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Orban 8100A vs Omnia 3fmt

M

marker101

Guest
I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good in its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.

Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?

All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a dupe.
 
We replaced a straight 8100 with an Omnia 3

Night and day difference. The price is right, too.

While you can get a pretty good improvement on a basic 8100 with an XT chassis, you need to find one first. And then it will probably cost you $1,200 or more.

On the other hand, the Omnia turbo is about 3K, and you should be able to sell your 8100 for about $1,500~$1,800.
 
> I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment
> upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good in
> its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.
>
> Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help
> out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced
> Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?
>
> All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts
> and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a
> dupe.
>

I can only say I PREFER the DSP-X over Omnia 3 Turbo. It is less expensive and has a better feature set IN MY OPINION and TO ME sounds better.

Your best bet is to demo both and decide which fits you needs better.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RadioDoc on 04/20/06 01:25 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment
> upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good in
> its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.
>
> Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help
> out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced
> Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?
>
> All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts
> and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a
> dupe.
>

I like the Omnia 3FMT. But what I am more curious about, is
how long this thread will run before it is hijacked by a
shill for dspx?
 
> Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help
> out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced
> Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?

You could upgrade your 8100 with XT2 chassis, if you can find one. That will make it really stand out. I really like the sound of 8100/XT2 personally. IMO it's the best analog processor ever made and it will take down some of current digital boxes without a problem.

However, 8100 is analog and though of highest quality it's only getting older, capacitors wearing out... It's also not very tuneable, unless you go under the hood ;-) A new is a new box.

If you go with new processor, make sure you demo DSPX along with O-3fmt!


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
The Omnia 3FMturbo sounds terrible! Their 6 sounds great but tends to lock up and screw up on air.
I would go with a Optimod or a DSP-X!


> I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment
> upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good in
> its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.
>
> Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help
> out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced
> Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?
>
> All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts
> and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a
> dupe.
>
 
> The Omnia 3FMturbo sounds terrible! Their 6 sounds great
> but tends to lock up and screw up on air.
> I would go with a Optimod or a DSP-X!
>

Don't know about the 6 but have never had a lock-up with the Omnia 3-turbo.

I have a light rock, so I didn't need an agressive processor. You have to be careful not to hit the input too hard because you can clip in the A/D converter.
Just make up any gain with the digital controls.

You will need a ups because, like any device with a microprocessor, it takes a certain amount of time to "boot up" after even a brief power failure. Any custom settings would be lost, it would return to a preset.

However, a little $60 ups holds up our Omnia for several hours. You can, of course, store any custom settings in the memory card.
 
Looks like the "mini" version is cheaper (at around $1800 compared to $3k for the Omnia), but has less features than the Omnia. Though the missing features (dayparting, analog outputs, limited metering) don't appear to be that critical, depending on what your station needs.

In my case I need the Omnia's two composite outputs (one for the transmitter, one for a composite STL feed to a booster) & will need the analog outputs shortly for a backup transmitter (will feed L & R to an MX exciter with stereo generator modules--if I can find those two modules. We've been remodeling & stuff gets moved hither and yon).

The "full" version appears comparable to the Omnia in features and price, except for only one composite output.

There is a station in our market that is supposed to have one of these. It sounds "thin." But that's an unfair way to compare products, as there may be other problems in their chain. In the case of this station it was somewhat of an orphan for about a year until it was transferred from one group owner to another.

Ideal way to compare, as suggested above, is to try to borrow both & compare the sound for your format.
 
> Looks like the "mini" version is cheaper (at around $1800
> compared to $3k for the Omnia), but has less features than
> the Omnia. Though the missing features (dayparting, analog
> outputs, limited metering) don't appear to be that critical,
> depending on what your station needs.

I like the Mini for smaller applications (educational/fine arts/LPFM). To replace an 8100, I would go for the DSP-X.

>
> In my case I need the Omnia's two composite outputs (one for
> the transmitter, one for a composite STL feed to a booster)

Understood. While a Composte DA from BDI would be my way to go, that is perhaps not what you want to do. In your application, the presence of another composite output may sway you to Omnia.

