Since February of 1978 SMART Theatre Systems has become one of the foremost manufacturers of motion picture cinema sound equipment in the world. SMART Theatre Systems is a d.b.a. of SMART Devices, Inc.
Periodically we will highlight one of our new products on this page. Our newest product is the SMART MOD 7a Stereo Processor with built-in ex format and overhead channel decoding.
No, you are not looking at a MOD 7, but the MOD 7a derived from the very popular MOD VI. Internally it looks very similar, too. However, the MOD 7a main pc board is now a 6 layer design to accommodate the extra circuitry needed for all the new features. This is the first stereo processor with ex format decoding built in! No longer do you have to add outboard products to get the ex channel. We used the patented Circle Surround matrix decoder, which would normally be idle while playing digital soundtracks, and used it to process the LS and RS channels to obtain the Center Surround (ex) channel. In addition, the ENVELOP (overhead or height) channel is also available from the matrix and can be used in theatres equipped with overhead speakers.
The original MOD VII was discontinued when Analog Devices stopped making some of the critical IC chips. There were not direct replacements. We developed the MOD 8 using new semiconductors. to perform the same functions. The MOD 8 used the latest surface mount technology and ultra small components to allow additional circuits and features to be added. We later found that a majority of our customers and technicians are not trained in repairing surface mount PC boards and the unit would have to be returned to the factory for even the smallest problem. This was terribly inconvenient and expensive for many of our export dealers.
The decision was made to go back to standard manufacturing used in the MOD VII with an updated model that uses new components but was easily field repairable. Rather than naming the product the MOD 9, we reverted to the MOD 7a due to the similarities of the two products. The MOD VII has an extremely good reputation for reliability and solid design. They seem to run troublefree, forever!
Best of all, the price is less than US$2000.
Call the factory for more information at 1-800-457-6278
Previously highlighted products: