Elite Screens CineTension2 106" Electric Projector Screen Review

CineTension2 Features and Build Quality

Elite Screens has produced an almost innumerable variety of screens. In that way they have something for nearly any application you can imagine. But what's really amazing is that they typically price their products at a considerably higher value than some of the other major custom-installer-centric manufacturers. The CineTension2 Series is one of their more user-friendly models, appealing to both the professional user and the enthusiast. Tab-tensioning is a feature that many home theater enthusiasts crave - it eliminates the folds that often appear in non-tensioned screens over time and produces a much more attractive presentation with no distractions. When you're wanting to lose yourself in the movie experience, and a motorized solution is required, tab-tensioned screens are where it's at.

Features and Favorites

There are a ton of features that come with the CineTension2 screens - many of which would be optional on a typical tensioned screen product. Here are the features that stood out to us as those which both consumers and pros are likely to notice and desire as part of their package.

• RF and IR Remotes
  While RF remotes give you the ability to activate the screen without having to point the remote, IR technology means that you can also build the screen to work with an emitter - something RF-only screens must use an external IR sensor for. With the CineTension2 you get both options - right out of the box. In addition, the extended IR "Eye" receiver allows for recessed installation without having to wire up an external IR receiver in most cases. It's incredibly helpful and ingenius.
• 12VDC Trigger
  Elite builds 12VDC trigger sensing right into the screen, so you can connect the screen to your projector's 12V emitter and get it to drop and rise on power up and power down of the projector. That's the way we recommend wiring up most systems - it gives you an almost "magical" experience when your system powers up.
  
• 3-way Wall Switch
  Rather than make this an option, Elite Screens includes a wall switch that can be conveniently mounted into a standard low voltage box for a permanent and rock-solid method of raising and lowering the screen.
  
• Programmable Vertical Limit Switch
  While this may seem standard on most screens, the absence of a vertical limit set switch would be a major pain for users and cause custom installers to look elsewhere. Elite has it and it's fairly easy to use, with a 5/32" Allen wrench (not included) and nothing more.
  
• Tab Tensioning System
  Tensioned screens are nothing new, but Elite Screens uses a convenient knob system that doesn't require tools in order to achieve the perfect tension.

Build Quality

The Elite Screens CineTension2 screens are made with an aluminum chassis and are shipped in a well-protected box (we noticed no damage and the screen looked to be very much surrounded by foam and packing material as well as very stiff double-cardboard that could take a beating.) While the specs called for a bubble vial for leveling the projector screen, Elite actually included a full torpedo level that could be used as a decent tool following installation (we've never seen this before). It was a nice touch and reflected the way the company went a little above-and-beyond in making the installation process that much simpler and convenient.

The screen material is a nice durable CineWhite with a 1.1 gain, so it will work well to reflect true white from the projector without coloration or hot spots. Uniformity, in fact, looked excellent with our test patterns and certainly the material seemed to be able to last a good long time (in fact, it's cleanable with mild soap and water). There was almost no light loss penetrating through the screen material thanks to the included black-backing.

Reviewer's Note: About CineWhite Screen Material
Elite Screens CineWhite screen material has broad light dispersion through diffusion, excellent uniformity, and true color rendition making it the most versatile in Elite's tensions screen product lines. This tension PVC surface is a solid choice for today's high-contrast ratio projectors in commercial or residential presentations. The CineWhite material equals the performance of their MaxWhite product, but improves the experience with even better surface flatness. CineWhite screens include a black-backing to eliminate light penetration and the surface is easily washable with mild soap and water.

The 106" Elite Screens Electric CineTension2 Projection Screen includes:

• RF and IR remote controls (w/batteries)
• 12V trigger
• 3-way wall switch
• Fixed power cord
• Brackets for wall or ceiling mounting
• Mounting hardware for stud & masonry walls

There is a very large assortment of sizing and screen material options for Elite Screens' CineTension2 models, so finding the exact match for your room and application shouldn't be a problem.

The CineTension2 is, as the name implies, a tab-tensioned screen. This is to say that it has a tensioning system that pulls rigidly along the loops that come out from the sides of the 2" black surround material of the screen. This keeps the screen from curling up along the edges and makes for an extremely flat (and thus more enjoyable) viewing experience. The way Elite does this is via a simple string material - as opposed to a rigid cable. The reason, at least I think, is simple: the tensioning doesn't have to weather an earthquake - it just needs to apply a gentle amount of pull in order to keep the edges of the screen from curling up. While some systems use a more rigid cable to do this, Elite saves a ton of money (and also doesn't violate any potential patents in the process.) You can adjust the tension of the screen system by pulling and turning the tension knob clockwise to tighten the string or counter-clockwise to loosen it. Our sample ended up being perfectly tensioned from the factory.

