Barco DP4K-P up for grabs at carcass sale of Technicolor/TheMill

[James Gardiner]

Sad to see the carcass of an iconic cinema company spread out to sell.

But here it is...

https://www.cagp.com/auctions/a-full...eid=38182525d7

Note, a LOT of old Dell and Intel based Mac kit. They appear to have been short of cash for a while, as they were not upgrading for quite some time.

The DP4K-P looks EOL (Very old) Has the rare 4x 3G SDI for 60fps 4K mastering (No DCI-Player with that bad boy)

[Steve Guttag]

That projector is not very old. It is a late-model S2 projector. It has the late-model button panel and was available till 2021 or thereabouts. Quad-link SDI was standard for the "P" which was for "Post" houses. I believe you can still buy the input module. You can also put a modern server in it, if you desire (ICMP-X, GDC SR1000, Dolby IMS3000). It has a high contrast ratio (better than most laser projectors).

[Jim Cassedy]

The pre-Dolby Doremi DCP-2000 and some accessories I acquired
about 3 years ago for my test system at home also had Technicolor®
inventory and asset tags attached inside and out. - -and I know that
it sat unused in a rack there for quite a long time before I acquired it.

[Ryan Gallagher]

If I was in the market for a vehicle, that technicolor branded truck is fun!

so much history, so sad!

[James Gardiner]

Steve, The dust and visual condition look likely 8 years old. Not exactly a spring chicken and they were probably running it hard 8am till midnight most days. The light engine wouldn't be in great condition considering the excessive dust seen. I wouldn't be surprised if that unit was one of the first P projectors installed.

Personally a little surprised how unclean the projection area was in the pictures. For what was once a top tier production facility.

For example, we are starting to see older independents develop broken (Stuck on) blue pixels on 10-12 year old projectors. Tho living with it as independents are choosing to hold off on a 10 year investments in this environment. New BO stats are strongly indicating, 2023,24 and now 25 will consecutively be lower and lower BO results. Has them in a bit of a tizzy at the moment. Why the massive call for longer windows at CinemaCon I hear. (i.e. I can hear it all the way down here in Australia. It's a loud call for it)
Not to mention, the stock market is melting down as I type. (Thanks Mr T, not helping.)

[Steve Guttag]

James,

Without seeing the projector's serial number, it won't be possible to date the projector. That number is located, unfortunately, by the exhaust flange on the B (and P) projectors. They do have a lamphouse in one of the photos that has a serial number but that is of no help.

The button panel, as indicated previously is of the late-model variety, which if not a replacement would put it in the late-teens up to 2021.

As for it being driven hard...many cinemas leave their projectors on 24/7 so, no worse and with mostly worse environments. It is very tough to keep a machine that has so many fans sucking in as much air as it does operating room clean. I have one site, a museum, that does but that is because it is a museum with an incredible HVAC system to keep all dust down, everywhere.

I wouldn't be any more concerned about that projector than I would any used "B" series Barco or late-model Series 2 projector. Yes, it will have less life than brand new projectors but...at a fire sale price may be a good piece to have. It is a "B" projector with a high-contrast light path and better color than laser for color grading.