HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: eds@po.CWRU.Edu (Ethan D. Siegel)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: cartridge under $200 for AR EB101
Date: 13 Dec 1992 18:58:42 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


Hey all,

My friend who has lost his net access for the time being is 
looking for a new cartridge for his AR EB101 turntable.  It's
the one w/ nice wood grain finish, and has a floating platter,
and the standard tone arm.  Would anyone be able to suggest
a real good cartridge, under $200?  He's had problems finding
cartridges that produce both rich lows and nice highs.  Any
suggestions?  Please email me, and I will pass on to him.

Thanks alot!

-- 
*****************************************************************
*  Ethan Siegel             *  "If I told you all that went down*
*  Case Western Reserve U.  * it would burn off both your ears."*
*****************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: falcon@camelot.bradley.edu (D. Nathan Hood)
Subject: opinions wanted... Yamaha NS-A635 Speakers
Summary: what do you think of the yamaha NS-A635 speakers
Keywords: speakers
Organization: Bradley University
Date: 16 Dec 92 19:53:50 GMT

has anyone had any experiences with these??? good or bad... i am
considering purchasing a pair and am wondering if it is a good idea... the
price is $50 each... is that a good deal??? they normally retail for about
$90 each so i think i am doing ok... any ideas, comments, suggestions?
--
 I Wish You A Hopeful Christmas                   \             / /   
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                   -Emerson, Lake And Palmer-             /  >>  \\\`__/_   
                   -I Beleive In Father Christmas-       /,)-^>>\` , \\\   
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: shiv@bnr.ca (Shiv Naimpally)
Subject: Re: Wanted: Casio or Yamaha sound chips
Reply-To: shiv@bnr.ca (Shiv Naimpally)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 18:31:33 GMT

In article <kP7mVB2w165w@midiline.la.ca.us>, jared@midiline.la.ca.us (Luposian Knightwolf) writes:
|> I'm looking, mostly, for 4 or 8 voice sound chips from either company.  
|> What I need are part number, though, as distributors don't know a thing 
|> without them.  Any help offered is greatly appreciated.
|>  
|> As well, does anyone here know what parts would be required and where 
|> they can be purchased, for a 16-bit 44kHz sampler with sample playback 
|> capability?  It's for a computer project... Any help offered is, once 
|> again, greatly appreciated.
|>  
|> Reply in Email to: jared@midiline.la.ca.us

Wrong newsgroup ! Try rec.music.makers.synth. Yamaha makes their 4 op
chips available and in fact they are in many of the PC music cards.
Call Yamaha up directly and ask them for a spec sheet on their chip.
For sampling you need a/d and d/a convertors. You might check a local
university's library for issues of the Computer Music Journal, AES
proceedings, etc.. 
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: gfl@herahera.cc.bellcore.com (lenahan,grant f)
Subject: Re: DAC to ADC components? Snake Oil??
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: rec.audio, sci.electronics
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 13:59:23 GMT
Summary: another try at answering your question

jim@stargate.helios.nd.edu (Jim McCusker) writes:
> Grant,
>  My statement was not ment to suggest that the Levison #30 was some
> sort of snake oil.

Sorry, the word was in the title, so I .....

> But more to clarify whether it is worth it to
> purchase one of these DtoA converters or to stick with the DtoA in
> my Nakamichi CD Player 2.

You're comparing a sub $1k player to a $15K outboard DAC.  It better
sound good!

> My system consists of a Carver CT-6 pre-amp
> tuner, Carver TFM-25 amp, KEF 104.2 speakers.  I am an EE by training
> and do understand the technical aspects of these designs, but I can't 
> help being scheptical about the added benifit of such devices, since
> it appears that the audio world is approaching the limits of our 
> perceptability.

You mix two statements.  One a question of absolute quality,
one of perceptability and/or value judgement.  I can never
help you define the latter; its _your_ value judegment.
  
>  From what you stated, do you mean that the DtoA in an off the shelf
> CD player doesn't produce as pure an analog signog signal as the #30
> does?

The #30 is the best front end, analog or digital, that I have ever
heard.  Period.  (that's a yes)

>  And if so, how much of a difference is there (numbers I mean), and
> are these differences perceptable

I pay no attention to numbers, because a meaningful analysis
is beyond my ability.  You have to look at distortion, its 
spectrum, correllation to music, and dynamics of masking before
any measurement can determine sound quality.  Look at what
MPEG is going through now.  That's what I mean about people
misusing specs.  Who gives a damn about static %THD?

