Can my HD video projector screen cover my center-channel speaker and not affect the audio balance?

Question

I am planning to install a ceiling mounted HD projector and pull-down widescreen.

The problem is that the screen will pull down right in front of the speaker for my center channel audio. I would think that this will affect the balance of my surround sound, correct?

I can't move the speakers below the screen. Does anyone know if the screen will have a really noticable effect? Any ideas for getting around this?

Answer 1

javan is right...they make screens that are specifically engineered to be acoustically transparent..and not all of them are perforated.

in reality..it doesn't really throw the balance off..since it's the center speaker...and you can always increase the volume of just that speaker.

but where is the screen that it's blocking the speaker? most people incorrectly put thier center channel ABOVE the left/right front speakers....your center channel is supposed to be about the same elevation as your main speakers...take that into consideration and find out if moving it down might help...if that puts it way too low..then..just turn the volume up..those acoustically transparent screens can be expensive.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can my HD video projector screen cover my center-channel speaker and not affect the audio balance?
I am planning to install a ceiling mounted HD projector and pull-down widescreen.

The problem is that the screen will pull down right in front of the speaker for my center channel audio. I would think that this will affect the balance of my surround sound, correct?

I can't move the...

Answer 3

Projector Screen Cover

Answer 4

The center channel does carry the high frequency sounds necessary for clarity of speech. Placing a solid screen in front of the speaker will decrease the volume of those frequencies and the sound will sound muffled. It is not enough to increase the overall volume of the front speaker, since the highs will still be reduced with respect the lower frequencies. If your A/V amp has individual speaker equalizers, you can use that to increase the highs to compensate for the loss through the screen. Even perforated screens attenuate highs to some extent, and movie theater systems boost the highs to behind-the-screen speakers.

Answer 5

You can buy a preforated (not sure on the spelling) screen which is designed to allow sound to pass through it. It is similiar to what is used in movie theaters--it has little holes in it so sound can pass through but still reflect a decent amount of light.

It is a pretty common item; I would not expect it to dramatically affect the sound quality.

Answer 6

my uncle did that and it did not make a difference in my opinion. however he is a baller and his sound system is amazing. However if it was my choice, the center is the most important in my opinion and i would put it somewhere else. you might be able to get it mounted at an angle near your projector facing downwards at the seating place.

Answer 7

no