Elite Screens is a leading projection screen manufacturer known for offering high-quality screens at affordable prices. With a wide range of framing systems and screen materials, they provide solutions for nearly any application.
The ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D Series is a portable projection screen designed for home entertainment and gaming users who don’t have a dedicated theater room. It delivers excellent image quality, even in environments with ambient light, and is easy to set up and transport.
Officially released on March 6, 2025, the screen features the CineGrey 4D material, which has a 1.1 gain and can reject up to 63% of ambient light. It’s intended for standard long throw projectors and is not compatible with ultra short throw projectors.
Thanks to its ceiling light-rejecting properties, this screen is ideal for rooms with low to moderate ambient light. While Elite Screens has previously used CineGrey 4D in other models, this is the first time it’s available in a manual uprising configuration.
Setup is quick and simple—manual uprising screens are easier and more portable compared to motorized versions like the Elite ProAV Presenter Pro Riser CineGrey 4D, which are heavier and more expensive.
The ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D comes in four sizes, including:
113-inch (16:9) – approx. $960 USD
121-inch (16:9) – approx. $1,080 USD
These prices reflect the screen’s premium build and high-performance CineGrey 4D material
Overview
One of the key advantages of the Elite Screens ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D is its fast and simple setup. Unlike traditional fixed-frame screens that require frame assembly and screen attachment, this floor-rising screen takes just minutes to set up, saving time and effort.
This isn’t just a basic portable screen—it features a high-quality, light-rejecting CineGrey 4D material with tab-tensioning for a flat, smooth surface. The screen rolls into a compact hard-shell case and must be raised manually, making it lighter and more affordable than motorized alternatives like the Kestrel Tab-Tension 3 CineGrey 4D.
The version tested was the 116-inch (16:9) model, offering a viewable area of about 101″ x 57″, large enough for immersive gaming and movie watching without overwhelming the room.
Testing took place in a living room using a PS5 and Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 projector. Games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Baldur’s Gate 3 were played under various lighting conditions—from bright daytime setups with windows partially open to full blackout environments.
This real-world and controlled testing allowed for a full evaluation of the CineGrey 4D material’s performance in contrast, color accuracy, and ambient light rejection.
Photos show the full setup, including the projector and screen combo, and the PS5 moved to a side AV rack for a cleaner look—though yes, cable management is still a work in progress
Designed for Real-World Use
The Elite Screens ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D was created for big-screen movie watching and gaming in everyday environments—like living rooms with ceiling lights or daylight with open blinds. It delivers a high-quality image without the need for blackout curtains or a dedicated theater room.
In recent years, many gaming projectors—such as the BenQ X3100i, XGIMI Horizon Ultra, and Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2—have improved significantly, offering low input lag, high refresh rates, and enough brightness for use in real rooms. However, portable screens have lagged behind, often producing washed-out images in ambient light.
That’s where the ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D stands out. It’s a portable ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen designed to match the performance of modern gaming projectors, making it essential for gamers using projectors in non-light-controlled spaces.
Setup and Breakdown
The manual pull-up design eliminates the need for wall or ceiling installation. The screen comes in a black aluminum case with a carry handle and includes a soft travel bag for easy transport and storage. Setup is simple:
Place the case on the floor.
Extend the telescoping support bar.
Pull the screen up.
The whole process takes less than two minutes.
The support bar locks at various heights, and the tightening mechanism ensures a flat, tensioned screen surface—preventing waves or ripples even with repeated use.
When finished, the screen packs down quickly—no tools or mounting required—making it ideal for shared spaces or mobile setups like living rooms, conference rooms, or LAN gaming events.
Portability and Performance
Compared to tripod or inflatable screens, the ezCinema Tab-Tension offers a smoother, flatter viewing surface and is quicker to set up than fixed-frame screens, which need much more assembly time.
While it’s more portable than fixed setups, the screen’s aluminum case is nearly 6 feet long for the 116″ version, which can make it hard to fit in smaller vehicles.
Despite this, the mobility, image quality, and ease of use make the ezCinema Tab-Tension CineGrey 4D a strong choice for anyone needing high-performance projection in flexible, real-world environments.
CineGrey 4D Material – Effective Ambient Light Rejection
The highlight of the ezCinema Tab-Tension system is the CineGrey 4D screen material. This silver-gray ALR/CLR surface is designed to block ambient light from overhead and side sources, making it ideal for use in rooms without full light control.
With a 1.1 gain and 63% ambient light rejection, the screen uses angular-reflective technology to reject light from the ceiling, floor, and sides. This helps maintain high contrast, deep blacks, and rich colors, even in bright environments—something traditional matte white screens struggle with.
Unlike matte white screens that reflect all light evenly, CineGrey 4D selectively reflects projector light while deflecting ambient light, resulting in better black levels and color saturation in well-lit rooms.
The material is ISF-certified, meeting Imaging Science Foundation standards for accurate color reproduction—ideal for serious home theater and gaming setups.
As an ISF Level III certified calibrator, I’ve tested and compared display materials professionally. During my testing, I used both ambient light and blackout conditions and did a direct comparison with a 1.3 gain matte white screen sample. While the white screen looked brighter, it quickly washed out under ambient light. Blacks turned gray, and contrast dropped. The CineGrey 4D, by contrast, held its black levels, shadow detail, and color even in bright rooms.
Although its 1.1 gain reflects slightly less light than higher-gain white screens, its ALR properties boost perceived contrast and image quality in real-world settings.
The screen has a 70-degree viewing angle, which means brightness fades slightly at wide angles, but from typical seating positions, performance remains strong.
There was no visible sparkle or noise during normal viewing. Up close, some sparkle can be seen, but from a standard viewing distance, it’s not noticeable and doesn’t affect image quality.