Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: SMART MOD 7 ... How Do They Rate?

This is topic SMART MOD 7 ... How Do They Rate? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 01-29-2003, 02:07 AM:

Does anyone have one of these processors installed? .. If so, what are they like?

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 01-29-2003, 06:57 AM:

Matt,

The SMART MOD 7 is not yet in production. Circuit boards are expected to be here in a few days, and then there will be the usual production and qc time before they are ready to ship. I expect shipments to be starting sometime in late February to March.

The MOD 7 is an extension of the MOD 6. We have taken the Circle Surround matrix, which normally sits idle while in Digital format, and through some additional switching and the addition of some more channels, we have pressed the matrix into use to derive the rear surround (ex) channel plus the overhead channel. (I had to convert the 4 layer MOD 6 pc board to a 6 layer board for the MOD 7 to get everything to fit.)

In essence, we have combined the stereo processor and ex processor into one unit.

e-mail me if you want more details.

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 01-29-2003, 07:41 AM:

Thanks for your reply Oscar .... Now, Ok then ... how about the MOD 6? I am looking for 'field' experience... Sound quality? Reliability?

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 01-29-2003, 09:19 AM:

Oscar:

How about putting the new Model 7 on Smart's "New Products" page? [Smile]

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 01-29-2003, 10:45 AM:

Good idea, Ken. That page is very much out of date due to my lack of time, laziness, higher priorities, etc., etc.

I will take care of it.

EDIT-Jan.30, 2003 10:50AM EST:
The page is now available. Go here:
http://www.smartdev.com
and select MOD 7 on the welcome page or select New Products from the navigation bar on the left.

[ 01-30-2003, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: Oscar Neundorfer ]

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 01-30-2003, 02:41 PM:

Oscar,

I know this is a post about the MOD 7, but I would like to issue a public kudos to you and SMART for the MOD2B DIT Model. This is one of the best things anyone can put into a drive-in booth. I am very pleased with the performance at the site I project at. The unit feeds AM, FM, and an old RCA field amp. I am glad to see companies take an interest in the unique needs on the drive-in industry. Hats off to the MOD2B DIT!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-30-2003, 03:27 PM:

Chris, want to make it even better.....Have Oscar show you how to install an EQ card in it for the field speakers. I did this in several installations and the field speakers go from sounding awful, to actually pretty decent.
Mark @ CLACO
www.clacoequipment.com

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 01-30-2003, 05:11 PM:

Boy the price on that new model 7 is mighty tempting! I'm salivating already.

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 01-30-2003, 08:18 PM:

My manager was salivating when he saw the price in 'Box Office' also ... hence my question here....

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-30-2003, 08:49 PM:

Boy you should see the deal that Smart is offering right now on the Panastereo/DTS6D combination....about 4K less than a 650 and reader! Thats really tempting! Now Matt.....how come you don't just go over , see Ray, and buy yourself a Panastereo.....?
Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 01-31-2003, 09:10 AM:

The Smart unit was premiered at CineAsia and according to Norm Schneider the response was extremely positive. His target market, since the major chains are finished building for a few years, is to give as many features at the lowest price for independents and export markets.
Richard Fowler
Kinoton America

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 01-31-2003, 06:27 PM:

Mark, the Panastereo sells for $9,900 right? ...
I could land a Smart Mod 7 here for under $3000...... hence you see why the interest. Richard has hit the nail on the head. Small chains like ourselves are very interested in saving a few dollars if we can......

However, another question for those using the Smart units .... what's the SR emulation like?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-31-2003, 07:18 PM:

Matt, I don't know what the Panastereo sells for "Down Under" so to say, but here you also get the DTS 6D unit with it for about that muchn in USD. Thats also the best possible combination of equipment for overall a#1 sound quality. Reportedly the dealer cost on a CSP-1200 is a thousand less if you were able to buy it direct fomr Ray. Here the list is around $5000.00 give or take. Dont know but you may get more bang for your buck from a dealer here in the states....just a thought.
The SR emulation is just that...emulation, and is so-so. I wouldn't reccommend it personally. Thats actually another area that Panastereo excells in....Ray's SR really shines,is as good or better than the real thing!! Ya gets what ya pays for.....
Mark @ CLACO
www.clacoequipment.com

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-31-2003, 08:24 PM:

Mark, List on a Panastereo CSP-1200 in the states is $6,260. Street price is typically less than what a Dolby CP-65 used to sell for.

