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Author Topic: Amplifiers Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-26-2005 07:34 PM                     I was curious about why certain amps are deemed "not for cinema use". For example, why is a QSC RMX amp not for cinema use but a QSC ISA amp is? Does it really matter?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-27-2005 08:32 AM                     Its really alot of marketing bullshit. When I was at GTS we installed tons of RMX amps in theatres. So far over the three plus years they have proven completely reliable. Actually its true that amps doing music servce at concerts may get far more abuse than they might get in ANY cinema application!! For home use they would be particuluarly fine. I opened up and checked one of each model that we installed and the construction quality is actually pretty darn good, large toroid tranny, decent amount of power supply capacitance, and plenty of keat sinking. The main difference is they're just made in Asia. Overall, they are a bargan and should be made more accessable to cinema dealers. BTW: I was told by someone at QSC that the RMX series is very similar to the old USA series of amps that was discontinued... or were they really just re-packaged..... Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-27-2005 10:21 AM                     Several manufacturers have products they target for a particular consumer. Part of this is to keep "box movers" from engaging in specialize applications. Part of it is to ensure that their products receive the proper application. QSC has different types of dealerships...some are for sound reinforcement, some are for cinema. The ISA and RMX actually are more similar than USA and RMX. The ISA amp can be more suited to the cinema owner since its volume knobs are in the rear and not as easily tampered with. The ISA has a dataport that can accept QSC's analog crossovers or work with the DCM monitor line. The ISA features terminal blocks for speaker out...more suited to the permanent installation. About the only thing that the ISA doesn't bring to the table in its price range is that it is 3U tall and about a mile deep. It also weighs a ton. If you want to sractch your head a bit...compare the CX line and the DCA line...aside from the color of the name plate, they are near identical (they are identical inside). A fellow dealer that is on the pro side compared our prices on the two lines...we could sell DCAs for the same price he could sell CX amps. At the AFI/Silver theatre, they supplied the CX amps for the PA system, we supplied the DCA amps for the cinema system...one nice thing was that based on color, one knew what they amp went to....go figure.  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-27-2005 10:41 PM                     So the RMX would be suitable for cinema use. What about an amp such as the Crown XLS series. Im looking for an inexpensive amp to upgrade from older Smart amps. Something that is inexpensive and not very deep (most of my sound racks are wall mount and anthing above 14 inches deep will not fit). Any suggestions. Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-28-2005 09:43 AM                     which smart amps do you have there mosfet ones used the original Hafler design and sound very good  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-28-2005 10:17 AM                     Smart 240's and 242's. These are not very powerful amps.  |  IP: Logged Ferdinando Innocenti Film Handler Posts: 79 From: Genova / Italy Registered: Jun 2004 posted 03-28-2005 12:40 PM                     One of the reasons why there are some amplifiers that are exactly the same as other models, but with the writing “not for cinema use”, is for avoiding concurrency among vendors. If I sell cinema equipment, cinema owners must ask prices of cinema equipment to me, not to a music/concerts/studios vendor. This is what some dealers told me.  |  IP: Logged Andy Bergstrom Film Handler Posts: 44 From: St. Cloud, MN Registered: Feb 2000 posted 03-28-2005 03:50 PM                     Which of the Smart amps are of Haffler decent? Do you have to open them up to determine this?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-28-2005 07:15 PM                     quote: Ferdinando Innocenti One of the reasons why there are some amplifiers that are exactly the same as other models, but with the writing “not for cinema use”, is for avoiding concurrency among vendors. If I sell cinema equipment, cinema owners must ask prices of cinema equipment to me, not to a music/concerts/studios vendor. This is what some dealers told me. Fernando, As I said above its all marketing bullshit devised by QAC to keep the cinema dealers JUST selling the (supposed) cinema line! In fact the RMX amps work very well for cimema use. If you have knob twidddlers just pull the knobs off and get some plastic plugs as I have done. Having the gains on the front actually makes setup a tad bit easier too. What type of jacks are on the back make no difference to me as one can get very good connections with either binding post or screw type terminal block. You aren't going to ever find screw terminal block type on any real high end amplification equipment...... quote: Andy Bergstrom Which of the Smart amps are of Haffler decent? Do you have to open them up to determine this? Thats easy... the ones that always work !! Mark  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-29-2005 05:20 AM                        quote: Mark Gulbrandsen If you have knob twidddlers just pull the knobs off and get some plastic plugs as I have done. You can get those little plugs in various sizes in the Specialty Hardware bins/drawers in the fastener section (where you find bolts & screws) at Loew's. Cheap, effective, fast!  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-29-2005 09:32 PM                     So what is a good, inexpensive amp that isn't very deep? 14 inches or less  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-29-2005 11:06 PM                     I would watch E-Bay for used USA 900's or 1400's. Good amps that can be has very inexpensively if you keep a watch out. Mark  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-31-2005 11:34 AM                     How long ago did QSC stop producing the USA series? How reliable are these amps?  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-31-2005 12:31 PM                        The USA series is fairly recent--they were popular in the late '90s and possibly the early '00s. The USA and MX series are very reliable and sound good. Most of the theatres around here use QSC and I have never personally experienced or even heard about a failure. Replacement parts are available from QSC, so buying an older model shouldn't be a problem. I have not seen the DCA series, but assume that they are just as good.  |  IP: Logged Ferdinando Innocenti Film Handler Posts: 79 From: Genova / Italy Registered: Jun 2004 posted 03-31-2005 01:38 PM                     I think I have installed my last QSC USA in 2001. I have a problem with one channel of a USA 1310, after 4 years and in about 300 amplifiers! reliable, isn't it? they are deep from 10 to 11 feet, depens on the model, the biggest (and the most powerful,of course) is USA 1310.  |  IP: Logged

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