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Topic: Cp100

Sam Hunter
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 779
From: West Monroe, LA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 10-16-2002 01:36 PM

Is a Dolby CP100 worth having?
What is one worth used?
Are the things field repairable or can you send in the cards for repair and all that jazz?
Thanks!

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Samual Hunter Sr.

KC5ZSL

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Bill Gabel
Film God

Posts: 3873
From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 10-16-2002 01:52 PM

The CP100 is a good unit. As long as it was not abused. Some CP100's
I've seen started out in the first run houses and work their way down the food chain into houses just to get Dolby Stereo. One question is
how many miles (theatres) are on that unit? Is it cheap or is someone
just trying to unload it? Because the CP100 uses cat.22 and cat.64
cards that can be found very easy. But some of the rest of the cards
are alittle harder to find. Like the meter and format cards. We took a CP100 out of service at this one theatre, because it just died to many times. A CP50 is a easier Dolby Unit to find cards and fix.

Good Luck

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Ray Derrick
Master Film Handler

Posts: 310
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 10-16-2002 03:50 PM

The CP100 uses the same type chassis as Dolby's original 16-track studio A-type units. We had some of those in control rooms at Channel 9 and they were a pain in the butt because the edge connectors are flimsey and cause all manner of intermittent problems. However the CP100 is a flexible unit you can do a lot of things with it. Hoyts senior tech in Melbourne (DJ) still thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

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Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-16-2002 03:58 PM

They are probably the most versitile since it almost all hand wired so with a soldering iron it is totally configurable
Edge strips can be problematic
Also which surround adapter is with it (the cp100 didn't have optical surround internally)
SA2-3 are olderQS technology but the SA4 uses the cat 150 serries cards and best is a SA5

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-16-2002 05:38 PM

Surround adapters seem to be difficult to come by, I've been looking for a SA4, Tried various people/places here in the uk, but no luck, asked Dion Hanson, he didn't know of any looking for a new home, and was recently looking for one himself. Posted to the wanted forum here, had a couple of replies with possible leads, but neither could find one. A CP100 without a SA is probably best avoided.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-16-2002 07:14 PM

Its a great unit and a classic! It was the first complete Dolby Cinema Processor ever sold on the market. The 100 also had Dolby's one and only rock solid power supply. The supplies rarely fail. There are problems with the fader cards to be aware of though as there are certain tantalum capacitors in the fader line that short out. When this happens it locks up the fader control, ususally leaving you with no sound at all. What ever you buy be sure to get one of the SA adaptors with it. The 100 appeared before surround sound was finalized. I have also built the cat 150 into a few 100's in past years but this eliminates some of the space you need for running 70mm. If the later does not matter then the inboard card is a good thing.
Mark

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-16-2002 07:16 PM

I have also modified them for DTS and SRD playback with split surrounds rerouting P and Q to the LE and RE equalizers and the sub to the old surround out

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Dick Prather
Master Film Handler

Posts: 259
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-17-2002 12:20 AM

There should be a lot of CP-100's around now. I have used one for a couple of years now with a SA-4 and MPU's for stereo optical, mag, and perspecta. Have had no problems but have performed normal cleaning and upkeep. I have been able to locate the changover / format remote units but have yet to install them. Cheapest way to get parts is to get another as a spare. I have also seen SA-3's modified by Dolby to SA-4 specs, so look at the back of the unit. It will have a sticker and, I believe added or remarked terminals. It has been a problem finding some format boards like a Cat #83. If the price is right a CP-100 would work just fine. Except for a spare make sure you get the surround adaptor with it. SA-4, SA-5, etc.
Dick

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Sam Hunter
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 779
From: West Monroe, LA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 10-17-2002 09:39 AM

I checked and the unit does indeed have the SA4 adapter.
The gentlemen says it works so I guess I will find out.
Next question is finding a reader for it. A used one would be great.
Thanks!

------------------
Samual Hunter Sr.

KC5ZSL

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Shaun Flichel
Film Handler

Posts: 42
From: Regina, Sask., Canada
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 10-17-2002 10:32 AM

Ive never seen a 100 in person, seen pics at the dolby seminar this january, but thats the closest ive been.

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 10-17-2002 12:34 PM

Mark, let's not forget that 1U box you made to hold a Cat.160 LF card and a Cat.??? split surround card.

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-18-2002 06:33 AM

I posted this before, but it seems to have got lost somehow on the way.

quote:
There should be a lot of CP-100's around now. I have used one for a couple of years now with a SA-4 and MPU's for stereo optical, mag, and perspecta. Have had no problems but have performed normal cleaning and upkeep. I have been able to locate the changover / format remote units but have yet to install them. Cheapest way to get parts is to get another as a spare. I have also seen SA-3's modified by Dolby to SA-4 specs, so look at the back of the unit. It will have a sticker and, I believe added or remarked terminals. It has been a problem finding some format boards like a Cat #83. If the price is right a CP-100 would work just fine. Except for a spare make sure you get the surround adaptor with it. SA-4, SA-5, etc.

Dick, you don't have any idea where I might find one, or two, SA4s do you?

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Dick Prather
Master Film Handler

Posts: 259
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-18-2002 02:55 PM

Stephen,
I will ask around and see if anyone I know has one. The way I got mine was to buy a complete CP-100 with one included. That is probably the way you will need to go. I needed the 100 for the spare boards and the extra SA-4 to put my Perspecta card in. I keep having visions of dropping either the Perspecta or the Cat 150 card when I change them. Neither of which I want to do. If you see Dion Hanson, could you ask him if he has a diagram for the Fairchild systems switcher.
Dick

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