Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DCP 1000 won't boot...

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Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-10-2004, 12:56 AM:

I think its pretty funny that after 7 years, Sony has still not had a chance to append section friggin' 7 --Service-- to the DCP-1000 manual...at least to any that I've seen. [fu]

Maybe I'm just out of the loop. Does anybody have some printed info on this processor that is not included in the manuals section? I have a DCP-1000 that powers up, but won't boot. Operator said it happened about a year ago suddenly. Is there anything obvious I should look at? Where is the CPU and firmware? Basically, all pertinent information in both the manual I have and the manual in the "manuals" section are "to be added at a later date." OT - also interested in how you guys have found Sony support recently. Pretty solid and quick on my end...

Posted by Robbie Hidalgo (Member # 2090) on 04-10-2004, 02:00 AM:

Matt,

Blank blue screen? Bad CPU Board (in the back, labeled CPU).

Since DCP was primarily developed in the US (by a San Diego development group) rather than Japan, it's tech pubs were not nearly as well developed as those from overseas. The CPU, however, is essentially a WinSys 386 on-a-board. If you actually want to dig into the CPU at the component level though, feel free to drop me an email. It would probably be a bit too long-winded to get into the CPU in this thread...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-10-2004, 10:06 AM:

Matt,
While for at least the next couple of years a DFP 2000 or 3000 is worth fixing I can't believe you'd want to fix a 1000.... For crying out loud get them a real processor.

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-10-2004, 10:47 AM:

Pssst...Mark you forgot SDDS' best processor...the DFP-2500...little known but probably had the best input section for SDDS in a changeover set up.
Now, where are those 8-channel releases? Even Columbia/Tri-Star is absent from them. A shame since when Dan Taylor was there, the number of 8-channel films were going up.
Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-10-2004, 11:08 AM:

Steve,
No 2500's in this area at all....thankfully! I do have several 8 channel trailers on my SDDS test reel though. They sound reel nice! We do have quite a few theatres equipped for 8 channel playback out here.

I've rebuilt 8 DFPR 2000 readers in the last month and a half with 2 more comming on on Monday! Geez..... At least now there is a good source for cheap, reliable LEDs.

Now DTS is available to do the same 8 track scheme but no one seems to be rushing to do it. Probably most of todys filum directors don't even know what it is or thats its available.... Sad indeed! I'd be willing to bet that the extra DTS tracks will end up being used for multilingual crap most of the time.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 04-10-2004, 03:09 PM:

If you are lucky, your blue screen of death is being caused by a dirty/bad power connection to one or more of the boards. Open it up and check, use contact cleaner where required. If you are not lucky, your blue screen of death is being caused by the fact that the operating system for these units is held in volatile memory, with a little battery welded on to the CPU board to keep it alive. Eventually the battery runs out of power, and the unit is dead. The solution is to replace the welded battery with one that can be replaced without welding, and then reload the operating system from a PC with the Sony setup disk and re-calibrate.

/Mitchell

Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-10-2004, 04:37 PM:

Thanks for the info, Mitchell. Is the facility for uploading the OS present in the DCP-1000 setup software or it somewhere else? The CMOS battery is a good call - I'll check it out. Assume its on the CPU board? Mark - please. We are both in the business of fixing equipment. Some of it is good, some of it is not. I make my living by fixing what is put on my bench. The point is not whether or not this thing is the best my customer can do. The point is, its broken and it is my job to do my best to fix it if that is financially viable. period. I find it hard to beleive that SDDS is going to be able to completely stop supporting their products for a while to come, though that is just conjecture, I suppose.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-10-2004, 06:57 PM:

"The point is not whether or not this thing is the best my customer can do."

Actually that is definately the point and also part of your job as a booth engineer to let your customer know that he can do better....especially in a case like this one.... unless your customer just really doesn't give a dam and there are those....

During my twice yearly preventative service visits its rare for one of our customers not to ask what they can improve on. I always make reccomendations and they usually do at least some of it. If I think that a piece of equipment they are using is substandard I will still let them know in a polite way and they have always appreciated it big time. Your input regarding this is the best way, and sometimes the only thing they may hear to allow them to plan on equipment expendatures for the future.....

Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-10-2004, 07:11 PM:

quote:
If I think that a piece of equipment they are using is substandard I will still let them know in a polite way and they have always appreciated it big time.

sub-who's-standard? I think the dcp sounds pretty decent. Its not a CP-65, but its not an as-7200 either. Of course if a customer is not likely to get reliable service out of a piece of equipment, I'll say something. I have had minimal problems with Sony processors in general, and many problems (sdds) historically have had more to do with poor film handling than poor equipment. When properly set up, they do a decent job with the NR, and though they tend to sound a bit hyped, I have never installed one and thought it sounded bad, unlike many others out there. Also - in your quote, you forgot the most important part - "if that is financially viable." If it would make more financial sence to replace the unit, that will be my advice. Of course my customers' interests are always paramount. I thought that was a given.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-10-2004, 09:33 PM:

A good engineer will weigh the financial viability of any recomendations they make
It serves no one any good if they go under by over spending

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-10-2004, 10:06 PM:

Matt,Gord...

I've never known a customer to go under by overspending...thats ludicrous. Most of our customers are very seasoned operators...we do have a few new operators though and I generally find that they are even more responsable with their dollars than old timers are.

As for the SR on the Sony being good or not.....

How the Sony sounds is not the key issue. The issue with the Sony is support, repair, and parts availability for the long haul.

I will always take into account and advise a customer if the equiment is good for the long haul or not and Sony Cinema equipment...all of it....is simply not going to be around for the long haul. Some customers need years to be able to properly budget expensive equipment purchases like a digital processor and or they may take advantage during a big cash flow when they play the next big hit movie. however, it is ultimately the theatre owner who will decide what and if anything reccomended by the tech is financially viable for him to persue. I do not do much price quoting on stuff, I only make reccomendations to our customers on condition, longevity of usage, and if they might have major problems with any certain piece in the very near future. If a customer doesn't want to change out a piece of soon to be obsolete equipment that is ok and his choice, but we will work with him to attempt to keep it going as long as is possible....as least as long as no ones safety is put on the line. But the end of the line does eventually come along either through obsolescense, lack of repair, lack parts support, and sometimes many other reasons.

Indeed your customer might get the last seconds worth of sound out of that processor ten years from now. That is fine and that is his call... however, at least you would have warned him as to the negative issues it also has. Customers deserve to know all the positive and negative aspects of any piece of equipment they have in use so they can make proper budgetary decisions themselves.

Mark

P.S. I agree that alot of Sony's problems stem from poor film handling, some also from poor projector film path maintainance. But the demise of the SDDS format is more related to the light source they desided to go with in the first place. They could have also gone with an LED array as Dolby developed, In fact some the technology for SDDS is actually liscensed from Dolby. There are also technicians that have ripped out the light pipes, and replaced them with Dolby LEDs and have had very positive results. That Sony chose the cheaper LED array and more expensive fibre optic light pipes as their light source actually brought about SDDSs death before it ever left the factory. Had they developed an LED array similar to Dolby's for their own use would have caused far less problems in the beginning. In fact one has to wonder how many I.C.'s they had to create for these processors... another smaller part such as an LED array would have been nothing for them to come up with and the job would hvae been done right.

Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-10-2004, 11:45 PM:

quote:
It serves no one any good if they go under by over spending

Thank you.

Mark - it is rare in my market (maybe things are different in Utah) that an operator is ever in a position to make decisions on this scale. For the most part (and there are some notable exceptions), the people I have to convince often have little understanding of the concept of "film done right" I'm very sorry to say - beleive me. Often the people signing the checks and approving the work will base their decision on a simple premise: Will an upgrade in this piece of hardware report more revenue than a repair of the hardware I already have. In this case the answer may be yes...it may be no. Either way, the point is I can't recommend anything to this customer without some information on the subject (hence the post....).

As for

quote:
I've never known a customer to go under by overspending...thats ludicrous.

Lowes' filing for chapter 11 a few years ago really hurt more than a few companies. What about GCC? I think Regal and Nat. Amusements are the only major chains in this area, at least, that managed to survive the "gold rush" of the 90's reasonably unscathed...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-11-2004, 06:32 AM:

Matt,
The next time the processor goes down and it can't be repaired your customer will be loosing much revenue while he waits for a new processor to arrive and be installed.

