Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has expanded its 4K footprint by purchasing the first high-brightness Sony SRX-R515DS dual 4K projection system in the US.
Alamo Drafthouse New Mission is due to open its doors later this year at 2550 Mission St., SF. 
Formerly San Francisco’s historic New Mission theatre, the iconic century-old movie palace has been restored to its former glories after four years of painstaking work overseen by Alamo Drafthouse founder and CEO Tim League.
Delivering high on-screen light levels for bright, detail-packed true 4K pictures in 2D or 3D, America’s first SRX-R515DS gives patrons a spectacular view of first-run features, arthouse classics and more.
Named “Coolest Movie Theatre in the World” by Wired.com, Alamo Drafthouse puts a premium on image quality as a central part of its commitment to provide audiences with a truly exceptional entertainment experience.
“Since installing our first 4K projector, we’ve known it’s the only way to give customers the picture quality they deserve”, says Tim Reed, Chief Development Officer at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas.
“More recently we carefully compared 4K offerings from all manufacturers. It was clear from the outset that Sony’s SRX-R500 series was way ahead of the game for picture quality in terms of detail and colour – and especially its extra-high contrast ratio.”
Currently operating a total of 20 sites across the US, the pioneering chain has extended its 4K fleet further. New Sony SRX-R500 series projectors have been installed at Alamo Drafthouse’s recently opened site in Laredo, TX, and the brand-new La Vista multiscreen complex in Omaha, NE, that’s scheduled to open before the end of this year.
SRX-R515DS dual 4K projection solution – bigger, brighter pictures and lower operating costs
Sony’s DCI-compliant SRX-R515DS combines two SRX-R515 projectors to provide a 30,000 lumen total output that’s ideal for mid-sized and
larger cinema screens. In smaller auditoriums, the system’s powerful output delivers higher-than-standard light levels for a truly spectacular viewing experience in 2D or 3D.
On any size of screen, audiences are pulled right into the action with immersive 4K detail and rich, lifelike colour. Utilising the 8,000:1 contrast ratio performance of the SRX-R515 projector head, the SRX-R515DS assures best-possible image quality with deep blacks and sparkling highlights. It’s also a particularly attractive solution for 3D presentation, delivering higher on-screen light levels than DLP projectors.
The reliable HPM (High Pressure Mercury) multi-lamp array ensures show continuity by removing the risk of ‘dark screen’ outages. Even if one lamp fails during the performance, presentation continues uninterrupted at slightly reduced brightness, without impairing audience enjoyment of the show. The efficient HPM array also contributes to economical real-world operating costs that are significantly lower than other high-brightness solutions.
The SRX-R515DS projector pair can be operated either side-by-side or stacked vertically to suit any projection booth. Set-up is quick and easy, using the smart auto alignment system that comes included with the package.