Elite Screens Aeon CLR®3 Series Screen Review-2

Since the projector screen is a focal point in your room, you may want to dress it up a little. Elite offers optional LED backlight kits that are compatible with their EDGE FREE ™ fixed frame screens like the Aeon CLR® 3 Series screens.

The LED backlights are easy to install, and they greatly enhance the look of the screen and the mood of the room. The LED Backlight kits contain the LED strip, power assembly, and an IR remote control. There are 16 different LED color options, as well as various brightness, flash and fade modes, all easily configured using the included remote. In addition, you can program up to 4 unique display memory modes.

To install the LEDs onto the screen, you simply remove the self-adhesive backing from the LED strip and adhere the strip around the entire back edge of the Aeon Series frame. The strip can be cut down to size as needed. Once the strip is installed, connect the power supply and plug it into a power outlet, and you are good to go.

Once you have assembled the screen and installed the (optional) LED backlighting, you are ready to hang your new screen. The screen assembly is super lightweight, but due to its size, I still recommend you recruit a friend to help to maneuver and mount the screen on your wall. Remember to wear the supplied white gloves to prevent the screen from getting dirty.

Due to the CLR® 3 screen material’s optical microstructure, it is important to mount the screen in the correct orientation, so that it will function to properly reflect the projector image and reject ambient light. The top and bottom of the screen are clearly labeled.

The Aeon CLR® 3 screen is one of the options available with MosicGO 360 projection systems, which I recently reviewed. Elite sent me a 103" CLR® 3 screen, so I could also evaluate the performance of one of their MosicGO Sport 360 combinations.

The Screen worked very well with the Elite Projector MosicGO. However, Aeon CLR® 3 is also sold separately. The Aeon screen is Elite Screens’ best Ceiling Light Rejecting fixed screen, and it is an excellent option for any higher-end ultra-short-throw projector.

I tested the Aeon CLR® 3 with several UST projectors I had in my lab, including the LG HU85LA, which ships without a screen. When combined with the LG, the result was a bright, vibrant image. Overall, the picture quality was outstanding. While the Hisense 100L5F and the Epson LS500 both ship with ALR screens, the Aeon CLR® 3 worked well with those projectors also. Furthermore, since the CLR® 3 materials have a viewing angle of 180 degrees, the image looked great regardless of where I was sitting in my room.

In addition to the Aeon CLR® 3 screen, Elite also sent me a sample of matte white screen material. When compared to the matte white in ambient light, the difference was noticeable. Not only did the CLR® 3 screen improve the contrast in a room with ambient light, but it also enhanced the black levels even when the lights were off.

Note that the CLR® 3 has a gain of 0.8, so the image will not appear as bright as a higher gain screen, but it is worth it for the wider viewing angle, lack of hot spots, and improved black levels. When compared to the matte white screen, I didn’t see any noticeable color shift. There was a tiny sparkle, which is common to ALR screens, but it wasn’t major or visually distracting.

Overall, the Aeon CLR® 3 is a step up from a matte screen, especially if you want to use your ultra-short-throw project day or night. The Aeon CLR® 3 screen is well-built and will look great in your room. To further enhance the screen’s appearance, consider installing the optional LED Backlighting Kit.

The AEON CLR® 3 Screen can be purchased directly from Elite’s online store, and it is also now available from several authorized Elite dealers/resellers. If you have a table-top ultra-short-throw projector and you are looking for a high-quality ceiling light rejecting screen, check out the Aeon CLR®3 from Elite Screens.