Anybody with Stewart FireHawk Screen?

Looks like we've got a Da-Lite user. Most likely I'll be in your club ~! I agree that prices for FireHawk screens are just too expensive. Anyway good things don't come cheap.

I'll be looking at the Da-Lite Tensioned Cosmopolitan Electrol.

A fixed frame screen will always outperform a retractable screen and will be considerably cheaper. If you could possibly do this, I would highly recommend it. You don't have to spend $4K for a fixed frame model. I paid $1700 for my 110" 16:9 Luxus Deluxe Firehawk from a local dealer. If you have any ambient light or have light colored walls or ceiling the Firehawk is outstanding. I evaluated several screen samples before buying the Firehawk. I think it is the best of the "gray" screens, though Grayhawk is also pretty good. However, in an ideal environment with no ambient light and all dark surfaces, I would chose a gain of 1 white screen over it, due to better color and brightness uniformity. Stewart is really good about sending out samples, though it may take a while to get them. You should get samples from each manufacturer before you make a decision.

Ryder,

The Stewart screens are "tab-tensioned".

There's a cable on each side of the screen that is pulled
into a big arc - convex side toward the screen. The force
to do this is provided by little tabs that connect the screen
to the cable. Thus the screen is always under horizontal
tension to prevent ripples.

The weight of the baton at the bottom provides the vertical
tension to prevent ripples.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist

Thanks guys. Since the retractable screens of Stewart are too expensive, I've decided to go for a fixed screen instead. Even the Stewart dealer recommended a fixed screen over electrically retractable ones although the latter looked quite impressive when in function.

Now it's either the Grayhawk or Firehawk.

Unless you have a very broad viewing area (ie, some people 60 degrees or more off center), I think the higher gain Firehawk is the best bet. I have an 82" fixed screen Firehawk, and have been very pleased, even with a fairly low light-output DLP.