SIM2 Introduces Home Cinema "Scope" System For True Widescreen Theater Projection

Combination of electronics processing and additional lens displays full-width 2.35:1 aspect ratio cinema without black "letterboxing" bars

September 12, 2006

SIM2 USA, a subsidiary of SIM2 Multimedia, the leading manufacturer of home theater video projectors, has introduced its Home Cinema "Scope" System anamorphic lens option for its high-end home theater projectors. Based on the same process used in commercial movie theater projection, this add-on system allows the company's projection systems to display movies filmed in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio at their full width without the black bars typical of "letterboxed" systems. The Home Cinema "Scope" System consists of a very high quality anamorphic lens attachment, which is available with and without a motorized sled that allows remote and automated activation of the lens. While most high-end home theater displays feature 16:9 "widescreen" aspect ratios, these systems are still significantly narrower than the 2.35:1 aspect ratio preferred for the finest cinematic releases. In order to display the full frames of these films, the video system must display black bars on part of the top and bottom of the screen in a process commonly known as "letterboxing." Not only does this result in an image that is "shorter" than the screen height, it also fails to make full use of the resolution capabilities of the unit, as the pixels associated with the "letterboxed" portions are essentially unused. As a result, nearly 1/3 of the projector's resolution capabilities are wasted, and there is decrease in brightness of as much as 20%. SIM2's Home Cinema "Scope" System corrects these deficiencies through a combination of internal image processing and external optical adjustment. By adjusting one of the projector's custom user settings, installers can set the unit's scaling to stretch 2.35:1 images vertically, cutting off the unused "letterbox" portions and using the full DMD chip resolution for image reproduction. When this image is projected through the extremely precise Home Cinema "Scope" lens, the image is then stretched horizontally in the exact ratio needed to restore the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio of the source material, providing the highest quality image possible using conventional projection systems. When displaying source material created in other common aspect ratios, such as 1.85:1, 1.78:1 (16x9), or 1.33:1 (4x3) the projector processing is restored to its normal setting, and the anamorphic lens is removed from the projector output. When used in conjunction with the company's top-of-the-line C3X or HT3000 projectors, the Home Cinema "Scope" system is available with an optional motorized sled, which is capable of inserting or removing the anamorphic lens when triggered by IR remote commands, or a whole-home control system. For other projectors, the lens is added and removed from the output manually. SIM2's Home Cinema "Scope" System is currently available at a suggested retail price of $8.995 for a manual lens system, or $11,995 for lens and motorized sled. About SIM2 USA Inc. and SIM2 Multimedia Since their entrance into the US home theater market in 1999, SIM2 USA, under the guidance of its parent SIM2 Multimedia (established in 1995), has dedicated its resources to designing, developing and marketing products that meet the demands of the US market. SIM2 Multimedia is a world-wide leading manufacturer of home theater products and leading provider of high-end professional video wall solutions to the retail, public large venues and institutional markets. Over the years, SIM2 has gained a reputation for meeting the industry’s demands for new, emerging technologies, offering high-quality and reliable products that meet the customer's need in any application. The marketing policies of the company are world-oriented with a direct presence in Italy (headquarters), Germany, UK and USA (subsidiary), and in over 45 countries world-wide through partnerships with qualified distributors.

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