So far we do very few screens, just enough to give people an idea about what they get with different surfaces and prices… Sorry, not very complete, and I’ve never seen a Severtson screen though I’ve heard of them. Can’t help.

I am wondering if you have done any reviews on Severtson screens. How would a 135″ VApex (white fixed screen) compare in quality to a 135″ Legacy II Severtson white fixed screen. I know price wise there is about a $700 difference in price.

Thanks.

Thanks for the feedback. Overall, I’d just let it go as saying that the VAPex is a nice entry level screen. The Carada is the better, probably a touch more neutral, etc. Worth the difference – no doubt, depends on budget. If I was buying $999, the low cost screen makes a lot of sense. If buying $2000+, probably the Carada is proportionally priced right. Hey, if buying something like a JVC projector, then the discussion goes to – is the Stewart Studiotek 130 worth the extra $1200+ over the Carada, and so on.

Remember the old saying – your “…….fill in the blank….” is only as good as the weakest link. These days, that’s usually first, poor content (SD TV and DVD), probably next followed by projector picture quality. Screens are less significant (within competing screen surfaces), but can still make a difference. I on occasion switch between my carada, and an motorized Elite that can come down in front of it. Same idea. I stick with the Carada for my photoshoots because I believe it to be a touch more neutral, etc… -art

I am not a reviewer who looks at projectors and screens day in and day out. So, for someone like me, I think you will be more than happy with the VA. The frame is nice and wide and has a very high end look. Yes, there is a joint in the middle of the long sides, but if your room is relatively dark (like mine), you won’t really notice it. The light overspill onto the frame is sucked into oblivion just like it’s supposed to be. The money you save can be put to other gear.

Is the Carada better… I’m sure it is. Is the difference enough to the normal, non-reviewer type who is setting up his first front-projection system… probably not.

Thanks for all you do Art. Your reviews helped my decide on the gear to get and I couldn’t be happier.

Keith

Not sure what I want to do… it sure would be nice if you could see these things (like DaLite, etc) before you buy.

First, thanks for all you do here. Your website and reviews are invaluable.

So, here’s my dilemma. I just bought my first projector… the Epson 8500UB. I got a great deal at just over $2000 delivered. Now, I need to get a screen. I’ve got room for 100-106″ depending on the frame. I was originally going to build my own with Goo Systems product. The cost of the Visual Apex screen makes that not realistic as Va is very cost effective.

A 100″ VA delivered is about $390. I can get a 102″ Carada with the 1.0-1.1 matte white finish delivered for about $770. While the analogies are great, is the Carada really worth twice the cost of the VA? Can I afford it? Sure, but my question is SHOULD I afford it? While I don’t frequent the “clubs”, I do have plenty of AV gear or other hobbies that $350 could be spent on.

My biggest fear is that I blow the extra $$$ on the Carada and then want to move the system to another part of the house where a larger screen can be supported?

Is the Carada really worth a price where I can buy 2 AV screens for the price of 1 Carada?

Thanks!
Keith

OK, how about that for an off topic analogy? (and not a particularly good one at that!)

But seriously I recommend the Vapex for those on a really tight budget – who otherwise are buying Goo or other screen paint, or shining on a wall, because they can’t afford a decent screen. Was a time just 4 or so years ago you would have been hard pressed to find anything decent that wasn’t a pulldown, for less than $600.

Just re-read the blog on the screen. You’ve got a really excellent projector. No doubt about it I recommend spending the extra for the Carada – Mike would likely say the exact same thing. (unless of course it’s a choice for all of 2010: A Vapex screen and blu-ray player, or Carada and standard DVD for another year. Now that’s my idea of a trade-off and then, I’d say get the blu-ray player! -a

Thanks
Sri

My take from Mike’s review, and discussing that with him (he like me owns a Carada Brilliant White, among other screens), is that the VApex is a good basic screen. A very small amount of color shift, good construction, etc. When I indicated “over $2000″ spending for a step up screen. I’m really thinking this way:

The projector is key: (and the content, so get that blu-ray player if you don’t already have one). A better screen helps, of course, but, there isn’t going to be a huge difference, so to speak, between a VApex and some of the other less expensive screens out there. As such, sure, I’d rather match the Carada BW, than the VApex, with an 8500UB, but, my point is really this: I’d rather have an 8500UB, and a VApex, than, an 8100, and a Carada BW. Now, I realize that the difference in the price of projectors is about twice that of the difference between the two screens, but, you should get my point. If the bucks are really tight, I’d put the money into the better projector, and worry about a better screen some time in the future. -art
PS. as to 120hz, contrast, etc., other than high contrast aspects of screens (a non-issue with the white VApex, no, nothing gets lost, re 120hz, contrast, etc. Most likely you get, with the better screen – a touch more gain (better backings, etc.) finer screen surface (for 1080p), although not in this case, mike says the surface is fine enough. If you are calibrating a projector, a good calibrator, will adjust for any screen shift. (For our published calibration settings, we make no attempt to calibrate for anything except the projector itself. -art