The acoustically transparent projector screens are the best invention of the modern era as they are made with complicated material. These screens are highly advanced and are made with innovative technologies.
What is an acoustically transparent projector screen? Acoustically transparent projector screens are best for delivering a high-quality image, you can place the speakers behind the screen. These are made of a special type of material that blocks the light but allows the sound waves to pass through without loss in the quality.
Projector screens demand a significant amount of knowledge while purchasing because everyone wants to buy the screen according to his demand.
Furthermore, these screens also require a lot of care once purchased. You should always buy the screen according to its projector and screen combinations.
What is an acoustically transparent projector screen?
These screens are made to grab the attention of cinema halls. They complete the commercial demand so that people could acquire the highest screen width. Cinema’s speakers are typically located at the front left, front right, or the center of the hall. These screens work best when the speakers can be mounted behind the screen.
By placing the speakers at the center, you can take more benefits from them. The projector screen provides more cinematic experience, and everyone in the hall can hear the louder and clearer sound. It is the best approach for the cinemas, as sound will be clear on every seat.
The most recommended way of using a screen is to place the speakers behind the screen. Ideally, one won’t want the audio quality to be decreased by obstruction of the sound waves or distortion on the projection surface. This problem can be avoided using an acoustically transparent projector screen.
Transparent screens work on the surface, and these screens use negative space. This process makes the sound waves possible to travel even without interference. The waves will travel by the surface without any interference.
When you don’t have enough space to put the speakers on both sides of the screen, then these transparent screens are best. In addition to it, when you don’t want a small screen, then you can use these transparent projector screens.
Consequently, these screens are more expensive than other projectors. Other projectors are low in prices, but these projectors are high in prices.
Speakers location
The position of the speakers must be carefully selected according to the size of the room. When you have gigantic speakers in a small room, it will look weird and odd. Moreover, the smaller room will limit the size of the screen. Even in a prominent place, you must have enough space for the speakers along with the proper space for your screen size.
As a solution, the use of in or on ceiling speakers would be the best. But people have different opinions regarding those speakers. Some said these speakers do not give the right thing which we want.
If a person wants accurate sound, then ceiling speakers are not the best option. In this scenario, your speakers will be placed behind the screen.
When we enter these screens, then its ideal placement is behind the screen. Their main speakers will be on the same degree, like right or left speakers. The acoustically transparent screen will maintain three basic things:
It will preserve the quality of sound, which is fixed for dialogues. It cannot be set only for the meetings but also for the general sound effects.
It will maintain the movie quality in theatres. Because of the space limitation, it also has the power to use a similar speaker. Identical speakers used to keep away the interference from the other objects, whether on the floor or the ceiling.
Categories of Acoustically transparent screen
There are two categories: one is woven, and the other is perforated. They both have the same concepts for the sounds of passing through them. For the sound waves, these both (woven and perforated) have the gaps in their screen material so that sound waves could pass from the speaker to the screen.
When these sound waves reach the screen, then the audience can easily hear the clear sound. Although, in completing this task, there is a difference in both woven and perforated.
Woven screen: This screen will engage the coarse weave. This coarse weave will supply the fibers, and these fibers will generate the gap between them. By generating the gap, it will come up with space that is required for audio. Whereas, in the perforated screen, the process is different.
Perforated: It works according to its name, meaning as its meaning is penetrated. It will require the punched perforations that can be helpful in its screen material. Its screen material will generate the space for the audio and will allow audio to pass through it.
Now, the important point in it is about gaps. Gaps should be more significant enough that audio could easily pass through the screen surface. Also, gaps must be small so that they can stop the high amount of light from the projector. It means that gaps should be large for the audio and small enough to stop the light of the projector.
Light from the projector reflects from the surface beyond the screen. For the betterment of this, a black mask has been used from time to time. But it can affect on the transmissivity.
The transparent projector screen should also have a viewing distance. As we all know, Human vision can see small things until a specific distance. When the perforation or weave is small, then it can mix in the screen surface of the viewer. Thus, gaps will be unseen on the screen.
At that moment, this is not an issue for the commercial screens. Although in cinemas there are larger screens and the size is larger, but it will be on the distance even from the audience who is quite near.
Possible problems regarding Woven Screen
As everything has good or bad points, so the woven screens also have some pros or cons.
Dual imaging: When light passes from a projector via the screen, then it glows on walls beyond the display of the projector; this process is known as Dual imaging. The light shines through a screen, and it makes the second image on a wall. All the viewers see this second image.
