Black Diamond 1.4 Screen Highlights

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Art Feierman

Dark surface plus plenty of gain - for a nice dynamic image
Much better at "rejecting" (or absorbing) ambient light from the vertical (overhead lighting, etc.), than ambient light from the sides.
For a high contrast "dark" screen, it has a pretty respectable viewing cone
There is slight color shift, almost completely towards blue
Assembly is straightforward, but the surface is semi-rigid, and therefore a bit more difficult to work with than most other types of screen surfaces
The Black Diamond screens are not available in an acoustic material, nor currently in either motorized, or pull down screen configurations
Pricing is generally premium, but if you need what they're selling, the Black Diamond 1.4 should prove to be a good value
MSRP for a 100" diagonal 16:9 screen is $2699 (US), the lower gain Black Diamond 0.8 screen in the same size, costs the same
Available in sizes up to 142" diagonal

Black Diamond 1.4 Screen Specifications

MSRP: $2699 For: 100" diagonal 16:9 screen, Some (not all) additional sizes:
80" 16x9	$2199
92" 16x9	$2499
106" 16x9	$2899
110" 16x9	$3099
133" 16x9	$3699
80" 2.35	1 $2199
92" 2.35	1 $2499
100" 2.35	1 $2699
106" 2.35	1 $2899
110" 2.35	1 $3099
133" 2.35	1 $3699
Technology
Gain	1.4

Accoustic Properties: None - will block any sound from passing through Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Black Diamond 1.4 Special Features

The Black Diamond 1.4 is a screen designed to allow successful projection in rooms with significant light. No, the screen isn't a perfect solution, but it is one of the best I've seen, and reasonably effective.

Its strength is rejecting light from the vertical plane. It is very effective. To accomplish this, SI uses a multi-layered approach to the screen material design.

Assembling the Black Diamond 1.4 Fixed Wall Screen

I didn't have to do it! I watched, but I managed to get Tony and Mike to put it together. The screen frame is well built, with a 3.5" wide black velour finish. The pieces fit together nicely. First you have to slide their mounting pins into tracks in the frame. Those tracks will hold the ends of the heavy "rubber bands" that will pass through the holes along the edge of the screen. The screen material is hard and somewhat sharp. It feels like it could give you one nasty paper cut, so be a bit careful. That said, the team had no problem quickly assembling the screen. I didn't actually time it, but from when the screen was unpacked, until it was assembled was well under 10 minutes - two guys working. As a side note, we had a much tougher time with their rather complicated wall stands that they sent along. Those came without instructions. Here we were, three "rocket scientists", and we couldn't figure out how to put the legs together, and attach the screen. I had to call the next day for help. Well, you won't be needing these custom stands so don't worry about it. It was humbling experience.

Click to enlarge. SO close

I can't report on actually wall mounting the screen, since we didn't. From the looks of things, it's pretty standard. Screen Innovations has a speed enhanced video on their site which shows the installation from opening the box to finish. I think they did a great job of it. (I wonder if they got it on the first take?)

Click Image to Enlarge