Acoustically "transparent" screen

[DrJRapp]

I'm about to start the adventure of building a dedicated theater room am currently in the planning stages of the project. I'm looking for opinions/advice on using an acoustically "transparent" screen so that I can locate my center channel speaker behind it rather than above or below it. This is a cruicial decision I must make so the design of the walls can be determined.

Thanks for anticipated responses.

[jrd]

This might be a place to start...

http://www.stewartfilm.com/product_i...creens_18.html.

Never have had the pleasure to actually have one, but have seen several of their screens, and the quality seems to be very high. I'm sure there are several other good ones out there--this just happens to be the one I thought of first.

[David Meek]

Jerry, just thinking aloud here. Have you considered using two CCs behind the screen? If you are going with a larger screen it'll help keep the dialog locked to the screen, but also keep it from being localized to one point which can be noticable if the screen is large enough.

[Brandon B]

2 speakers playing the same material? Combing, lobing, yech.

Think you'd want to use one big CC like a magnepan MMG.

BB

[jrd]

Apologies

Sorry Jerry--It would help if I actually paid attention to the question you were asking.

[DrJRapp]

Jerry, just thinking aloud here. Have you considered using two CCs behind the screen? If you are going with a larger screen it'll help keep the dialog locked to the screen, but also keep it from being localized to one point which can be noticable if the screen is large enough.

Nope, just one CC, my Klipsch RC7 which is plenty.

[Jeff]

Jerry, it would be great to have a speaker behind the screen. However,
a screen will get in the way of some frequency bands. My new midrange
screens just came in on my B&W N802's. Taking them on and off does
have a noticable difference. The N802 has a near perfect blend of mid
and upper ranges. Once I place the screens over the midranges that's
no longer the case. I love the look with all screens on. However,
I feel much of my listening will be with them off. IMO
if B&W could provide a screen with less defraction they would. A movie screen on the other hand has to do this plus be able to reflect
the color spectrum evenly. That may be easier said than done.

Do the screen mfrs who advertise this feature have
statements and charts showing how their screen impacts the
frequency range. Any screen mfr making this claim should
provide some documentation. Like any accoustical material,an
even line of absorption thoughout the range is best.

In conclusion, anything which is placed in front of a speaker
will "get in the way" one way or another.

Good luck!

[DrJRapp]

Do the screen mfrs who advertise this feature have
statements and charts showing how their screen impacts the
frequency range. Any screen mfr making this claim should
provide some documentation. Like any accoustical material,an
even line of absorption thoughout the range is best.

Good luck!

The better manufacturers do. Right now I'm looking at ScreenResearch which are woven vs perforated screens and seem to have the least negative impact on both sound and PQ. SR provides complete frequency response sweeps and data that tells a potential buy how much loss in SPL and light the screen creates.