Klipsch sound at the Landmark

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I forgot to mention this last weekend, but before going to last Friday's somewhat disappointing 4K digital screening of Dr. Strangelove at West L.A.'s Landmark, I slipped into theatre #10 -- upstairs and on the smallish side but with perfect sightlines and luxurious seating -- and I noticed that Once was playing on the screen. But what got me wasn't the digital projection (which looked fantastic) as much as the sound.

The voices and the ambient sound was unusually clean and full. It didn't feel the least bit distorted or pushed. It's a little hard to understand some of Once's dialogue because of the Irish and Slovak acccents, but every syllable and vowel was suddenly cleaner and sharper than anything I'd ever heard before, and I've seen John Carney's film four times now.

The reason for the awesome sound, I've been told, is Landmark's decison to install state-of-the-art Klipsch speakers. Specifically Klipsch professional cinema speakers, Dolby Digital EX surround sound processors, and QSC amplifiers.

An info sheet supplied by Landmark marketing exec Madelyn Hammond quotes Landmark's chief engineer Bobby Parry as saying that Klipsch builds "the most advanced, best-sounding professional speakers for the cinema industry," said Parry. "They have the smoothest response curve of any cinema speaker I've ever used."

She also quotes Klipsch exec Chuck Mulhearn and his explanation about how Klipsch uses "advanced Tractrix Horn geometry and compression driver technology that reproduces a more genuine, lifelike sound in theaters. Horn design dramatically increases efficiency, which is important, because it enables Klipsch speakers to produce more output using less energy. This improves reliability and reduces distortion, so you hear exactly what you're supposed to, instead of speaker coloration.

"This improves reliability and reduces distortion, so you hear exactly what you're supposed to, instead of speaker coloration," he concludes.

I know this sounds like p.r. blather, but I've been to the Landmark and stood in one of those upstairs theatres and listened and it's all real. As soon as I walked in a voice went "whoa." I swear the sound felt just a little bit fuller and cleaner than it does at the Arclight. And that's saying alot.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 21, 2007 at 2:14 PM

comment #1

MiraJeffAICN says ...

You know, Jeff, when we met the other day, I completely forgot to thank you for reccommending Once. I thought it was an absolutely brilliant, beautiful film, and I really don't think it would've been on my radar if not for you, so thanks.

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at June 21, 2007 3:47 PM

comment #2

John Y says ...

MiraJeff, glad you liked "Once." It is quite the special little film.

Even better, though, is "Away From Her."

Posted by John Y at June 21, 2007 5:24 PM

comment #3

Circumvrent says ...

Jeff, is this all Landmark theatres, or just the one in CA?

Posted by Circumvrent at June 21, 2007 5:27 PM

comment #4

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Circumvent: Just the new Landmark plex in West LA on Pico Blvd.

Posted by gruver1 at June 21, 2007 5:52 PM

comment #5

JoeGreenia says ...

The sound at the Landmark is Chicago is good, better than average, but not what Jeff seems to be describing here.

Posted by JoeGreenia at June 21, 2007 10:25 PM

comment #6

OddDuck says ...

Sorta off-topic, but anyone here familiar with Chicago able to recommend the best theater in that town sound/picture-wise? I've been to so many bad ones.

Posted by OddDuck at June 22, 2007 7:06 AM

comment #7

rockne says ...

Hey, long time reader, first time commenter. Thank you, Jeff, for running stories like these. The more theaters begin to get their acts together, the more people will go to the theaters.
I used to work for Good Guys and whenever someone would come in looking to build a home theater, there was no other speaker system I would point them to but the Klipsch reference series.
They are not made anymore, but if you want to simulate that sound in your own home theater, you can look for the new reference series, or you can go on e-bay and find the old series, with the "Tractrix" horn. Sound in my brother's home theater has never been cleaner and clearer. I love Klipsch and would recommend anyone else buy it, too.
Anyway, I am not a plant, just a true Klipsch believer. It's amazing.
Thanks again for running articles like this, I can't wait to get to that theater.

Posted by rockne at June 22, 2007 8:01 AM

comment #8

Toby Kwimper says ...

I also saw "Once" at the Landmark--not in the small theater upstairs, but in one of the larger ones on the main level. The sound was good in our theater, but there was clear rumbling and bass noise leaking in from another theater on that level.

Also, it was the third time I've seen "Once," and the movie has never been as dark as it was at the Landmark. I don't know if it was a projector problem, or if those bright blue exit lights along the side were messing with my eyes, but it was definitely harder to see what was going on in some of those scenes.

By the way, the audience--about half of whom looked to be on the high side of 60 at this weekend matinee--absolutely hated the movie. Every single comment I heard leaving the theater was negative. They didn't like the music, they didn't like the non-Hollywood ending, etc. etc. And here I thought westside audiences were supposed to be smart and, um, hip...

Posted by Toby Kwimper at June 22, 2007 11:33 AM

comment #9

Joshua Mooney says ...

Agreed, "rockne." Klipsch is my home-theater speaker of choice. When it comes to pure audio for my sound systems, I prefer refurbished Advents from the 'mid-70s or else new B&W's. I also recommend "Sound Dynamics" from the mid to late-'90s. They're a Canadian company that I think may now be out of existence. They all have in common excellent reproduction at reasonable prices.

Posted by Joshua Mooney at June 22, 2007 11:49 AM

comment #10