And yes, the #30's sonics are perceptively better.  Much.

> I basically mean that we have the 
> ability to measure the heck out of audio equipment and we should be able
> to draw a line between what improvements are perceptable and what aren't.

Go ahead.  Its too difficult and not worth my time.  About the only 
folks doing this are Bell Labs, Bellcore, PBS (kinda-sorta), MIT (no,
not Bruce Brisson), and maybe BNR and Crystal Semi.  Not Matshusta, 
Krell, or whoever.
Oops, and proibably the gang at Waterloo, as well!

> An audiophile must be able to say when they can't hear a difference.  If
> they don't then I believe they are just fooling themselves.  
>  Do you think I'd be able to hear the difference between my CD player directly
> into my system and between the #30 inline with the system??
>  
>         -- Jim

In all honesty, my personal opinion is that the Carver stuff will
mask the differences, but you might.  The KEF's will certainly
reveal these differences.  I presume, of course, that the
issues is purely academic, since the bugger is the cost of a Buick.
 
Looking forwrad to what YOU hear, 

Grant




Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: What is a pre-amp?
Date: 18 Dec 92 10:47:01 GMT
Reply-To: P.Smee@bristol.ac.uk (Paul Smee)
Organization: University of Bristol

In article <1992Dec16.162626.45697@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> thompson@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>What is a pre-amp and what does it do?

The preamp is the bit with all the controls. :-)  It contains the
switching circuitry that allows you to choose which source you are
listening to, and normally the volume (tone, balance, and any others
you've got) control.  Its job is to take the incoming signal from the
players, and adjust the signal to the right size to feed to the 'power
amp'.  Once upon a time, the pre-amp actually amplified the signal to
make it bigger before passing it on.  Still does, for the turntable
input (if you have one) but most if not all other modern sources put
out such a strong signal that the pre-amp normally has to cut it down
(attenuate it) before passing it to the power amp.

(For the turntable input, the pre-amp also applies RIAA equalisation,
which is basically a standard set of boosts and attenuations at various
frequency ranges.  Because of 'limitations' in vinyl and cartridge
technology, a certain amount of signal processing is done when the LPs
are made, and the pre-amp undoes this.)

The power amp normally only has an on-off switch, and sometimes a
switch to allow you to choose between sets of speakers.

An 'integrated amp', most popular especially among new buyers, is
simply a preamp and a power amp both living in the same box.

-- 
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
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: kong@leland.Stanford.EDU (Kong Kritayakirana)
Subject: Cal Sigma DAC
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 20:26:12 GMT

In Article 33416, kishon-amir@cs.yale.edu (Amir Kishon) writes:

> What's so great about CAL Sigma?
>
> I auditioned yesterday a system that comprises of 1.5 Meggies, Acurus
> DIA100 and California Audio Labs Icon Mk II. After I fell in love with
> the system I realized that part of the magic was due to a DAC
> ,namely California Audio Labs Sigma DAC, connected to the CAL CD Player.
> This was a surprise since I always thought that the CD is the least
> important part of the system. I am curious to know if a DAC can really make
> such a difference or I should just readjust my ears.

I think the "magic" is partly due to the rather low input impedance of the
Acurus amp. Cal Sigma hates low input impedance and will slightly rolloff
high end if it is asked to drive such a load. I think that's exactly what
you have heard. Also, Cal Sigma uses top of the line Crystal's S/PDIF and
DAC chips. It is a good buy, but you probably get even better performance
driving higher impedance load.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kong Kritayakirana                          kong@leland.stanford.edu
EERA STAR Lab                   'An optimist believes we live in the best of
Stanford University              all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this
Stanford, CA 94305               is true.'     -- Advanced Murphology
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: winalski@adserv.enet.dec.com (Paul S. Winalski)
Subject: Re: Digital-to-Digital copying
Reply-To: winalski@adserv.enet.dec.com (Paul S. Winalski)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Nashua NH
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 20:32:55 GMT


In article <Bz9rCs.J7t@ssesco.com>, nau@ssesco.com (William Nau) writes:
|>
|>Bill Sohl writes;
|>>Now as to the legality of such equipmen, my understanding is it is OK
|>>for "professional audio folks," but not the common riffraf audiophile :-)
|>>Of course the determination of who is or isn't a pro has never been
|>>tested in any court as far as I know.
|>
|>If it's legal for the pros, it's legal for common folk.  I don't believe
|>that they need special Federal liscenses to make copies.  Please correct
|>me if I am wrong, so I can bitch even more.

