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Can an ALR Screen Change Your Movie Experience?
Thrillcat Cinema Lab - Home Theater Conversation
Overview
This video reviews the "Nothing Projector" Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen, specifically a lenticular model designed for long-throw projectors. The presenter details the screen's construction, its multi-layered design for rejecting ambient light, and its performance in various lighting conditions. The video contrasts the ALR screen's capabilities with a traditional acoustically transparent screen, highlighting how the ALR screen maintains image quality, contrast, and color vibrancy even with room lights on, making it suitable for viewers who prefer not to watch in complete darkness or in rooms that cannot be fully blacked out. It also touches on projector calibration and the importance of matching a screen to a projector and viewing environment.
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Chapters
- The presenter is reviewing a "Nothing Projector" ALR screen, a lenticular type designed for long-throw projectors.
- The screen is being tested with projectors like the Xgimi Titan Noir Max and JVC NZ700.
- The assembly process is straightforward, taking about 20 minutes for the frame, though fitting it into a tight space required careful maneuvering.
- The screen material has a slight odor, which is expected to dissipate over time.
Understanding the assembly and initial setup helps set expectations for potential buyers regarding the effort and space required to install the screen.
The presenter had to carefully fit a 120-inch screen into a space that was only a half-inch wider than their previous wall-to-wall screen, requiring significant effort and balancing.
- The Nothing ALR screen is a multi-layered construction, including reflective, color calibration, ambient light rejecting, and anti-glare layers.
- The ambient light rejecting layer uses micro-geometry, like tiny triangles or louvers, to focus light from a direct viewing angle while rejecting light from side angles.
- This geometric design shields the reflective surface from off-axis light, preventing washout and glare, which is a key advantage over standard screens or even large TVs.
- The screen's gray color helps anchor black levels and improve contrast, even in rooms with ambient light.
Knowing the technology behind ALR screens explains why they perform differently in lighted rooms compared to traditional screens, offering a tangible benefit for specific viewing environments.
The ALR layer uses tiny geometric shapes (like triangles or louvers) to direct light from the projector towards the viewer while blocking light coming from windows or lamps on the sides.
- The presenter tests the screen with three lighting scenarios: lights off, 'theater welcome' lighting (dim LEDs and 10% ceiling lights), and 'workday' lighting (higher percentage ceiling lights and side LEDs).
- Even with significant ambient light, the ALR screen maintains good contrast, color vibrancy, and detail, making the image watchable.
- The screen performs exceptionally well on challenging dark scenes, like the 'Battle of Winterfell' from Game of Thrones, revealing details that would be lost on lesser screens.
- The ALR screen significantly outperforms a standard white fabric screen in lighted conditions, maintaining a much better image quality.
Demonstrating the screen's performance across various lighting levels provides practical evidence of its value for viewers with diverse viewing habits and room conditions.
During the Game of Thrones 'Long Night' scene, even with the room lights on at a 'workday' setting, the presenter could still clearly see details like dragons in the sky, soldiers' armor, and the texture of Jon Snow's cape.
- The Nothing ALR screen offers better black levels and contrast in lighted rooms compared to the presenter's previous Seymour acoustically transparent screen.
- However, the Nothing ALR screen is not acoustically transparent, which is a drawback if speakers are placed behind it.
- The video emphasizes that a projection system is a 'system' requiring careful matching of the projector, screen, room, and viewing preferences.
- ALR screens are not universal; specific designs exist for ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors (rejecting light from above) versus long-throw projectors (rejecting light from the sides).
This section highlights that the 'best' screen depends on individual needs and that ALR technology is specialized, requiring careful consideration of projector type and acoustic needs.
The presenter notes that while the Nothing ALR screen provides superior image quality with lights on compared to their Seymour screen, the Seymour screen is necessary because it allows speakers to be placed behind it for optimal sound.
- A potential drawback of this ALR screen, especially with bright laser projectors like the Xgimi Titan, is the presence of laser speckle in the brightest areas of the image.
- Laser speckle appears as a slight shimmering or 'glitter' effect in very bright parts of the image and can be more noticeable at closer viewing distances.
- The presenter reiterates that finding the right screen for your specific projector and environment is crucial for optimal performance.
- The Nothing ALR screen is a solid choice for those who need to watch with lights on or in rooms that cannot be fully blacked out.
Acknowledging potential drawbacks like laser speckle provides a balanced perspective and helps viewers determine if this screen is suitable for their sensitivity and viewing setup.
In very bright parts of the image, the presenter observed 'laser speckle,' described as a slight, moving 'glitter' or 'sparkle' effect, which can be a drawback for some viewers depending on their projector and viewing distance.
Key takeaways
- Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screens use specialized layered technology and micro-geometry to significantly improve image contrast and color saturation in rooms with ambient light.
- The effectiveness of an ALR screen depends on its design, particularly whether it's intended for long-throw or ultra-short-throw projectors, as they reject light from different angles.
- While ALR screens excel at maintaining image quality with lights on, they are often not acoustically transparent, which can be a limitation if speakers are placed behind the screen.
- Laser speckle can be a potential issue with bright laser projectors on ALR screens, appearing as a shimmering effect in the brightest image areas, especially at closer viewing distances.
- A projection system's performance is a result of the synergy between the projector, screen, room acoustics, and the viewer's habits; choosing the right screen is critical for achieving the desired experience.
- For viewers who cannot fully black out their room or prefer watching with some lights on, an ALR screen offers a substantial upgrade over standard projection screens.
Key terms
Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) ScreenLenticular ScreenLong Throw ProjectorUltra Short Throw (UST) ProjectorAcoustically Transparent ScreenLaser SpeckleContrast RatioColor SaturationGeometric Light RejectionProjector Calibration
Test your understanding
- How does the geometric design of an ALR screen's ambient light rejecting layer work to improve image quality?
- What is laser speckle, and under what conditions is it most likely to be noticeable on an ALR screen?
- Why is it important to match an ALR screen specifically to either a long-throw or an ultra-short-throw projector?
- What is the primary trade-off when choosing an ALR screen over an acoustically transparent screen?
- In what viewing scenarios would an ALR screen provide a significant advantage over a standard white projection screen?