***Official SmX Theater Solutions Screen Thread - Page 9

Aw crap, just finished reading this thread only to discover your AT screen will not be motorized. I guess it will be the Screen Research CP2 after all.

Sorry if the question seems dumb, but what's the use of an acoustically insulated screen frame?

Hi Stef,

By acoustically insulating the SmX screen frame it increases rigidness and eliminates resonance and rattling by making the frame solid.

This works well when you are placing speakers and subs behind the SmX screen. Most hollow cavities will resonate like an acoustic guitar with a tinny or boomy effect when speakers are placed next to them.

The insulating process is not as simple as stuffing the frame with cotton, fiberglass or Great Stuff foam from Home Depot. Those methods do not do anything acoustically or strengthwise to the frame and react the same way as if the frame is still hollow.

After months of extensive R&D, we developed a special insulation that deadens our frame as if it were all solid but without adding much weight to it. It wasn't an easy process but it is a proven formula to to make a higher quality product.

Ruben

What advantages does a curve screen offer for one with a FP with no lens in front,Just a fp and screen,Is it worth it to go curve if you do not have a CH setup.I know it looks cool but any other advantages.THANKS

I recently got pricing information for a 2,35:1 SMX screen. Unfortunately, the price was more than I expected (don't conclude that I found it TOO expensive, the screen seems fantastic...)

My question is: Should I expect any special deals or AVS powerbuys on the SMX screen at any point in the future?

(1) Is the SMX frame available without the screen material - just the frame?
(2) Is the frame available in custom sizes (for 2.35:1), e.g. 46"h x 108.1"w (image size)?

Thanks,
Mike

Just to make sure this is clear for everyone. There are still motorized AT masking systems. Just not motorized drop down options.

Hi buddahead,

A curved screen immerses you more-so into the movie. It gives you a percieved increase of depth of field and people even say it gives your projected image a 3-D like effect due to the curve. It also helps keep projected light off the side walls by directing the projected light back to the center of the audience. Light bouncing off the walls can reflect back on the screen which can wash out your projected image and/or color shift it.

A curved screen also helps with toeing in your speakers when used with an audio transparent screen. This allows the user to keep the speaker baffel parallel to the screen surface.

At the end of the day, if you are planning to do a dedicated theater and the movie watching outweighs the HDTV & gaming, 2.35 - 2.40 is where you most likely want to be at. 16:9 screens are slowly turning into 4:3 screens for the people planning to reproduce a true cinematic experience in their home.

That said, to set up a constant height CinemaScope system, most people get into anamorphic lenses and scalers. That is when a curved screen plays a big part in the theater. That curved screen now corrects the distortion caused by the anamorphic lens.

Ruben

Hi Stef,

We are not really sure what is going to happen in the future, it is hard to say at this point. If anything comes up, it will most likely be in this thread.

Thank You
Ruben

Do you own SMX material already? Each screen we make is to order, so custom sizes and aspect ratios are what we do everyday.

Please PM me if you need any further info.

Thank You
Ruben

Here are a few pictures of the ProMask-Curv 2 Way Curved Constant Image Height Masking System by SmX. These pictures were tooken with allot of light so the audio transparent masking panels look like grey in color but they are indeed black. As you will see the black velvet we use is truly "A Black Hole" and makes anything black around it look grey.





Here is the ProControl Remote Control for the ProMask 2 way masking systems. The ProControl hand held remote is the first to offer 6 standard aspect ratios. Besides six aspect ratios, the SmX ProControl remote has all the jog options to jog panels simultaneously or independently. If you integrate the ProMask into an automation system, you get up to 99 aspect ratios and 2 way communication between the ProMask and the automation system.

The ProControl is a Dual Band remote offering both IR and RF.



Native Mode 2.40:1



2.35:1 (CinemaScope



1.85:1



Native Mode 1.78:1 (16:9)



1.33:1





We also shot video of the ProMask-Curv which I am going to upload later on.

