HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gmaltby@unpcs1.cs.unp.ac.za (Gavin Maltby)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Ribbon Forever
Date: 3 Jan 93 17:21:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: unpcs1.gmaltby.33.726081685
Organization: Uni Natal
NNTP-Posting-Host: pc091.cc.unp.ac.za

In article <1992Dec24.101319.1010@cmkrnl.com> jeh@cmkrnl.com writes:
>From: jeh@cmkrnl.com
>Subject: Re: Ribbon Forever
>Date: 24 Dec 92 18:13:19 GMT

>In article <1992Dec22.214222.2043@spang.Camosun.BC.CA>,
> dbarker@spang.Camosun.BC.CA (Deryk Barker) writes:
>> jeh@cmkrnl.com wrote:
>> 
>> > Maggie owners tend to LOVE their speakers.
>> > I used to love mine.
>> > However I've since switched back to cones (Vandersteen 2ci, later augmented
>> > by the 2w subwoofer).
>> > I really like the soundstaging and "transparency" that Magnepans deliver.
>> > However... as Corey Greenberg put it recently in _Stereophile_: Panel
>> > speakers don't rock, and never will.
>> > Translated, this means that they compress dynamic range.
>> 
>> Is he the one who can't write a coherent sentence in English? 

>He writes many complete and coherent sentences.  Some of them rely a lot on
>current popular usage and so may be difficult to follow, or even annoying, if
>your only experience with English is from reading a junior-high grammar text.
>Or if you're William Safire. 

>> I have a pair of Apogee Stages: sure they are a little light in the
>> deep bass, but I'm sure the Divas or the Stage subwoofer would correct
>> that. 

>Yup.  Like I said....

>> Otherwise they are simply the finest speakers I have heard, for
>> any kind of music.

>The real trouble with panel speakers is that there are so many things that they
>do "appealingly" -- not necessarily "right" -- that they lead you to not pay
>attention to what they're doing wrong.  

>        --- Jamie Hanrahan, Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego CA
>Internet:  jeh@cmkrnl.com, hanrahan@eisner.decus.org, or jeh@crash.cts.com
>Uucp:  ...{crash,eisner,uunet}!cmkrnl!jeh


Crap!  Really, I have a pair of Apogee Centaur Minors and they can really
rock when paired with a good transistor amp (eg Aragon 2004 and Musical
Fidelity A370 which I've tried).  They are hybrid ribbon/woofer speakers.
I presently drive them with a Michaelson Audio Odysseuss 45W valve amp
and there is very little to touch the combonation.  On the other hand,
the best sound I've yet heard was Apogee Caliper Signatures played by the
Musical Fidelity A370.  Extremely accurate and pure sound---with very
deep bass.  The thing is that they reproduce bass like a double bass
brilliantly, but don't cope as well with drum machines thudding in
rock.  The idea that ribbons accentuate their weak points must stem from
very poor demonstrations/partnering equipment/

Cheers

Gavin
From: curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: questions on new digital formats
Date: 24 Dec 92 17:10:45 GMT
Reply-To: curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

Norman Chiu writes:
>No. DCC decks can only play analog cassettes, not record them.

Perry A. Caro writes:
>Correction.  No *current* DCC decks support ACC recording, but there
>is nothing in the technology or specification for DCC that prevents
>analog recording in the same deck.

Don't the DCC decks uses the same heads for reading both type of
tapes? I was wondering if the reason they don't record is because
these new thin-film (or whatever they are) heads (which are designed
to read and write the 8 (or 10 or 11 or whatever) track DCC tapes
can't do a a very good job of recording in the ACC format.

As I understand it (and I don't really understand this so this is mostly
just a guess), the oxide on DCC tape is very thin, which allows for
higher density recording, but also requires a much weaker recording
signal.  It makes sense to me these same heads could be used to read
a normal ACC signal (which is wide enough to span multiple DCC tracks
and which has a much stronger signal), but that these heads would do
a very poor job of recording such a track.

If this is true, it would mean adding another head to record ACC tapes,
and this would make the unit more expensive.

Personally, I don't expect DCC to last more than 6 months.  If it had
come out 3 years ago, before DAT, then it could have found a market.
But now, with DAT already established, and with MD comming out, I don't
see how DCC has a chance.

