Nantes, France—Jun 1, 2006
Screen Research Introduces TheaterCurve™ Acoustically Transparent Projection Screens
The First Screen Material Designed from the Ground Up for Digital Cinema. Award Winning Clearpix2 Microfiber Material Enables Seamless Installation in A Variety of Digital Cinema Applications
Screen Research, industry leader in acoustically neutral projection screens, has announced a new range of curved 1.78 and 2.35 aspect ratio models called TheaterCurve™. Intended for installation in a wide range of digital cinema applications, TheaterCurve is now shipping in a wide range of sizes in both fixed frame and fixed frame with lateral masking panels. The curved design ensures a projection image without distortion while creating a cinematic impression of being surrounded by the projected image.
Appropriate for smaller screens 4 ft. to 23 ft. wide, all TheaterCurve™ models feature Screen Research’s award winning, proprietary ClearPix™ acoustically transparent micro-fiber woven screen formulations. Horizontally seamed bespoke screens for larger venues are available up to 20 ft tall and virtually any length. ClearPix is the first and only acoustically transparent screen material that has been certified THX and the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) for its sound transparency and outstanding image and colorimetry qualities. ClearPix departs from traditional approaches to AT screen by weaving microscopic fiberglass hairs that have been vinyl coated and then micro-fiber woven into a material that is at once solid looking but perfectly acoustically neutral.
ClearPix2 is fast becoming recognized as the optimal acoustically transparent projection screen fabric for use in post-production facilities, cinema VIP and screening rooms, dance clubs, recording studios, worship houses, and other small to medium commercial venues because of its lack of visual moiré and audio degradation effects (i.e., comb filtering and high frequency loss) that have been reported with a range of 2K and 4K projectors when used with common vinyl-perforated or 90 degree woven screens. Due to ClearPix’s unique design, speakers can be placed at any distance from the screen without the need for re-equalization. ClearPix 2 merely introduces a linear 1.2 dB loss from 2 kHz to 20kHz.
Clients to date report being able to remove large amounts of EQ hardware thus simplifying the signal path and improving the signal to noise ratio significantly. Video quality is uncompromised as well, with no measurable loss in resolution compared to traditional perforated or 90 degree woven screens. With 720P and higher resolutions, there are no pixels lost in the perforations unlike traditional AT screen approaches.
Yves Trelohan, CEO for Screen Research asserted, “TheaterCurve projection screens are the ideal match for today’s digital projectors with anamorphic lenses. The slightly curved screen corresponds exactly to the curve of the anamorphic lens. The image in 2.35 ratio is perfectly balanced. TheaterCurve screens are a hand-in-glove fit with the growing residential theater movement of constant height 2.35 projection technologies. Commercial installers using such projectors as Barco, Sony, Digital Projection Inc and Christie have reported the elimination of hot spotting and visual moiré problems while achieving a more immersive cinema effect.”
John Caldwell, Director of Sales for StJohn Group, Inc., Screen Research’s exclusive North American distributor, stated, “The constant height, 2.35 theater architecture is arguably the cutting edge of technology for entertainment. Screen Research has been positioned from the outset as a brand at the forefront for reconciling the worlds of video and audio performance. TheaterCurve is an amazing experience in either 16:9 or 2.35, and a natural extension of Screen Research’s engineering expertise.”
Screen Research’s new TheaterCurve offerings have been designed to eliminate the pin-cushioning effects that have been shown to be present in short focal distance applications of some anamorphic lenses. Another major benefit of TheaterCurve is its ability to eliminate the “audio hot-spotting” effect caused by traditional solid and less exacting perforated curved screens. Traditional approaches to curved screens result in the creation of a large parabolic reflector in the room, thus focusing reflected acoustical energy into a narrow hot spot in the middle of the listening area. With TheaterCurve, the audio passes right through the screen, unabated, and any reflected energy from the back wall can pass through the screen and be absorbed by acoustic treatment placed behind the screen.
TheaterCurve fixed frame models start at $2,700 MSRP. TheaterCurve XMask masking screens with unique lateral masking panels that can be made in solid or acoustically neutral masking material, start at $16,500 MSRP.
Screen Research’s line of 1.33, 1.78 and 2.35 screens now includes hundreds of models of flat fixed screens, TheaterCurve fixed, TheaterCurve XMask Cinescope with lateral masking, CMask fixed masking systems, motorized screens, and in-ceiling motorized screens with masking. Custom sizes, aspect ratios and models are also available.
WHAT IS CONSTANT HEIGHT 2.35 THEATER ARCHITECTURE?
Constant height 2.35 system architecture maintains the same vertical picture height at all times and uses all of the projector’s vertical array of pixels at all times. In combination with the proper video scaler and anamorphic lens that moves into position when Cinescope material is present, there will be no annoying grey bars at the top and bottom of the picture There is no loss in vertical pixel count, thus maximum video resolution and picture brightness is maintained regardless of the source material’s aspect ratio.