Video and displays
Acoustically transparent screen
A perforated or woven projection screen that lets sound pass through, so front speakers can sit behind the image as in a cinema.
An acoustically transparent (AT) screen is made of woven fabric or micro-perforated vinyl. Speakers behind it play through the material, which puts the center channel exactly at the image and lets the left and right sit at the same height and width as the picture.
In a cinema every line of dialogue comes from the mouth on screen because the speakers are behind it. At home an AT screen achieves the same anchoring and frees the floor space a large center speaker would otherwise need.
Expect a high-frequency roll-off of roughly 1 to 3 dB above 5 to 10 kHz, which room correction can compensate. Keep speakers 6 to 12 inches behind the screen to avoid comb filtering, and use a black backing so light does not bleed through.
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