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If you like the idea of replacing your TV with a premium projector for streaming 4K films and gaming for a real cinematic experience, but your off-white and textured walls aren’t even close to home theater-worthy, it’s time to shop around for the best screen for your entertainment space. My testing lab receives plenty of ambient brightness from the windows and light fixtures, so I needed a screen that could showcase a bright picture no matter how sunny the weather. After touching base with AWOL, the brand offered its gigantic 100” Vision Cinematic Floor Rising Screen for me to test out, and after plenty of Netflix streaming and revisiting some Xbox favorites, I was particularly impressed with its sturdiness, easy setup, and most importantly, the top-tier visual quality of this motorized screen.
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With the 100-inch version of AWOL’s floor-rising screen being 7.7 feet long and weighing over 63 pounds, it was cumbersome to move this huge and awkwardly shaped box from the front door to the big open wall where I wanted to set it up. This isn’t a negative point, just a note for potential adopters to plan on getting a lifting buddy to help move and unbox this hefty screen.
AWOL did a phenomenal job of packing the screen with foam inserts to keep it safe during transit, and once you place the box where you want the screen, the initial setup is as simple as removing the packaging from around the screen’s base and plugging it into the wall.
It feels bulky, but in a way that emphasizes its rock-solid construction. From its heavy-duty screen-protecting base, to the extending metal arms that support the screen itself, this model was clearly made to last.
There are two price points for the AWOL VISION Cinematic ALR Floor Rising Screen: the 100-inch model is $2,699, and the 120-inch version is $2,999. Both screens feature a 24-month warranty, lifetime customer support, a convenient 30-day price match guarantee, and a free return window of 30 days.
No matter how excellent projections may look, the motorized self-rising screen is the clear highlight of this model. When you’re ready for movie night, simply plug in the screen, flip on its power switch, and tap the up switch to unfurl the screen in seconds. Just as theater goers get excited when the curtains raise and the lights dim, it’s fun to watch the massive screen rise up from the short base to kick off a few hours of entertainment with my short-throw projector.
Although I preferred manually tapping the up and down switch on the screen’s side, this model features two other ways to control its motorized screen. It includes a simple remote so you can control the screen from across the room, as well as a USB dongle that pairs with your projector so it automatically rises or lowers your screen when its companion projector is turned on or off.
This retractable design works wonders to keep the screen free of dust, fingerprints, and debris, and it rises to the same height every time for consistently precise projection.
Although the self-rising motorized screen is a show-stealing feature, you’ll see the real value of this screen once you press play. I used my AWOL 4K 3D Triple Laser Projector LTV-3000 Pro to test the screen in everything from pitch-black darkness to bright midday, and its ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen provided a consistently crisp, clear, and bright image regardless of lighting conditions. It’s to be expected that images looked their absolute best when viewed at night or in a completely dark home theater, but the screen’s design actively reflects projected light directly towards viewers, while reflecting incoming ambient light from windows or overhead lighting away from you, for an impressively bright and high-contrast picture even despite sunny days and well-lit spaces.
The distinct contrast between light and dark tones, and dependably bright and colorful projection was further enhanced by the HBSI (High Brightness Screen Innovation) screen. If you’re putting together a premium home cinema, the AWOL Vision Floor Rising Screen is an excellent investment for how smooth, crisp, and vibrant 4K and 3D videos appear. I also give this screen high marks for its wide 170-degree viewing angle that translates into a well-defined image from wherever I sat in my theater.
The average buyer will probably have a set place in mind for this gigantic screen before it arrives, but unlike ceiling-mounted models, you could move this screen relatively easily to another area as needed. AWOL’s Floor Rising Screen sports a finely perforated lower section where you could place a soundbar or speaker behind the screen for a 3D effect as audio passes through the screen directly at viewers, giving it added value for home theater enthusiasts.
Between its easy setup, multiple ways to operate its motorized screen, and how bright and crystal-clear 4K projections appear under all lighting conditions, it’s an excellent fit for a dedicated home theater, as well as cinema and gaming fans who won’t settle for anything less than a premium extra-large and beautifully projected picture.
As much as a movie lover will enjoy this floor-rising screen, there are a few caveats. At over seven feet wide for the 100-inch edition and nine feet wide for the 120-inch model, you’ll need a big space to comfortably keep and view it. Also, its $2,699 to $2,999 price tag can be a deal breaker for budget-conscious buyers. But between its sturdy construction and premium screen, it’s worth the cost of entry for anyone looking to recreate a movie theater-like viewing experience in their living room.
I made it a point to test the screen with films and games that I know like the back of my hand, and I was pleased that the color accuracy was spot-on across the board. Naturally, projections looked their best with the curtains drawn at midnight, but images were always bright with deep black tones for impressive contrast. 4K streaming video, games, and 3D content (via AWOL’s 3D glasses) were always sharp and richly detailed, and the taut screen kept the projection perfectly focused. Whether it was reliving classic Killer Instinct and Halo games or favorites like Jurassic Park and Planet of the Apes, the visuals were always spot-on, smooth, and every bit as immersive in my testing lab as they would be at the movie theater.
Of course, sitting directly in front of the huge screen is easily the best spot to be, but its viewing angle is so wide, it’s comfortable to view projections from anywhere in the room. If you need a projector for hosting parties or seating the entire family, this floor rising screen easily accommodates a crowd as long as you have the space for it.
It doesn’t get any easier than this. I’m the type who unplugs electronics when they aren’t in use, so I find having the power and screen control switches side-by-side on the unit to be particularly handy. Simply flip two switches, and I’m ready to go. The basic remote and automatic projector pairing options are just as simple and convenient.
Practically none—you won’t have to worry about dust settling on this high-end screen if you lower it into its protective base as soon as the credits roll, and it also shields the screen from accidents, destructive pets, and smudging fingers.
The good news is if you ever have to clean the screen, a light horizontal wipe with a fine microfiber cloth should be all you need.
The AWOL Vision Floor Rising Screen sports the modern aesthetics to easily fit into anyone’s home theater, and it’s well-suited for the floor or a raised spot for the height and visual effect you need. From the metal exterior and supportive extending arms, to the screen itself that perfectly unrolls with each press of the remote, the entire unit feels expertly designed and extremely sturdy. Expect this mammoth screen to endure for a long time to come.
There are plenty of home theater screens to choose from, and many of those are more affordable. However, if you want to be sure your shows, streaming movies, and games will have the brightness, high contrast, and crystal-clear picture you need regardless of how bright it is just outside your window, the massive AWOL Vision Cinematic Floor Rising Screen is worth the investment—especially if you’re in the market for a premium screen to match the output of a high-end short-throw projector.
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