Barco and Nevafilm install the first 3D audio solution for cinema in Europe

The Jam theater in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg can boast of being the first European cinema to have the Auro-3D surround sound system developed by the Belgian company Barco.

Barco y Neva film have installed Auro-3D, the innovative fully immersive audio platform designed exclusively for cinema, at the Jam theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. This audio solution elevates the viewer's sound experience to an incredible level of hearing acuity. With this installation, the Jam room becomes one of the first cinemas in the world and the first in Europe to be able to offer this new experience to spectators.

The introduction of digital projection in movie theaters has resulted in an explosion of success for 3D cinema. To create the ultimate life-like cinema experience, 3D audio was the next logical step. Auro-3D, developed by Barco in collaboration with Auro Technologies, is an audio technology that allows authentic three-dimensional sound production, distribution and reproduction that turns conventional cinema into a fully immersive experience.

Vadim Kondratenko, owner of Jam cinemas, said: "One of the main benefits of Auro-3D is that it can be used in combination with our current infrastructure. Our theaters do not need to be redesigned, they simply have to be upgraded to Auro-3D by adding additional speakers on top. Auro-3D's sound processing is also compatible with our current audio setup."

For his part, Brian Claypool, Director of Strategic Business Development at Barco, stated that "Auro-3D gives movie theaters the opportunity to offer their viewers something completely new. Sound in cinema has barely changed in the last twenty years since the introduction of 5.1. Following in the wake of the digital cinema revolution in projection, 3D sound will add to an even more immersive experience. The effect of Auro-3D is more powerful and much more “natural than traditional ‘surround sound’ and gives a new dimension to the cinematic experience.”

Auro-3D can be easily installed and is fully compatible with the main sound standards: Stereo and 5.1 Surround. The maximum sound capacity of Auro-3D speakers is 13.1, with 11.1 being the ideal solution for environments such as a commercial movie theater. Additionally, the Auro-3D codec enables single-stock distribution, meaning it allows content to be transported using current market standards, while maintaining compatibility with future updates. The elegance of the Auro-3D technology allows for easy installation into any current sound system and effortless operation thanks to compatibility with the D-Cinema standards currently used on the market.