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Author Topic: Smart CS-3X
Raymond Massard
Film Handler

Posts: 16
From: Rumelange - Luxembourg
Registered: Mar 2004


 - posted 07-15-2006 05:33 PM      Profile for Raymond Massard   Author's Homepage   Email Raymond Massard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi. Is anybody out there using a Smart CS-3X Center surround decoder. We've just installed one and there is a distinctive hiss on the surround speakers if the CS-3X is turned on. I hope that this is not "normal". Any experience with that equipment ?

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000


 - posted 07-15-2006 10:05 PM      Profile for Steve Scott   Email Steve Scott   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
We have several older SMART decoders. The center-surround usually outputs a discernable level of hiss, but not to the degree that it sounds like RF interference or distortion. The Ultra Stereo C-S units also put out some hiss when idle, but SMART units are a bit more pronounced.

Is it a steady hiss, or a cycling noise?

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006


 - posted 07-15-2006 11:34 PM      Profile for Ron Curran   Author's Homepage   Email Ron Curran   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yes, we had the same problem with 2 of those units and finally replaced it with another decoder. I have heard that Smart has tightened up their QC lately. Is this an older unit?

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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


 - posted 07-16-2006 04:37 AM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Never saw a UltraStereo Ex surround adapter

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 07-16-2006 07:27 AM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I typpically find in most systems this is caused by the sound system not having been calibrated properly to begin with. Most if not all processors will exhibit at least some background noise....USL=JS processors are among the hissiest of them all but this can be somewhat controled by lowering the amp gains and increasing the output of the processor. This effectively increases the signal to noise ratio and masks at least some of the processors noise. Forr instance Dolby has certain average output levels for certain processors that produce the best S/N ratios and you may have to experiment with other units a bit to find an optimum point. It is effected by speaker efficiency, EQ levels, amp gain, and the actual S/N ratio of the processor. Most inexpensive processors will have poorer S/N ratios than the more expensive unitts will. You can also send your unit back to Smart and have Don check it out to see if it meets specs or not. It might be bad or that might also just be the way they are.

Mark

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Raymond Massard
Film Handler

Posts: 16
From: Rumelange - Luxembourg
Registered: Mar 2004


 - posted 07-16-2006 11:24 AM      Profile for Raymond Massard   Author's Homepage   Email Raymond Massard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The unit is quite new and the hiss is also clearly present in the left/right surrounds.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005


 - posted 07-16-2006 11:29 AM      Profile for Louis Bornwasser   Author's Homepage   Email Louis Bornwasser   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I agree with Mark that this is a gain structure problem. Experiment with driving it harder and reducing the input level at the amp. Maybe you can get an acceptable operation. Louis

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000


 - posted 07-16-2006 04:13 PM      Profile for Steve Scott   Email Steve Scott   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
True Gordon. Wouldn't the process of the new Back Surround decoders for digital soundtracks be somewhat along the lines of the process used in the older SMART's which were for SVA tracks? What if any is the significant change in processing?

Just asking, not debating.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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


 - posted 07-21-2006 01:56 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The back surreound decoding is the same as any matrix decoder
The CS unit is DSP based I believe and as such may have a bit more digital noise than an analogue one Typically Smart stuff tends to be quiet
grounding and setting up the gain structure of the system is important to maintain a quiet sounding system

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Demetris Thoupis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1240
From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 07-21-2006 03:41 PM      Profile for Demetris Thoupis   Email Demetris Thoupis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Back Surround is like the Digital Cinema. It won't survive [Smile]
He he he

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Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler

Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000


 - posted 07-22-2006 08:44 PM      Profile for Oscar Neundorfer   Author's Homepage   Email Oscar Neundorfer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Raymond Massard
The unit is quite new and the hiss is also clearly present in the left/right surrounds.
These are what I would call NOS (New Old Stock). They have not been made in several years, unless SMART made a new run which I seriously doubt. However, that should be no problem at all.

One thing to check is to make certain that the surround EQ in the regular processor has been set to be flat, or completely bypassed if possible, and do the EQ in the CS-3X. For proper decoding, the LS and RS signals feeding the CS-3X need to be as well matched in level and as flat in frequency response as possible. Since noise in a system is cumulative, it would be preferable to bypass the processor surround equalizers to eliminate a source of noise. This is not always feasible.

Setup can be pretty critical on these in order to get the best performance. When properly set up, hiss should really not be a problem.

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