Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: USL DAX-602

This is topic USL DAX-602 in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Chase Taylor (Member # 778) on 12-12-2008, 01:58 PM:

Does anyone have any experience with the USL DAX-602 unit. Is it reliable? Is there that much cost savings over the DMA8+?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-12-2008, 03:15 PM:

NOBODY has any real experience with the DAX-602...well, at least not long-term. It is brand new.

It is JUST a D/A converter and only 6-channel...which should be sufficient for many folks. Cost wise, there is a SUBSTANTIAL savings on the DAX-602. I think it is less than 1/3 the cost of a DMA8 Plus. However, they are not the same animal. The DMA8 plus does AC3 decoding, Dolby-E decoding, global audio delay...and so forth. I'm not sure if the DAX has a global audio delay in it...hopefully it does.

The USL competitor to the DMA8 Plus is the ECI-60, to be fair. It too is cheaper than the Dolby unit but lacks Dolby-E decoding and I believe some other features but for most, the ECI-60 has what they need.

Steve

Posted by Chase Taylor (Member # 778) on 12-12-2008, 03:35 PM:

I'm about to do some more installs at one of my theatres and if this is something that I can save some money on why not? I have only used a DMA8+ so far. What would I ever need Dolby E decoding at a cinema for?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-12-2008, 03:51 PM:

quote: Chase Taylor
What would I ever need Dolby E decoding at a cinema for?

Only if you show video. If you do film festivals (which seem to have less and less actual "film" and more and more HD every year), it would be a good thing to have.

Posted by Chase Taylor (Member # 778) on 12-12-2008, 04:08 PM:

DAX-602 does have global audio delay. [thumbsup]

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 12-13-2008, 02:29 AM:

I looked seriously at this product for a client, it fitted their needs perfectly. However with the way of the world just now, a DMA8+ was a more cost effective solution [Eek!]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-13-2008, 10:32 AM:

There really isn't much advantage of the DMA-8 over the USL unit... The only exception is the lack of Dolby E on the USL. The build quality of the ECI-60 is superb as is the sound quality.

Mark

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 12-13-2008, 11:34 AM:

Exactly Mark, but over here, with the arse falling out of the pound, it's not a cheaper option.