CineTension2 Installation, Testing and Conclusion

We were placing this screen into a 7.1 studio theater used for mixing film scores among other things. Our overall experience installing the CineTension2 confirmed that the whole process was actually quite simple. We were able to easily insert the included bolts into the slide channels along the top of the screen's aluminum enclosure. We tightened the lower bolts just enough that the assemblies could still slide along the channel but were not so loose that they'd fall out during installation. Next, we measured where we needed our L-brackets using a tape measure and a pencil (and, of course, a ladder). We affixed the brackets to the 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove wood ceiling with wood screws and a washer. Everything was level across the ceiling so we didn't need to worry about unevenness so long as everything was similarly adjusted in terms of the height of the bolts on each bracketed end of the screen. Next, we just lifted the screen into place (a two-man job) and hooked the rear of the projector screen onto the L-brackets while we slid the bolts over to catch the bracket's top channel.

At this point we were able to simply use an adjustable wrench to tighten the bolts securely to the top of the bracket so that it wouldn't fall out. At the same time, we kept the lower part loose so that we could perform the next steps and retain some flexibility of horizontal placement. 

To accomplish everything, we utilized the following:

• Wood screws of sufficient depth and washers (not included)
• Torpedo level (included)
• Cordless drill with Philips bit
• Adjustable wrench
• Tape measure and pencil
• 6' step ladder
  

Before we could drop the screen and perfectly position the Elite for our projector, we needed to get it power. Since the CineTension2 includes a hard-wired power cord, you will need to mount a surface outlet to the side or just behind the screen. Alternatively, you can feed the power cable through the ceiling and plug it into an approved attic outlet, but we would encourage you to check with your building codes before doing so to determine if and how this may be accomplished properly.

Once everything was powered up, we worked on our horizontal placement. That involved dropping the screen and loading a test pattern to eliminate all keystoning to the best of our ability. We like to display the standard grid test pattern and use that when lining everything up. That didn't take very long and we were able to get everything squared up to the screen by sliding the CineTension2 just a hair to the right. We locked down the bolts along the top of the projector screen and secured everything in place - at least as far as horizontal movement was concerned.

For setting the maximum drop distance you would use a 3/32" Allen wrench and turn the set screws that determine the maximum top and bottom limits of the screen. In our case, however, we required the screen to drop to its maximum distance and so were able to avoid this step entirely.

The control options for this screen are limitless, and most everything is included, save for a wireless 12V trigger - and even that is an optional accessory! We opted to use the RF remote and mount the included holster to the wall near our entrance. This saved us the hassle of mounting the 3-way switch, though honestly that would not have been a big endeavor and we may do that at a later date. With control in place, we began our viewing tests.

Screen Material & Viewing Tests

The tension on the screen was set fairly well by default and you can't really crank down on it - nor do you need to. As we mentioned above, the included tensioner knob was perfect for ensuring that any eventual loosening up of the tension string could be accommodated (string stretches, after all). The screen itself looks durable and we liked that the CineWhite is washable and has a nice backing to deter from light leakage. As for screen uniformity, it doesn't get much better than this. At 1.1 gain, the CineWhite material isn't looking to introduce anything that would detract from the widest viewing angles and the most consistent color and white balance.

We viewed several different images on this screen, including some test material and movies like The Bourne Identity and Cars. What we found was that the Elite Screens CineTension2 did an excellent job at conveying a high contrast ratio in our light-controlled room. Colors popped off the screen and the dynamic range of the images gave them excellent depth. Blacks were able to attain rich, deep levels when the picture content exhibited low average light levels and the images could also get exceedingly bright when the demands of the on-screen images required it. This is a fantastic screen and we loved how the edges were perfectly square and crisp, with none of the curling inherent in non-tensioned models. 

We were able to achieve a near-perfect calibration on this screen with our projector and at no time did we notice any hot-spotting or any areas of the screen which produced uneven light coverage. The CineWhite seems to be a very reliable and dependable screen material.

Conclusion

Elite Screens is a name brand we've come to love for their plethora of models and their attention to detail. You get a lot thrown in with these screens - extras that would drive up costs from most manufacturers. On top of that, they sell online and their street prices are typically a dramatic reduction from retail. Take this 106" screen, for example. It retails for $1159, but we found it online at several retailers for less than $900. You can pick up a CineTension2 model and feel good about your purchase. Elite Screens has been around for a long time and they are a solid company with an excellent reputation for delivering high quality products to both consumers and CE professionals.

Elite Screens CineTension Tensioned Electric Screen
$1159 (as reviewed)

Elite Screens
www.elitescreens.com

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

• — Excellent
• — Very Good
• — Good
• — Fair
• — Poor

Metric	Rating
Color Reproduction
Build Quality
Ergonomics & Usability
Ease of Setup
Features
Remote Control
Fit and Finish
Performance
Value