You don't need special licenses.  You just need to shell out the extra $$$ to
buy pro equipment.

|>As long as I'm at it.  Suppose I feed the digital signal into my home
|>PC.  Is it illegal for me to clear those bits in my PC?  Can I then
|>send those bits off to another DAT (or any digital recording device)?
|>At what point is it wrong?  Does SCMS's existance make it illegal to
|>bypass it?  What exactly does the law (if there is one) say?  Forgive
|>me.  I know that all of this has been discussed before, but I guess 
|>some of us were asleep.

The law is called the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 (AHRA).  The law makes
SCMS mandatory for consumer digital audio and makes it illegal to build and
use devices for the purpose of defeating SCMS in a consumer digital audio
device.  The law defines what constitutes a "consumer audio" device versus
a "professional audio" device.

Regarding your question in the third paragraph, if your intent in using the PC
to clear bits is to circumvent SCMS in a device setup that is considered
consumer digital audio by the AHRA's definition, then yes, it's technically
illegal.

--PSW
From: pohsk@ecst.csuchico.edu (Lee Kuan Yew)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Naim Nait & Epos ES11
Date: 16 Dec 92 13:22:48 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

Hi fellow audiophiles,

Anyone out there driving the Epos ES11 speakers with the Naim Nait 
amplifier?  I am considering buying the Naim Nait to go with my ES11.
However, I am a bit concern about the low output of this amp. (15 watts).
Will the low output Naim Nait amp restrict the dynamic range?  Will the 
"clipping" distortion cause damage to the loudspeakers if the amp is 
driven beyond its capability in an attempt to obtain high volume 
levels.
I will be glad to hear from anyone, especially the advise from those 
Naim Nait and ES11 users.  Thanks in advance.
From: bmw@Rosie.UH.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: HX-Pro function of tape deck, information needed!
Date: 14 Dec 1992 06:29:34 GMT
Organization: University of Houston
Reply-To: bmw@Rosie.UH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: rosie.uh.edu

In article <1992Dec13.132112.2708@panix.com>, schuster@panix.com
  (Michael Schuster) writes:
>In article <Bz6FEF.9xM@ssesco.com> nau@quesadilla.ssesco.com
  (William Nau) writes:
>> .....  I highly suggest that you look for a unit that allows you
>>to disable HX-PRO when this occurs.
>
>I noticed this on an older deck that had Dolby HX (the predecessor to HX Pro).
>Especially on loud sibilants against a quiet background.
>
>Dolby HX was switchable; I've not seen a more modern deck in which HX Pro
>can be disabled.

>_______________________________Mike Schuster________________________________

Last April (1991), I bought (my birthday present to *ME*) a
Philips FC-60 three head cassette deck (list $550, paid $300).
It has switchable HX-Pro. More recently, when I was buying my new
CD changer in Sept. (1992), I saw a Marantz cassette deck that
looked almost exactly like my Philips. When I mentioned it to the
salesman, he said that it was very close to the same deck that I had.
I do not remember the model number or whether it had switchable HX-Pro,
but anyone interested might want to look into it.

Brian       U. of Houston
BMW @uh.edu
From: gt0869a@prism.gatech.EDU (WATERS,CLYDE GORDON)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Mobile Fidelity....
Date: 17 Dec 92 16:51:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <1992Dec14.172739.26180@oakhill.sps.mot.com> rvkl60@aus18a25.sps.mot.com (Tom Mathes) writes:

>As for sound quality, I do notice a difference.  I listened, back
>to back, to the standard CD issue of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of
>the Moon", and the MF version.  The MF version has *much* more
>pronounced deep bass.  For example, the drum "heartbeat" at the

I can explain this, and it probably has little to do with the actual
metal used in the disc:

The Mobile Fidelity discs of the Pink Floyd albums listed were made
from the West German master, NOT the US or Japanese master. These 
masters are in order of decreasing quality:
W.German
Japanese 
US.
I noticed this long ago, and it was verified by some guys in the
industry- the older Dark Side discs that were black background
were generally from the West German master, the ones with normal
neutral sliver background were either US or Japanese. You can tell
from the pressing plant- if the plant is in a country, the disc is
most likely from that country's master version. 

