The next time you buy a ticket for a premium large-format movie screen, the image may be coming from a wall of LEDs instead of a projector.
Samsung says its new 14-meter standard size for the Onyx cinema LED platform is designed for Premium Large Format theaters, expanding the technology into larger auditoriums. The screen delivers a peak brightness of up to 300 nits, which the company states is approximately six times brighter than conventional cinema projection standards.
For the viewer in the back row, that brightness translates to an image that does not wash out. For the viewer at the far side, it means the picture does not dim. An LED screen maintains consistent brightness and color regardless of seating angle, a physical limitation of projector-based systems that disappears.
The 14-meter format introduces a 3.3mm pixel pitch, a specification Samsung says is optimized for the larger screen to maintain sharp image quality. Individual LED cabinets can be added to the sides and bottom of the standard configuration, allowing a screen to scale up to 20 meters—more than doubling the total screen area.
Hyoung Jae Kim, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics:
"People go to premium theaters for something they cannot recreate at home. That raises the bar for every part of the auditorium, starting with the screen. Samsung’s new 14-meter Onyx gives exhibitors a way to bring the premium experience to larger auditoriums, helping turn moviegoing into a destination again."
The screen supports both scope (2.39:1) and flat (1.85:1) aspect ratios, and is compatible with Dolby and GDC media servers for theater management. Samsung states the Onyx platform is also suited for live sports, concerts, and gaming events due to its support for up to 4K resolution at 120Hz.
Since launching the latest Onyx lineup last year, Samsung points to installations at Pathé Dar Essalam in Morocco, which now operates 12 Onyx screens, and Trilith Cinemas in Georgia, which became the first U.S. theater to install the latest generation across five auditoriums.
Bo Chambliss, President of Georgia Theatre Company:
"Partnering with Samsung to bring the latest Onyx Cinema LED to GTC Trilith Cinemas marks a meaningful step forward. With exceptional brightness, contrast and color accuracy, Onyx sets a new standard for image performance while remaining true to the filmmaker’s intent. Its reliability allows us to deliver a consistently premium experience for our guests."
The technology scales, but the audience's expectation for a premium experience does not shrink. The 14-meter screen is an answer to a business problem for exhibitors: how to fill a larger room with an experience that justifies a higher ticket price. The answer, according to Samsung, is to replace the light source entirely.
For more information, visit Samsung