My First Acoustically Transparent Screen

[1_sufferin_mind]

Sufferin’ is now sweatin’ details for front stage setup. Whether you have a better way, a suggestion or just encouragement, bring it on! I was browsing ads for AT screens when I came across a phrase that may bring my new HT plans to a screeching halt (at least temporarily). It basically asserted that the screen’s “Acoustically Transparent FRONT material (is) designed to complement in-wall speakers.” Does that mean the plane of the speaker baffles should be parallel to the screen surface?

The ad also states that the mean attenuation is -2.36dB, but customer comments mention that affected sound can be EQ’d away. Doesn’t additional EQ negatively impact sound by robbing headroom for boosts?

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

Seymour AV assures customers on this web page that “You can angle any of the speakers that are behind the Center Stage screen without issue due to the screen's acoustical transparency.”

They also state that “Center Stage screens do not acoustically reflect, refract, or otherwise smear the imaging of your speakers.”

So maybe I am stressing over nothing!?

 

[Todd Anderson]

Seymour has VERY highly regarded AT screens. I've heard (and seen) them in action numerous times at various trade shows. I've never felt the experience in those rooms would have been better without the AT screen. Of course, Seymour's screen material isn't cheap. And it's marketed in a way that leads me to believe that some AT screens can knock down high frequencies in a noticeable way.

I don't believe AT screens behave differently if speakers are angled or not.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Seymour AV assures customers on this web page that “You can angle any of the speakers that are behind the Center Stage screen without issue due to the screen's acoustical transparency.”

They also state that “Center Stage screens do not acoustically reflect, refract, or otherwise smear the imaging of your speakers.”

So maybe I am stressing over nothing!?

I think you might be stressing over nothing. If you don't buy a Seymour, perhaps consider reaching out to the manufacturer and confirming your questions?

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

How does it feel to be right all the time, Todd?

Yes, I did ask Seymour’s support a few questions but came to realize I was picking nits. Only Stewart matched Seymour's marketing enthusiasm for the sound quality of their AT screens. I also realized the screen will be raised for 2-channel listening, so it doesn’t need to be top-tier for movies! But it doesn’t hurt. I’ve read many stories of tab-tensioned screens wrinkling after only a few weeks or months. And I’m really impressed by the Seymour’s light-absorbing, black velvet borders that even hide the unsightly tensioning mechanism.

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

....And it's marketed in a way that leads me to believe that some AT screens can knock down high frequencies in a noticeable way.

While researching screens, I found some response curves comparing different styles (perforated vs weave) and manufacturers. Many had substantially attenuated responses starting below even 1kHz. I’ve looked for them with no luck so far today. I’ll keep trying and post them if successful. The graphs would most likely have to be taken with a grain of salt anyway, unless the tests were conducted by an impartial third party. I honestly don’t remember.

I’m confused though, Todd. There seem to be two companies with very similar names and high standards: (1) Seymour, and (2) Seymour Screen-Excellence. Do you know if they’re related?

 

[NBPK402]

My old screen was a SEYMOURAV AT screen and I love it. I used it in our old dedicated HT, and I even did critical listening, and I found zero problems with it. It is a bargain, and does just what I needed.

 

[Grayson Dere]

My old screen was a SEYMOURAV AT screen and I love it. I used it in our old dedicated HT, and I even did critical listening, and I found zero problems with it. It is a bargain, and does just what I needed.

I haven't tried AT screens yet. Are they sensitive to how close you place the speakers behind them? ie: drivers as close as possible to the screen material?

 

[NBPK402]

I haven't tried AT screens yet. Are they sensitive to how close you place the speakers behind them? ie: drivers as close as possible to the screen material?

When I had mine I was worried about the bass bins causing the screen to move, but it did not. I even had the setup running at 120db (at 12' from the screen) 1 night to see how it sounded. I had my screen within a few inches from the screen too. I have heard of people running the screen almost touching the speakers, and also ones where the speakers were about a foot away from the screen. For me I do not have the room to put the screen far from the screen so mine will be within a few inches again once we complete the new setup. I would think that if you treat the screen like a grill cloth it will sound fine. One thing I will have different is that my new screen will hopefully be a curved screen as we will be using my Panamorph Anamorphic lens again. I want to go curved so we do not have the pincushion that we had to hide (the bow) in the black boarder of the screen. My room this time is wider so I am not sure how much of my left and right channel speakers will be behind the screen. I hope to find out sometime next year when we get the curved screen made, and a purchase a 4k projector.