Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Processors: Dolby v. DTS

This is topic Processors: Dolby v. DTS in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 10-24-2002, 01:38 AM:

As of date, I've only had experience with Dolby processors, the CP500 and the CP650. I'm a big fan of the CP500 for practicality and ease of use reasons, and I feel that it's a powerful processor. I don't really like the CP650, mostly due the the fact that I don't like the display, and rebooting takes forever.

From your experience, which processor out of the three: the Dolby CP500, CP650, and DTS 6AD; is your personal favorite, due to ease of use, configurability, reliability, price, and other factors?

Also, what would be the better set up, assuming one could get DTS discs on a reliable basis:
1. DTS-6AD with, DTS-ES, Dolby cat. 701 reader, and a Dolby DA20.
2. Dolby CP650 with Dolby cat. 701 reader, and DTS-6D w/ DTS-ES.
3. Dolby CP500 with Dolby cat. 701 reader, and DTS-6D w/ DTS-ES.
or would you change the DTS-ES to Dolby SA10?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-24-2002, 04:14 AM:

Your best bet for simplicity and cost is to go with the CP650 with internal SRD as well as internal EX. At that point you are 100% covered on all films. There is no film that I am aware of that is released these days with DTS but not an SRD track. However if you wanted both (perhaps or backup purposes), adding a dts6-d would be effortless with the CP650.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 10-24-2002, 06:53 AM:

Just done that very setup, was truly a breeze!

I loved the CP500 for it's flexibilty, I hated it for it's electronic mood swings. The CP650 appears thus far to be somewhat more reliable but, and it's a big pain in the butt, for a lot of my venues it doesn't have enough inputs, and what inputs there are can't be configured as one would like.

The DTS6AD? hmm, well in a multiplex situation it's ok, I don't care much for it's sound in SR, however the four I look after have been pretty reliable, the only grief here is getting the discs for the thing.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2002, 09:39 AM:

My route will yeild better sound
Panastereo csp1200
Dolby DA20
DTS6D
Panastereo surround adapter
Yes it will cost a little bit more but the net results are sonically better and also more easily serviced should there be a component failure

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-24-2002, 10:37 AM:

quote:
Your best bet for simplicity and cost is to go with the CP650 with internal SRD as well as internal EX. At that point you are 100% covered on all films. There is no film that I am aware of that is released these days with DTS but not an SRD track.

MGM likes to use DTS only. That was the case with Anitrust, and a few others I cannot remember. At the theater I was at when it was released, 2 of our medium houses had DTS only. Since we figured that movie wouldn't sell much (and it didn't) we started it in one of these houses. I wish the larger houses would have DTS, but none of them do.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-24-2002, 11:29 AM:

What about the hardwrae quality and features of the dts-6AD? I have never seen or heard one since they are commonly not installed here.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-24-2002, 11:40 AM:

Gord,

You offered a suggestion that was NOT one of the two choices. BTW the CP-650 price is going up January 1st so order early!

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2002, 11:53 AM:

I know but sometimes it is better to take a step back and look at the best route to go

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 10-24-2002, 04:28 PM:

Thanks for all your suggestions. And Gord, I'll look at the Panastereo processor.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-24-2002, 06:00 PM:

DTS-6AD cinema processors are pretty decent. They have good automation features and the DTS audio coming out of one is as good as any DTS player.

The only drawback with the DTS-6AD is the SR-type analog playback is not as good as true Dolby SR. But then one can fault the Dolby CP-650 for its digital treatment of A-type and SR-type analog tracks. But, as Brad stated, you do get internal Surround EX processing.

My guess is you would be using that Surround EX mode on Dolby Digital audio more often than playing analog films in SR. It seems to be more and more rare for films to arrive in analog only, unless you work for an art house theater. And even there, Dolby Digital is getting to be pretty common on most prints.

