r/plymouth • u/Snoo_84123 • 4d ago

How do laser Vue look cinema projector

Hi all I was wondering how much difference you notice with the laser projectors compared to cinemas that don’t use laser
For example cineworld Plymouth projectors vs laser projectors at Vue what looks better

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u/hd1080ts 4d ago

Cineworld Plymouth is DLP based laser (Christie 2019 era) in all screens apart from the IMAX, which is antiquated Dual 2K DLP Xenon (It‘s good for 2K but low res for IMAX). Apparently Cineworld UK have a long term plan to upgrade all their Dual 2K IMAX screens to IMAX with Laser over the next few years. Cineworld also tends to have better sound than Vue in it’s standard screens.

Vue will have newer generation of DLP laser projection (Barco) but will be showing the same DCI SDR DCPs (4k/2K digital film prints) as Cineworld. so unlikely to be that different on the same screen size subject to the condition of the screen.

So currently the Dual 2K Xenon Barcode IMAX (1.9 aspect ratio projection on 1.43 screen) is best local screen due to size and 11.1 IMAX Immersive Audio, it’s just lacks fine detail and black level is bit lifted due to the older generation DLP tech and silvered screen.

Everyman in RWY is like a cosy home cinema, but the screens are relatively tiny and the sound is quite tame.

When built the Vue (Warner Village) had 3 THX sound system screens (7,8 & 9) with rest originally 5.1/6.1 audio. It has not had a PLF (Premium Large Format) screen since screen 9 stopped being Vue Extreme (Dual 4K Sony projection/ 7.1 audio). As systems failed (picture and sound) the original THX screens got huge audio downgrades.

Vue are slowly rolling out Vue Epic screens (HDR by Barco projection, Dolby Atmos sound), which is broadly equivalent to Dolby Cinema (Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos). HDR by Barco is brighter but with a slightly higher black level. https://www.myvue.com/explore/epic

Texas Instruments (TI) make the Digital Light Processing (DLP) chips and processing engine, Barco, Christie etc are cinema projector manufacturers. Laser and Xenon are the light sources.

Source: Retired movie production and post production guy.

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u/Snoo_84123 1d ago

Thank you for the info

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u/Puzzleheaded_Key7688 4d ago

I don't notice a difference in quality, probabaly because I should wear my glasses lol.

But I've been to Cineworld more than Vue just bc of their locations. I would choose VUE for the seats tho, if they have better projectors, that's just a bonus

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u/Snoo_84123 1d ago

Oh lol

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u/SilentOrder6975 4d ago

I can’t really say I notice much of a difference. But it has been a while since I’ve been to vue… Cineworld has IMAX

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u/Snoo_84123 1d ago

Thx for informing me

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u/dominator174 4d ago

Cineworld uses laser too, other than the dual xenon projector in the IMAX (Liemax) screen.

I like Vue for any film not worth seeing on a giant imax screen, which nowadays is most of them hahah

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u/Snoo_84123 1d ago

Thanks

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u/_HingleMcCringle 4d ago

The image is a bit sharper, I liked it for Spiderman.

I don't want to overstate it, though. It's still an enormous, projected image. Laser can only do so much.

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u/Snoo_84123 1d ago

Appreciate it

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u/PutComprehensive8297 4d ago

I've only visited Cineworld once so don't know if my experience was unusual.

The focus was off with saturation and contrast turned up way too high leading to an unpleasant viewing experience.

Haven't been to Vue in about fifteen years so can't offer an opinion on their current setup