Ruben

Vary nice something to look forward too when upgrading in the future

Ruben,

Thanks for the pics. Looks fantastic. Very Professional,

Looks like the masks roll up? Are the masks driven by a motorized track top and bottom? If so, looks like a bit of a task to keep them in alignment.

Great work

Wow. Congratulations, really nice work. Very impressive!

Frank Dodaro

Thanks sandmanx for the info.Sounds great.

Wuddup guys,

I'd like to know, please, for a 126" (10.5 feet-wide) wide 2.35:1, PRO-CURV with a 40' radius, how many inches closer to the projector are the sides, as opposed to the middle of the screen? 7? 8 Inches?

Thanks a lot guys,

Farhan.

Hi Farhan,

You can get all the sizes and specs for offsets on our support page HERE.
Take 2.25" off the "D" and "H" measurements for the ProCurv.

You are looking at 6.75" from the back middle to the front ends of the ProCurv frame.

Ruben

Ruben,

Do you sell just the material for your screens?

R-S

Hi
I have the 2.35:1 rigid SMX Proline frame with 12 foot width. it looks great and the picture with the JVC RS-1 is amazing

Wow! A 12' wide SMX with an RS1? I think that's the biggest lo-gain screen I've ever heard of anyone using with the RS1.

I'm using a 10' wide SMX screen with mine. It seems on the dim side. There are outdoor scenes you couldn't ask for more light in (e.g. panoramas in the beginning of Serenity) but other scenes just seem a little too dark. Though the flashes in the beginning of Pitch Black are really bright too.

What ft. lamberts are you getting?

Hi
I haven't had any measurements done. my room is totally dark. Compared to my old NEC xg135 CRT, it is plenty bright!

mburnstein.
What is your throw distance and seating?
also what lens are you using?
thanks!!

My room's totally dark too. Maybe I just have somewhat unrealistic expectations.

I have a 12' wide 2.35:1 SmX ProCurv screen with an Optoma H79 and ISCO II lens and I use it in high lamp mode in a light controlled theater. I view all my movies with ambient lighting (I can't stand bat caves) and I use the projector in high lamp mode. It is plenty bright enough until the bulb goes down to 50% light output. Once the bulb drops to 50% I change the bulb.

Projectors are getting brighter and better every round so I don't think brightness is going to be an issue in the near future with unity gain screens.

I am doing a projector upgrade very soon.

Ruben

Yes, I think an anamorphic lens would add more light... 20% or so? I'm doing the poor-man's approach and losing a lot of the potential light output. It'll have to wait until I can justify a VP and a anamorphic lens. If I do get a VP it'll be a Radiance so I can correct the RS1's colors too. Money, money, money...

Sandman,

Can I ask which projector you are leaning towards?

Craig.

Wow, that is a tough question. I'm waiting to hear more feedback on the JVC-RS2 and I am looking at Sim2 as well. That new Panasonic 2000 looks promising too from what I have seen.

I really want to get a 3 chip 1080 PJ but it will be too big in my room and probably run too hot.
I can pick up a Digital Projections HD 720 3 chipper for a pretty good deal but the thing is huge.

As soon as I make a final decision I will let you know.


Ruben

Hi Ruben!

Is't possible, in the near future, to buy again just the material?

I'm very interested in your Pro-line screen, but i live in Italy.. and i have to consider the cost of VAT (20%), customs (5%) and transport (big screen, big package, very big shipping cost...).

I think many people in Europe will appreciate this opportunity...

P.S.: sorry for my poor english..

I apologize, but at this point in time I have to say no. We are selling complete screens and masking systems now.

However, we are discussing releasing an entry level AT screen in the near future that will be very attractive for people with smaller budgets. As soon as that happens, this thread will be updated.

Thank You,
Ruben

Thanks Ruben for the fast answer...

This morning (Italy time) I emailed you about the price of the ProLine Screen..

I wait an answer..