Procella Audio has completed an installation of Procella Cinema loudspeakers at the Scape theatre in Tallinn, Estonia.
The cinema features 68 Procella Audio Cinema loudspeakers in a 31.5.20 channel Dolby Atmos configuration. The Scape theatre also utilises a Barco 4K laser projection system and features a wall-to-wall screen, and luxury seating.
Procella Cinema loudspeakers are used exclusively for the AS2 presentation technology in the Tallinn theatre. Developed by Ari ‘Jaska’ Saarinen and Ari Salenius of the Nordic Cinema Group (NCG), the AS2 system features multiple unique design elements, most notably the fact that the main screen loudspeakers are located above a curved, solid screen rather than behind a perforated screen. This technology is said to improve both sound and picture quality, providing more image brightness, ensuring no moiré patterns in the projected image, and eliminating the degradation that takes place when sound passes through a perforated screen.
Over the last decade, this system and Procella loudspeakers have been exclusively installed in each of the premium theatres operated by NCG under the Finnkino (Finland) and Forum (Baltic) theatre brands. In 2016, this will be expanded to include theatres in Sweden and Norway.
The Dolby Atmos configuration in the Tallinn theatre was designed as a joint effort by Nordic Cinema Group and Dolby Laboratories. For all Atmos theatre installations, Dolby’s involvement begins in the early stages of design and culminates in testing and approval of each theatre before its opening.
Upon completion of the audio system tuning and Dolby commission, Ari ‘Jaska’ Saarinen, tech manager for the NCG, stated: “The system is by far the best sounding Atmos system that I have ever heard. It is truly the culmination of our 10 year cooperation with Procella in developing loudspeakers for our exclusive AS2 sound system.”
“The challenge of developing loudspeakers for the AS2’s unique approach to cinema sound has been quite rewarding,” stated Procella partner Anders Uggelberg. “The sonic and visual benefits of the AS2 system are quite significant. And in the enhanced sonic environment that Dolby Atmos now makes available, it enables an even more immersive experience for theatregoers.”
In the Tallinn Scape cinema, 68 loudspeakers are used in a 31.5.20 Dolby Atmos configuration. The speaker array consists of five screen speakers, 26 base surrounds, 20 ceiling-mounted overhead speakers, and 17 subwoofers reproducing 5 low-frequency channels.
The five main/screen speakers are Procella C124 tri-amplified three-way speakers that use a high-frequency compression driver and an 8in midrange speaker mounted on proprietary waveguides. Low frequencies are handled by four 12in woofers in a ‘W’ configuration. The C22 overhead and surround speakers use the same high-frequency compression driver and waveguide with a 12in woofer. Each P18 subwoofer has dual 18in drivers mounted in a sealed enclosure.
The Tallinn Scape Theatre is a 465-seat room, with a 20.4m x 8.6m screen (170sqm) that spans the entire front wall. The DP4K-60L projector, which is the only Barco 4K laser projector in the Baltic and Nordic countries, delivers 56,000 lumens. Amplification is by 53 Yamaha power amplifiers rated at 79,500W continuous.
