CEDIA 2015

There are both advantages and disadvantages to acoustically transparent screens. On the downside they reduce screen gain as some of the light passes through them rather than contributing to the brightness of the image. They also affect the sound, however slightly, in much the same way (though sometimes more significantly) as grill on a speaker. And their lack of a completely smooth texture can reduce resolution, which will be even more important with 4K than with 1080p HD.

On the upside they position the sound to best support the picture on the screen. This is most important for the center channel, which locates the dialogue in a more appropriate location.

Stewart Filmscreen has long been known for its microperf screens, which put thousands of tiny holes in the screen material, allowing sound to pass through. The company’s commitment to microperfing continues, but they now offer a woven screen material as well—the Tela 80. It's available in fixed-frame, non-retractable form only. Pricing will depend on size, but it's slightly less expensive than a microperfed Stewart screen of the same size. It reportedly produces slightly less rolloff above 10kHz than does a microperfed screen.