Why would anyone buy DCC?  The decks are currently on sale for $999 at
my local Circuit City.  For that much money, you can buy a DAT deck, A
CD player, a cassette deck, and a Sony walkman.   Or, you could buy the
MD player/recorder and a $300 cassette deck.  What does DCC give you
that you can't get with these other units for the same price?
Nothing.

For the price of an MD player/recorder, you could also get a DAT deck
and a CD player, but MD at least gives you some unique features for
this extra cost that you can't get on any of the other units.  You get
the only consumer media that gives you a file-system structure for
recording.  You get the only consumer media that gives you fast CD-like
direct access on playback for you own recordings.  You get the only
consumer media that allows you to change the order of tracks after
recording.  You get the smallest consumer hi-fi (:-)) media on the
market.

DCC vs MD isn't a marketing war like Beta vs VHS was.  If Sony failed to
correctly market the MD - they could loose.  But they would really
have to screw up big time for this.

And I think MD will not only beat out DCC, but it will also replace
ACC, and in about 3 years, I think MD sales will even pass CD sales.
MD will never replace CD, but I think MD will replace CD as the primary
audio distribution format.

The only thing I can see that can stop MD now is if the MD format
or the players have some type of yet-to-be-seen technical problem
that makes them unreliable.

Curt
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: brad@buck.viewlogic.com (Bradford Kellogg)
Subject: Re: Cheap Place to buy a Portable CD Player
Originator: brad@buck
Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:30:51 GMT


|> In article <10312@ncrwat.Waterloo.NCR.COM> aclark@53iss5.Waterloo.NCR.COM (Allen Clark) writes:
|> >I was wondering what the net opinion was on the cheapest place in
|> >either the U.S.A. or Canada to buy audio equipment.  Email to me and
|> >I'll post a summary.
|> >
|> >allen.clark@waterloo.ncr.com
|> >--
|> 
According to their ads, "it's always better to shop at Fretter".

Fretter is one of those chain stores that sells electronics and
appliances around the Boston area. They claim that their price
will be lower than any other retailer or they will give you the
item free of charge.

Yeah, right.
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Fractalman)
Subject: MD skipping...
Originator: yxl5388@ultb
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 04:10:34 GMT


Anyone know why this happens?.. No matter how much I shake the MD player
the music won't skip at all, but after shaking it for about, say 15-20
seconds, and then I put it down on the table again the music would stop for
about 1/3 of a second (while the buffer fills up again?) and then continues?

Is this normal? Seems stupid to me. This is on the MZ-2P but I assume
the MZ-1 is the same.

=Fractalman
yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Saturday, 2 Jan 1993 08:17:26 CST
From: <U12181@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Need Advice on ADVENT Speakers

I am considering to buy ADVENT speakers either Model Heritage or Laureate.
Does anyone have experience on those models? Any comment is appreciated.
I can be reached by e-mail:
            U12181@uicvm.uic.edu
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: jlee@leland.Stanford.EDU (Joseph Chee-Yoon Lee)
Subject: MD and analog
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 05:06:40 GMT

I'd don't recall reading whether MiniDisc recorders will be able to
record from analog sources.  That would require them to have separate A/D
converters, wouldn't it?  Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Joe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph C. Lee   	         E-mail: jlee@leland.stanford.edu (preferred)
ME210-FMC Project Team  	         jlee@groucho.stanford.edu
Design Division
Stanford Graduate School         Home phone: (415) 497-9257 (Messages)
of Mechanical Engineering        Lab phone:  (415) 723-1644
        	    	         Fax:        (415) 723-3521
From: gt5708a@prism.gatech.EDU (Preston Hunt)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Wanted: Advice on Ensemble II and/or Infinity RS4
Date: 2 Jan 93 02:41:56 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

I am upgrading my speakers and would like information on the Ensemble II
speaker system (two satellite speakers with a separate bass speaker)
manufactured by Cambridge Soundworks and on the Infinity RS4 speakers
(traditional 3-way speaker system).

Also, I would greatly welcome any suggestions for speakers in the same
price range (around $400).

To reduce net clutter, please e-mail all replies and I will collect and
summarize them in around two weeks.

