HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bhoughto@sedona.intel.com (Blair P. Houghton)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: dcc
Date: 16 Nov 1992 23:38:32 GMT
Organization: Intel Corp., Chandler, Arizona
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Okay, so DCC is finally "here," and we've all seen the ads
from Phillips touting the technology (something they failed
to do adequately with DAT) and the counterads from Sony
punching up the image of CD and implying the emergence of MD.

The questions seem to be

	Isn't $800 a ridiculously low price for what is
	the first of a line of equipment for a new
	technology (Philips' first DCC deck is MSRP'ed
	at $799)?  And doesn't that mean that the learning
	curve will bring them below $200 in just a couple
	of years?  I know for a fact that it's the first
	time in my greedy little life that I've had the
	real opportunity to get an seminal device without
	having to compute its effect on my transportation
	and housing options...

	Is the nonlinearity found in the Philips deck
	inherent in PCSA(sp?) or just a bug?

	Will new-release prices go the way of personal
	computer prices and halve by next summer as DCC and
	CD fight it out in the bins?

	All DCC decks (all, not just the US versions) will
	apparently have some form of SCMS, at least for the
	textual information if not also the audio data; who
	cares?

	Will analog cassettes really begin to disappear, or
	will their bargain-basement price go up in response
	to decreased supply or down in response to decreased
	demand?

	Why, if I was going to post all of this, didn't I
	bring the article to work with me so I could
	remember all the really good stats (I even forget
	which audiophilic magazine it's in; I only bought
	it because DCC was the cover-story; otherwise I'd
	have just got a copy of Computer Shopper or
	something)?
	
	I do remember, though, that THD for DCC on the
	Philips deck was in the 0.003-0.007% range.  Is this
	expected to improve, or have they hit the theoretical
	walls right out of the box?  And just how much worse
	is it than CD?  Can anyone, other than, perhaps, a lot
	of famous dead guys, recognize the difference?  I might;
	I've got extraordinary hearing, but, unfortunately, the
	world's worst sense of pitch; I couldn't play a kazoo...

	Is there anyone else (besides me) who's shunned CD
	as obviously overpriced media with underpowered
	features (albeit detectably perfect reproduction),
	and refused to purchase either a player or a recorder
	or even one of the recordings in the past ten years?

				--Blair
				  "Sounds like a marketing
				   meeting at Philips..."
From: gt0179a@prism.gatech.edu (Mike Chu)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: VPI Jr. and Rega RB300
Date: 18 Nov 92 19:25:15 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
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Anybody out there familiar with the VPI Jr. Table.

See, I am considering purchasing the VPI Deck or a comparable (ie. 
Roksan Radius) setup in the future. However, my concern is that
the VPI deck may have a slightly harsh treble.  I have a pair of
ProAc Tablettes, and they tend to partner very poorly with any components
that have any sort of treble glare.  In both the reviews by TAS and 
Sttereophile a hint of this glare was mentioned.

Now, If I bought the table with a laid back arm and cartridge, I could
possibly nullify the table's treble tendencies.   Any suggestions?
Of course the obvious choice is the Rega RB300 arm or the Audioquest
PT-6.  Which is more laid back and are there any other arms I should consider.

I have heard many, many possitive things about the Morch arms....  any 
personal accounts?   
-- 
Mike Chu  --  Chemical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt0179a
Internet: gt0179a@prism.gatech.edu
From: steve@harlqn.co.uk (Stephen Colwill)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Creek and other British Gear -- Love it or Hate it?
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 12:38:58 GMT
Organization: Harlequin Limited, Cambridge, England
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Being British, I tend to think that it is good gear.  The British
manufacturers have basically conceded the middle-order to foreign
competition and concentrate their efforts on high-end.  

In our terms, Creek is not the highest end stuff possible here but is
pretty good nonetheless.  They have had some good products, in
particular a tuner whose model number escapes me.

One of the problems for you (and we have the same buying US here) is
that when these things go over the water (the Atlantic) the price
rockets.  I guess there is some mark-up because of the exotic origin
of the products.  Basically we end up paying in pounds what you guys
pay in dollars, I don't know what the reverse is, but when I was in SF
a few years ago I saw B&W 801 series 2 for more than 5K dollars when
they were about 2.2K pounds here.  The rate was about 1.7 dollar/pound
so that is a hefty markup.  Particularly when you consider that the UK
price includes tax at at least 17% and possibly 25 - I guess you don't
pay that.

I would think it could be hard for you to get price-competitive UK
products to deliver the same sound quality as US gear.  In my opinion,
the sound quality of US gear here does not justify its elevated price
tag in comparison with good UK gear.

