Visual Apex VApex Fixed Frame Screens First Look

It's one thing to but a projector to bring the "theater" into your home theater, but it is another thing to think about screens. Too often consumers get wrapped up in the projector and forget that they'll need something to project it on. Then they are stuck. Either they have to project onto a wall (far too often a colored wall which completely ruins your ability to calibrate your projector) or they go a DIY route. This may involve something as simple as paint or something as complex as buying screen material and building something from scratch. Either way, it is a lot of time and, sometimes, more money than you thought.

We have to remind ourselves how much our time is worth. A quick and dirty calculation is to figure out (if you are salary) how much you make per hour. If you don't want to get depressed, only calculate it for 40 hours a week and not what you actually work. Then figure out how much time it will take you to build your own screen. We'd suggest doubling (or tripling) that number since people chronically underestimate how long things take. If you really like doing this sort of stuff, subtract a bit (or divide if it is really your thing) and if you don't, well, you should really rethink. If you are not handy, you might want to double the cost of materials/amount of time/everything as you'll probably mess it up. If you have a family that would rather you spend your weekend with them, you'll have to add that cost as well. The list goes on.

So, let's assume you have a number. That's how much you can spend on a screen and not actually "spend" money. If you can spend less, you got a deal.

Visual Apex is betting that number is lower than $500. They've released a new line of fixed screens that are easily assembled at home and are quite affordable. Sporting a CinemaWhite high gain fabric (1.1 gain, 80 degree viewing angle) and easy assembly, the VApex (get it, Visual Apex = VApex) screens come in 92, 100, 106, 120, and 135 inches diagonal for $329, $339, $349, $399, and $499 respectively. They have a unique embedded assembling method that keeps the fabric completely flat at every point. A seamless edge design ensures the screen will stay dust-free. The frames are high quality aluminum tubing, covered with3.5" profession black velour black velvet to absorb the light and enhance image clarity. They also don't mar the front of the black frame with a logo - these screens are clean-looking. Unlike the video below, the screen material is backed by a black fabric to prevent light from seeping through. Check out the worlds most complete assembly video (over seven minutes long) below.

Conclusion

If you are on a serious budget or if you are looking for a drop screen, the Visual Apex VApex screens aren't for you. But assuming you have a decent job, it's hard to imagine that you could DIY a screen for less than the cost of the VApex screen. Assembly looks to be a snap, the materials all look to be very high quality, and you can go from box to watching a movie in less than an hour (it seems). If you've had your eye on a projector to bring your home theater to the next level, the Visual Apex VApex screens should be in the back of your mind.

For more information, please visit www.visualapex.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.