SIM2 Nero 3D-2 - Projector Screens

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Art Feierman

Nero 3D-2 Projector Screen Recommendations

As is uusal, the trick is to match the screen to: Your room, It's lighting, Ambient issues, and the types of content you view, as well as personal preferences. This SIM2 Nero 3D-2 projector is built for a dedicated home theater - or at least a room resembling a cave.

The recommendations here, are very similar to those for any other 2D / 3D projector that typically produces roughly 500 lumens in "best mode" and no more than 1000-1100 lumens at the brightest.

The catch that makes deciding on the best screen for this Nero projector is due to the Nero 3D-2 being a capable 3D projector. Now, remember, while 3D accomplished with passive glasses (polarized), does require a special 3D screen, that's not the case with active shutter glasses, which dominate home theater 3D.

The big issue becomes brightness, of course, as soon as 3D comes into play.

This SIM2 is designed as a home theater only projector. The 3D-2 looks good in 3D up to about 100" diagonal, in terms of brightness. The point is, you can enjoy 3D on an smaller sized screen - say - 82" and 100" diagonal, and have respectable brightness while your lamp is fairly new, with a traditional screen surface, or go a bit larger with higher gain screens. Ultimately, though if you want to take advantage of the 120" diagonal or slightly larger traditional screens the 3D-2 can handle in 2D, you will be a bit starved for lumens trying 3D at that size. I certainly felt that way when I tried to put a Cinemascope shaped movie up to fill my 124" 2.35:1 screen.

I couldn't watch the 3D for very long before I zoomed out to a smaller size. Of course some folks demand less lumens to be happy in 3D, remember, you are giving up about 3/4 the brightness when you kick in 3D.

What that means, is even on a 100" diagonal screen, 3D won't be anywhere near as bright as 2D would be on a 120" diagonal.

If you want to go a bit larger, go with a higher gain screen. Still, I'm not a fan of screens with gains of, say higher than 1.8, and am most comfortable with 1.3 - 1.4 where the trade-offs are negligible. All of my comments - are subjective recommendations, based on my "regular screens" being 1.3 gain. Stewart Studiotek 130.

As I have offered in other conversations about 3D and brightness, in other reviews and articles; you could go with two screens.

In that case, perhaps a large, fixed wall screen with normal gain 1.0 - 1.4 for 2D. To handle 3D, or even 2D when you want really bright (sports with the lights on), consider adding hi-gain, motorized screen for when you really need the brightness for 3D and intentional ambient light.

I'm one of the few folks with a two screen setup. With projectors like the SIM2, if I want a bright 100" diagonal 3D image I have to go to my brighter 3D screen (which soon will be replaced with a 2.5 gain screen, just to see how many issues that much gain brings to the party.)

Bottom line - the SIM2 has just enough brightness to give you a respectable one screen solution, on a smaller screen, or you can support larger screens by going to higher gain screens for your 3D viewing.

Plan B, if your room supports it - a high gain screen for 3D, and a really good screen without high gain, for normal 2D viewing.