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Author Topic: Which sounds better DA20/CP-65 or CP-500 Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 09-07-2006 09:43 PM                     Subject says it all. Which method of producing Dolby Digital will sound better?  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 09-07-2006 09:49 PM                     CP 650 / 500 / da20 all good  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 09-07-2006 09:50 PM                        In my opinion, I think the CP-500 sounds better.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-07-2006 09:57 PM                     I've always liked the sound of the CP-500 alot. For a first generation digital based unit Dolby did a very good job, its also been an amazingly reliable unit. It seems to have the right combination of analog and digital features. The CP-650 is still the best sounding of the Dolby Processors and it tracks a digit lower on error rate although its debatable if that makes ANY audible difference in an average print. It does however mean that a given used-worn print might play back more reliably. The very best SRD combination I've listened to is the DA-20 on a Panastereo CSP-1200. No holds barred these are the best commercial units you can buy. Then there is the DTS Lossless playback system that utilizes an XD-10.... that and the CSP-1200 are an amazing combination to say the least. Only a few of these players exist today as far as I know. Mark In rank of best sound.... CSP-1200 with DA-20 CP-650 CP-500  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 09-08-2006 12:54 AM                        I liked our CP-500's at the wynnsong. Haven't had much more experince. I do know I like the panastereo's we had too. Mod 2B&C's are ok, but my home system sounds better.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-08-2006 01:04 AM                     #1 CP650 #2 DA20 with CP65 #3 CP500  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 09-08-2006 09:04 AM                        My list agrees 100% with Brad's. Louis  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-08-2006 05:56 PM                     The CP-650 has a very versatile set of features. Mainly, the automation & format capibilities of the CP-500, but with better performing analog sound. The CP-65 is a reliable performer & the DA-20 is a standard for Dolby Digital. The CP-65 will give a bit extra padding to the surrounds' level in Dolby Digital, but a properly calibrated system will still sound satisfactory. I, personally love the display of the CP-500. Very intuitive & easy to see from a long modern booth hallway The analog performance is just too shabby for my tastes with the 500. I run a CP-65 with SR right now & I'm totally pleased with what I hear.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-08-2006 08:47 PM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser My list agrees 100% with Brad's. Louis Yea, but you two are still only standing on one foot.... Mr CP-45 . Seems that MR Guttag and I are the only two here that have both feet firmly planted on the booth floor. Mark  |  IP: Logged Kevin Raisler Film Handler Posts: 52 From: Warsaw, IN, USA Registered: Jun 2003 posted 09-08-2006 08:56 PM                    I prefer the 650 over the 500.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 09-08-2006 10:30 PM                     quote: Steve Scott I, personally love the display of the CP-500. me to! quote: Mark Gulbrandsen The very best SRD combination I've listened to is the DA-20 on a Panastereo CSP-1200. This is what I currently work with in our big house (460) seats, combined with top of the line Krix 2 way speaker system, sounds very sweet indeed.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-08-2006 10:38 PM                     I think the Panastereo CSP1200 does have the quietest and cleanest sound but it was not on the choosable list given. My choices on that list would be CP650, CP65/DA-20 and then CP500 in terms of sound quality. I am not a fan of the CP500's sound at all...it is noisy and harsh as digital goes. Its reliability is notorious. That said, the CP500 is quite flexible and allows one to create formats on the fly that only the CP200 could do before. The CP650 is a very pleasing sounding unit. The SR emulation is as good as any I've heard. It is very much a reliable unit. We have only had power supply failures...as opposed to having most every CP500 card causing some sort of trouble over the years. The DA-20 certainly does well on digital though I don't feel that it is necessarily as good as the CP650. The DA-20's CP card has had issues throughout its life and has caused false format triggers or had processors ignore digital/analog pulses. There are some three field bulletins relating to modications to this card to short out resistors or removing components for improved performance. A big fault of the DA20 is that it does NOT switch to analog until the last "bit" comes out of the buffer...thus timing is a big issue to avoid noticable drop outs on the transistion. Dolby supplies CAT410 modules for use with CP65s to bypass the debounce circuit for the DA20 only...this minimizes the transistion. However, the CP65's audio muxes lack the necessary feedback to avoid the Cat 242's characteristic "SNAP" as it switches formats. The CP65 does NOT lower the surrounds for digital...it raises it for analog...symantics for sure but that IS what is happening. The CP65 plays its surrounds at 82dBc/side like other processors but it adds a 3dB boost for analog to help with Cat 150 decoding. I don't agree with this circuit and it is possible to defeat it by modifying the Cat 441 card. The Panastereo CSP1200 also has this circuit. The CP500 and CP650 provide for one to boost optical surrounds too. Personally, I find this level diference causes and audible cue that the sound format has changed. So, given the processors allowed by the subject header... CP650 CP65/DA20 CP500 Steve  |  IP: Logged Jim Bedford Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 597 From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-09-2006 11:07 AM                        But unlike Coke and Pepsi, I'll bet no one could tell the difference in a blind test in the same auditorium.  |  IP: Logged Alexander Smith Expert Film Handler Posts: 128 From: Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Registered: Jun 2003 posted 09-09-2006 11:19 AM                     Which sounds best? The one with the Monster(TM) brand cables! Oh, never mind... :-) Alex.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-09-2006 12:15 PM                     CP650 CP65/DA20 CP500 out of the choices better choice CSP1200/DA20 I find the CP500 a harsh sounding processor and noted for reliablility issues  |  IP: Logged

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