At CLACO we primarily service independent owners and independently operated chains, we only do service at one location for one of the majors(thankfully!). So we generally do not have the difficulty of cutting through tons of red tape to get a piece of equipment on the brink of extinction or replaced at the end of its useful life. So when I say that I've never seen anyone go under I am speaking about our independent customers, not the chains. I will say that none of the chains went under from making smart decisions to replacing a major piece of equipment on the brink of extinction, or that was about to cause a major headache to its normal operation. The chains went bankrupt because they built more sites than they needed. That is whole other issue in and of itself... aside from replacing or updating old systems.

My situation back in the Midwest was similar to how it is out here with many, many independents. I can't think of anyone thats gone under, or out of buisness, just those that have retired and sold their screens off, or those that have passed and let other family members take the helm.
Giving your customers input in regards to their planning for the long haul is part of what prevents them from loosing revenue, irritating customers and eventually from going out of buisness.

Mark

Posted by Max Biela (Member # 1919) on 04-11-2004, 09:00 AM:

Hey,

whats wrong with a DCP-1000? I've found that the Matrix Decoding is MUCH better than with a Dolby Cat 150 D/E (Have no 150 F to give it a try). The DCP can also do Mono without Academy filter. Many of you say "it sounds harsh" but I think thats the same with nearly every Processor with Digital EQ (DFP-2000, 3000, 2500, CP 650 ect.). _I_ like the sound of Digital EQ and the sound of Sony's cinema processors.

Max

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-11-2004, 09:56 AM:

Oh my...I am agreeing with Mark...
As to the BIG chains that filed Bankruptcy...it was National Amusements (never underspends) and AMC (known to spend more than others)...the rest filed.
In general, the big chains are a great example of underpending on their show and contribute to their underperformance. Where they over spend is in the number of locations. Those idiots will build a 30-plex (just dumb in and of itself) right across the street from another 30-plex. The also try to spend zero dollars on the actual showing of the movie...missed shows, scratched prints and otherwise poor performance has zero meaning to them...heck one of the LCE VPs has even stated as such.
As to overspending...sure that too can be done but more often than not, an exhibitor will underspend when it comes to the show itself. Unlike other areas of the business where a spreadsheet can often show P/L based on the purchase of a new concession stand or popper...etc...booth/auditorium related expenses do not have direct correlation. How many more tickets will be sold if I buy a better processor? How many more tickets will be sold if I replace that torn screen? Those are tough questions and spread sheets do not provide answers.
Now if you decide to eliminate say a projectionist...you can easily show the payroll savings there...but if your show suffers...the spread sheet does not show that you are having less attendance due to poorer show quality and show quality takes time (in either direction) to have an impact.
In general, if the market is there to support the theatre in the first place (i.e., you are not in a town of 1000 and hopping to fill your 2000-seat barn) than the better quality show will bring in the bulk of the patrons over a lesser theatre. There is also not just one thing that makes a theatre better than another...it is the whole shebang from newsprint ad through the exit of the theatre.
Take the Uptown in DC for an example...we ran Lord of the Rings for 15-weeks...did hundreds of people for each show the entire time. It was replaced by Hellboy...since the film was still doing good business they moved it to another theatre...where it did next to nothing. The other theatre was essentially in the same place geographically (about 5 minutes away) and had parking (the Uptown does not)...does anyone really think it is just because it was the 16th week? The film was gone from all the other theatre in the DC metro area already...the quality of the theatre sells the film too. Is it our screen? (Cinerama type), the CP-200? The Digital sound?, the balcony? the seats? the curtain?, the 2-projector changeover operation (my personal choice [Wink]

), the fact films don't age at the due to projectionists (and our trusty bottle of Film-Guard)...or perhaps when you put all of those things together you have someething that is perceived better even by the layperson without knowing about any one thing.
Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-11-2004, 10:10 AM:

Steve,
Exteremely well put!! That post should be on a full page in both Box Office and Film Journal for all to read.

Max,
Although I respect your opinion on it you really do need to have something I would consider a "good processor" to compare that DCP to. That Good processor would have to have real SR or at least an emulator that can exactly duplicate or surpass real SR and then there is only one of those that exist so far in the equipment world. After you compare it to say a CP65 or CSP-1200 then let me kow what you think of the DCP. Also, there are digitally controled analog EQ units in the world that are far superior to any digital EQ in existance. These give you the best benefits of both worlds.

Mark

Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-11-2004, 11:31 AM:

the overspending point is well made - I was not making any distinction between overspending in the booth or overspending by over screening. Either way, it is still overspending.

quote:
The also try to spend zero dollars on the actual showing of the movie...missed shows, scratched prints and otherwise poor performance has zero meaning to them...heck one of the LCE VPs has even stated as such.

