Samsung unveiled the latest direct view LED cinema screen
The Samsung Onyx has another marquee theater and the biggest in the states. The Star Cinema Grill in Houston has installed a 46-foot wide direct view LED screen. The first install in the U.S. was in L.A. at 34 foot.
When you walk into the Star Cinema, you’re welcomed by a restaurant and bar at the center of twelve theaters. The center of the building houses the kitchen, facilities, and bar. The plush theaters surround the center.
Each theater boasts reclining, heated, leather seats. Star Cinema has food and beverage service in each theater. They even have a blanket service in case you get too cold watching your flick.
Jason Ostrow, vice president of Star Cinema Grill, says, “we went with the Onyx because we believe it is the future of cinema.” This is Star Cinema’s 11th location, but the first with Onyx.
The direct-view technology gives audiences deeper colors than some projection systems. As the screen technology is LED, the blacks will be most accurate black. Onyx brings HDR as well as 4K to Star Cinema audiences. The screen is not acoustically transparent as a typical movie screen would be. Samsung leverages its Harman team to manipulate the audio. Using JBL speakers and BSS DSP, Onyx installations sound like the speakers are directly behind the screen. In fact, they are above and along the sides.
The fact that there is no projection, either rear or front, gives theater designers more room. More room can mean more seats or higher quality, comfortable seating. The more space also provides more overall theaters should an installation decide to go completely direct view LED.
Whether in Houston or the L.A. area, the Samsung Onyx is a sight to behold. The colors are vibrant, and the audio is on point. Owners will work directly with an integrator and Samsung if they are interested in putting in the direct view screen. Samsung is putting a significant effort globally to deploy these unique cinema experiences. For good reason, it’s quite the experience.
Star Cinema seating 
Samsung Onyx seating Samsung Onyx back Star Cinema exterior 
Samsung Onyx Star Cinema
Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.