Thanks very much in advance,
Preston

-- 
Preston Hunt (gt5708a@prism.gatech.edu) / "And I don't think it's asking too
Georgia Institute of Technology        / much that you <bark> <bark> <bark>
P.O. Box 35708, Atlanta, GA 30332     / <bark>." --B. Crusher, "True Q"
From: smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Define "Headroom"
Date: 30 Dec 92 17:07:23 GMT
Reply-To: P.Smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Organization: University of Bristol

In article <1992Dec29.134904.350@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> chris@lightnin.Columbia.NCR.COM writes:
>
>  Can someone enlighten me as to what is meant by "Headroom"?  Technical
>descriptions as well as figurative descriptions would be helpful.

Refers to the ability of an amplifier to put out much more than its
rated (RMS) power output for short periods of time.  This allows the
amp to cope with short transients in the music, which want to be louder
than its continuous power rating should allow it to achieve.  It's
commonly implemented by using large 'reservoir' capacitors in the power
supply, and 'dumping' the stored power onto the power rails of the amp
to provide the push for the transient.  Of course, it then can't handle
another loud transient until the reservoir has refilled.

-- 
Paul Smee, Computing Service, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK
 P.Smee@bristol.ac.uk - ..!uunet!uknet!bsmail!p.smee - Tel +44 272 303132
From: jpb@calmasd.Prime.COM (Jan Bielawski)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: CD SOund QUality
Date: 24 Dec 92 23:11:08 GMT
Organization: Computervision, San Diego, CA

In article <539@bit.UUCP> grego@bit.UUCP (Grego Sanguinetti) writes:
<In article <1h17e4INNrkv@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> co940@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Nicholas E. Damato) writes:
<>
<>>people can't hear the difference between 15 and 16 bit.
<> 
<>But they CAN hear the difference between 14 and 16 bits...
<>and I'll bet they can hear the difference between 16 and 18 or 20
<>bits.
<> 
<Not scientific but interesting annectdote:
<
<When I auditioned CD players for my system I (single) blind AB tested two
<Sony ES systems. One was a 16 bit 4x system and the other was a dual 18 bit
<8x system. Two copies of same CD switched into same amp/speakers. Independent
<person working switch.

	I belive this is not what is being discussed here.  CD is a 16 bit
system, period.  The various "18-bit" etc. in the players only refers to
a particular D/A conversion strategy.  The source is always 16 bit.  All you
were comparing was different D/A converters acting on the same 16 bit signal.

	Jan Bielawski
	Computervision, San Diego
	jpb@calmasd.prime.com

Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: DPierce@world.std.com (Richard D Pierce)
Subject: Re: Subwoofer dumb question
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 01:02:35 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.214702.19634@colorado.edu> baldwin@frodo.colorado.edu (Dan "Viper" Baldwin) writes:
>  I have a subwoofer oriented question. I have heard that a subwoofer will
>lower the demands made on the main speakers thus allowing them to use 
>the power to better reproduce the higher frequencies.
>	I have a powered subwoofer hooked to the sub out ( < 200Hz) of my
>reciever. I like it and it sounds great, but I dont understand how this
>is changing the demands on my main speakers.

There are several reasons why a subwoofer would reduce the demands on the
main speakers, on the presumption it's done properly.

In general, the distrubution of energy vs. frequency of a wide variety of
music is similar. The peak in energy output is around 150 Hz or so, and it
drops off at lower and higher frequencies (this is true of both short-term
and long term averages, but does not account for the occasional
pathological examples which are, indeed, quite real). The distribution is
such that using a properly done 200 Hz crossover will direct as much as
1/3 of the power or more to the subwoofer, with the remaining then going
to the main speakers.

Further, there is a mechanical advantage. The excursion of the cone (the
distance it moves in and out) in general goes as the inverse square of the
frequency (for constant output). This means that if the cone must move
1/16" at 200 Hz to reproduce a given output, it must move 1/4" at 100 Hz
to produce the same output (or 1" at 50 Hz). Now, 1/16" is fairly easy,
but 1/4" is just about at the linear limits of the vast majority of
woofers. Now, remember that our power distribution is going down at lower
frequencies, so we're not asking the woofer to do these feats in most
cases, but the point remains: low frequencies requires large excursions.

Again, by having the subwoofer take over these low frequencies, we've
relieved the remainder of the drivers of the large-motion requirements.