If you are still interested in Brit, I would look at KEF, B&W speakers
(I don't know anything about panels but the Quad electrostats have a
consistently good reputation); amps I would go with Quad if you want
build quality with good but unspectacular sound, Musical Fidelity if
the reverse criterion applies; Meridian do an interesting range of
digital products - the DAC 606 was for a long time virtually a
reference at its price point and their CD transports have good reviews.

Thats about all I know, my system is CD only.  I am also not sure if
Musical Fidelity is known as that in the US, but a good dealer should
be able to sort that out.

Cheers, Steve.
From: palane@iastate.edu (Paul A. Lane)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Help: cheap used system
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 16:05:10 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
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In <1e0e11INNg3c@uwm.edu> fsgab@acad3.alaska.edu writes:

>I'm just a regular guy who's tired of consumer grade junk which breaks just
>after the waranty period.  I am looking for used high-end gear from a good
>manufacturer.  I want to put together a system for under $1k, and any cheaper
>would be better.  All I need to listen to is CDs (I know, digital.... no need
>for flaming) in my small dorm room.  No big deal.  Any sources/ideas?

>Thanks.

For affordable equipment, NAD, Adcom, Rotel and Parasound all have good repu-
tations. Not too many used CD players show up, but a lot of decent amps and
such. Denon would also be a valid choice for a CD player.
From: loj@cae.wisc.edu (Lo Jeffrey)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: dcc
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 10:11:18 cst
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
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Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <1edhrmINNfuc@uwm.edu> bhoughto@sedona.intel.com (Blair P. Houghton) writes:
>
>Stereo Review, November 1992.
>
>Digital Playback:
>---
>S/N:        A-weighted:	99.3 dB
>		not		93.6 dB
>
>Digital Record/Playback:
>---
>S/N:        A-weighted:	91.5 dB
>		not		87.2 dB
>

These specs look a little fishy.  I remember reading that dcc would have
18 bit words as opposed to CD's 16 bits.  The formula for dynamic range
in digital systems is:

   S/N = 20 * log (2 ^ #_of_bits)

which yields 96dB for CDs and 108dB for 18 bits.  So what's up with the
above specs.  Is my formula or reasoning wrong?  Does PASC trash the
numbers to the point where you can't get the full dynamic range available?
Is this particular deck using less bits than it should?  Is the analog
circuitry lousy?  My money is on the lousy analog.  Anyone know any better?

Jeff Lo
loj@cae.wisc.edu
jlo@fnugget.intel.com
From: "Terence G. Sibiya" <ts35+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Multi-System Stuff
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:05:20 -0500 (EST)
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
          ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/service/mailqs/q001/QF.Qf3eGFq00iUyQ0U1I6>;
          Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:05:22 -0500 (EST)
          ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr24/ts35/.Outgoing/QF.gf3eGEW00iUyE31GV:>;
          Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:05:20 -0500 (EST)
          via MS.5.6.pcs12.andrew.cmu.edu.sun4c_411;
          Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:05:20 -0500 (EST)
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Cc: 
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


I am looking to relocate to Europe and I am looking to take some new
Audio-Equipment with me.  Does anybody know where I can get good deals
on dual-voltage equipment?  Perhaps even a number I can call, or a
catalog.

Thanx,

Terence
From: HENSONSA%WHITMAN.BITNET@CORNELLC.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re:  Tonearms for Linn gear
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 19:19 PDT
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

You might want to look at either the Rega RB300 (about $400 U.S.) or the budget
arm from Roksan (a little more expensive, but good from what I've heard.  I
have a Rega Planar 3 w/ RB300 and Grado ZTE +1 (I was using a Linn K-9 until I
had a rather unfortunate accident).  While my setup is far from optimum (my
'table is not well isolated from the surrounding environment), the Rega/Linn
combo was very musical, especially when the arm was modified with a Sumiko arm
wrap.  While you do have to put up with cheesy connectors on the Rega arm (I
modified mine), I feel that the Rega is an excellent arm for a reasonable
price.

Good luck, and remember, let your ears decide, not what others say.

Derek
From: chowkwan@alumni.cco.caltech.edu (Raymond Maihin Chowkwanyun)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Efficient Home-made Speakers
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 11:14:27 PST
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


Peter Campbell writes (somewhat plaintively):
>What I'm hoping for is something equivalent to 90db/w/m with (say) 100W
>(typical modern system).  Using my 12W amp, I would need around 99db/w/m. 
>Are there reputable, quality designs for such speakers floating about which
>a home constructor could try?  Will it necessariy be a horn?