Yes, and $1000 for a repair on a processor that will presumably get them another 7 years of solid performance is much closer to $0 than purchasing, installing, and B-chaining a new one.

quote:
Unlike other areas of the business where a spreadsheet can often show P/L based on the purchase of a new concession stand or popper...etc...booth/auditorium related expenses do not have direct correlation. How many more tickets will be sold if I buy a better processor? How many more tickets will be sold if I replace that torn screen? Those are tough questions and spread sheets do not provide answers.

Very true, Steve. However, as technicians, we all have specific biases towards the performance of the equipment on screen and in the auditorium. We beleive strongly that better presentation = better ticket sales. Corporate management types have specific biases toward performance of the equipment on spreadsheets. They beleive strongly that lower-cost equipment = higher revenues, and usually, they are not thinking about what is going to happen 7 years from now on that one screen. What products will be available in 7 years? Where will D-cinema be in 7 years? Will this location still be open in 7 years? I even have several smaller independant companies that operate under this premise.

Good points, all. Interesting thread. Am I to assume that no one has any technical information above and beyond the scope of the manual?

Posted by Max Biela (Member # 1919) on 04-11-2004, 11:57 AM:

Mark,

I've never written anything about the quality of the SR-NR (I've never compared the DCP to a Cat 280 long enough to give a statement). I've compared the DCP to a CP 200 with new Cat 64Bs, 517, 560 ect. when playing SRD. SR sounds way better on the DCP, but I think thats the old Cat 108 in the CP 200.

Max

Posted by Robbie Hidalgo (Member # 2090) on 04-11-2004, 02:34 PM:

Getting back to the faulty DCP for a moment, as Mitchell pointed out, the OS is indeed held on the CPU, however the associated device does not actually draw on the battery, so unfortunately, replacing the battery alone will generally not do the trick. [Frown]

Typically, "Blue Screen" is the result of a complete device failure - perhaps a straight firmware reload may suffice to revive it, though this works far less often than not (almost never).

The bad news, and probably somewhat cogent to this discussion, is that there are indeed some DCP parts which have been discontinued by the OEM manufacturer. [Mad]

The good news on the other hand, is that there are a few ways around some of the part obsolescence problems for the DCP. [thumbsup]

But this is definitely too detailed of a discussion for this post...

Regarding your question earlier, firmware can indeed be uploaded via the DCP Setup Software using the high-speed SETUP PORT on the DCP (not the SDDS Link port). You don't use the ordinary "Connect" command to begin (presuming you've alredy saved the settings), just open the DCP Setup Software, connect the PC to the DCP's Setup Port using your ordinary Null Modem cable, and under the pull down menu labeled "Tools", select "Upload New Program Code". If you watch the Software screen as you go, it will prompt you through the steps to start a firmware upload, one step of which will be to Power Off then Power On the DCP in order to activate the upload process. You should watch carefully to catch these instructions as you perform an upload, but it will be fairly self-explanatory once you get started.

Of course, you'll need the latest DCP firmware (v2.14) to perform the upgrade. But the CPU may well be repairable with a little time and effort. Or you could just repair exchange the board and be done with it.

It seems indeed a valid question to consider how much time, effort and cost are involved in almost any repair before one hits the point of "diminishing returns". In this instance, I think you may find the dead CPU to be a solvable issue one way or another. But this has clearly inspired a very interesting discussion, which - if nothing else - may not be such a bad legacy for the DCP after all I suppose... [Roll Eyes]

Edited: Some day, I'll learn how to spell...

[ 04-11-2004, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Robbie Hidalgo ]

Posted by Matt Zeiner (Member # 1914) on 04-11-2004, 06:00 PM:

Thanks, Robbie - I'll change the battery and fiddle around with that on Monday and see If the processor is still functional. Depending on what my repair/exchange costs for the card will be, I may be in touch with you for further info...I may retire the unit. At least I have a starting point to go from. Thanks.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-11-2004, 09:01 PM:

Oh Lord Robbie...if spelling and grammatical usage counted most of us would be dead in the water! It is great that someone with real knowledge of the Sony Cinema Products is available to everyone here as a resource.

My DCP-1000 knowledge is quite limited as compared to the other SCP products. Now an DFP-D2000 running changeovers...now that is something I'm quite familiar with!

