Audio Video News

Da-Lite Screen Company, Inc. may have made its name supplying film screens to the educational and business presentation markets, but the Warsaw, Indiana company hasn't been ignoring the home theater trend.

Da-lite has introduced several new products worthy of attention, foremost among them a cleverly designed universal wall mount for plasma displays. The Advance PWM-1624 features a unique rail mounting system to make installation simple. It's compatible with any plasma display with mounting holes 8 1/8€� to 26€� apart horizontally and up to 14 1/2€� apart vertically, according to a recent announcement.

The slim-profile PWM-1624 adds a mere 2€� space between the back of the plasma unit and the wall, yet is capable of supporting up to 150 lbs. It also allows tilting the plasma up to 20 degrees off the vertical, a tremendous advantage when the display is to be mounted above head height. The PWM-1624 is available in a black powder coated finish.

If space constraints or an unforgiving landlord prevent you from installing a permanently mounted front-projection screen, Da-Lite has a couple of intriguing solutions in the form of collapsible, portable screens. The "Theater-Lite" requires simply raising the extension arm and unrolling the screen to the desired height. Focus your projector and - Presto! - Instant home theater. The Theater-Lite is available in HDTV format sizes in 60€� and 80€� diagonal with Da-Lite€™s exclusive Wide Power screen, and stores in a closet when not in use.

Da-Lite's portable "Deluxe Insta-Theater" screen is now available in the 16:9 widescreen HDTV format. The Deluxe Insta-Theater screen comes in a sleek case design and is easy to set up thanks to pneumatic assistance. Sizes available are 73€� and 90€�, measured diagonally.

UL approval: Da-Lite Screen Company's Advantage series and Director Series of projection screens have won approval by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), achieving the "Plenum Rating" for installation in air handling space. For custom installs in new construction or extensive remodeling circumstances, you can elect to receive the case and the fabric separately to ensure that the screen surface is not damaged during the €œrough-in€� stages of construction. The Advantage series includes the Advantage Electrol, Tensioned Advantage Electrol, Advantage Deluxe Electrol, Tensioned Advantage Deluxe Electrol and Advantage Manual with CSR. The Director Series includes the Director Electrol and the Tensioned Director Electrol.

Da-Lite has also announced a new screen material intended for use with projectors with relatively low light output. "High Contrast Matte White," as the material is known, is the latest addition to Da-Lite€™s line of gray screen surfaces. With a gray colored base material and a specially designed reflective coating, the High Contrast Matte White fabric is said to enhance the black level of projected images without sacrificing the white level output. Gain rating is 1.1; the material is not recommended for tensioned screens.