Exhibitor:
- Epic Lee Vista
Location:
- Orlando, Florida, USA
Solutions:
I was amazed at the brightness and color today’s marketplace. The upgrade exceeded our expectations and guarantees our mission of delivering the best possible image in the Epic XL auditoriums at Lee Vista.
Background
The US cinema chain, “Epic Theatres,” faced declining light levels with its Series 2 Barco digital cinema projectors, resulting in a less-than-ideal moviegoing experience in two of the Epic XL auditoriums 1 and 12 at its Lee Vista location in Orlando, Florida. Epic XL brand premium auditoriums are designed to provide a Premium Large Format (PLF) experience, featuring expansive image sizes and powerful sound systems. Epic XL screens are at least 65 feet (20 meters) wide. In response, the management team conducted a detailed analysis to identify root causes and develop an effective solution to enhance image quality, ultimately improving color and increasing light levels to meet cinema DCI standards consistently.
Challenges Identified
- Degraded Visual Performance:As the lamp hours approached the warranty limit, the image quality from the 33,000-lumen Barco DP4K-32B Series 2 cinema projectors began to vary in color and uniformity. To maintain the industry standard for 2D light levels, Epic Theatres had to replace the powerful 6500-watt Xenon lamp at least four times a year to ensure the light levels met DCI specifications.
- Higher Energy Consumption: Compared to a pure RGB laser light source, the Xenon lamps used more power, leading to higher electricity costs, especially in the Epic XL premium large-format installations.
- Excessive Heat:The 6500-watt lamps generated significant heat, which affected the lifespan of nearby components, specifically the Start Pulse Generator, and required an exhaust system to manage the heat.
- Shorter Lifespan:The Xenon lamp for Barco’s DP4K-32B was warranted for only 900 hours, requiring replacement at least four times annually. In comparison, a pure RGB laser light source can last up to 50,000 hours.
- Higher Replacement Costs: Although initial costs may be lower, the requirement for more frequent replacements results in increased long-term expenses compared to upgrading the lamp with a Pure RGB laser light kit.
Solutions Implemented
Theatre Upgrade: The company invested in CineUnion’s 40,000-lumen Pure RGB Laser Light Upgrade (LLU) kit, model number ZB432L25-40, with chiller model ZKC-1.5A/04.
Results Achieved: “I was amazed at the brightness and color, said Weegee Demarsh, owner of Epic Theatres. “The upgrade exceeded our expectations and guarantees our mission of delivering the best possible image in the Epic XL auditoriums at Lee Vista.”
Results Achieved: “I was amazed at the brightness and color, said Weegee Demarsh, owner of Epic Theatres. “The upgrade exceeded our expectations and guarantees our mission of delivering the best possible image in the Epic XL auditoriums at Lee Vista.”
- Increased Light Levels and Color: Light levels increased from an average of 7 foot-Lamberts (fL) to the industry standard of ±14 foot-Lamberts (fL) at 50 percent power, while significantly reducing operational costs. The color readings were increased to DCI-P3 color space specifications, resulting in more vivid and accurate color representation. See the chart below.
Measuring Power
Auditorium #1
Auditorium #12
Xenon Lamp at 100%
8.61 fL
6.07 fL
CineUnion LLU at 55%
15.9 fL
17.1 fL
Percent improvement in the light level:
85%
180%
- Enhanced Cinematic Experience: The retrofitted lamp-based cinema projector, upgraded with CineUnion’s Pure RGB laser light source, delivered measurable improvements that were immediately noticeable to the management and resulted in high guest satisfaction.