> There is a station in our market that is supposed to have
> one of these. It sounds "thin."

I can tell you there are times when I have had to try and take out bass because it was too rich!
 
> > The Omnia 3FMturbo sounds terrible! Their 6 sounds great
> > but tends to lock up and screw up on air.
> > I would go with a Optimod or a DSP-X!
> >
>
> Don't know about the 6 but have never had a lock-up with the
> Omnia 3-turbo.

I can tell you the Omnia 3 we had did not lock up either. It has very stable software.
 
>
> I like the Omnia 3FMT. But what I am more curious about, is
> how long this thread will run before it is hijacked by a
> shill for dspx?
>

Long before your post, but I wouldn't say hijacked since positive comments have been made about all the processors discussed.
 
> I can tell you the Omnia 3 we had did not lock up either.
> It has very stable software.


We've been running an 03T never had it lock up, hicup, or pass gas. Ours has a UPS back up just in case. I do hope that a software upgrade is in the future for the 03T.
 
> We replaced a straight 8100 with an Omnia 3
>
> Night and day difference. The price is right, too.
>
> While you can get a pretty good improvement on a basic 8100
> with an XT chassis, you need to find one first. And then it
> will probably cost you $1,200 or more.
>
> On the other hand, the Omnia turbo is about 3K, and you
> should be able to sell your 8100 for about $1,500~$1,800.

We are using nothing but Omnia on our stations across our chain, and have had nothing but good luck with them. Stable, sound great...I won't use anything else. I have my old 8100a in as a hot standby, but have NEVER used it. This is after 3 years of service.
<P ID="signature">______________
Zach Morton
Chief Engineer
Legend Communications Of Wyoming, LLC.
KGWY/KAML/KIML/KLGT/KZZS/KBBS
Office (307) 686-2242
Cell (307) 660-9101</P>
 
> The Omnia 3FMturbo sounds terrible! Their 6 sounds great
> but tends to lock up and screw up on air.
> I would go with a Optimod or a DSP-X!
>
>
> > I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment
> > upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good
> in
> > its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.
> >
> > Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to
> help
> > out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably
> priced
> > Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?
> >
> > All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts
> > and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a
> > dupe.
> >
>


I've had experience with 8 or 9 Omnia 6's. Not one has locked up. Maybe you got a bad apple or bad power conditioning.
 
> I have had many 3s that just lock up on reboot -and dont
> come back! Their sound is great if you like grunge!
>

Never had it happen here. But then again, our whole airchain and transmission plant is on UPS.
 
> Looks like the "mini" version is cheaper (at around $1800
> compared to $3k for the Omnia), but has less features than
> the Omnia. Though the missing features (dayparting, analog
> outputs, limited metering) don't appear to be that critical,
> depending on what your station needs.

Dayparting and remote triggers are included in the mini. I have just amended the websites concerned to reflect this.

>

>
> There is a station in our market that is supposed to have
> one of these. It sounds "thin." But that's an unfair way
> to compare products, as there may be other problems in their
> chain. In the case of this station it was somewhat of an
> orphan for about a year until it was transferred from one
> group owner to another.

depends on version of software and how it is setup and also the various other factors you mention.

>
> Ideal way to compare, as suggested above, is to try to
> borrow both & compare the sound for your format.
>


Very good suggestion.
 
When I used an 8100 I got great sound using an 8100 with a set of Texar Audio Prisms. Oh also get card 0 for the 8100. Even though card 0 was designed for stations with SCA's it really helped those without also.
 
marker101 said:
I am in the process of looking at doing some equipment upgrades. Currently we are running the 'used to be good in its day' Orban 8100 analog FM optimod.Should I look at other equipment to add in the chain to help out audio, or should I take a look at the reasonably priced Omnia 3FMturbo procesor?All help is appreciated. I looked through previous posts and didn't see one like this, so I apologize if it is a dupe.
Click to expand...
I have a friend who wants an 8100. If you want i can swap it for free for the 4 band DSPXmini. see it at audio-processor.comContact me off list if you are interested.
 
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