Screens

Electric Screens

"The most commonly used screens in Home Cinema installations are of the electric variety. The simple fact of only having to push a button to see the screen descend all by itself is, for many, part of the magic of a moment of Home Cinema. The projection screen is rolled around a motorised axle, which is itself housed in a casing (most often in aluminium). On this casing, two types of attachments are always to be found, allowing the unit to be fixed either to the ceiling or to a wall. As is the case for the screen, the mechanism of an electric screen is very basic and simple to manufacture. All manufacturers are thus quite capable of making reliable machines. The differences in price that exist between the different electric screens can be explained due to two very precise points:

- In the case of a "downmarket" model, the screen material is very light and may crease after six months’ use, and it will descend very slowly, making a lot of noise.
- In the case of an upmarket model, the screen will descend rapidly in majestic silence.

It’s up to you to choose the degree of comfort you wish to attain depending upon your budget, keeping in mind that in both cases, the quality of reflection of the screen material is generally excellent.

When it comes down to electrical connections, it’s possible to bring the screen down in three different ways:
- Manually, by pressing a switch which you have installed in the room, of the same kind as those used for roller blinds (moreover, the raising and lowering mechanisms are generally the same, with roller blind manufacturers often supplying screen manufacturers).
-By adding a remote control unit, which will allow you to raise and lower your screen without having to move from your armchair. This means having an extra remote unit, however, if the one for your amplifier is programmable, you should be able to control the two machines with the one unit. Beware however, as certain remote control units don’t use infrared, but radio waves that are able to go through walls, but are impossible to programme on another remote control unit. A relatively cheap remote control unit can be had for around 230 Euros (1500 French Francs).
- The final solution is the "Royal" one, consisting of another remote control unit, driven by the video projector itself when it is switched on and off. Such a choice is possible if your projector possesses a "Remote" outlet, allowing it to be connected to the small unit governing the screen. In this configuration, it all becomes automatic, for your greater comfort. "

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