Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: New Lenard Cinema 4 way active Speaker/ Amp

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Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-09-2006, 09:06 PM:

Yesterday we set up this new style of cinema system for testing, by Thursday this will be backstage. I thought you may like to see it before it's hidden away. For over 30 years this has been a pet project for John Bernett of Lenard audio ( pioneer of the high power amplifier in the 70's) .

The Chauvel Cinema Paddington, Sydney, Australia. Re opens 27th july.
I thought you guys would be interested in a sound system that refines the theories that brought us the JBL and Altec boxes of the 50's. The center channel is A2 in scale and uses 8 amplifiers, one for each speaker driver. Amplifiers are solid state but are designed to work and sound like valve amps.

The speakers sound great and are clear and defined at levels up to 130db at 3 metres, I was suprised how comfortable it was to listen to and that my head didn't blow up!
The design is not actually about sound level. Clear and Natural audio are its aim.

I spent 5 hours listening to my DVD and cd collection yesterday and was amazed!

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-15-2006, 07:55 AM:

Holy crap! That's massive. This will probably end up being one of the best, if not THE best sounding cinema in Sydney... [Smile]

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-16-2006, 12:08 AM:

How does this sort of system compare to the IMAX style of speaker? I must say the sheer size of this makes it look much more impressive! Defiantly going to be on my to do list to go to that cinema when I am in Sydney next. Is this an Australian made system?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-16-2006, 12:26 AM:

Remember boys, the best speaker system and the best acoustics in the world will sound like crap if it is poorly, or over-tuned.

Likewise, some decent system can be made to sound pretty darned good (even if the speakers and amps are pushed to their limit).

Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 07-16-2006, 09:11 AM:

Cameron that looks awesome!!!
Can't wait to drop in and have a listen.
So that gives the Aussies 3 of the BEST:
The Best Sound Systems
The Best Sound Processor
The Best Sound Reader
Cheers Ian [Wink]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-16-2006, 06:58 PM:

As Cameron was the guy who built our speakers for the Cremorne Orpheum in time for the release of TITANIC in 97 (one good friend's quote of the sound was 'John, I thought I was ON the fucking ship') I respect his opinion greatly when he says he was amazed at how these sound.

Chauvel and great sound...hard to get my head around that one. [Wink]

Posted by Nick Scott (Member # 2850) on 07-17-2006, 06:02 AM:

So cameron when are we going to put a few of them into avalon? [Smile]

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-19-2006, 06:42 AM:

Ok well....... Brad nailed it, The system is being EQed twice, once by Lenard to match up all 18 amps and the 4 way 24db crossovers ect. Then by Atlab with the Cp650 install which was today.

On Saturday after Lenard did their EQ, I listened to some of my favorite movie soundtracks straight out of the CD player into the amps, it was breathtaking, smooth and natural, sub bass that shaked the seats. I was in heaven! This sounded better than my Orpheum upgrade John, strangely enough this system used exactly the same drivers for the midbass and 2 inch horns that we used. The improvements were with the valve sounding amps and far better bass from the folded bass horns. the super tweeter also made the very top end exceptionally smooth.

When I walked in today during the later part of the Atlab Eq, The Cinema sounded well harsh and top heavy like most cinemas, the realism of the voice had disapeared, The system still sounded better than most, but had lost alot of its exceptional qualities.
Atlab was far from finished when I had to leave so I look forward to seeing whether the special qualities return.

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-19-2006, 08:08 AM:

Noooooo! [Smile]

Get the Lenard guys back in after Atlab to fix it! (Unless of course everything is back to the way it was once they are done).

It would be a real shame if it wasn't fixed...but I'm sure you know that already. I have GOT to hear this!!!

