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New Processor?

D

dannyscott101

Maybe... This is my wish and the purse strings might finally be opening. Since February of 2010 my homemade processor combo has been on the air. (Orban Optimod-TV 8282 feeding an Optimod 2200) In December of 2010 a CP-803 composite clipper was added. The original threads on my fun experiment are here in case you never read them:

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=162668.0

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=183233.0

Now, I don't think that this is the best thing in the universe, but I feel safe saying that if I invited some 'good ears' to my market to take a listen to all the stations on the FM dial, they would not be able to pick out this processing chain from the others on the basis of "poor quality"... In fact others with newer processors have sounded marginally worse, including one station that until very recently, was running with a VERY unacceptable level of distortion!

The recent purchase of a solid-state transmitter to replace the aging Harris has improved the sound greatly, and now the powers that be are thinking (just thinking) that a new car runs much better when it doesn't have to have a used exhaust system!

Now, my wish list will start 'at the top' and work it's way down... Oh, and HD is currently not a factor of consideration. The big guns in the market do NOT have it, and the only other indy competitor is installing HD solely for the purpose of filling up FM translators with different programming from the HD-2 and HD-3 formats. The only other HD is a PBS station.

There are four local stations nearest in format that I would call 'competitors'. Their processors are (to the best of my most recent knowledge) An Omnia 6, 1 Omnia 3 turbo, and an 8200. Of these, the Omnia 6 and the 8200 would be followed by a composite clipper. I do not know if there is one after the Omnia 3 turbo. I believe the last station to be using an Omnia processor of some sort. This station sounds pretty good, but is using low clipping settings and overmodulating to sound as loud as others.

Now, to my list! This is from most desired to least based on my 'gut' feelings, since I have never been able to test drive any of the units listed.

1. Omnia.11
2. Omnia 9 (aka "Breakaway" box)
3. Optimod 8600

If the 'big' purse does not open up, on to the lesser wish list:

4. Used Optimod 8400, 8300, 5300, etc.
5. Used Omnia 6
6. New Omnia One

Maybe the Omnia One would move up the list if I could hear one first. If we were able to be the first in this tiny market to put one of the new "cannons" on the air, it might force the bigger guys to upgrade their clusters... Hmmm...

At any rate, my previous experiment was fun, but it's time to move on... Particularly since during a recent power outage, the 8282 failed to come back up in 'working' mode, causing dead air until the power could be cycled manually.

I am curious to hear opinions about what others would be looking at, both on the 'expensive' side and the 'cheaper' side.

Also, what are the REAL street prices on the new Omnias? I have seen the 8600 for around 9 grand (non HD)
 
My full blown budget list would be:
- Omnia.11
- Omnia.9
- Optimod 8600

My 'reduced' budget list would be:
- Omnia One
- Optimod 5500
- Used 8300/5300
- Vorsis VP8
- BW DSPXtreme

I would stay away from the 8400 or any earlier model. Too old hardware and not being updated anymore. You don't want to have to powercycle because it's hanging or a fan just decided to die after 10+ years of service.
 
I love my 8300, but I have been very impressed with the 5500. It is low cost, but sounds really good.

I use an 8300 on my Urban/Hip-Hop station and a 5500 on my CHR.
 
I sprung for an Omnia One and am very pleased. I use it on a 50KW Oldies Country format,
and it has made a noticeable improvement. For the price, a no brainer for a cost (and quality)
concious station. JBI
 
I'd buy a BW Broadcast Dspx Mini FM SE. They list for $1500.00 and sound great. Here's a trick I found-run them with 50 us pre-emphasis and turn up the high band mix a couple db. This makes the HF limiter work a bit less and really opens up the sound (more/better highs). Don't get me wrong they still sound great run with 75us, but if you try this trick you'll see what I mean.
 
How do you adjust the Omnia One to remove the inherent distortion that comes with a Nickelback audio file? ???
 
LA_Guy said:
I'd buy a BW Broadcast Dspx Mini FM SE. They list for $1500.00 and sound great. Here's a trick I found-run them with 50 us pre-emphasis and turn up the high band mix a couple db. This makes the HF limiter work a bit less and really opens up the sound (more/better highs). Don't get me wrong they still sound great run with 75us, but if you try this trick you'll see what I mean.
Click to expand...

Is it legal to run with something other than 75uS in the USA? I seem to recall Bob Orban discussing that in the old Optimod manuals.
 
No, it isn't illegal to run 50us. In fact, an accurate 50 us will fit within the 75 us error bracket in the old FCC pre-emphasis curve. Also, remember that error bracket no longer exists so it's a moot point anyway. Besides, most every high frequency limiter works by dynamically modifying the pre-emphasis, essentially 'turning down' the treble as necessary.
 
LA_Guy said:
I'd buy a BW Broadcast Dspx Mini FM SE. They list for $1500.00 and sound great. Here's a trick I found-run them with 50 us pre-emphasis and turn up the high band mix a couple db. This makes the HF limiter work a bit less and really opens up the sound (more/better highs). Don't get me wrong they still sound great run with 75us, but if you try this trick you'll see what I mean.
Click to expand...

the SE does sound great (natural and musical) I still wonder what Goran could have done with the power of the DSPXtreme.
 
It's kind of a moot point to discuss the legalness of pre-emphasis curve - the processor is a dynamic device, thus the HF response under normal operation is very relative...


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
Again, though... Does anyone know the REAL street prices of Omnia.11 or Omnia.9?

And what is the probability of getting a demo unit in my puny corner of the world?
 
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