At last week's ISE show in Amsterdam, Stewart Filmscreen debuted a new acoustically transparent screen material, called Harmony. ISE attendees were the first to experience the visual and audio performance of Harmony as part of a 16-foot-wide VistaScope Jumbo variable masking system that served as the centerpiece of a multi-brand 21-channel Dolby Atmos-enhanced dedicated theater.
The Harmony material can be specified up to a 114-inch image height, which supports a 273.5-inch image width when presented in a 2.40:1 native aspect ratio. This is more than a 25 percent increase in the maximum size over its predecessor, the Tela 80. The Harmony material is available now for specification in Stewart's AT1.5 fixed-frame wall screen, as well as the VistaScope Jumbo system shown at ISE. Later this spring, Stewart will release the Harmony for inclusion in its flagship Director's Choice four-way variable masking system.
With a 0.8 gain screen material option that offers an 85-degree half gain angle, there is virtually no minimum throw distance requirement. This allows the Harmony material to fit into almost any room configuration, making it an incredibly versatile option. Harmony is a white screen surface with very neutral colorimetry and is ideally suited for applications with good lighting control.
The Harmony material was designed with audiophiles and cinephiles in mind. Its acoustically transparent weave pattern is so fine that there is (according to Stewart) only a one-dB impact to the high-frequency response above 10 kHz. To help installers with light management, Harmony is packaged with a black, acoustically transparent back screen to eliminate interference from reflected light passing through the screen material. When utilized, the black back screen minimally impacts the high frequency response up to two dB.
Additional Resources
• Stewart Debuts Iten Variable Masking Screen with new Tela 80 Acoustically Trasnparent Material at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Stewart Filmscreen to Launch LuminEsse Edgeless Screen Design at HomeTheaterReview.com.
