Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DTS question

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Posted by Michael Rourke (Member # 1142) on 05-16-2002, 10:08 PM:

Today I noticed the power supply fan on my DTS unit wasn't working at all. Is it possible to buy a new fan seperately, and do local computer stores have it?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-16-2002, 10:59 PM:

Yes, You need to find an AT type supply of the same rating that is in the DTS unit. It is also possible to just replace the fan as well. Just be sure that nothing inside the supply looks like it has been overheated, or cooked.
Mark @ GTS

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 05-16-2002, 11:44 PM:

I buy my fans from Jameco electronics by mail order: www.jameco.com

Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 05-16-2002, 11:56 PM:

Mark is right - you could just replace the fan, but with most computer type power supplies are you're better off just replacing it. AT type power supplies are getting harder to find, but make sure you get a decent brand - computer power supplies are notorius for poor quality.

I would recommend getting one from PC Power & Cooling for $39 - see here. While this is only a 230 watt (DTS includes a 250), but it is a high quality power supply. It should be more then adequate - DTS 6Ds have a 486, a limited amount of memory, and no hard drive.

For the record here are the specs of a typical DTS 6D power supply:
5V at 25A
12V at 10A
-5V at 0.5A
-12V at 0.5A
250 Watts

PC Power & Cooling power supply:
5V at 23A
12V at 9A
-5V at 0.5A
-12V at 0.5A
230 Watts

Remember when plugging the power supply into the motherboard the black wires will be next to each other.

I will be adding some pictures shortly.

Steven Gorsky

Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 05-17-2002, 12:52 AM:

OK, the pictures I promised.

These are the connectors of an AT power supply, which is what you need. They plug into the motherboard.

This picture shows the correct way they need to be plugged in, otherwise damage will result. Black wires next to each other in the center.

Steven Gorsky

Posted by Karen Hultgren (Member # 395) on 05-17-2002, 11:39 AM:

Michael,

If the fan has stopped rotating, it probably means the supply has failed. I would replace it. Be sure to get the correct power supply, we have them made with a built-in load so don't buy just any ole supply because it will fail very quickly.

Please contact your local DTS dealer and order a new fan from them. You can find DTS dealers posted on our web site at www.dtsonline.com/cinema

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com

Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 05-20-2002, 06:54 PM:

I checked with PC Power & Cooling, and the power supply I recommended should be perfect. The only load it requires is 1 amp on the +5V line.

Steven Gorsky

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 05-20-2002, 09:16 PM:

Or you could just get rid of DTS all together and save yourself more headaches. Just speaking from personal experience.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-20-2002, 11:34 PM:

Since most of us find DTS highly reliable perhaps you would care to elaborate?

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 05-22-2002, 08:07 AM:

All I know is that we've had to replace all the drives in our DTS player (twice if I'm not mistaken), and on at least one occasion, our discs have arrived in the cans in unplayable condition(don't know if they were blank or what, but they were unable to be read by the player, while it had been and continued to read others fine). On several occasions we've not received our discs in the cans, but in a seperate shipment, sometimes a day or two later. It seems to me as if, in the beginning anyway, DTS used some cheap components and its sort of left a bad taste in my mouth. Finally, trailer discs don't always have all the trailers on them, so your sound is flipping back and forth.

I'm not professing that Dolby Digital is flawless, as we have had problems with prints having the digital track screwed up (as a matter of fact our attached Minority Report on one of our prints of Ep 2 won't play in dolby digital), but I've had significantly fewer problems in comparison.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-22-2002, 09:49 AM:

I realize that this is anecdotal, but I think it represents what is more typical of DTS:

I've had DTS since almost the very beginning. I flew over to Miami in 1993 just to see/hear JURASSIC PARK with the then-new DTS sound format. I sought out various DTS-equipped theatres, seeing the movie over a dozen times in less than a week. The theatre operators, managers and projectionists were all very willing to talk to me about it and encouraged me to push for getting the system in the cinemas I was working for.

