Zeus Digital Theaters recently completed a new, all-digital 8-theater multiplex in Waynesboro, Virginia. The 1,106-seat facility offers 7.1 multichannel sound in every theater, along with DCI-compliant fully digital projection and up-to-the-minute amenities. Each theater features a complete system of HARMAN’s JBL ScreenArray® loudspeakers powered by Crown Audio DSi 2000 and DSi 1000 Series amplifiers, to deliver a spectacular surround sound experience.
The Zeus Digital Theaters complex includes large, medium and small theater rooms. The large theaters are equipped with JBL 4732 ScreenArray cinema loudspeakers for the left, center and right front channels, along with JBL 8350 cinema surround loudspeakers. The medium-sized theaters feature JBL 3732 L/C/R ScreenArray cinema loudspeakers and 8340A surround loudspeakers. The small theaters include ScreenArray 3732 and 8320 compact surround speakers. JBL 4642A dual-18-inch subwoofers are used throughout.
“We chose JBL loudspeakers for a number of reasons, the main ones being JBL’s reliability, reputation, sound quality and value,” noted Brett Hayes, Owner of Zeus Digital Theaters. “We wanted loudspeakers we knew would be reliable under continuous everyday use. JBL products have been around a long time and are proven in movie theaters everywhere.”
“We’ve all been to movie theaters where the sound suffered because some of the drivers in the system had blown and no one ever bothered to replace them,” Hayes continued. “That isn’t going to happen in our theaters. And in the event we ever need to replace a driver, we know JBL will be there.”
“The sound of the ScreenArray loudspeakers and the surround speakers is exceptional,” added Hayes. “They easily fill all of our theaters with clear and powerful sound and really complement the excellence of the digital projection picture quality. In fact, we found we had to turn the subwoofers down from what we thought would be our baseline level, even though our rooms are a little oversized compared to other multiplex theaters. I should mention that the installation went smoothly, with no issues or unwanted surprises.”
Rydt Entertainment Systems, a division of Moving Image Technology, performed the install and furnished all the digital equipment, the JBL/Crown system, seating, screens, side wall treatments, and LED lighting in the theaters.
“The value is there also – we looked at other brands of speakers and amplifiers and some of them were more expensive than JBL and Crown, but didn’t seem to offer any added benefit for the added cost,” Hayes said.
JBL has been awarded three U.S. patents for its ScreenArray technology, created to provide even coverage to every seat, along with wide dynamic range, extended frequency response, maximum power handling and inaudible levels of distortion. JBL ScreenArray loudspeakers incorporate innovations such as patented SSC™ Screen Spreading Compensation, which corrects for the high frequency dispersion of a perforated movie screen when the speakers are placed behind the screen, and Focused Coverage Technology that delivers uniform coverage in every seat in either traditional or stadium seating auditoriums.
