Screen Research Introduces New Acoustically Transparent Fabric For Fixed Frame Home Theater Screens

Allows Correct Center Channel Speaker Placement

23-Feb-05

Screen Research, makers of acoustically transparent (AT) and acoustically neutral home theater projection screens, has announced availability of a new screen formulation - ClearPix1, or CP1 microfiber fabric. It is available immediately through their North American distributor, StJohn Group. The new fabric has been released as a non-certified material for the value-conscious consumer who appreciates the well-documented benefits of locating the center channel behind the screen. It can be used on all Screen Research fixed frames - Supreme, Classic, and the new integrator frames, the I-frame and J-frame. Pricing now lines up with most non-AT screens on the market, making an AT screen an affordable option for any home cinema. Entry-level integrator frames start at $925 MSRP. Standard frame models start at $1,225. John Caldwell, sales director for StJohn Group, said, ìLike our current top-of-the-line CP2, CP1 is also a unity gain screen material, but because of its color balance, it will appear MUCH brighter to a viewer, due to the blue tint in the fabric. With CP1, there is no hot spotting that comes de facto from a brighter than 1.0 gain screen. Increased blue color balance is universally perceived as being brighter. """"So,î Caldwell continued, ìCP1 is not going to be ISF certified for flat spectral response like CP2. It just means the installer will now have the option of either using the CP1 fabric ""as is"" for the client who likes whiter whites, or to calibrate a little at the projector. Not a big deal for most projectors today, but you would typically scrub off some lumens using this fabric if you want perfect color.î On the audio side the screen is virtually as acoustically neutral as the companyís CP2 formulation. The frequency response curve is practically flat to 20kHz. There is no audio comb filter effect and no EQ required - a persistent problem with common perforated screens. CP1 material is available on fixed screen sizes starting at 50î wide (viewable area) up to 100î wide in 16:9 format and 130î wide in 2.35:1 format. Specially developed acoustically transparent black backing material is also available as an option with CP1 screens. This added layer prevents any light that gets through the screen from reflecting off of objects behind the screen, and back into the viewerís eyes. When used in combination with the CP1 screen material, one need only to increase the center channel's gain by approximately 1 dB. No need for expensive re-EQing where results are dubious.For more information, visit http://www.stjohngroup.com/

Read More:
http://www.stjohngroup.com/