CinemaxX AG, one of Germany’s largest multiplex operators, has installed a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound Cinema Experience audio system in two of its premier screening rooms in Hamburg and Copenhagen.
Based on the Acheron screen channel loudspeakers, the Meyer Sound systems are installed in Screen One at Hamburg’s CinemaxX Dammtor (1,001 seats) and Screen One at Denmark’s CinemaxX Copenhagen (754 seats). Both cinemas are also equipped with Sony 4k digital cinema projectors.
“We have created a special movie-going experience that now includes the best in sound along with the ultimate picture quality,” stateed CinemaxX CEO, Christian Gisy. “The Meyer Sound Cinema Experience is in a world of its own. Speech intelligibility is excellent even during action sequences. Also, the transition from front to surround is seamless, and the low-end is really powerful.
“This specific test in Hamburg may be the beginning of a significant investment,” added Gisy, “because based on early audience reactions we expect more screens to follow during the next months.”
The system installed at CinemaxX Dammtor comprises three Acheron screen channel loudspeakers, each augmented by an Acheron LF loudspeaker, in addition to six X-800C subwoofers, 20 HMS-10 surround loudspeakers, six MM-4XP miniature loudspeakers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 616 processors.
The cinema in Copenhagen, meanwhile, uses three Acheron 100 screen channel speakers, each supplemented by a single Acheron LF loudspeaker. The system also includes six X-800C subwoofers, 26 HMS-10 surround loudspeakers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 408 processors.
Meyer says that Cinema Experience is a complete, integrated cinema sound line comprising self-powered screen channel loudspeakers, surrounds and subwoofers controlled by dedicated digital processing electronics. Calibrated on site for each screening room “Cinema Experience systems faithfully and consistently translate the full impact and details in a movie sound track from the sound editor’s mixing stage to the theatre”.
Certainly some rather influential people are impressed. “Since Meyer Sound launched Cinema Experience in 2009, our systems have been installed in a mix of private screening rooms, feature film re-recording stages, and commercial cinemas,” stated Steve Shurtz, Cinema manager at Meyer Sound. “They include the Toronto International Film Festival’s new Bell Lightbox premium screening rooms (cinemas one and five); seven commercial theatres at Estonia’s Solaris Kino and two screens at Cinema Artis; De Lane Lea and Skywalker Ranch re-recording stages; the Breeze and the Pace theatres in Florida; a screening room at a major animation studio in Burbank; and a 4D domed theatre at Madame Tussauds in London.
“Since we’re only a year into product shipping, it’s still a bit early for us to provide a meaningful comparison between private screening rooms and commercial venue installs,” he added.
Both systems were installed by Düsseldorf-based Film Ton Technik Rüttgers (FTT).
“Our Acheron screen channel loudspeakers are priced competitively in the market,” said Shurtz. “When comparing cost, consider that power amplifiers, crossover, EQ / phase correction and protection limiters are built into our loudspeaker systems. Where we may differ is the cost of our surround speakers, because we have developed a product that is really forward looking to the demands of not only today’s 5.1 cinemas but beyond to the near future’s 7.1 cinemas. Digital cinema tracks have more dynamic range and power and if you look at what some of the industry pioneers today such as Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan are doing with sound in their films, they are using surround speakers in much the same way as screen channels are used traditionally. That means surround speakers need to be powerful and coherent to work with the screen channels.
“There are a number of advantages to installing Meyer Sound Cinema Experience systems, but definition, transparency, and power stand out most for our clients,” he concluded.
