Cinetension1 (Projectorreviews.com) - Elite Screens TE100HC2 Product Manual

Product Review
CineTension Matte White Motorized Projection Screen
with Remote Controls
01/25/2007 - Art Feierman
Overview
I certainly am much better set up to review projectors than screens, however, I do believe I'm getting the
hang of reviewing projector screens.
Until 2007, I've been doing barely more than 2 screen reviews a year, but that's about to change, starting with the Elite
CineTension projector screen, and I'm following that immediately, with the "high priced spread"; the latest version of the
Firehawk, (the G3) from Stewart. I'm also planning in to bring in screens from Grandview, Da-lite, etc.
So I'll have two projector screen reviews done this year - before Superbowl. Plans call for doing at least a half dozen more
thoughout the year.
A bit of background on Elite Screens
Here's the scoop on Elite. I've previously reviewed two of their screens (the first in 2005), although, I took a 2nd look at
their ezFrame when they changed the screen surface. The other was their first motorized screen, the Home Series.
Here's the big thing about Elite Screens: Elite is probably best described as the "low cost leader". They haven't necessar-
ily had many major categories of screens on the market long enough to establish themselves as the equal to established
brands such as Da-Lite or Drape. And they definitely aren't ready to challenge high end projector screen manufacturers
like Stewart FilmScreen. That said, to date they have proven to, provide a very respectable product from a performance
standpoint. Their pricing advantage, no doubt comes from being a Taiwanese company that controls it's manufacturing in
China.
When we reviewed their first screen, we were
impressed with the price, so far below the
competition, that it had no competition. While
it was a decent screen, it left plenty of room
for improvement. By comparison, our most
recent review of their ezFrame HC Gray
surface, proved to be far more impressive, not
only still very affordable, but with good build
quality, and the kind of general image perfor-
mance that I would describe as good, or
typical of mid-range major brand manufactur-
ers.
(Image on the right provided by Elite)
So that brings us to this review - the Elite
CineTension projector screen. This screen
came with their matte white finish. (which
made sense to me since I recently reviewed
their HC gray surface). You can get the CineTension with 3 difference surfaces, the Matte white tested here, the "Tension
Grey" which I believe is the exact same surface as the fixed frame. I was especially interested in the CineTension because
it does seem to be by far, the least expensive motorized screen with tensioning. For those of you not familiar, motorized
and pull-down screens, if not immediately, then over time, tend to stop being flat when lowered for use. The waves and/or
creases they develop (more likely on larger surfaces, say at least 100" diagonal and up) very quickly become both visible,
and very annoying. The problems are most visible when what you are watching includes some slow panning of a scene. A
few years ago I had a large motorized screen, that after about 2 years had serious waves (and no tensioning). Ultimately I
replaced it because of the waves (as well as looking for some different performance - but it was the waves that really
made me "pull the trigger".
So, finally here is an affordable motorized screen, that comes not only with remote controls (yes, both infra-red and RF -
choose the one you like), but tab tensioning to keep it flat.visible waves, that would distort the projected image.
www.elitescreens.com
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001 www.elitescreens.com