good fit for a standard throw projector.
@@TheHookUp You recommended the Hisense c2 Ultra "standard throw" projector with the AWOL UST with a 0.3 gain for ST. Why is that any different than using the UST fresnal screen?
Do you any recommendations or guidelines for a humble Wanbo projector?
I love the $75 maxwhite 2 dropdowns: amzn.to/3E42sCu
Awesome comparison as usual, very insightful! Seems the Silver Ticket WAB would be best for both Hisense PX3-Pro (have now) and Valerion Max (backer)? Almost fully light-controlled room and have a 150" Silver Ticket gray 1.0 presently (don't want to go smaller). Silver Ticket also has a WVS (Woven Acoustic Material With Black Backing)--assume it's the same/similar thing as WAB?
WAB is not good for UST projectors, you can pretty clearly notice the texture of the screen as it casts a shadow directly above it due to the steep projection angle.
I run my AWOL vision LTV 3500 lower than normal on brightness my room is set up very dark it is a gaming and entertainment room so if I run the projector on normal mid brightness mid contrast everything set to the middle it's extremely bright the complaint I have with my system is the vivid storm screenfluor rising 120 inch the edges have started to curl in and with an ultra short throw projector like the LT 3500 it looks terrible I cannot recommend buying the vivid storm for rising screen
For Plus 2 also, awol lenticular ust alr fares well? Considering less lumens than pro2 model
I still think it is a great fit for dim/dark rooms.
When using a long throw (Plus 2) with a UST ALR screen, does it have to be positioned in a certain way vertically? Planning on using it on a tripod.
@ The bottom of the lens should be lined up with the bottom of the screen. If you want to ceiling mount it the bottom of the lens should line up of the top of the screen and the screen should be flipped.
Amazing video once again!! But what confuses me is that AWOL say their UST Lenticular screen has 0.6 gain whereas you have it mentioned at 0.713 gain, is there any reason for the difference at all?
No idea, I just take the measurement and report the data.
Hello In your opinion, is this screen "Elite SPECTRUM - ELECTRIC PROJECTION SCREENS
FRAME & SCREEN MATERIAL MaxWhite" good for my C2 Ultra? No tingling? Thanks in advance for your answer
Yes, MaxWhite 2 was included in this video. I would classify it as a "Low" speckle screen, not quite zero, but pretty good.
Thank you!For you it would be better to have a screen alr? because sorry I am French and I understood most of the things in your video but not everything ...
It is interesting that ST WAB has a gain of 1.1, although other reviewers measured 0.8-0.85 and said that there is no AT woven material with a gain of 1 or more.
My Lambertian measured 228.4 nits, WAB measured 240.8, so almost exactly 1.1 gain.
Thank you. This is very useful information. Now I definitely vote for AT woven screen
Hi Rob! I am a Pro 2 backer and I don't have ambient light. The Silver ticket WAB seems like the best choice for me but I have a problem. In Spain the price on amazon it's the double. Also on their website (due to the shipment to Spain). So I was wondering if you could recommend me a similar option but not that pricey for around 300-400€. Even if it's from Ali Express haha! Thank you so much again and greetings from Barcelona! :)
No idea, I stopped buying from Ali Express because I was getting inconsistent products from listings that looked identical.
@@TheHookUp Thanks Rob! So then what do you think it would be the best option for a Valerion Pro 2 on a budget of 400-600€? I don't have ambient light. Do you agree on the Silver ticket WAB? Could you recommend me other options? For instance, Elite Screen it's easier to get in Europe; but I don't know if it would be a good option and what exact model would suit the best for me.
I believe elite's woven AT fabric is called "AcousticPro UHD", but it's a tighter weave than WAB which may lead to slightly more speckle.
Ok so rare situation here. Golf sim doubling as a home theater. I want a drop down high quality screen for movies mounted to drop down in front of my impact screen. BenQ AK700ST will be the projector. It's throw ratio is between UST and Standard Throw. Please recommend what screen type I need! So confused.
4k 4000 lumen 0.69 to 0.83 throw ratio. Ceiling mounted.
Yeah, you'll definitely want a better screen than your impact screen. The AH700 has a long enough throw that you won't need to worry too much about screen cupping, and the AH700 is single laser, so you don't need to worry about laser speckle. I'd recommend a nice white motorized dropdown screen, but the exact one would depend on your budget. If money were no object I'd go with Neve by Stewart Filmscreen in a flush mounted ceiling unit, but those are like $4500.