In Austrialia, The list price is $9,900AUD. In American money, that is $5,825.00. However, List is not List between the American market and the Aussie market (different discount structure)...Street price is actually quite similar(once you go through the exchange rate).

Now as for quality and giving your customers their money's worth, there really is not comparison...the Panastereo is a much better value for all concerned.

You know what they say about trying to get something for nothing.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-31-2003, 08:52 PM:

Steve,
Much agreeed! Are youa ware of the special deal that started recently on the Panastereo's? Brings list price way below that...
Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-31-2003, 10:32 PM:

The DTS/Panastereo deal? Yes, it is quite heavily advertised and Norm has definately told me about it.

Steve

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 02-01-2003, 03:18 AM:

Where would one enquire about this deal?

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 02-01-2003, 07:15 AM:

Dolby U.S. pricing has increased to erase the difference between the U.K. Euro pricing with the CP650D unit listing at $11,200.
Richard Fowler
Kinoton America

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-01-2003, 12:52 PM:

Through Smart Devices...or your local Smart Dealer perhaps. Or thrugh a dealer in the States if you'd rather do that.
Mark @ CLACO
www.clacoequipment.com

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 02-03-2003, 02:05 AM:

Actually Mark ... you could probably best answer this one ......
How would you compare/rate the Smart MOD series
against an Ultra-Stereo JS-200 sith SR? .. pros ... cons?
Everyone else feel free to comment too......

Also, looking at the Panastereo/DTS deal... it is too dear for us ..... if I have my price correct .... $11,500 USD right?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-03-2003, 08:38 AM:

Matt,
The U.S. processor has far better Noise reduction...with the Type A NR approaching the quality of real Dolby type A. The U.S. SR noise reduction is probably 2nd best at emulating Dolby SR. I know that USL might not agree that their noise reduction emulates SR, but thats really what it is doing. In fact, I'd have to say that the Dolby CP-650 is actually emulating the real Dolby Analog SR as well. Even Dolby will admit(and has to me) that it is not perfect, but adaquate and really close. Of course the 650 comes in forst at emulation!!
In my order of preference based on listening to them....#1 Panastereo CSP-1200,,,#2 ULS JS Series Processors,,,#3 Dolby CP-650,,,,#4 Smart Mod 2 series which I also do have quite a bit of experience with. The Smarts are ok, but the main lacking is the NR section. Everything else performs well. The Martix is in fact REALLY good. You might be able to find a dealer here in the US that would keep the DTS and just sell you the CSP-1200 Processor at a better deal....That dealer is getting a little bit better deal on the 6D so both might benefit from that sale. Just a thought....
Another note on all this. There was some dispute as to S/N level of various processors discussed here and I am actually in the process of doing S/N measurements as I go around to various sites. I plan to post that here in a few weeks. As it is turning out the USL JS series S/N is not as bad, or worse than other higher end processors assuming that all systems are properly set up.
Mark @ CLACO
www.clacoequipment.com

Posted by Matt Close (Member # 996) on 02-03-2003, 09:27 PM:

Thanks Mark ... I'll look forward to the S/N listings ..... I do remember a lot of people bagging the US units for bad S/N on a thread a while back.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-03-2003, 09:58 PM:

Its turning out that they are not quite as bad as some may think. I'm begining to think that its film noise they were hearingn not hiss from the actual electronics. If you run up the output level and then st the amp gains accordingly its actually not bad at all. I have still to measure the older US units and any Smart stuff though.
Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-06-2003, 11:02 AM:

If you can't hear the hiss on a JS series processor, you are deaf! It is that cut and dried. You would have to have an NC-40 room for it to be drowned out.

Conversely, I just did a Pana installation and you had to put your ear on the speaker to hear the hiss. Not quite the same as with numbers but empirically significant.

Steve