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Topic: Peavey CS-400 amps in a cinema???

Rory Burke
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 181
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-15-2000 12:35 PM

A local San Diego theater was retrofitted from Mono to 5:1 last month. Out came these Peavey CS-400 amps about 40 of them from the entrie complex. We replaced the sound system with EV speakers CP-45's and QSC MX series amps. Also by the way the beautifully designed older theater had the traditional 12:1 slope with a great picture due to real lensing practices back in the olden days. The funny thing is the theater's acoustics. They had aluminum panneling on the walls for decoration. OUCH! Talk about slap echoes!!!
I've never imagined people paying good money to watch a movie in a Tuna Can! Jees. The panels were quicly replaced with acoustic panelling and carpeting. Any ways I was wondering if anyone had any info on these amps and perhaps a manual handy out there? I am assuming these amps are more live band concert types and definitely dont belong in a theater audio system but they have got to be good spares in an emergeny case. (have used Radio shack specials in the past to get thru shows).

Any help would be great,
RORY

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-15-2000 12:44 PM

Don't laugh at this (it's not funny), but when the Williamsburg Theatre (see pictures) was converted to Dolby in 1981, a certain unscrupulous (sp?) service company replaced the old Altec tube amps (installed in the '50s for mag sound) with 100w McMartin paging amplifiers. They also removed the really high-quality 70v transformers and just ran cheap cable from the sound rack to the Voice of the Theatre speakers. Apparently, they then sold off the good Altec stuff at a profit, while leaving the theatre with cheap junk.

Needless to say, McMartin paging amps are not known for their sonic qualities. We finally replaced them with QSCs last year. One of the McMartins is now the booth monitor amp. The others found a home in the trash.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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

posted 08-15-2000 12:53 PM

The CS400was a popular amp CFS usually used them with there prewired racks with the Ultra Stereo
The thing to watch out for was peavey always rated there amps at 4 ohm giving a high output spec
fairly bullet proof amp
Into 8 ohms I believe they are 120-150 watts out. There is also a wide range of input modules for them as well like transformers and crossovers

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Jason Burroughs
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Allen, TX
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-15-2000 02:14 PM

Gordon's right, untill recently Cinemark lived by the CFS/Peavy/Ultra Stereo/SPECO package. The CS-400's and CS-800's were very common, we had a few fail, but no more than Crown for instance, but the QSC is clearly a superior amp.

The CS-400's and the CS-800's at one time WERE THX certified, if you have doubts about their use in theatres.

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 08-15-2000 02:27 PM

I've got 4 - CS-800's I use in my mobile DJ systems. They are heavy as lead, bullet proof, and most of all... they work - every time I turn them on. I have relied on Peavey CS series amplifiers for 16 years and have never had a problem with them.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-15-2000 04:54 PM

We have 2 brand new CS-800's in the box that are set up for 220 volt input if anyone is intereested in them.
Mark

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Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 08-15-2000 11:02 PM

I have had experience with CS Series 400s and 800s, but only in pro sound applications. They were fairly reliable and reasonably priced (READ: CHEAP) for a couple of bands that I played in when I was younger.

As posted above, they do accept input accessories. We used the crossover modules to tri-amp the stage mains.

While they lack the brute-force power of their QSC counter parts, they should not cause you problems.

Russ

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Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 08-16-2000 08:24 PM

The CS series of amps are killer for live music and dj (dj is what I do). You could overload em',run 'em out of phase,set 'em on fire,etc. and they would still work like a champ.

I too have seen them in cinema use provided you have a good eq/processor and good speakers they can do well. It might not be the absolute best for cinema, but I bet you'll hardly have much grief out of them.

--Chris

PS: In my experience, you can get spare parts and fix 'em for not alot of money at lots of guitar/music shops.

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