Granted, they didn't have the systems in place long enough to experience any problems, but they were very pleased with its simplicity and reliability, which was definitely a concern with a dual system.

I still have my original two DTS-6 units. I took an extended leave-of-absence and the cinemas "promoted" someone to do maintenance and he disconnected them for some reason. I thought maybe they'd started malfunctioning.

But - guess what? They still work! One of them is running EPISODE II and the other one will be running SPIDERMAN as soon as a new reader comes in for it (dead LED). By the way, the "dead" LED has been turned on everyday since 1997. Compare this to my Dolby Digital Cat 701 reader that needs replacement after only 2 years in service.

I think the DTS system offers incredible value for money. It's possible that you got a dud. It's a giant leap to go recommending that we all trash our DTS equipment based solely on the personal experience of one user.

I'm very sorry that your system didn't work out. I get my discs late almost every time but if you're using a reverse-scan LED, a good processor and if you have a good alignment/EQ then the analog soundtrack isn't so bad for those first few days.

It's frustrating to get the discs late - definitely a pet peeve of mine - but I find that certain studios and certain directors have their act together. Spielberg and Lucas movies ALWAYS arrive with the discs. Universal and DreamWorks ALMOST ALWAYS arrive with the discs. I haven't handled an MGM film in a long time, but their discs used to arrive together with the movie.

What I'm driving at is that I'm suspecting that the DTS delays may be due to STUDIO inefficiency; some people seem to get their stuff to DTS in a timely manner while others don't. This may not be the case (Karen could clarify, but I wouldn't blame her for not blowing the whistle on her own clients) but I can't think why else some people/studios seem to be able to get it together (consistently) while others allow themselves to run out of time.

------------------

~Manny.

Now...where was I ?
Leonard Shelby, MEMENTO.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-22-2002, 10:28 AM:

Well on the drive issue they used toshiba drives that turned out not to meet the manufactures spec. But in all fairness they lasted a year which was more than the warranty and the kit is not that expensive.
As for disks not arriving that has been mainly a non issue up here and if they are just being thrown in the cans well that is the fault of the depot not DTS. After all they did come out with the yellow ring thingy to protect them.
Also the DA20 was not without problems mainly overheating molex connectors on the powersupply and SDDS is still another story
DTS and SRD are both good value for the money so lets quit the whining

Posted by Karen Hultgren (Member # 395) on 05-22-2002, 01:20 PM:

Chad,

If you ever receive damaged discs or do not get discs, all you need do is call me. DTS can be reached by dialing (in USA) toll-free 800-959-4109. I will have to get permission from the studio to send you discs but most of the time discs can be over-nighted. All it takes is a phone call from you to me - or you can email if you prefer. Your disc situation will not improve unless you let me know about it when it occurs.

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-22-2002, 04:25 PM:

This makes me a little curious about something...

Could the caddy drives in the DTS-6 be replaced with the ones from the DTS-6D?

------------------

~Manny.

Now...where was I ?
Leonard Shelby, MEMENTO.

Posted by Karen Hultgren (Member # 395) on 05-22-2002, 04:58 PM:

Manny,

Yes, the drives can be swapped if they are the same model drive. There is nothing different in drives used in the DTS-6D vs. the DTS-6.

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 05-22-2002, 07:23 PM:

Manny said, "I get my discs late almost every time but if you're using a reverse-scan LED, a good processor and if you have a good alignment/EQ then the analog soundtrack isn't so bad for those first few days."

Oh, well, then, so long as it's not soooo bad, then I guess I should just put up with it. The whole point is that I shouldn't have to call anyone or run analong for even one show. Not when one of the attractions we have at our theatres is digital sound. Thank you for confirming that it's a pain in the ass at times.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-22-2002, 08:14 PM:

In all fairness, I should have stated that in nearly every case, I'm taking early delivery on prints because we have a separate rating system here. I have always assumed that most everybody else's prints were arriving with discs - especially in North America.

Whatever, though. I'll just leave that right there.

***Manny backs away slowly.