Samsung today announced that its line of 4K LED theater displays is now called Onyx, which aims to evoke the image quality of its pure black capabilities. The screens, six of which currently exist around the world, have a resolution of 34 feet and 4096 x 2160, providing a richer and sharper image than the standard 2K projection. They are capable of displaying 2K, 4K, 3D and HDR images. Last week, Samsung officially unveiled its first US location for Onyx at Pacific Theaters Winnetka in Chatsworth, California, just north of Los Angeles.
While the screen is smaller than standard projection screens from 45 to 65 feet in most theaters, the Onyx LED monitor takes advantage of the fact that it is not based on projection technology. It is essentially a giant 4K television screen integrated into a movie wall. Samsung says it works with theaters to design seating arrangements and the personalized JBL sound system to maximize the viewing experience and audio quality. And unlike the projection, the screen also works well with partial light, which Samsung hopes will make it a viable option to dine on theatrical experiences and even e-sports and other live game events, as viewers they will not need to sit in complete darkness. .
in a live demonstration of the screen at the Pacific Theater Winnetka last Friday, in which we saw Ready Player One in the Onyx screen, certainly difficult without a side by side comparison to differentiate between the LED movie screen and a standard projection. It was much easier to discern quality by being closer to a smaller, medium-sized Onyx screen that Samsung provided to the Roundabout post-production studio. The studio is now making use of the screen in its color correction, HDR rating and other film editing works now increasingly focused on helping studios produce higher quality digital images.
In the theater, the sound system was fantastic and the seats were much more comfortable than their standard rate. But it's not obvious that most viewers can tell the difference when it comes to unprocessed visual quality. The tickets to watch movies on the Onyx screen will probably only cost a bit more than a standard movie, similar to the IMAX or XD prices.
As for how much the screen costs, Samsung does not give a specific figure, but estimates place it somewhere between $ 500,000 and $ 800,000, depending on the needs of the owner of the theater. That's roughly two or three times the price of a standard projection system, according to The Hollywood Reporter . The company already has two in South Korea, one in Switzerland and two more in China. It is planning to have 10 installed worldwide for the summer and 30 for the end of the year. Samsung will also present a 46-foot 4K LED display later this year to help the Onyx line better compete with traditional laser projection systems.