Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Which magnetic preamplifier?

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Posted by Lionel Fouillen (Member # 1475) on 06-25-2003, 03:36 AM:

I don't think Dolby still manufacture the magnetic preamplifier that was usually associated with the CP200 in the past. So which modern preamplifier would you recommand for a new installation to re-run 70mm prints from the 1980's in Dolby format #42 ?

Thanks.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-25-2003, 08:25 AM:

Dolby does not make the MPU-1 anymore but it does still make the Cat. 92C that goes into it so if you have the MPU then you can load it up with preamps.

Panastereo has their MP64 that will handle up to 2-proj of 35 and 70mm magnetic in a 1-U frame.

http://www.panalogic.com/products/MP64.html

Give that one a look-see.

Steve

Posted by Lionel Fouillen (Member # 1475) on 06-25-2003, 01:56 PM:

Thanks Steve

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-26-2003, 10:02 AM:

Smart still has the 435 mag preamp available and I thinK USL could probably come up with some as well
Plus there are tons of DOLBY MPU kicking around as well

Posted by Jean-Michel Grin (Member # 1360) on 06-26-2003, 06:50 PM:

Hello Lionel,

If You are searching for a Dolby Magnetic preamplifier, just send me an E-mail (In French) I believe that my boss have one for sale.
Just write me if You're interested and I can ask to him.

Best regards,

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-26-2003, 09:28 PM:

The SMART SM435 is no longer on the price sheets and I wouldnt' consider it if it was...I NEVER liked them.

Steve

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 06-28-2003, 05:25 PM:

Steve,

What's the problem with the Smarts?

For quite awhile we used Inovonics modules that were actually designed to replace the tube preamps in audio reel-to-reel tape decks (Ampex and Sculleys), but we had a rough time matching them to the old Altec 4trk mag head clusters. Without transformers between the heads and the inputs, you needed so much gain that even turning on the rewind motor in the next room would induce hum. Matching xformers helped, but unless you are prepaired to spend big bucks on really high quality shielded transformers, you wound up with very tinny, bass starved sound which is what we got.

Nontheless, the Inovonics preamps were very nice 2u rack mounts that featured gap compensation for each head and three equilization presets that you could select from the front panels of each preamp by pushbuttons (if you dared push any of them while the outputs were live because of the humungous thud that they would cause in the theatre). Those buttons could also be used as a pratical stress test for your subwoofers. [Smile]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-28-2003, 06:21 PM:

Frank,

I never liked the response from them...its been awhile but there might have been a noise issue as well. Compared to the Dolby MPU-1 with Cat 92s...it just didn't compare.

Steve