This is a severe thing to be noted as it creates a mess for the viewers. The one who is watching something important, by this a severe distraction, will occur. There are two different ways to fix this problem.
You can simply add black acoustically transparent fabric. Secondly, you can paint a wall. You will do the paint behind the screen to prevent the dual image.
Substandard color Temperature: As the woven fabric has the most extensive collection of materials, that is why red, blue, yellow, and green colors will look brighter than the intended one. It will look like the dead pixels.
Dead pixels will be more prominent on the screen than all other pixels. Because of the most extensive collection of material, more light reflects from it. That’s the reason woven screens show low color temperatures.
Effect of moire: This effect can be in different forms, and it is caused by the error in the weave. It can be in horizontal, diagonal, or vertical structures, which can be happened in the design of the material.
These effects would be the line patterns, and if the weave is at the wrong angle, then it can easily match with lines of light. And this light will be generated by the projector.
This effect can also produce when the weave is in the wrong angle, and it also happens when weave is unloosened. This effect usually is unpleasant because it will affect the eyes of viewers as well as this effect is quite to divert for the screens.
This issue can be minimized by putting the high quality woven screen. A high-quality display will help reduce this issue as they have an exact pattern of the weave.
Issues regarding perforated screen
As the woven screen has some problems, likewise perforated screen also has some issues.
Perforated screens have a massive amount of holes, which covers almost ten percent of a total display. Thus, Perforated have holes like thousands, but still, it does not have the space to move the sound from one place to another.
Mostly, sound in the perforated screen will be bounced off than to pass through it. This happens at particular frequencies; when the sound reaches a specific frequency, then it happens. Because of this severe issue, the perforated screen needs to be adjusted more and more settings to overcome this issue. By resolving this issue, the perforated screen will be able to perform better.
Perforated screens have more moire effect than the woven screen. This is because perforated screens have the holes which are not consistent neither diverse.
Thats why on this screen, the image of the projector is getting matched with the lines pattern. If the perforated screen is cheaper, then the screen would be highly affected by the moire effect. But the costly perforated screens will perform better till the end.
Which screen should you select, perforated, or Woven?
After doing the complete study over woven and perforated, now you will be confused about the selection as both of them have good and bad points. According to my suggestion, the woven transparent screen is far better than the perforated acoustic screen.
Because the woven screen is cheaper than the perforated screen as well as it has surprising experiences by the viewers, but the one thing we have to overcome the woven is dual imaging.
This issue can be resolved as woven screens are available in the market with a black background. This is a build in the background which sucks up the additional light beyond a screen. This is how dual imaging effects can be resolved in a woven screen. Furthermore, Woven screen speakers are worked better than perforated screen speakers.
Why use an Acoustically transparent screen?
Why AT screen is better than the standard screen. Here we are going to discuss several reasons for using this screen.
Ease in the installation of the speaker: If you are using a standard screen, then it will be a difficult task for you to install and manage the speakers. Speakers must be installed under and beside the screens so that the viewers could easily hear the sound.
Also, in a normal screen adjusting the speakers is a difficult task, especially when space is less. But in AT screens, you don’t need to worry about the installation of speakers. Because the speakers will be behind the screen, and you will feel like theater at home. Moreover, all the theaters also use this method. You should properly install the acoustic panels on the ceiling for better results.
Speakers can be placed behind the screen of the projector: In these screens, you will feel that sound is directly coming from a screen. This is the unique ability of this setup. Both sound and dialog are generated from the center, right and left front channel of the speaker. This is an incredible ability of AT screens if we compare it to the standard projector screen.
The bigger size of the screen: In an acoustically transparent screen, all speakers will be behind the screen, and you can easily use this screen to cover the complete wall. Through this, you can enjoy the big screen. This is best if you are watching TV on your projector.
What is the Moire Effect?
In these screens, the problem is related to the moire effect in which lines or patterns occur. It happens when you try to project the videos. This is because of the resolution as if pixels could not be seen at a short space from a screen.
So, this can be the fault of a projector screen. Whereas, when pixels are going to be seen in-depth, then it will be the problem of the projector. This happens mostly with the screen, which is made by the fine fabrics.
Whenever a natural pattern line up or intersect with the pattern of the pixel on the projector screen, then moire effects occur. It happens when the perforations screen is large, or it is in an irregular pattern. Or it can happen when a projector screen has a quite loose weave.