Steve

Posted by Robbie Hidalgo (Member # 2090) on 04-11-2004, 11:38 PM:

Steve,

Now don't be modest...if it weren't for the SCI, there wouldn't even BE any DFP-D2000's running changeovers! [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-12-2004, 01:15 AM:

Most people here have probably never heard of the SCI or SCIv2 let alone seen one.

Steve

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 04-12-2004, 04:43 AM:

What's the issue with the DFP-D2000 and changeovers? It doesn't work properly out of the box? Why not?

Posted by Robbie Hidalgo (Member # 2090) on 04-12-2004, 12:07 PM:

The D2000 does handle C/O's out-of-the-box, but the SCI (SDDS Changeover Interface) provides the proper interface to feed the D2000 with the logic states that it is looking for (Automation Pin 2 Low = Proj 2, Pin 2 High = Proj 1).

The SCI interfaces the projector motor states to the the D2000 logic input, and provides some other operational benefits as a result (e.g., allowing for film "jockeying", which could otherwise cause a false C/O). It's basically the glue that puts it all together, and as a result, it has become an essential integration tool for D2000 C/O installations. Chalk one up for Steve for making it happen... [thumbsup]

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 11-14-2008, 04:30 AM:

It has been 1676 days since the last post.

Posted by Jason Beard (Member # 4377) on 11-14-2008, 04:30 AM:

Hello all,

Ok No Sony bashing!!! First off I got a dcp 1000 about 8 mo ago For $50, We have a cp55 without split surround in this auditorium So I figured $50 for a processor with split surround was worth it… I fired it up and it came on for about 1 hr and then went to a blue screen, I total dismantled it cleaned Out all the dust , it for 2 days then it keep rebooting right after it did come up, I remembered seeing a cr2032 back up battery, when I cleaned it, I checked the voltage and it was DEAD!!!
I ran to the store and bought one, I de-soldered the battery off of the dcp 1000 processor card, removed the soldering tabs off the battery and tried to solder them to the new battery, It was a paint in the butt, I finally got them to solder using silver solder and by using a Dremel to remove the coating on the battery where I was going to solder, I got the battery hot while soldering it. I checked the voltage after and it was 2.4V, I soldered it to the DCP processor board (thank god it did not loose memory!!!) powered it up and it Worked Great for 8 Months!!! 3 days ago It started to reboot/ blue screen again, I removed the processor board and the battery was dead again  I looked online and saw the correct battery with the soldering tabs on it for $2.35, But I decided to take another approach.... I ran to Radio Shack and bought a dual AA battery holder and some AA batteries, and dual sided sticky tape (cost $7.00), I de-solder the battery, Solders the wires from the battery holder to where the cr2032 was and there is enough room on the processor board on the top by the metal back panel to stick the batteries with dual sided tape [Smile]

Hooked it up and it is Working great again!!!! I also went ahead and re-cleaned the entire unit, More on how to below…

Now the reason for the 2 AA batteries, the cr2032 battery is 3V and AA batteries are 1.5V so 2 AA batteries = 3V and now if they go dead again I can replace them in less than a minute rather than ordering a new cr2032 battery offline and waiting for it to come in, then the 10 min de-soldering and re-soldering while u hope and pray the memory does not Dump....

The way They put the fans for cooling in this unit is STUPID!!! I believe the dust is the big factor for not working originally, When cleaning this unit remove the top Cover before pulling the cards out!!! The processor card has a ribbon wire attached to it and is kind of a pain, and there is another White wire attaching 2 cards, Be careful there too.. What I did after removing all the cards was remove the face panel (2 screws on each side and 3 on the bottom) Removed the screws that hold the circuit board to the front panel (not the smaller one that holds the screen, Leave it alone Very fragile) but the larger one with the buttons on it, on the front side of it there will be a ton of dirt behind & around the buttons!!! I also pulled the back plane board that all the cards slide into (Real pain in the butt!!! U need a ratchet with a 1/4 socket) since the fans pull dirt, I mean air over it and I cleaned it.... Use a cheap paint Brush (like the one U should have to clean your projectors) and lightly brush over all the cards & circuit boards, the use compressed air and blow them off.

