Has anyone seen the Screen Research acoustically transparant screens?

[Raymond]

There apparantly is a new player on the block for acoustically transparent screens.

These screens are manufactured in France, the weave of the fabric eliminates the moire effect and the transparancy, according to them. is superior to other brands. But, has any one had the opportunity to see one?

[pcavelle]

Not yet but am going to take a look at one of their dealers as soon as he has them, in a week or so.

Paul

[Raymond]

Hi Paul,

I would appreciate it if you could do me a favor. Look behind the screen to see how much light, if any, goes through it. This is a key issue for me.

Looking forward to your comments.

[Raymond]

Any news?

[pcavelle]

No - the screens are running late and now won't be around until after Christmas.

Paul

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Raymond,

Just seen this thread. X3ELS and I saw this at CEDIA USA I think (if it's the same company). Couldn't comment on sound as they were not doing demo in enclosed room but on an outside the booth screen.

I would mention that if no light goes through it then it will not let any sound through either.

Gordon

[Raymond]

Paul and Gordon,

I emailed the company and they told me that light does go through the screen, but that in Jan 04 they would be putting a black backing which would reduce the amount of light pass through.

Needless to say, I am very curious about this.

Cheers,

[maxcat]

Originally posted by Raymond

There apparantly is a new player on the block for acoustically transparent screens.

These screens are manufactured in France, the weave of the fabric eliminates the moire effect and the transparancy, according to them. is superior to other brands. But, has any one had the opportunity to see one?


No I havent' seen it, but my own custom screen pre-dates such an approach by 18 months.

Known as MMC, the fabric caused quite a lot of interest at the American AVS Forum - here is the link:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=283783

The MMC fabric has been acoustically tested and successfully compared side-by-side to a Da-Lite manufactured perf screen with spectacular results.

If you wish to try a DIY perf experiment it can be done and done so successfully that you may have no need for high cost manufactured perf screens.

My best advice is head down to your nearest fabric shop and try to find an MMC equivakent - a fabric that has the necessary balance between video gain and audio transparency.

I don't have any samples left but if you e-mail some of the AVS members (who do have some of my samples) they may forward it on.

I'm not a screen seller - just an enthusiast who found an experiment in a women's fabric store worked outrageously well..


Max Christoffersen
www.audioenz.co.nz

[Raymond]

Hi Max,

I have followed all your posts over at AVS with great interest, they have been truly enlightening with reference to perf screens.

Unfortunately, I am condemned to an electric roll up. It is either that or rule out the wife. NOT GOOD!

Thanks again for your help,

[maxcat]

Thanks Raymond, that's very kind.

I think it is also where Forums like this really work: where someone tries something; find it works; enthusiasts share their experience and knowledge and then manufacturers refine it down to a quality product.

For those wanting to try a DIY perf approach, you may try white Lycra.

I have not tried this myself, but it was the first idea-step I took towards the later discovery of the MMC material (s).


Max Christoffersen
www.audioenz.co.nz

[Raymond]

Well, 2 months have passed.

Has anyone on this side of the pond seen this screen in action yet?

Cheers,

[Gary Lightfoot]

Have you tried Max's suggestion of looking around at your local cloth shop?

IIRC, Lycra and Dazien cloth has been said to have a good white finish, and being weaved, able to let sound through. How much accoustical attenuation it'll give I can't remember, but placing a black accousticaly transparent cloth behind it to absorb any light leakage means you won't see the speaker(s) behind it either I believe.

That's just some info I seem to remember reading over on avs, so it might be worth a look over there to see if any other cloth substitutes have been successfully used. I believe that MMC is just a cloth that was discovered to work well, and at a cheap price, in much the same way blackout cloth was for us non perf users.

It might be worth a try going that route until the SR stuff becomes more widely used/known or available.

HTH

Gary.

[Raymond]

Hi Gary,

Thank you for the suggestion. However, I am condemned to go with an electric roll down screen. So it will either be a Stewart or Screen Research.

Fortunately, I am not in a great hurry so I can wait for awhile.


Cheers,

[Raymond]

Has no one on this side of the pond seen this screen yet?

[Raymond]

Any news?:confused:

[maxcat]

I recently sent some of my MMC perf screen samples to an interested UK enthusiast.

While you're waiting, he may be able to forward it on.

Max Christoffersen

[Branxx]

Indeed it was me.

I have tested the sample with the help of another forum member (dannydlp) but we were not able to reach positive conclusion. The cloth does appear to be fully acoustically transparent while on the other hand it look as if gain maybe too high (the screen used as the reference was Steward Grayhawk). Due to the size of the sample it is very difficult to know for sure.

I am also thinking of Screen Research ClearPix2 (http://www.screenresearch.com/cpfixed.php) screen, but for the time being I got carried away and bought a 2nd hand Stewart Firehawk Microperf in the US.

I'll forward Max's MMC sample if anyone wishes to try.

[Branxx]

I had opportunity to briefly test ClearPix2 material at it is genuinly acoustically transparent.