Articulated, single enclosure line array speakers and Class D amplifier
solution heralds major leap in cinema sound innovation
Wokingham, UK – (28th January 2014)–Christie®, the world’s dominant brand in the digital cinema projection market, today launched the groundbreaking Christie Vive Audio™ solution in EMEA to help exhibitors “complete the experience” for their moviegoing audiences. Christie Vive Audio leverages a unique articulated, single enclosure line array speaker design and ribbon driver technology, and combines it with the first use of efficient, high-powered Class D amplification in cinema – all at an attainable price point. Christie Vive Audio’s cinema speakers and amplifiers can be easily and efficiently integrated into any existing or new theatre auditorium for the ultimate movie viewing and listening experience.
“The introduction of digital technology has sparked tremendous changes in movie content since 2005, but many theatres are still using audio systems designed for 35mm film,” said Craig Sholder, Christie’s Entertainment Solutions unit vice president. “With Christie Vive Audio, we have found a way to take all the benefits of line array configuration and put it into a cinema environment by combining it with ribbon driver technology and Class D amplification – all in a single, elegant audio solution that is easily attainable to exhibitors.”
“Typical audio solutions in the market have not kept up with performance demands of DCI specifications for audio – until now. The Christie Vive Audio integrated solution with its extended frequency response, high dynamic range and ultra-fast transient response, along with unprecedented peak-to-average SPL ratios and smooth and even coverage, meets the performance demands of the DCI specification,” said Jim Hall, senior product manager with Christie’s Entertainment Solutions unit. “Christie Vive Audio represents a major leap in cinema sound, with perfect timbre-matching that unleashes the potential of today’s uncompressed digital audio along with leading immersive audio platforms such as Dolby® Atmos™.”
The complete Christie Vive Audio solution comprises surround and screen channel speakers, subwoofers, and Class D amplifiers. It offers exhibitors the opportunity to provide audiences with the ultimate movie-viewing experience, enveloping them with dynamic, richly detailed and enhanced audio where speech, special effects, music, and alternative content sound more natural and lifelike. At the core of the system are the combination of superior sounding screen channel speakers with ribbon driver technology and the proven performance of a line array speaker design, all in a single enclosure.
This innovative design helps increase the optimal listening area up to four times when compared to conventional compression driver-based audio systems and results in exceptionally smooth and even audio coverage throughout the auditorium. As well, Christie’s Class D amplifiers, which are more compatible with digital sources, are more efficient, resulting in lower operating costs.
Patrick Artiaga, director, Business Development, Audio Solutions, with Christie’s Entertainment Solutions group, added, “The complete Christie Vive cinema audio solution can be tailored to the demands of any cinema space, from postproduction studios and screening rooms to traditional and premium large format auditoriums. Each component of Christie Vive Audio has been specifically engineered to complement the other and combine to deliver a complete solution. By combining the superior performance capabilities of each piece into one integrated solution, Christie Vive Audio brings the next generation of cinema audio to any auditorium.”
See Christie at ISE, 4th-6th February 2014: Hall 1, Stand H50, Amsterdam RAI.
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