The 1080p+ projectors are also becoming a reality with the moire effect. However, the images that are projected become more likely to corrupt on a textured screen. The higher resolution of images is not as smooth as a natural-looking HD surface. On a 720p resolution projector, acoustically transparent screens have mostly no effect.
Nevertheless, the probability of the moire effect increases with the increase in projected resolution. The reason behind this is the smaller pixels in case of larger resolution. Generally, to avoid the problem of moire effect, high quality perforated or weave screens are used.
To check the quality of the screen, place a piece of white paper on the screen showing the moire effect. If the white paper also shows the same pattern, its due to the result of the projector.
On the other hand, if the moire effect is not visible on paper, its due to the low-quality screen. Surfaces with larger perforations or looser weave cause screen quality problems. This problem is increased with these screens for 1080p+ projection.
Points to reduce moire effect
There are some points by which we can reduce the moire effects. First of all, by using a high-quality projector, the moire effect will be reduced. In markets, four thousand ready screens are available which do not have problems regarding 4K or one thousand eight projectors.
Its essential to check the qualities of both projector and projector screens before making any decision. When you are having the best build quality along with the matching resolutions of the screen, then its all good.
By doing this, it will incorrectly align the patterns of pixels and textures. This is how the issue will be resolved. You should select the best paint color for your home theater room.
Benefits and drawbacks of acoustically transparent projector Screens
AT screens are best in hiding the speakers behind the screen. It is one of the best qualities of AT screens. You will feel that image and sound is coming straight from the screen. Furthermore, when we do the comparison of this system with the speakers below or sides of the screen, then it will be unequaled.
Benefits: The speakers will not be in front of everyone; they will be hidden. Also, you don’t need to worry about the installation looks because it will be permanently hidden behind the projector screen. It does not require large spaces. It will simply fill the entire wall; it has high-quality material than other screens.
Drawbacks: AT screens are higher in prices because of the woven material inside them. They also have a moire effect like prominent lines on the screens because of some factors. If you are using a low-quality screen, then the image quality issues can occur.
Selection of best acoustically transparent screen for the setup
The selection of screens is one of the important decisions you have to take. Which screen you should use, whether woven or perforated. Which screen size and what ratio of the projector screen should be? Also, how much the gain of the screen should be?
Size of projector screen: It is essential to measure the size of the room, to know the exact size of the projector screen. You should purchase the screen size according to the projector size. Like if the ratio of the projector is 1.25 and it is twelve feet from your wall.
Thus according to this measurement, the width of the screen must be one hundred and fifteen inches. But, this is not the slanted measurement. You should take the measures before going to purchase the screen. Furthermore, some of the projectors have high zoom capability, whereas others don’t have enough capability. Well, it is essential to have the exact measurements.
The ratio of projector screen: The ratio of the projector screen is an important thing, and we can easily select the ratio. The screen and projector ratio must be the same as if the projector ratio is 16.9, so the ratio of the screen is 16.9.
If the ratios are not the same, then you will get black bars everywhere. Black bars will be appeared on the sides, bottom or at the top of the image. It can also lead to various issues. Thus, be careful while purchasing the projector screens, and you should even know the ratio of the projector.
Screen’s installation: First of all, subwoofers and the front speaker will also be installed if you want to install speakers in the wall so you can also opt that. Secondly, we have to create the all-around framework speakers then we could easily hang the screen on the front side of the speakers.
You also can hang the screen on top of the speaker. Thirdly, meeting and hanging of the screen. We have done this step now, and we have to install the black fabric panels all around a screen. After installing the black fabric, the installation process will be completed, and it will give the visual effect of the room.
Screen gain: By screen gain, you can easily observe the reflection of light from the screen. Mostly, projectors have a gain of 1 to 1.2. This gain is perfectly suitable if your projector is 1500 plus lumens. However, your projector has a large capacity to generate light. Thus, screen gain is not a big deal.
Building your own acoustically transparent projector screen
There are four steps to make your screen, but you should have all the necessary tools.
Get material: You should have the material for the woven screen as woven is better than perforated. You can take opinions from the manufacturers about the material purchasing.
Build frame: After getting material, you will build the frame, and its ratio should be according to the ratio of your projector.
Wrap frame in velvet or black cloth: Enfold the frame into black cloth; it will absorb all the surplus light of the projector. The material should be tight so that it will give a better look to your screen. Otherwise, your screen will become wavy.
Finish and mount: After doing all the steps mentioned above, now the frame is ready to hang on the wall.