Now, there is a caveat: while the sibwoofer may, indeed, be reproducing
the low frequencies, is the receiver now, in fact, preventing them from
getting to the main speakers. The answer may, in fact, be no. If so, then
there is precious little advantage, and some disadvantage of having the
subwoofer.

Remember what I said at the beginning of this article, "if it's done
properly"! Having a subwoofer output without a symmetrical limiting of the
main outputs doesn't by you a whole bunch. Because of interference between
the subwoofer and the main speakers, the bass may, in fact, be worse.



-- 
|                Dick Pierce                |
|    Loudspeaker and Software Consulting    |
| 17 Sartelle Street   Pepperell, MA  01463 |
|       (508) 433-9183 (Voice and FAX)      |
From: arthur.rosene@cutting.hou.tx.us (Arthur Rosene) 
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: VECTOR RESEARCH RECEIVER
Date: 27 Dec 92 10:06:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: arthur.rosene@cutting.hou.tx.us (Arthur Rosene) 

I was wondering if anyone has heard of a Vector Research receiver and if
anyone would like to give a comment or criticism about it.  Thanks.
                                                                                                                   
----
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The Cutting Edge BBS (cutting.hou.tx.us)    A PCBoard 14.5a system  |
| Houston, Texas, USA    +1 713 466 1525          running uuPCB       |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: Robert_La_Ferla@hot.com
Subject: Impedance
Keywords: Impedance, Sony, JBL
Reply-To: Robert_La_Ferla@hot.com
Organization: Hot Technologies
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 23:23:22 GMT

The manual for my Sony D2020 audio/video receiver recommends speakers that  
have an impedance of 8-16 ohms yet my rear speakers (JBL Pro III) are  
rated at 4 ohms (the front speakers are rated ar 8 ohms.)

Should I expect any problems with this configuration?  If so, what is  
recommended to correct them?

Thanks,
Robert
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: janaka@really.bored (Space Cadet)
Subject: Re: Radio Shack garbage
Originator: news@nimaster
Reply-To: jwithana@phoenix.princeton.edu
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 02:40:12 GMT

> >>
> >>I've noticed as well that they are selling less parts and shifting more
> >>the selling of products. (I wonder what that's going to do for them)
> >>They sell some speakers by the name of Genexxa which is actually made
> >>by Pioneer and ofcourse their Optimus speakers are made by Bose.  I'm
> >>just wondering if these are low end stuff that they rename and let a 
> >>"low-end" store sell.
> >>
> 
> >The notion that Optimus speakers are made by Bose is pure hogwash. While
> >they may utilize vendors that also supply Bose and that there may be
> >tweeter used in a Bose loudspeaker that may also be used in an Optimus
> >speaker, how you make the leap of faith to your conclusion is something
> >of a mystery.
> 
> >Radio Shack obtains their speakers from a variety of sources domestic and
> >foreign. Bose ain't one of them.
> 
> Ok, maybe they are not made by Bose per-se and maybe some do use Bose
> parts, but why then did a certain Optimus speaker that RS sold say in
> small print beside it (By Bose)?  Maybe I'm missing something?
 
 
why would it be a compliment to say that Radio Shack speakers are made by Bose?
After all, anyone who owns anything like Boston Acoustics or Mirage (in the same
price range as Bose) will agree that Bose speaker are poorly constructed and their
sound lacks the detail present in *DECENT* speakers.


---
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| jwithana@phoenix.princeton.edu                 janaka@lucille.princeton.edu |
| mjw@clarity.princeton.edu      JWITHANA@PUCC.bitnet       bt283@po.cwru.edu |
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: rmcghee@fnma.com(Rich McGhee)
Subject: Yamaha  CD Changer 735
Reply-To: rmcghee@fnma.com
Organization: Fannie Mae
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 18:40:57 GMT

I want to buy one through the mail but I am not sure which dealers are  
reputable.  Has somebody had a good experience with mail order firms?   
Yamaha equipment?


