Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DTS sound dropping out

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Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 01-09-2006, 06:57 PM:

Hi
I have a DTS-6 connected to a USL JSX-1000A processor.The problem I am having is the DTS sound will just stop,usually within 5-10 mins of the show starting.When this happens there is no switching back to Analogue-this has to be done manually.
When the sound does stop:
* The light on the reader is on
* The System light and Time Code light on the DTS unit are on
* The light on the CD-rom is on Full(not blinking as it usually does when it is reading the disc
* Also you can't eject the disc out of the top drive unless you power the whole unit down and then power it back up again.

This problem is at my single screen theatre which is currently only holding 2 prints(King Kong & Narnia) and the problem seems to be only with Narnia.I have just cleaned the discs(plenty of finger prints on them)and I will try them again the next show.Any suggestions on what could be causing it? Hopefully it will just be the discs!!!!

Posted by Jason Miller (Member # 2341) on 01-09-2006, 07:37 PM:

Have you done the CD-Rom and SCSI board upgrade kit?

Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 01-09-2006, 09:27 PM:

I have no idea if the upgrades have been done to this unit.I only took over this business 6 weeks ago.What do you achieve in doing the upgrades and are parts required from DTS?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-09-2006, 10:17 PM:

The unit quitting after a while and not being able to eject your discs is a dead givaway.... looks like the power supply is shutting down. Check your fan in back..... Also, open it up and blow the dust out, power supply and the unit in general... be sure there are not any burned areas on the power supply pcb. Usually its just the input filter cap that goes bad...easily replacable. New AT style supplies are available here in the states... use a 300 watter for replacement!! Or salvage one out of an older computer but I reccomend installing a decent ball bearing fan. Don't worry about upgrades if it was working fine before it headed south..... I've probably replaced about 30 DTS power supplies since DTS appeared on the market.
Oops... or you can buy DTS's "Sparkle" power supply for about 350.00 U.S. [Big Grin]

Mark

Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 01-09-2006, 10:36 PM:

Thanks Mark,I haven't had time to pull the unit apart to have a look inside as yet and I just found out that it has recently had the CDROM and SCSI upgrade.The last show of Narnia I cleaned the DTS discs(plenty of greasy finger prints) and the laser lens in the CD-rom drives and it ran through perfectly,so I will have to keep my eye on it to see if that was the cause of the fault.One thing I did try during the credits was to block the time-code reader with a business card and the DTS sound did stop after a few seconds but the JSX1000 did not revert to Stereo SR!!!!! What have I got to do to make it change to SR in the event of a DTS failure?? I'm still getting used to this gear-I much prefer my XD-10's and CSP 1200's [Smile]

Posted by Chris Boland (Member # 3549) on 01-09-2006, 11:35 PM:

From a 'computer nerd' point of view Sparkle are some of the best PSUs you can buy usually followed closely by Antec and Enermax. Generally these companies have the least amount of fan failures and the most stable voltages that are pretty close to the 12v, 5v and 3.3v spec.

I've replaced one DTS PSU and also a fan in another, hardest part was finding an AT powersupply. [Smile]

As with what Mark said, a lot of companies are using cheaper sleeve bearing fans, so try to find one using ball bearings (or just replace it yourself).

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-10-2006, 08:24 AM:

I don't have a problem with Sparkle supplies at all just the ludicrous price DTS charges for them.

Mark

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 01-10-2006, 10:13 AM:

Ian,

Verify that there are three wires coming from the DTS unit for automation. There will probably be a smaller connection cable coming off the main scsi cable from the DTS unit. It will probably be connected to a small board. (Number I don't know off the top of my head) Make sure that the three wires coming off this board are connected to the proper automation connections. I believe it was Black to Ground, White to Digital and Red or orange to the Stereo or SR connection terminals. Not sure about the third color. Check this and if it is there make sure none of the wires have disconnected from the terminals or the board.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-10-2006, 12:30 PM:

Jameco Electronics (http://www.jameco.com/) sells AT-type power supplies. They have a 230-watt Sparkle unit for $24.95 (part #233525CB).

(No, I don't work for them.)

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-10-2006, 05:59 PM:

Check the sticker on the back of the unit for the TC firmware if it isn't 1.46 then some of your symptons could be the cause

Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 01-10-2006, 09:36 PM:

Darryl the only cable from the DTS unit is the large ribbon cable and this divides into three sections.
1x 20 wire ribbon cable not connected to anything.
1x 20 wire ribbon cable which connects to an Interface PCB which converts 20 pin ribbon to flat screw terminal connection for the L C R Surr.etc inputs to the JSX1000.
1x 10 wire ribbon cable which goes to a PCBd on the back of the JSX1000.This PCBd has 8 relays on it which converts 10 pin ribbon to screw terminals for the input of the Format card.
Not sure what you mean about the 3 wires!!
From what I can see the 10 wire ribbon connector can be installed into the socket either way as the plug(connector) does not have a raised block on it to make sure it could only fit one way.
Gordon as far as I know the TC fimware is 1.46

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 01-11-2006, 09:38 AM:

Ian,

That is the newer type automation board for the DTS unit. It eliminates the 3 wires. Check for any jumpers on that board. It may be defective so you may have to get another one from DTS.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-11-2006, 09:36 PM:

You really don't need that board at all. Its easy to make your own break out cable. All the info you need is in the manual.

Mark

Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 01-12-2006, 08:56 PM:

Thanks for all the help guys.
Mark I think I'll take your advice and make a break out cable up,it would have to be the more reliable way to go.
[beer]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-12-2006, 09:52 PM:

Its a pretty cut and dried thing to do(literally) for a CSP-1200. Just save the beers for afterwards........ Ya don't want the channels reversed.....

Mark

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-14-2006, 01:34 PM:

If you're running a DTS-6D (three drives) and are using the trailer disc that is sent out every month, take that trailer disc out!! My unit at the University was crashing just like yours randomly (almost always when running a two-disc feature) until I stopped using the trailer disc...the power supply checked out ok.