Speaker Builder magazine has published updated horn designs.  
I've heard Bruce's design.  It's quite decent.  Did a great
job on the audiophile record, Bob & Ray.  Man, you could really
*see* that fly zoom round the room.  Full back and forth depth
as well as the usual left to right.  The height was perfectly
rendered too as it was on the Stereophile test CD.

Looking thru the latest guide to hi-end components the closest
I could come to 99db were:

Cello: 96
Goldmund Apologue: 100+ !!! 
Klipsch Horn: 104 (of course)
Legacy: 98 (in a ribbon?)
Westlake: 99 (another horn)
WAMM: 99
Acoustic Interface: 105 (horn)
M-L Statement: 96
Metaxas: 100
Rohrer: 100

I was surprised that the mega-buck systems are so sensitive.
Is this because they have so much square footage that they
are able to move a lot of air for not a lot of watts?  
For the curious, the Infinity IRS V has a sensitivity of 90db.

There were a surprising number of speakers with sensitivity ratings of 90db
or better.  So there's hope for you yet, Peter.

At the other end of the efficiency spectrum, I think the Stax 
still holds the record at, get this, 76db for the model
ELS-8X (Max rec spl is 110db.  But with what power station
we'd like to know).  Maybe the plasma speaker from France
that appeared a few years back is more inefficient.


-- ray
From: mdtanx@cs.umd.edu (Michael D. Tan)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: FOR SALE: Stereophile Issues 10/90,2/91-12/91
Date: 16 Nov 92 15:04:56 GMT
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu



FOR SALE: Stereophile Issues 10/90,2/91-12/91


I'm selling the issues together, so please do not request
single issues.  I am only asking for a minimum bid of
$10 + shipping and handling for all 12 issues (includes 
three of the bi-annual equipment reviews).  

Please respond by email.

Thanks.
Michael Tan
mdtanx@cs.umd.edu
From: 874abdulrahm@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Is it REGA PLANAR 3??
Date: 19 Nov 92 12:56:41 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
News-Moderator: Approval required for posting to rec.audio.high-end
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Hi folks!

I have recently purchased a rega planar 3 from a friend for lunch
at the restaurant of his choice which was a GOOD deal. Thing is,
the rega is of an old vintage I think. On the table it says  Rega
Planar 3 but the tonearm isn't RB300. I've seen the RB250 and RB300
and what i have is different although it says rega near the cartridge
end. The shape is like this---
                              

                                   xxxxxx
                                   ====== 
                                   ======a a 
                                    ===  a a
                                    ===
                                    ===
                                    ===
                                    ===
                                    ===
                                   ===
                                  ===
                                 ===
                                ====
                                ====
The tonearm has anti-skating adjustment at (a a in the diagram) and 
weight balancing adjustment at the end(xxxxx in the diagram). I have
been told that this arm is the RB200 and they don't make them anymore.
Is this true? How good is it compared to the RB250 or RB300? The 
cartridge on it is Pickering DLE....that's all that it says on it.
The stylus can be removed from the body.

Is anyone familiar with this arm? Should I keep it, replace the cartridge,
or buy the new arms? Further more, sometimes the left channel produces
no sound, only if i manipulate to tonearm cable a certain way both sides
evens out. Now I've found a way to make sure it stays even by taping 
the cable to the equipment rack. 

If I were to replace the cartridge, where is the nearest REGA distributor
(I live in Michigan) and is it advisable to ship the turntable if the 
distributor is far?( heard theres one in Missouri,St.Louis.) 

All inputs is appreciated, Thanks...
From: zaphod@ctrg.rri.uwo.ca (Lance R. Bailey)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: cats, was Re: Roomtunes was Re: speaker clamps
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 16:06:51 GMT
Organization: University of Western Ontario
Distribution: na
Reply-To: zaphod@ctrg.rri.uwo.ca
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <1eatfpINN463@uwm.edu> romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael Stimac)  
writes:
>In article <1e89hqINNjso@uwm.edu> ken@isgtec.com (Ken Newman) writes:
>>
>>Also on a related note, is there anything not acoustically worthless
>>that, when used as a speaker grillecloth, is cat-proof? The thought of
>>a cat perforating my Thiel's woofers makes my blood run cold.
>
>Our family have three (3) cats; I was very concerned about this...
>The single exception occured the first day the Maggies were installed.
>One of the cats took a running jump and 'climbed' up the face of
>one of the speakers in an attempt to sit on top of it. As the speaker
>is less than 2" thick, there was no 'top' on which to sit, and an
>embarrassed cat fell to the rear behind the speaker.

oooh i love a good cat story. 
Warning: do not ever try to have fun with the cat.