--
Rich McGhee, Advanced Technology
Federal National Mortgage Association
3900 Wisconsin Avenue, Wash DC 20016
NeXTMail: rmcghee@fnma.COM
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: tlode@nyx.cs.du.edu (trygve lode)
Subject: Re: woofer advice needed
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 93 23:32:54 GMT

In article <1993Jan2.214359.2293@netnews.whoi.edu> eklein@whsun1.whoi.edu (Edgar Kleindinst) writes:
>I have four OHM C2 speakers that are over 15 years old. 
>The foam material surrounding the woofer cone is disintegrating and falling 
>out in large pieces. I contacted OHM about replacements and was told 
>"the company that made those woofers went out of business and 
>we could not find any speakers that came close so we discontinued them". 
>
>What is a good 10" woofer that I could use. The specs on the speakers
>are .....

[I originally tried to respond by e-mail, but it bounced.  Anyway...]

You might want to consider one of the various foam surround repair kits
that are advertised in the back of magazines like Audio and Stereo Review.
I've never tried this approach myself, but it would probably be far 
easier and considerably cheaper than tracking down replacement drivers
that would match the originals.  (For starters, to track down the replacements,
you'd have to know the specs of the drivers themselves rather than just the
speaker; Dick Pierce can probably figure out the Theile-Small parameters
by tapping on them with a fingertip, but you and I aren't so lucky in this
regard.)

Trygve 
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: twriter@rd.hydro.on.ca (Timothy Writer)
Subject: Help: Noisy CD player
Keywords: CD Noise
Reply-To: twriter@rd.hydro.on.ca
Organization: "Ontario Hydro - Research Division"
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 19:39:46 GMT

I have a Pioneer PDM-550 6 disc CD changer which I purchased a little
over a year ago.  When it works I am happy with the sound; however, it
works less than 50% of the time.

The first problem occurred only 3 weeks after I purchased it.  It began
as a slight crackling, like a dusty record, and in a few days
deteriorated to the point that the noise completley drowned out the
sound.  Other symptoms included periodic skipping and the occasional
inability to find any music at all on a CD.  Needless to say, I took it
in for repair.  It returned seven weeks later and worked flawlessly.

Two months later, I experienced the exact same problem.  Somewhat upset,
I returned to the dealer once again.  He suggested that the problem was
not the CD player but my house and demonstrated his point by setting
up my CD player in the store, where it worked perfectly.

Since then, I have been able to use my CD player only intermittently.
In fact, for a 3 month period in the summer it worked flawlessly.  I
was beginning to think that the problem had miraculously disappeared
when about two months ago it recurred.  In (a futile) attempt to get to
the bottom of the problem, I disconnected all of the components of my
stereo, unplugged all electrical appliances in my apartment, and tried
my CD player on its own and in combination with other components and
appliances in both my living room and bedroom (I live in a two room
apartment).  Everything works fine in any socket in the bedroom.  If
the CD player is plugged into any socket on its own in the living room,
it's noisy.  If I then plug my receiver into the same socket or any
other socket in the living room and turn it on, the noise goes away.
However, as soon as I connect my receiver to the CD player, the noise
returns.  Furthermore, I get the same results when I plug the CD player
and the receiver into an extension cord running from the bedroom to the
living room.

In frustration, I have finally moved my entire stereo system to my
bedroom.  However, I would really like to locate it in the living room.
Has anyone had a similar experience?  Does anyone have any idea what the
problem might be?  Can anyone suggest how I might track down the
problem?  Can anyone suggest any solutions?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
Tim

-- 
Tim Writer			     phone:  (416) 231-4111 ext. 6990
Ontario Hydro Research Division	     fax:    (416) 237-9285
Toronto, Ontario		     e-mail: twriter@rd.hydro.on.ca
CANADA
From: ebs@lilly.com (Eric B. Stauffer)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Repairing Label Side of CD
Date: 23 Dec 92 17:25:01 GMT
Distribution: world,local
Organization: Eli Lilly and Company

After recently letting my new 10,000 Maniacs slip from my grasp and skid 
across my hard-wood floors thus trashing the label side, it ocurred to me 
that if all that was happend was the scraping away of reflective layer that 
I might be able to repair it (sorry for the long sentance) Anyway, has 
anyone attempted to use one of those silver paint pens to fix the label side 
of a CD. It seems that I can get what I consider a pretty severe scratch on 
the playing side and the CD does OK. However, if I get even a small scratch 
on the label side the player often mistracks.

Eric


 Eric B. Stauffer - Clinical Research Information Systems
 Eli Lilly & Comapny, Indianapolis, IN 46285 
 Internet: ebs@lilly.com