Anyone with any more info or corrections to this please post. Thanks.

Regards,
Gordon.

PS: Anyone want to part with a West German Dark Side disk (1/2 :-) )

-- 
WATERS,CLYDE GORDON-Class of '93-Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Ga. 
"Out of the mountain of despair, we can hew the stone of hope"- MLK Jr. 
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt0869a
Internet: gt0869a@prism.gatech.edu
Newsgroups: rec.audio,misc.consumers
From: narpet@cs.mcgill.ca (Greg WARD)
Subject: Re: Are Technic CD Portables a Good Buy?
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Distribution: rec.audio, misc.consumers
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 23:58:01 GMT

In article <KAUTZ.92Dec8011457@hunny.research.nj.att.com> kautz@research.att.com writes:
>In article <1992Dec4.224628.14429@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
>
>> I've had very bad experience with several Sony CD players, and with
>> Sony's repair service. I would not buy another.
>
>Well, in the past 3 weeks my Sony sports walkman (1 year old), Sony
>VCR (100 days old), and Sony CD player (1 year old) all died.
>Meanwhile a 30-watt, 10-year Technics receiver that has been
>banished to the bedroom is still plugging away.  Possibilities: (1)
>They don't make them like they used to, regardless of brand; (2) There
>is just so much more Sony gear around these days that you notice when
>it breaks; (3) Coincidence; (4) Sony stuff just isn't robust.  In any
>case, I'm yet another ex-Sony purchaser....

Another case history: my dad got a Sony "Car Discman" (comes with a
cassette adapter instead of headphones) about a year and a half ago,
and I've been using it since May as my CD player (a trusty, if very
low-end, Technics that had worked perfectly for nearly five years)
was stolen last February and I haven't been able to afford to replace the
!#^^@ thing.  After six months of fairly heavy use -- NOT abuse, unless
you count playing four or five CD's a day with the thing sitting in one
spot hooked up to my receiver as "abuse" -- by me, it is currently dead.

One of my roommates also has a low-end Discman.  While playing, the
tiniest vibration (eg., touching the thing) makes it stop playing.  Not
just skip, but stop playing entirely, with the lens still out in the 
middle of the disc.  Also, it usually takes a great deal of "persuading"
to get the thing to start playing -- press the play button, fiddle 
with the "open" and "lock" buttons, etc. etc. until it finally gives 
in and plays.

My other roommate also has a low-end Discman, and it has recently
died.

Now, I don't have much experience with other portable players.  But, 
as they say in basebal... three strikes and you're OUT!  I've never
bought Sony equipment, and I never will.  (In addition to this
reliability business, there's the little matter of Sony controlling
far, far more of the entertainment hardware *and* software business
than I am entirely comfortable with.  I try to make a point to avoid
buying Sony/Columbia CD's brand new, for what it's worth.  May not
make a helluva difference -- the term "farting in a hurricane" comes to
mind -- but at least my conscience is clean!)

		Greg Ward (narpet@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca)
		
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: deraadt@newt.cuc.ab.ca (Theo de Raadt)
Subject: Re: Hopefully New MD Questions
Organization: little lizard city
	<MARC.92Dec10153652@mamba.es.ele.tue.nl>
	<1992Dec10.190212.5643@nynexst.com>
Distribution: rec.audio
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 20:23:22 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.190212.5643@nynexst.com> rsilvers@nynexst.com (Robert Silvers) writes:
	   Sony agrees on that one because they are honest.  A Philips ad claims
   DCC has CD quality.  This is total marketing bull.  5-1 lossy compression is
   NOT CD quality.  DAT is a good professional medium but DCC has no purpose.  Even
   if most people cannot hear the difference between DCC and CD, DCC will NEVER
   be accepted by pros.  Even if the MD sounds a little worse then DCC, it is a Disc,
   which is a HUGE advantage.  It will be great for cars and walkmans.

