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Topic: Dolby EX impressions

Joe Redifer
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 02:23 AM

Has anybody here listened to Dolby EX, DTS ES (same thing as Dolby EX only
smaller and much easier to install) or even SMART Circle Surround? What are
your impressions?

We have 1 DTS and 1 Dolby EX unit. The DTS unit works really well. Both offer
surround EQ's. It is not a phenomenal leap forward in sound, and I personally
think that it is more "gimmicky" than anything, but it is still pretty neat. It
"completes" the surround field, though. Too bad it is matrixed and not discrete. I
can't (so far) tell any sound quality difference between the DTS and Dolby EX
units. I'll have to put Episode 1 to the test with that. I'm sure the Smart Circle
Surround is probably crap.

Chris Trainor
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 02:24 AM

What's funny is the SMART circle surround has been out for a while now.

I'm
surprised it took Dolby this long to do somethign with it. Then again, i'm sure lucas
heard of the circlesurround and asked dolby, and Dolby jumped on it.

But, just the fact the Dolby design is probably newer the Smart's will mean it
should sound a little better. But the smart unit's i've heard are pretty good.

Joe Redifer
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 02:24 AM

Interesting. I didn't know that the SMART CS predated the Dolby EX unit. I
learn something new almost every week! Of course Dolby and THX get all of the
credit. But I guess the SMART device was designed to "enhance" playback of
normal movies, similar to their Afterburner dynamic range killer. It does not seem
to me that the SMART CS allows you to EQ each surround channel, which the
EX does. The DTS ES goes so far to let you EQ the 4th out of phase channel that
isn't even used!

Ken Layton
unregistered

posted 05-30-1999 02:25 AM

I have a manual on the Smart CS-EX unit that I downloaded from their website.
Their unit has full octave EQ on all surround channels.

Gordon McLeod
Film God

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

posted 06-05-1999 01:25 PM

I have installed several Smart CSEX units they have full octave eq's on all channel;s and sound great but full points go to PanaStereo in Australia (no a Smart Co.) they demo'ed EX back in 1995. There usnit allows you to unplug the EQ cards from the PanaStereo processor and plug them, in to teh EX adaptor allowing 3rd Octave EQ on the surrounds. I have also hooked up a Dolby EX45 :-) to a CP200 using the3rd octave eqs in the accesory cage

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 06-05-1999 03:44 PM

EX through a CP200 w/aux box. Definitely the way to go! It's ashamed Dolby didn't incorporate 1/3 octave surround eq into the CP500.

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