I am very impressed with this processor!!! I think the sound quality is every bit as good as the doly cp65 processors and down… We just had a Christen school with 200 kids come in to do a Film study about Christianity in films and they showed about 20 video clips or trailers using a LCD projector & there laptop P.C., I used the non sync input and changed the module (sound setting in the panel menu) to surround wide, and connected the DCP 1000 to there headphone out in the P.C. It sounded great, the dcp 1000 decoded L C R & both surround channels perfectly!!!! I tried to use a cp65 non sync input in another auditorium at first and I could not figure how to make it decode the sound, I even tried proj. 2 input and, Well lets just say it was all bad LOL…. So the dcp is also verisital….

I hope this helps someone!!!!!

Later all
Jason Beard

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 11-14-2008, 05:14 AM:

HI!

About battery, I think you killed it first time when you did overheat it, so probably id didn't last enough....because on default it should have 3V!

What version of firmware you have??

Posted by Robert Minichino (Member # 3495) on 11-14-2008, 08:26 AM:

I have two boards with dead batteries and the processors work great! I can explain.

Both of the boards I have don't seem to use the backup battery for anything. The battery is connected to the realtime clock (which I don't believe is used by the Sony software) and to solder pads for jumper blocks next to each memory socket. In mine, the sockets are populated with (top-to-bottom):

BIOS ROM chip
ROM-DOS ROM chip
Flash chip with FAT filesystem containing Sony DCP software
RAM chip

None of the jumper blocks next to these chips enable battery backup. It's possible that earlier versions of the DCP had a CMOS static RAM that required the battery backup instead of the Flash chip which doesn't. But if your memory was intact even after replacing the battery I doubt it is necessary.

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 11-14-2008, 10:44 AM:

quote: Robert Minichino
None of the jumper blocks next to these chips enable battery backup. It's possible that earlier versions of the DCP had a CMOS static RAM that required the battery backup instead of the Flash chip which doesn't. But if your memory was intact even after replacing the battery I doubt it is necessary.

Bingo!

Also, you can do change memory if u using older units!

Posted by Jason Beard (Member # 4377) on 11-14-2008, 03:34 PM:

Hello again,

Yes Marin, I Greatly reduced the battery Life, that was kinda my point, I should have Just said that [Smile]

Firmware Version is 2.11 6-5-97 and Bin is V2.11 simply 6-5-97, Where do I look for new firmware or is that the latest?? Marin U are the only person In here that I have seen that has said positive things aobut the DCP-1000 [Smile]

Robert I cant tell U what my chips are, I am running it now [Smile]

I did get the Serial # it is 10056, I do belive You when U say your batteries are dead, I am not sure why mine wont boot with a dead battery, I read Somewhere in these fourms that the battery Held the memory, The post said something like it is volatile memory and if the battery goes bad it may or will dump the firmware.

Also If u want to hook a DTS 6D to the DCP 1000 (which I did) it is easy but You have to make the cable, No one that I found sells it. On Here (film Tech) go to manulas, Sound then to dts 6D processor manual, Then go to page 53 it gives You the pin outs to make a cable. The input conector for the DFP 3000 and the DCP 1000 are the same [Smile]

, It will take about 30 min to 1 hr to make the cable...

Thanks,
Jason

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 11-14-2008, 05:44 PM:

There is also 2.14 version, I think that was last, but it's downgraded version of firmware, only to meet THX.

2.11 is best sounding version of unit, I do use them also and all are 2.11.

One problem I did also have was noise coming out from L and Lc channel, problem was in DAC, DCP uses 2 channel DAC, one for L and LC and rest like that 2 channel combined on each DAC, so problem was in bad capacitor which didn't hold nominal reference voltage for DAC to operate, but I did solve it and it works.

Posted by Max Biela (Member # 1919) on 11-15-2008, 04:16 AM:

Actually the 2.11 Firmware is as buggy as 2.14, only the bugs are different [Wink]

2.11 applies the hf roll off to the surround channels not only in A-Type or SR, but in Digital too. As a result you get muddy surround channels in dts, SRD or whatever you hooked up to the 8-ch input. The 2.14 introduces a click everytime you switch the source.

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 11-15-2008, 05:17 AM:

quote: Max Biela
2.11 applies the hf roll off to the surround channels not only in A-Type or SR, but in Digital too. As a result you get muddy surround channels in dts, SRD or whatever you hooked up to the 8-ch input. The 2.14 introduces a click everytime you switch the source.

What is with older versions of dcp firmware, how they sound and what are bugs there?