Another advantage that MD has for itself is that it is likely to make it's
way into the computer world as well. I myself am looking forward to the
day when I can have a 200M semi-fast writable media on the scsi bus.

Funny, that's exactly what has happened to all other Sony products -- ie.
DAT, CD, and to a certain degree Video8.
 <tdr.
--

This space not left unintentionally unblank.		deraadt@newt.cuc.ab.ca
From: "herb chong" <herb.chong@channel1.com>
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: sony d6 problem
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:19:45 EST
Reply-To: "herb chong" <herb.chong@channel1.com>
Distribution: rec
Organization: Channel 1 Communications

ED>I've been having some problems, actually severe problems, with
ED>my D6.  For some reason, the heads need to be adjusted every
ED>time I record something, both for recording and subsequent
ED>playback.  This happens especially at the beginning 1/4 of the
ED>tape.  The high ends seem to disappear, and I can get them
ED>back by adjusting the left screw underneath the head.  Sometimes
ED>they eventually come back themselves.  I've tried fastening that
ED>screw in hopes that maybe it was moving, but to no avail.  Is
ED>it possible that the transport is not taking the tape over the
ED>head correctly?  Or belts slipping?  Has anyone else had this
ED>problem or know what I can do to remedy it?  Thank you.

your azimuth seems to be way off. if it's too far off, then the tape 
doesn't wrap around the head properly. i don't use my D6C all that much so 
it hasn't worn. i don't have the problem you do. you may have to do a full 
alignment on the heads and then lock the azimuth adjustment screw.

Herb...

---
  WinQwk 2.0 a#314  Hire teen-agers while they still know everything.
--
Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA

Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: weitzman@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Adam J. Weitzman)
Subject: Re: I just tested DCC and MD...
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:57:22 GMT

In article <Bz4t27.Dp@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> bmaraldo@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (Commander Brett Maraldo) writes:
>	On a grander topic, this is how I see it and I would like to hear
>some comments about this:  In the world of consumer audio media, we currently
>have CD and analogue cassetee (and vinyl, to some degree).  DCC and MD are
>being introduced into this category.  I can not see all four taking footholds.
>CDs are a good thing, compared to DCC and MD, as far as I am concerned.  I am
>not interested in a format that requires the signal to be degraded more than
>straight ADC-DAC conversion.  That rules out DCC.  So, if MD takes over it is
>hard for me to imagine both CD and MD existing.  I am afraid that MD will
>take over CD.  Then we will be stuck (presuming that MD does some PASC like
>compression).  I like CD, I like analgoue cassette, I like DAT and vinyl.
>Do we really need a new media?  Perhaps this is just a ploy for the industry
>to gain more revenue (control) over the consumer.  Think about it... aren't
>CDs fine with you?  Do you really have a problem with cassettes?  Want digital
>recording?  Buy DAT.  Why go for lower quality?

Actually, I can see CDs and MDs side by side just like I see cassettes and CDs
sitting side by side. I don't think MDs will outdate CDs anytime soon, or 
later, because the music is necessarily compromised by the compression. I
think the MD (or, as I do *not* hope, DCC) will replace the analog cassette
format, useful mostly for car and personal audio. The *only* way MDs could
*possibly* take over is if no one notices the compression (I understand that
approximately 1 in 20 people can hear the difference in an A/B comparison
between CDs and MDs, or was it 1 in 5, I'm not entirely sure), and if no one
notices it, then what's the difference? If there is any difference (and 
currently there definitely is), then there will remain a large market for CDs.
I think it's good that peripatetic recordable audio is going digital. Like
LPs disappearing rapidly, I think analog cassettes will do roughly the same
thing once one of these digital formats takes hold. Go MD!

I am concerned about the lack of advertising for MD, though. I have seen DCC
ads all over the place, on TV, on the radio, in magazines, etc. Their
product came out first and their "featured demo," U2's _Achtung_Baby_,
is a very popular product. I'm hoping Sony's marketing will match and exceed
this, including side-by-side comparisons of the good and bad points of each.
Otherwise, we may end up with MD becoming Beta, and I do *not* want that
to happen again. Sony had better learn from its earlier mistake.

-- 
					- Adam J Weitzman
					  weitzman@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu
"All our life is spent in this permanent brainwashed contempt."
	- Meat Beat Manifesto