Three Types of Home Theater Projector Screens.

If you are in the market for a new home theater then you will also be on the lookout for a suitable screen to go along with it. Like everything in this day and age, the huge variety on offer can be a bit overwhelming, but they can really be grouped into 3 sections.

First, you can choose a screen of the permanent variety. The screen is typically fixed to the wall presuming that the room you have chosen for your home theater system lends itself to this. An advantage of a fixed screen is that it can easily hide unsightly cables and wires. To install this screen, stretch the fabric onto the framework and use fasteners to hold it tightly in place. Doing so will result in a smooth and even surface. You can then place the speakers either at the sides or at the back of the screen. Either placement will create a viewing experience similar to any movie theater. If your speakers are placed at the rear of the screen, consider using transparent fabric to allow the sound to go through the fabric.

A second category of screen that you can purchase along with your home theater projector is a wall-mounted and retractable screen. You can attach it to either the ceiling or the wall. A retractable screen, as the name suggests, can be pulled back manually or electronically when not in use. It has the advantage of looking rather impressive, and pressing a little button to operate it will no doubt impress your theater guests! However, on the down side, as you would expect, this screen is rather expensive. It is suitable to if you have limited space in the room you are using as a home theater.

The third grouping are the tripod screens. A disadvantage with these are the fact that the screen is smaller than the regular ones. However it has several plus points. This kind of screen is portable, you can easily fold it up, transport it from home to work etc. It costs less than regular home theater projector screens but its ideal use is not really for watching movies at home but for temporary viewings such as video presentations at school, at a business meeting or training.

The above screen types are the ones most commonly used for a home theater projector. You simply need to consider which type would be most suitable for the room where you intend to install the system. Have a good look around and as always, keep to the budget you have in mind. The pros and cons of a screen vs a TV for your home theater are discussed elsewhere on this site, but there is no doubt that for sheer size of viewing area, and for the novelty factor, a projector screen is a great addition to your home theater system if it is within your budget.