I once played an environmental record on the logans. Mrs. Beeton walked around 
the speakers looking for the chirping birds. when that 12 ft blue heron 
screamed from left to right she was out of there. the next day, while i was at 
work she chewed through the 1/4 inch cable on the wired remote. 

after banning her from the room, i spent over 500 dollars in cables and
interconnects.

she usually uses the linn as a launch pad to the window sill on the other
system. only once did she try it with the lid off and an LP spinning...
--
Lance R. Bailey  System/Network Manager         Robarts Research Institute
     NeXT/email: zaphod@ctrg.rri.uwo.ca    box: Clinical Trials Resources Group
            fax: +1 519 663 3789                P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr.
            vox: +1 519 663 3787 x4108          London, Canada N6A 5K8
Owned by one cat who won't tell me her first name.
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Antique Audio Equipment
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1992 00:59:21 GMT
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Keywords: Western Electric, Altec
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <1e0e12INNg3d@uwm.edu> koller@roma.berkeley.edu (Dieter Koller) writes:
>But this is my opinion. 
>What do you think about antique audio equipment?
>What is your experience?

I have fond memories of the now antique audio equipment of the
mid 50's.  Audio was certainly more fun then.  My state of the
art was being able to play a whole side of an LP without the
needle (er, um, STYLUS) sticking.[1] The state of the art today
is such that a casual hobbyist cannot make something that sounds
as good as what one can buy, let alone better.  I built a few
tonearms that worked; has anyone built a working CD player from
scratch?

The systems sounded great then.  But I couldn't enjoy choral music
played on them.  To my ears, horns and choral music don't mix.

	1.  I also remember when playing a whole CD or laserdisc without
	sticking was less than assured.

-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
From: romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael Stimac)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: cats, was Re: Roomtunes was Re: speaker clamps
Date: 16 Nov 92 19:14:04 GMT
Organization: BT North America (Tymnet)
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


In article <1e89hqINNjso@uwm.edu> ken@isgtec.com (Ken Newman) writes:
>
>In article <1dtof2INN31t@uwm.edu> b-grant@nwu.edu (Barry Grant) writes:
>> Has anyone heard the Roomtunes speaker clamps or tried them on their
>> speakers? I use their corner tunes, echotunes, roomtunes, and clamprack,
>
>In true usenet fashion, I'd like to reply to your question with another
>question. :)  I'm very interested in the Roomtunes and similar products
>
(stuff about a listening room elided)

>Also on a related note, is there anything not acoustically worthless
>that, when used as a speaker grillecloth, is cat-proof? The thought of
>a cat perforating my Thiel's woofers makes my blood run cold.

Our family have three (3) cats; I was very concerned about this
issue when I decided to purchase Magnepan speakers! However, with
a single exception, Maggies and cats have lived comfortably together
for several years now. I consider two points of use - one) the cats
were discouraged from being near the Maggies by applying "Cat-Be-Gone"
(or other proprietary cat/dog/aardvark repellent) to the carpet
around the speakers; two) ample alternate opportunties for scratching
were provided - we have three scratching posts sited elsewhere about
the room. No cat has ever has scratched on the Maggies (there's no
evidence of it happening, at least, which is all that counts).

The single exception occured the first day the Maggies were installed.
One of the cats took a running jump and 'climbed' up the face of
one of the speakers in an attempt to sit on top of it. As the speaker
is less than 2" thick, there was no 'top' on which to sit, and an
embarrassed cat fell to the rear behind the speaker. This was sufficient
negative reinforcement, and no such incident has ever happened again.

Once the cats got used to the cat repellant being there, it was
no longer necessary to keep applying it. The big problem now is
that they like to repose atop the CD player, and I don't like the
dirt/hair gathering there.

Michael Stimac


-- 
Michael Stimac
(415) 355-8889
romeo@tymnet.com
These opinions are not necessarily anyone's but my own.
From: lsilwm!howardm@uunet.UU.NET (Howard Moftich)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Roomtunes was Re: speaker clamps
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 15:31:41 GMT
Organization: LSI Logic, Waltham, MA
	(queueing-rmail) id 150312.6651; Tue, 17 Nov 1992 15:03:12 EST
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Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <1e89hqINNjso@uwm.edu> ken@isgtec.com (Ken Newman) writes:
>
>
>Also on a related note, is there anything not acoustically worthless
>that, when used as a speaker grillecloth, is cat-proof? The thought of
>a cat perforating my Thiel's woofers makes my blood run cold.
>

How about barbed wire around the equipment? :-} 
When I was at my local Krell/Thiel/etc. dealer, he had a pair of 1.2's
that suffered "cat scratch fever".  The little darling didnt get to
the drivers but made mincemeat of the grille and did some significant
damage to the cabinets (which were of all things, black gloss).

-- 

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