Improvements in Motion Picture Sound: The Academy's New Three-Way Loudspeaker System

Digital soundtracks have the capability of delivering lower distortion program signals with flat power bandwidth in the motion picture theater. Traditional two-way theater loudspeaker systems are presently being pushed far beyond their original performance limits with the new soundtracks, and three-way systems are now considered to be their future replacement. The authors have developed such systems for both small and large venues, and an installation of five new screen channels has been made in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. System evolution, design, and performance will be discussed in detail in this paper.