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-20-2006, 02:50 AM:

well Michael, I dont think atlab broke it lol, I feel that lenard probably made it a bit hard for them by not having someone there during the eq, after all it is the most complicated amp and speaker package Ive ever seen, kinda makes a IMAX sound system look homely! final touches will be done on friday with both parties present and I'll let you know the results then.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-22-2006, 02:02 AM:

THE SYSTEM SOUNDS REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD. Cinema reopenes to the public on thursday 27th july, so tell us what you guys think when you get a chance to have a listen. I do think its well worth the effort.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-23-2006, 01:44 AM:

Sunday 23 july 2006 First Screening, cast & crew screening of "Hunts Angel", Dolby Digital Mix, The director is quoted as saying "It sounds better than the mixing suite"

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-24-2006, 07:03 AM:

quote: Cameron Glendinning
The director is quoted as saying "It sounds better than the mixing suite"

I have no idea who the director is on that one...but really...how often do they say something like that ?

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-24-2006, 09:14 AM:

That's true, John! [Smile]

But talk about cognitive dissonance: The Chauvel, with a Dolby CP-650...Chauvel, Dolby CP-650...Chauvel, Dolby CP-650... [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Maggs (Member # 444) on 07-25-2006, 12:32 AM:

Hi Everyone,
Great to see the Chauvel re-opening and great to see old friends responding to this [Smile]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 07-25-2006, 12:35 AM:

quote:
So that gives the Aussies 3 of the BEST:
...
...
The Best Sound Reader

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-25-2006, 04:34 AM:

Michael I belive that Ian is refering to that fact that reverse scan is an Australian invention, so by the best sound readers he means the Raycophone soundheads. Is that what you were refering to Ian?

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 07-25-2006, 08:10 AM:

quote: Paul Trimboli
reverse scan is an Australian invention

Did the Raycophone predate the WE TA7400? That was reverse scan and introduced in 1936.
Bob

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 07-25-2006, 09:02 AM:

The Raycophone system was first publicaly demonstrated on the 10th of June 1929 and then went on sale. By 1938 375 cinemas in Australia were running Raycophone sound equipment. The cost of a Raycophone reproducer cost 1700 pounds compared to the US systems that cost 11 000 pounds. I have no idea what became of Raycophone [Confused]

Posted by Phillip Grace (Member # 2262) on 02-07-2007, 03:53 AM:

The early Raycophone soundheads used a conventional front-scanning system and a fixed sound gate similar to the W/E 1A units. Their first cinema sound system was a universal base device for sound on film and sound on disc reproduction, adaptable to various makes of projector. There were many models of soundheads - add-on units and complete pedestal systems available. Their portable projectors used front-scanning soundheads from their introduction in (I think) 1932. The soundhead used on the J3 projector (1937) is also front-scanning.
There is an Australian patent, assigned to Raycophone, describing the rear scanning rotary-stabilised soundheads with which most Australian operators would be familiar. I dont have it to hand at the momement, but recall that it pre-dates slightly the introduction of the RCA PS24 (1936) and W/E 7400 (1937) soundheads, which were the first in the U.S. to ovecome the restricitions of the Tri-Ergon patents. The optical soundtrack is scanned with the film overhanging a kinetically stabilsed rotating drum, in the form commonly found today. I think the first Raycophone sound system to employ this type of soundhead was known as "Panaphonic".
There seems to be virtually no technical literature available on Raycophone. I would love to hear from anybody who has any.
Cheers.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 02-07-2007, 08:46 AM:

quote: Phillip Grace
it pre-dates slightly the introduction of the RCA PS24 (1936)

I believe the PS24 was introduced in 1932. Radio City Music Hall opened with PS24's in December 1932.
Bob

Posted by Phillip Grace (Member # 2262) on 02-07-2007, 11:33 PM:

Hi Robert.

I'm going from my memory of a series of 3 articles in the SMPTE journal from about 1954, for the date of the introduction of the PS24 soundhead, so am interested to hear that they may indeed be earlier. The SMPTE series was reproduced in Fielding "A Technological History of Motion Pictures and Television". The PS24 was front-scanning, while the 7400 was rear-scanning, so the question about the invention of reverse scanning remains. I have an Altec service bulletin somewhere on the PS24, so I'll try to dig that out for further reference.

Cheers.
Phil.