I am familiar with pro audio and hi-fi loudspeakers and am curious how cinema loudspeakers differ from the other two. I searched the forum looking for a thread that talked specifically about cinema loudspeaker design but didn’t have any luck. Any on-topic information is appreciated!
Cinema speakers use pro drivers, it's all the same stuff. Configurations and crossovers will be different, but the drivers are all from pro lines.
My home stereo used to be a classic cinema speaker, the Altec A5. Pro drivers. And all the way up to 2022 it's pro drivers. Cinemas don't use line array much, but the drivers are the same or similar.
My home stereo used to be a classic cinema speaker, the Altec A5. Pro drivers. And all the way up to 2022 it's pro drivers. Cinemas don't use line array much, but the drivers are the same or similar.
You’re welcome. What tended to differ most was horns. Cinema horns were generally larger and crossed lower than concert PA. The current popularity of line arrays is seeing even smaller and different horns in the market.
Low-end / low-power budget cinema uses economy PA drivers for example, the JBL M115-8A woofer is used in both the 37XX series cinema as well as the JRX series PA. High-end cinema uses better and more expensive drivers that do not make sense (but would work really well) in PA applications.
However, even when PA drivers are used, the equalisation (processing) applied is often more sophisticated than that in PA, usually aimed at the X-curve instead of a flat response. The sub-woofers are also crossed lower than in PA. Unlike PA, cinemas give importance to fidelity and audience coverage, apart from sound pressure levels.
In short, cinema lies somewhere between studio and PA, with not bad fidelity and not so much power.
However, even when PA drivers are used, the equalisation (processing) applied is often more sophisticated than that in PA, usually aimed at the X-curve instead of a flat response. The sub-woofers are also crossed lower than in PA. Unlike PA, cinemas give importance to fidelity and audience coverage, apart from sound pressure levels.
In short, cinema lies somewhere between studio and PA, with not bad fidelity and not so much power.
newvirus2008, it sounds like you're only familiar with budget-end PA systems. Higher-end systems sound excellent and have very good coverage. Further, FIR-based EQ and crossovers are fairly commonplace in the PA world.
I suppose the real differences between cinema and PA would be these:
Chris
I suppose the real differences between cinema and PA would be these:
- A PA system often has to be used in a range of different venues, so compromises are made in the name of portability.
- Cinemas will typically aim for another octave of LF extension, at the expense of large subwoofers.
Chris
That's sad, 'cause line arrays just aren't right for cinema. But the pro audio world is just as trendy as Hi-Fi, and line arrays are the current darling of the PA world.
I've used both of those many times for PA work. I have not heard their cinema versions. JBL ruled the cinema market until recently.
Cinemas have a few benefits compared to live tour grade systems.
- it’s always indoors and usually little humidity or heat/cold (weather) issues - less need for rugged cones l
- indoor is mostly easier to make sound OK bass, less need for power amps
- it’s fixed install, weight and size is no problem and it’s less need for rugged small cabinets and neodymium magnets in the drivers.
- the material is known and not live, less chance of screwup by sound guy
- less need for idiot proof protection functions as less drunk people operate
All in all a cinema can get away with a lot cheaper system by selecting products not as rugged as tour grade. Paper cones and ferrit magnets, large wooden cabinets, high sensitivity low power. Still pro audio though.
- it’s always indoors and usually little humidity or heat/cold (weather) issues - less need for rugged cones l
- indoor is mostly easier to make sound OK bass, less need for power amps
- it’s fixed install, weight and size is no problem and it’s less need for rugged small cabinets and neodymium magnets in the drivers.
- the material is known and not live, less chance of screwup by sound guy
- less need for idiot proof protection functions as less drunk people operate
All in all a cinema can get away with a lot cheaper system by selecting products not as rugged as tour grade. Paper cones and ferrit magnets, large wooden cabinets, high sensitivity low power. Still pro audio though.
In the beginning, Cinema speakers were THE Pro speakers, period.
Cinema was a HUGE profitable market and Theater owners could spend a Ton on Audio Systems, since anyway they would spend 20/50 times as much on building itself, projection equipment, etc. ; they could afford to pay for the best of the best.
Not surprisingly, from the 30´s on, and well into the Golden Era of 40s and 50s, Lansing products (Altec and JBL) were king of the hill, also Westrex, RCA, Western Electric, etc.
Or Vitavox in UK, Siemens in Germany , etc.
Some time ago some Soviet era very well made speakers were shown .... made in Siberia, HUGE Alnico magnets, etc. , and guess what they were made for? .... Cinema equipment.
Up to the mid/late 60´s Musician´s PA was horrible, remember Elvis plugging his microphone into Guitar Player´s 50W 2x6L6 6x10" speakers amplifier "because it had better sound than the House PA" , go figure.
Or the absolutely inadequate skinny 6x9" speaker columns used by Beatles at Shea Stadium.
And we are talking The Beatles, in A STADIUM, 55000 people! 😱
So when a massive event was made, Woo9dstock, only way for people to hear something was to stack a few Altect A7 cabinets, with matching power amps. .... STRAIGHT from a Theater setting.
What was first? The chicken or the egg?
Here, clearly, first was Cinema speakers, and by half a century.
Cinema was a HUGE profitable market and Theater owners could spend a Ton on Audio Systems, since anyway they would spend 20/50 times as much on building itself, projection equipment, etc. ; they could afford to pay for the best of the best.
Not surprisingly, from the 30´s on, and well into the Golden Era of 40s and 50s, Lansing products (Altec and JBL) were king of the hill, also Westrex, RCA, Western Electric, etc.
Or Vitavox in UK, Siemens in Germany , etc.
Some time ago some Soviet era very well made speakers were shown .... made in Siberia, HUGE Alnico magnets, etc. , and guess what they were made for? .... Cinema equipment.
Up to the mid/late 60´s Musician´s PA was horrible, remember Elvis plugging his microphone into Guitar Player´s 50W 2x6L6 6x10" speakers amplifier "because it had better sound than the House PA" , go figure.
Or the absolutely inadequate skinny 6x9" speaker columns used by Beatles at Shea Stadium.
And we are talking The Beatles, in A STADIUM, 55000 people! 😱
So when a massive event was made, Woo9dstock, only way for people to hear something was to stack a few Altect A7 cabinets, with matching power amps. .... STRAIGHT from a Theater setting.
What was first? The chicken or the egg?
Here, clearly, first was Cinema speakers, and by half a century.
Clearly cinema sound required amplified audio way before musicians did, since the electric guitar or other non-acoustic reinforced instruments weren't available mainstream until after the war. Most guitar amps had mic inputs built into them so musicians could amplify vocals too, before most dance halls had a PA that was capable of enough SPL.
Some of the most high end pro audio gear was originally cinema audio gear. It migrated its way into hifi fanatics homes once LPSs and better turntables became available. People didnt have much choice for a serious dedicated audio system before the LP. It just wasn't needed before a decent enough consumer audio format was available. For most people the music console was the most popular choice for LP playback, which wasn't all that bad considering what it could sound like if the components in it were decent.
Some of the most high end pro audio gear was originally cinema audio gear. It migrated its way into hifi fanatics homes once LPSs and better turntables became available. People didnt have much choice for a serious dedicated audio system before the LP. It just wasn't needed before a decent enough consumer audio format was available. For most people the music console was the most popular choice for LP playback, which wasn't all that bad considering what it could sound like if the components in it were decent.