If you don’t have the greatest theater environment but still want a great picture, or if you just want a cool screen to adorn your wall when a movie’s not being shown, the latest innovation from Screen Innovations is worth a look.

Screen Innovations’ Black Diamond features screen technology that creates what it calls ultimate contrast, with deeper blacks and brighter whites. It enhances color accuracy and works pretty much equally well in traditional darkened theater rooms and those that cannot control the amount of ambient light flooding the room.

A bonus is that the Black Diamond is a black screen—looks a bit graphite—which actually gives it an appearance almost akin to that of a plasma screen when it’s turned off. You can check out a video of the screen’s features on SI’s website. With an MSRP of $2,599, the cost is about that of a quality 50-plus inch plasma, only a Black Diamond more than doubles that size.

I had the opportunity to check out the screen in action last week at the Electronic House Expo in Orlando. It was in a demo room that featured a Projection Design projector and audio from RBH Sound. The demo was unique compared with others at the show, because it began with one of SI’s drop-down white screens for a Legends of Jazz clip in the darkened room. After that clip ended, the screen rolled up and “Transformers” was beamed onto the 2.35:1 superwide aspect ratio Black Diamond screen.

The picture appeared impressive enough, and then it hit you that most of the lights in the room were on. Quite a wow factor, and a nice job by Daren Egan of RBH crossing into the video realm with an explanation of the screen technology. This Diamond’s a true gem.

Assist from: CE Pro

Arlen Schweiger - Editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen writes about home technology installations and product news and reviews for electronichouse.com and Electronic House magazine.