From: ok3jonas@gemini.ldc.se (Jonas Palm)
Subject: Re: Picking up oup on DAT/S DOLBY/etc
Followup-To: rec.audio
Organization: University of Lund, Sweden
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 13:35:33 GMT

In article <33362@twics.co.jp>, arenson@twics.co.jp wrote:
> 
>                           *********
>                                     Request-Have heard that
> Etiquette herein
>                         ytthe US _encourages_ EMAIL response;
>                    here is n JAPAapan it is the opposite as
>                       we have to pay for all messages (email)
>                     sent AND received.  Therefore, please
>                       DO  _NOT_   EMAIL me.  I would
>                            welcome any responses in thosis
>                       topic.  Thank you
>                            *************
> 
> 
> Anyway, have joined late and have missed the origin to 
> some of the threads I have found here.  Have been comparing
> S - DOLBY decks by various manufacturers AND DAT.  Wonder
> if anyone has commenbts about their favorite or LEAST
> favorite full size decks.
> 
> I know the model numbers may diferfer.  But TEAC has ONE
> S-DOLBY deck, introduced over a year a go while other
> maodelsodels have been recvised.  Pinoponeer has 2 S decks.  Then
> there are AIWA (a and SONY (who make the S dolby chips adsnnd are
> realetd to Aiwa).  Also, Kewnnwood just came out with one.
> 
> A year ago here there was a rave review from someone in Europe
> on the Pioneer (predeecessor to current model--the current
> model seems to have become the cheaper of the two current Pioneer,
> with an even more expensive one follinoffered now).
> 
> ____NOTE that somthere was some ytatalk of trouble with TEAC/TASCAM__
> anything to do with tyhheir decs?ks?????
> 
> 
> On DAT, I have heard lots of one bit and multyo i bit decks and the
> multoi bits sound better (but are super high priced).
> 
> As you might guess, I tend to like the analogue sound (which is why
> I am checking out DS-DOLBY decks, but the multi bit DATS I have heard
> souynd nd--to my ears--closer to that sound.
> 
> Anywoone have any horror storiuees about a particular brand or mdoeodel?
> 
> Related to that, anyone find any deterioation, as with magnetic audio
> cassettes, or other problems over time.  I have heard Mini Disk
> and, next to it, DCC sounds like high end!  Therefprefore, although
> optical is the wave of the future, for now it sounds tooproce
> processed.
> 
> Thanks in adavnce and PLEASE, onlyt  comments oin this topic.  No EMAIL
> or I can't log on any more.


Let me first say that I have gone through the market, and ended up
owning the Pioneer CT-93, because I felt that it was the best tape 
deck on the market, bar none. However, you may have other 
priorities than I have. All the decks above are capable of making 
very good recordings. I have never heard of the Sony though.
I thought Sony very purposefully avoided Dolby-S in order to push
their digital formats, in spite of the fact that they actually 
make the Dolby-S circuits. Many people felt that Sony got the rights
to manufacture the circuits only to deliberately delay the arrival of 
Dolby-S to the market.
Sony's high end Dolby-C recorders have a deservedly good reputation.
If they have made a Dolby-S version I would certainly look into it.

The Pioneers have as their main selling point an excellent
system for tape calibration. It is fast, automatic, and 
even adjusts the recording equalization at two frequency 
points.
The more expensive model has the old Nakamichi exclusive,
tape pressure pad relievers. The deck(s?) also have a very 
sophisticated tape tension control. Mechanical integrity is
very high. Circuitry is similar, but the CT-93 gets another 
4 dB of dynamic range out of a TDK-MA than its' cheaper
sibling. Not that it matters much with Dolby-S. If you compare 
with DAT recorders note that the Pioneers have linearity 
errors of less than 1 dB down at -100dB!! This is probably shared 
by the other analog recorders, and definitely makes them sound
a lot better than any DAT I have listened to using the Chesky
'bonger' test.

The Aiwas have built in D/A-converters, something I personally
feel only has gimmick value. They are both electrically sound 
and have very well performing transports, although some (I) are
put off by the use of plastic there. The more expensive model
has a slight edge in transport performance.

The Kenwood is nice. It wasn't around when I shopped, but seems
sound enough. All tests have shown it to be competent.
Appears to have good ergonomics, though this is always a matter
of personal preference.

The Harman-Kardons have considerably less competent transports
than their competition. 

The Teac has an superb transport, and very good ergonomics. 
This one can be fallen in love with.

Happy shopping.

                                   Jonas Palm