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Author Topic: CP-65 average lifespan? Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-12-2011 07:53 PM                        If you get a spare preamp card (if you don't already have one), set it up properly, and have operators who know how to swap it out in case of trouble, you will always be able to have sound, even if you have to run in bypass mode. This should at least calm any fears of impending failure. Cost should be in the $200-300 range, or maybe less if you buy used. Other than that, I'd suggest getting a good technician (hopefully you already have someone you use regularly) to come in and do a full service call (A-chain, B-chain, and addressing any outstanding issues). Then, ask him what you could do to improve your presentation quality for $0 (yes, zero), $100, $1000, $10000, etc. He should be able to give some good suggestions based on your existing setup.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 04-12-2011 08:29 PM                        I am running THOUSANDS of Ashly FTX-2001's. I have lost only 4 modules in 16 years in an 8 plex with 40 amps. We understand them, have a lot of experience with them, repair them. I guess there must be varying degrees if technical ability loose out there. Definately no more junk than the CP-65 under discussion. Louis  |  IP: Logged Vincent Terranova Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Troy, NY, USA Registered: Feb 2011 posted 04-12-2011 10:25 PM                     Tony and Randy, I understand your reasons to do a complete amp replacement; however, our club budget is very limited, and since we have "working" amps right now, the executive board of the student union is unlikely to approve the funds for their replacement (this would be MUCH more than our small repair budget). And yes, we do have a technician that visits once a year. I will try to be there the next time he visits, and ask about presentation quality. Thanks guys for all your suggestions; it's great to get a second opinion from knowledgeable people. Vince  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 04-12-2011 10:37 PM                        Speaking of CP650s: I have noticed a significant dropping of prices on them (used). Is that because the CP750 is being used on digital conversions quite a bit? It is my understanding that these are significantly cheaper than the CP650.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-12-2011 10:59 PM                     quote: Victor Liorentas What about a film and Dcinema combination booth using a CP 65? Screen #5 at the Carmike 8 here in Lawton has a 35mm & D-Cinema setup using a Dolby CP-65. It's a former THX house. Screen #4 has a CP-65 but is digital projection only.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 04-12-2011 11:00 PM                       Mike, Last year at this time there were no used 650's on the market to speak of. This year they are coming out in pretty large numbers and being replaced by 750's, USL JSD 100's and others that only do D-Cinema inputs and do 8 or more channels with ease. So price comes down.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-12-2011 11:03 PM                     I absolutely understand your point. But my boss makes this guy look like a Boy Scout: While there might be better cinema processors, the one you have now is serviceable and, barring any mishaps should stay serviceable for the foreseeable future. It might be nice to replace it but it's not 100% necessary. I just bought a used CP650. It cost approx. $6,000 not including the Dolby Digital penthouse reader. I also just bought three brand new QSC amplifiers. They cost approx. $800 apiece. I don't know a lot about your theater's setup but you should be able to buy new amps for a typical L/C/R/S2 arrangement for somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,000. So, if your school won't buy you $3,000 worth of amps, they're certainly not going to buy you $6,000 worth of sound processor. However, if you can get one or the other, you'll have a much better chance of getting the $3,000 expenditure approved than the $6,000 expenditure. Which expenditure do you think will do you the most good? I think your processor is good. Not the best in the world but it's certainly capable of producing good sound if you tune it up right. However, the best processor in the world isn't going to do a bit of good if you have crummy amps. In your case, running a CP650 through old amplifiers would be like hanging a crystal chandelier in an outhouse. Furthermore, your upgrade path is better. Replace the amps and do a complete realignment of the system. Start at the speakers and re-aim them and check the wiring and placement. Do a complete A-Chain and a B-Chain. Right there, you're going to notice an improvement. It is from this point where you will launch your assault on the bosses go get the upgrades you want. You can add a DMA8 or other digital media adapter to your existing system for about $3,000. You can add Dolby Digital film sound for a couple-few thousand if you want. Properly planned all of these things can be added to your existing Dolby Processor. Then, if lightning strikes, the clouds part, the angels trumpet from on high and, somehow, you get approval, you can get your CP650 and your system will be complete. If you walked into the office, right now, and said you needed $12,000 to upgrade the sound system your boss/adviser would turn you down flat. However, if you walked into the office and asked for $500 this week and $500 next week, you've got a much better chance. If you could nickel and dime your boss for $500 per week for a whole year you'd have $26,000 and he probably wouldn't notice. Ask for half that in one lump sum and you'll probably get laughed out of the office. This is why I recommend replacing the amplifiers first.  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 04-13-2011 09:28 AM                     Sam, Why would someone replace a CP650 with a CP750 or JSD100? The film formats are no longer needed in a digital-only setup, but wouldn't a Cat 790 card for the 650 to allow it to decode AES be a lot cheaper than a new processor?  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 04-13-2011 03:12 PM                       Ken, Logic sometimes has nothing to do with it as you well know working in the same industry as the rest of us. Cinemark is replacing everything Dolby with the JSD100 as a matter of course. Regal is replacing a lot of 65's with JSD-80 and maybe 100's, and QSC DCP's; I've lost track. Has mostly to do with implementing 7.1 and 9.1, 11.1..and maybe a little to do with the DCI financing. Whatever, it's happening.  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-13-2011 04:52 PM                     If you have an early CP650 you've only 1 digital input, so it's no good. If you haven't got the EX board installed then it just about makes financial sense to replace it with a CP750, JSD100 etc. Especially as Sam pointed out, in this age of VPF deals etc.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 04-13-2011 05:43 PM                     Its AC3 input is a bit crippled too...if you get a 2/0 encoding...it will not do a "pro-logic" decode. So, if you don't have film, the CP650 makes little sense unless you had it when you had film and now are playing DCinema and don't need alternative content. That said, if you add a DMA8 Plus to the system coming in on the 6-channel input...then the CP650 can do DCinema, and alternative content with minimal cost (less than a CP750 or JSD100). -Steve  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 04-13-2011 10:31 PM                     Steve, is the AC-3 problem only in the earlier units or has Dolby updated that for current units?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 04-14-2011 12:03 AM                     To the best of my knowledge, the CP650 still does not do any pro-logic decoding of AC3 2/0 material. -Steve  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 04-18-2011 09:47 PM                        quote: Sam D. Chavez Mike, Last year at this time there were no used 650's on the market to speak of. This year they are coming out in pretty large numbers and being replaced by 750's, USL JSD 100's and others that only do D-Cinema inputs and do 8 or more channels with ease. So price comes down. So $11,000 for a new one from Ebay might be a little high?  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 04-18-2011 09:52 PM                     Steve: Thank you sir. Mike: Yeah whoever listed it is smoking crack...$11k is WAAAAY too high....IIRC that is MORE than theatre net price!! See the "More Junk for sale on eBay" Thread for details..  |  IP: Logged

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