@TheHookUp AK700ST is brand new model. I think its triple laser. The AH is only 1080p
@TheHookUp you are correct it is single laser. Would I not benefit from an ALR screen or do they not make one for this specific application?
@@mpkultra There are only a few ALR screens that would work for your situation (drop down, ceiling mounted, short throw) and I think in all cases you'd be better off with a white screen.
Please tell me you’ll do a budget screen review for those of us looking for something to pair with the happrun h1 😂
I love the $75 maxwhite 2 dropdowns: amzn.to/3E42sCu
Are you going to do a review of the Aurora Pro Mk2? And I understand that the best screen for that projector is a Fresnel like the one sold by Nexigo itself?
Yes, probably February 21st for the MK2 video. Yes to the Nexigo Fresnel being the best pairing for it.
@@TheHookUp is there any way to have a quick Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 vs Aurora Pro MK2 comparison, as I have a MAX on order and deadline for discounted MK2 pre-order is already on Feb 10th ?
What screens would u recommend for dedicated light controlled room using Valerion Max, 2:35:1 screen between 120-135 inches. Currently have screen innovations black diamond 1.4. A bit worried about laser speckle.
You'll definitely have speckle with the black diamond, probably an unbearable amount. Not many off the shelf options for 2:35:1, but you could probably have someone build you a replacement to slot into your current SI frame.
@@TheHookUpThought so. Was eyeing the elite screens cinegrey alr 138” 2.35 screen but specs aren’t that different. May just keep my Sony 715es and sell the max whenever it arrives. Or I build one like you recommend. Thx. Great channel.
What's the best floor rising screen for Valerion?
As I said, I really like using the Valerion with a Lenticular UST ALR screen. The important thing to know is that if you're using a floor rising screen the projector's lens needs to be lined up with the bottom of the screen. If that placement doesn't work for you then the new standard throw lenticular materials are available in floor risers from Valerion, VividStorm, and Nothing Projector.
Of the 3 I liked the nothing projector standard throw lenticular material the best.
@@TheHookUp Thanks so much!
@@TheHookUp any link for the floor rising version?
What about non-laser projectors? Does it matter less?
Single laser, bulb and LED projectors all have the same recommendations.
Can I still watch the video AFTER I bought a Silver Ticket 150" white screen 2 years ago only to learn that I should have gotten a silver or something to improve contrast?
Silver Ticket WAB is still awesome.
I've been looking at the Vividstorm Fusion - mainly because they are one of the few options that come in a floor-rising or wall mounted option. Can you comment on how important projector throw angle - aka ceiling mounting - would be and if this would cause the screen rejection, hotspot or light falloff issues?
Yes, at 10:41 you can see that for standard throw lenticular there is almost no difference in brightness or uniformity as it relates screen orientation when using a ceiling mounted projector.
That said, the Fusion is not available in floor rising at this point. You can try to order it but they will cancel your order (I know because I tried to order both on Amazon and on their website). You can order it in fixed frame right now, but it will be March at least before we see drop down/floor rising versions.
@@TheHookUp Thanks! Also curious on your thoughts on how the older Obsidian might have stacked up in these tests? Assuming a single laser or 3LCD
@@Michael.Strout Other than Black Diamond, Obsidian Long Throw has the highest speckle of any material I've ever tested.
Interesting. I ordered a drop down fusion back in November and they told me today they aim to fulfil my order in Feb. But they also said they were still working on it and the final version would be 1.0 with thinner material and less laser speckle than the ones reviewed here. I don't know if I believe them.
so what I need does not exist, nice. 120inch+, acoustic transparent, wide viewing angle, ceiling mount motorized. Must work for 45 degree viewing angle. Valerion Vision Master Pro2 projector.
Could also use ALR from the right since that's a wall of glass, but shades will work. Top rated for my projector are either fixed mount or smaller than I want. 😞
Have you seen @BuildMontage 's AT screen? th-cam.com/video/tv5LsYgF1v8/w-d-xo.html
If you like and have a load of 3D content you don't have any other option between buying a Tv or a projector. So for 3D enthusiast out there there's really only one option and it's an expensive one... 😢