DTS-ES or Dolby SA-10? You can weigh their own merits and add one to any digital sound format. Dolby SA-10s can be added to a DTS-only rack. You can hook up a DTS-ES player to a Dolby Digital driven system. It will work. The only problems you'll have is when you want to advertise your digital sound and extended surround capability. At that point, you'll confuse the crap out of customers.

Anyway, I still like an old 2-drive DTS system hooked up to a Dolby CP-65. Your digital surround and SR analog will both sound great in that combination.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-24-2002, 06:57 PM:

Bobby,

On the EX front...there is also the Panastereo SP-23/30 For less money you get a 1-U unit that has 1/3 octave EQ on all three channels as opposed to the SA-10 which as ,not quite, full octave plus other issues. Oh, and did I tell you that the SP-23 has meters on the front for calibrating as opposed to the BS way the SA-10 has you set levels?

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2002, 08:01 PM:

But steve that was on my list that you disallowed

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-24-2002, 08:38 PM:

I was merely responding to Bobby's comment on Surround EX...which was off-topic entirely...only the CP-650 and DTS-6AD were under consideration at the beginning of the topic.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-24-2002, 11:32 PM:

I only brought up the Surround EX thing since it is built into the Dolby CP-650. That gives it a little bit of a marketing edge above a DTS-6AD, at least until DTS comes out with a new playback machine/cinema processor combo with DTS-ES built in.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-25-2002, 12:36 AM:

I'm definately on Gords side here(and we all know that Mr.Guttag is also on our side in reality). The Panastereo/DA-20 route is BY FAR the best way to the best sound quality. Yes, a bit more expensive, but ya gets what ya pays for.
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 10-28-2002, 10:06 AM:

Brad writes:

quote:
There is no film that I am aware of that is released these days with DTS but not an SRD track.

here has just been released with DTS only (this is not given on IMDB but the Sight and Sound review gives DTS as the only sound format). French and Bollywood films which are DTS only get released quite frequently.
Obviously this is only an issue for arthouse venues.

Edit: Brad, am I doing something wrong posting the link? The word 'here' appears even though I entered the film title in that slot. When I went back and edited, changed the 'here' to the name of the film and pressed send, the 'here' still appears on the post (and yes, I did refresh the page).

Posted by Antonio Marcheselli (Member # 373) on 10-28-2002, 10:10 AM:

"Stigmata" came to Italy With DTS only.

Antonio

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-28-2002, 02:59 PM:

I have asked and asked for a couple of years now that people posting long URLs edit their post so it doesn't jam up the page and I have edited URL after URL myself because people would not respect the policies. Enough is enough. That little feature is no longer. You must now word your sentences for the word "here" to appear.

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 10-28-2002, 08:13 PM:

I am not very familiar with the Panastereo processors, but even though they are more costly, they seem to be the favorite around here sonically.

In the mind of one who runs an arthouse, I'm assuming that Panastereo is the best route? Also, where can I find a good (cheap) dealer of their products?

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 10-28-2002, 08:14 PM:

heretofore one could do as one wished but hereinafter, regardless of your heredity you're just going to have to be creative. Anything else would be heresy. So there.

Posted by Rick Long (Member # 213) on 10-28-2002, 08:18 PM:

Here here!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-28-2002, 08:52 PM:

See how easy that is!

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 10-28-2002, 11:05 PM:

Remember the expression; "No one ever got fired for buying IBM."? Well the same could be said for Dolby....

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-29-2002, 07:11 AM:

Jacob,
For analog, Pana is indeed LESS costly. For digital, buying the CP-650 (Dolby Digital) or the DTS-6AD (DTS Digital) or DFP-D3000 (SDDS Digital) are each the least expensive way to go.

As to flexibility, the Panastereo just tap-dances on the rest. As to sonic quality, it is "high-end." That is, it's components do more than just work...they are actually superior components.

However, it really depends on just what you want from a processor as to which is the best one for YOU. I have never believed in a one size fits all approach (except maybe for the CP-200 )

To answer your last question, there are many dealers that sell Panastereo.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"