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Both Carl’s Place and Bullseye sell DIY enclosure kits that require attention to frame sourcing and selected options. Compare the exact screen material, actual outside dimensions, padding and missing components before comparing prices. “DIY kit” does not mean every pipe and protective accessory is already in the box.
Research-based buying guidance, checked September 13, 2026. We have not tested this setup in person.
Table of Contents
Start with what the two suppliers actually list
Carl’s DIY kit includes the screen, surround, fittings and fasteners, with pipe framing bought as an option or sourced locally to its instructions. Bullseye’s US Professional DIY kit lists enclosure fabric, its impact screen, fittings, bungees and specified screen-edge foam, while excluding the EMT pipe and some frame insulation.
| Item | Carl’s Place DIY | Bullseye Professional DIY |
|---|---|---|
| Impact screen | Select the material in the configuration | Listed triple-layer screen |
| Frame pipe | Optional pipe kit or local EMT | Source EMT separately |
| Frame fittings | Included | Included |
| Protection | Confirm selected padding and net options | Specified screen foam; check excluded frame insulation |
| Side nets | Check selected options | Optional upgrade |
| Size | Use actual outer dimension chart | Use outside-dimension selection and custom quote |
Do not order pipe from a generic diameter description
Use the selected supplier’s cut list and material specification. In the US, EMT uses a trade size; that number is not a promise that any tube with a similar measured diameter will fit. Avoid mixing a retailer’s pipe kit with another manufacturer’s fittings without explicit approval.
Ask whether the local supplier can provide the required lengths and suitable preparation. Account for transport and the tools or service needed to cut and finish the material correctly. If you want to avoid that work, compare a confirmed complete pipe option against the real local-sourcing cost.
Normalize the screen and image requirements
Carl’s offers material choices, so the lowest displayed configuration should not automatically be compared with a different supplier’s more elaborate screen. Ask for equivalent quotations matched to your intended image and room lighting.
We have not tested image sharpness, noise or rebound side by side. Manufacturer descriptions establish construction and options, not an independent performance ranking. Our impact-screen guide explains the questions to ask when choosing the surface.
Audit the padding and exposed frame
Have each quotation distinguish screen-edge padding, frame insulation, side nets and any upper protection. These terms can refer to different pieces. Do not assume that one photograph showing foam means every exposed frame member is covered in the basic kit.
Follow the selected enclosure’s instructions for protection and screen tension. A comparison article cannot certify a room against every mishit. Keep people, fragile items and unrelated equipment outside the ball and swing paths.
Compare actual dimensions in the same order
Record height, width and depth explicitly, then add the supplier’s required rear and surrounding clearances. A nominal size or aspect-ratio label can hide differences in frame footprint and viewable screen area. For custom orders, ask the supplier to confirm which measurements represent the outside frame and which represent the image.
Check the projector against the confirmed image width and lens position. Our projector guide explains the optical planning. Do not choose an enclosure solely because a familiar screen ratio appears in its name.
Compare the delivered US project
Ask about delivery to your actual state, especially outside the contiguous 48, without assuming a banner applies to every option. Confirm production, freight, returns on custom items and replacement-screen availability directly. Keep those terms current at the time of order.
These affiliate links open Amazon US search results for the named equipment or accessories.
Check the exact model, generation and seller. Results can include alternatives; a search link does not confirm availability. Use the official supplier links for specialist products and services.
Choose Carl’s when its selected material, frame option and sizing process suit the project. Choose Bullseye when its confirmed kit and custom configuration better match the room. The useful winner is the complete correctly sized installation, with all missing components priced and understood.
Sources and method
We checked Carl’s Place DIY enclosure kit, Bullseye US Professional DIY kit. Product facts come from these official sources; the decision steps are our editorial guidance. Confirm the exact US package and current terms before ordering.