[Hantra]

All:

I'm adding theater to my new room.  2 channel comes first, of course.  So. . .

Can you hear a screen?  I know that a fixed frame is better than even a tensioned pull down.  But if I buy a fixed frame, and mount it on the wall, will I be able to hear it?  Is it going to screw with the soundstage versus just a wall there with a covered window?

I'm just curious.  Also, how bad a high frequency hit does one take with an "acoustically transparent" woven screen?

Thanks guys.

B

[Mike Dzurko]

A fixed screen is pretty close to painted sheetrock in terms of reflectivity etc.  ( I measured this a couple of years ago)

[Big Red Machine]

I've never been enamored with the idea of putting expensive speakers behind an AT screen and that is why my HT has the equipment out front.  I did most recently experience an AT screen by SMX that really held back the tweeters on a pair of mid Fi speakers I was very familiar with.  And I also have been to a very high end HT where the screen was invisible to the sound but do not remember the screen mfg'r.  Now if you were going to treat your room and wanted the benefit of the treatments with an AT screen up against that I like that idea.  Otherwise as Mike points out it is a reflective surface if not AT and therefore would defeat any broadband treatments behind it.  Bass trapping would be different if my understanding is correct.

[Kevin Haskins]

Its a tradeoff and it depends on your install.   Some screens are very acoustically transparent and others less so.   Usually the higher gain screens are not as acoustically transparent.   A loose enough weave that allows sound through is not going to reflect as much light.

The best reason for acoustically screens though is to center the dialog on the screen.    If you have a small room, with a big screen I've seen situations where the center channel is almost on the floor.   In that situation I'd buy an acoustic screen.   The left/right should almost always flank the screen anyway so you don't have them behind the screen, just the center.     

So.... it depends.   If your install is such that the screen size forces your center channel into a bad spot an acoustic screen can be a good choice (sound wise).    If you have a big room, with the screen up high I'd rather place the center under the screen, near as possible to ear level and your brain will make the adjustment.   You also have a much wider choice of screens.

[bpape]

Agreed.

Also, the distance from the back of the screen material to the baffle of the speaker can make a huge difference.  You really want at least 12" between them or you can get all kinds of nasty comb filtering even with the best AT screens. 

Bryan

[mgalusha]

In my old HT room I had a fixed frame screen, non transparent and a set of heavy curtains if I wanted it covered. The effect of pulling the curtains was quite audible in the upper frequencies as they were absorptive whereas the screen was considerably more reflective. Of course this was only suitable when listening to music, which was primarily in a different room/different system but it was IMO worth the trouble to close the curtains when playing music in the HT room.

[Hantra]

Don't get me wrong.  If I did go with an AT screen, I'd only put the center back there. 

No way I'd want my 2 channel listening speakers behind a screen. 

Thanks very much for the opinions guys.  Looks like I'm just going fixed NON-AT right now.  As much as I'd like a tensioned motorized screen, they want way too much for them.

Thanks again.

B

[zybar]

I've never been enamored with the idea of putting expensive speakers behind an AT screen and that is why my HT has the equipment out front.  I did most recently experience an AT screen by SMX that really held back the tweeters on a pair of mid Fi speakers I was very familiar with.  And I also have been to a very high end HT where the screen was invisible to the sound but do not remember the screen mfg'r.  Now if you were going to treat your room and wanted the benefit of the treatments with an AT screen up against that I like that idea.  Otherwise as Mike points out it is a reflective surface if not AT and therefore would defeat any broadband treatments behind it.  Bass trapping would be different if my understanding is correct.

Hmmm...my experience with the SMX screen is quite different.

I use one in my HT and I listened to my three Salk SongTowers before and after mounting the screen and there is no "noticeable" difference in the highs or overall performance.  Now I have the SongTowers a good deal back from the screen (much more than the 12" Bryan mentioned below) so maybe it is all in the setup. 

In fact, the sound and picture are so good, I highly recommend the SMX screen if anybody is looking for an AT screen.

As always, YMMV.

George

[ted_b]

Brandon,
Are you asking whether a screen surface behind your speakers (front wall) has an effect, or are you asking if you play speakers THROUGH an acoustically transparent screen does the screen add any sonic issues?  I guess both.

I can only speak to the first:  Yes!  I added a light poly/cotton black drape, well pleated, to my front wall, to both hide the screen when not in use, and to tame the screen's obvious reflectivity in my room.  I chose a light poly pleat to add diffusion, not absorption (like some heavy velvet movie drapes, etc.).  The drapes closed has a huge effect on my sound; much better imaging and depth of stage.  Much.  YMMV.  Closed drape on my system pic and gallery below..

[howburger]

I have a 108' X 46" Wilsonart laminate screen, which, by conventional wisdom, would be a huge detriment to the soundstage of a monopole speaker setup. My initial plan was to install heavy curtains which would remain closed when listening to music only. Recently I purchased Hawthorne Silver Iris 15" coaxial drivers and mounted them in an open baffle dipole setup. I have experimented with placing rockwool panels across the front of the screen and compared it with just the bare screen and the bare screen is by far preferable with the dipoles because of the rear wave from the speakers creating a much greater sense of ambience and a huge sound stage. Just my 2 cents.

Harold

[ctviggen]

Dipoles are different, though.  Some people (such as Linkwitz, for instance) imply that dipoles need an active and not damped room, which is what perhaps your screen gives.