HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sdavis@laforge.ksc.nasa.gov (Steve Davis)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Open Reel Decks
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:08:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: laforge.9204132008.AA00373
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


Greetings from the Space Coast!

  I have recently acquired two old Teac open reel decks:  an A6300
and an A4300-SX.  Are there any reel-to-reel enthusiasts out there?
If so, I have a few questions:

1.  Where is a good place to order a calibration tape?  What kind do
    I need to set up the deck, as well as an outboard Dolby B
    processor?

2.  Is there still a company that sells empty metal reels, 7.5" and
    10"?

3.  Are there any used record stores that specialize in used
    prerecorded reel tapes?

4.  What are the advantages/disadvantages of back-coated tape?

5.  One of my decks has a terrible mechanical alignment problem.  It
    plays and records great, but it winds the tape off-center on the
    take-up reel, so that it squeals as it rubs against the back side
    of the reel.  Is there an adjustment to correct for this?

  Thanks in advance for any help I can get.  Please respond directly,
if possible; I'll post a summary to the list.

Regards,

Steve Davis
Kennedy Space Center, FL
internet:  sdavis@laforge.ksc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: "Andreas G. Yankopolus" <ay0i+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: CD PLAYERS: is compact good?
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 12:40:23 GMT
          ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/service/mailqs/q002/QF.8ds=SaW00WBNM0fpgd>;
          Mon,  6 Apr 1992 16: 42:14 -0400 (EDT)
          ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr4/ay0i/.Outgoing/QF.ods=SZ: 00WBN06NG9c>;
          Mon,  6 Apr 1992 16: 42:13 -0400 (EDT)
          via MS.5.6.pcs9.andrew.cmu.edu.pmax_ul4;
          Mon,  6 Apr 1992 16: 42:13 -0400 (EDT)

I own a Panasonic NP-1A portable and it is great!  I never imagined that
a $160 cd player could sound so clear, especially a portable.  It sounds
clearer than my Rotel 855 but doesn't have the Rotel's soundstage depth
or dynamics.  I would not be surprised if Matsushita installed 1-bit
DACs in the NP-1A without telling anyone - I have never heard a ladder
DAC in this price range which approaches the NP-1A's clear, detailed
sound.  While not as rugged as other portables, it sounds better than
any other under $300 CD player I have heard.

Andreas Yankopolus
Carnegie-Mellon University
Sophomore, Electrical Engineering
Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity

Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: europe@europe.corp.sgi.com (Patrick Renvoise)
Subject: Re: Room tune experience?
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 12:50:28 GMT

After reading quite a number of articles about "Sound Tuning" a room, I
decided that I would give it a try, but I didn't want to spend anymoney
on it. So,....

Well, I looked for some kind of inexpensive foam that I could place
behind and on the side of the speakers: my final choice was to pick up
foam used to pack 3.5" disk drive (they come by 12 units in a box, so
the rectangular block has 12 holes in it) that my company is trashing.
For the top corners of the room I used just a plain block cut in
triangle with a additional cut (pyramid shaped) to adapt it perfectly
to the corner---> that's actually pretty nice.

And the result was really obvious. The bass were tighter and sounded
warmer, the sound stage became more precise but it decrease in size (it
now appears only  between the speakers when it used to extend on the
side), the trebble are less etchy and agressive and I can listen to
music for hours without any fatigue.

The investment was minimal ( $0), it took me about 2 hours to install
every thing and the aestetical aspect is positive.  If I could retrieve
the large original sound stage it would be perfect....

Any other experiences.
  
-- 
Patrick Renvoise 
Silicon Graphics International Marketing (415)962-3525
/----------------------------------------------------------------------\
| "Il faut cultiver notre jardin." Voltaire (last phrase of Candide)   |
| "One must cultivate our garden." (Waiting for a better translation)  |
\----------------------------------------------------------------------/
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: mhk@racer.HQ.Ileaf.COM
Subject: Re: AR M-1's
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 13:08:52 GMT
	(queueing-rmail) id 191243.3850; Mon, 13 Apr 1992 19: 12:43 EDT

Speaking of mods... I might try a quality bypass cap inside the speaker
on the high-pass section to the tweeter. At the M-1's price point,
you know there's electrolytic caps in the crossover. If the values are
small enough, you could replace them with metalized polyester or poly-
propelene. Simply adding .1uf met-polypropelene MIT bypasses would
probably do wonders, not cost much, and fit easily.

Years ago I had a pair of Clements Little D's. They had Randall wire
and old polyprop rel-caps inside. I replaced the relcaps with Electrocube's
and added a Teflon bypass on the (ribbon) tweeter section. Sweetened them
considerably.

I'm in the process of modifying my ProAC Studio 1's. The MB tweeter is
a bit aggressive (ProAc and Avalon stopped using them) and I'm trying
to sweeten it without losing its detail.  So, I'm rewiring with MIT
hook-up wire and MIT caps - expensive stuff, but cheaper than Response IIs!
We'll see how it turns out...

Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: tmajni@sequent.com (Tim Majni)
Subject: Re: Lineaum follow-up
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 12:50:08 GMT

In article <45933@dime.cs.umass.edu> weems@cs.umass.edu (CHIP WEEMS) writes:
>I've always had great respect for this guy's opinions, and hence I've been
>dying to hear the speakers for myself. If anybody else get to hear them
>first, please let us all know what your impressions are.

Well, I live in Oregon.  I have had the opportunity to hear these
speakers at one of our Triod Society meetings.  My first impression of
"Oh no, not these!", as I came walking into the room, turned out to be
VERY wrong.  There are several models available.  I'm not sure of the
model used, but it had a 5-6" bass driver, and a proprietary tweeter.
The only negative I can speak to is the lack of low end.  Everything
else was beautiful.  Vocals were very listenable.  Imaging was good.
Overall, a very satisfying speaker.  Different models have better bass,
or so it is reported.  I can't say much more without a home audition...

>Chip

Tim Majni
From: mjn@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (matthew.noreen)
Subject: Re: CAMBRIDGE SOUND WORKS ENSEMBLE
Summary: Edit/Edit/Edit
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 13:10:13 GMT

While I am not an audio "snob", I found the discourse on the Cambridge
Sound Works Ensemble rambling. If properly edited, the section on the value
of speaker placement would have been useful. 

I appreciate the subjective nature of fine audio equipment, but I don't
need anymore "blows away that $1300 XXX component!" talk. Thats why I 
read high-end, not rec.audio.

Mr Moderator?

[I'm trying to maintain a balance of experience and novice, entry-level
 and super-high-end. I don't think it matters as much how you say something
 as long as you DO have something to say. That's why, a lot of times, I send
 back simple queries... there's just not enough information there to answer
 the question with any degree of accuracy. Other times I'll send postings
 back because the subject is interesting and deserves a more complete
 treatment. But, I can't see rejecting something just because it's
 enthusiastic. Feel free, readers, to barrage me with comments at anytime.
 I'm doing this for you. -tjk]

M. Noreen
mnoreen@attmail.com
From: mohan@yoko.rutgers.edu (Sunil Mohan)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Speaker placement ?
Keywords: Speaker placement listening room
Date: 13 Apr 92 12:56:17 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu



What (if any) are the general guidelines for speaker placement? 
What differences might one expect to hear between speakers pointed
along the length v/s breadth of the room?
Does moving speakers closer to walls improve bass and worsen imaging?

Any experience out there with the Listening Room program?
 .... with Room-Tunes ?

Mucho Gracias!
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: bigstar@milton.u.washington.edu (william)
Subject: Info needed on Naim & Epos
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Keywords: naim epos
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 13:04:28 GMT

My partner is currently in the process of putting together a system
and we wanted some opinions on integrated amps and 2-way bookshelf 
speakers. In particular...

A) Integrated amps:  We are considering the Creek 4140 and the Naim NAIT.
I own a 4140 and love it but I must admit, after listening to the NAIT, I
was quite impressed.  Any other rec's or comments ?

B) Speakers: Have listened to several and were most impressed by Epos Es-11,
Linn Index, and Linn Nexus.  Any other suggestions or comments ?

C) CD player: Due to financial considerations, it looks like were opting 
to go the all-in-one route. (as opposed to an outbound D/A converter).
I personally dislike the things so I don't consider myself a fair judge.
I have been advised by a couple of stores to consider Rotel's mid-priced 
stuff. Is it reliable ? Any other recommended units under < $750 us ?

Thanks for any input in advance

Jarrett Paschel
bigstar@milton.u.washington.edu
From: tronsbox!tronsbox!moskowit@uunet.uu.net
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: A Very Nice CD
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:11:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: tronsbox.m0lamy9-0001GwC
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Apparently-From: tronsbox!tronsbox!moskowit


I went equipment browsing last night to update my impressions of a few
CD players, the NAD 5000 (about $500) and the Meridian 208 (about
$3000).  As usual I brought along a few of my favorite CDs.  Most of
them are not recorded all that well, especially when it comes to a
realistic sound stage.  Clapton's "Journeyman" is particularly
disappointing -- I love many of the songs and the performances are top
notch, but the staging is awful.

One CD though, has so consistently impressed me with performance,
selection of music, and recording quality, that I thought I'd take a
minute and share it with you.  Bill Mays and Ray Drummond have an
album called "One To One" (Digital Music Products Inc., CD-473,
Stamford CT 06901).  Mays plays piano; Drummond plays bass.  If you
like Jazz duos, you'll enjoy this.  The playing is inventive and
emotional.  Drummond especially conveys wonderful depth and feeling.

The recording is flawless.  Drummond is dead center, seemingly poised
in front of the piano.  The bass has its full dynamics and authority
in all of its registers.  The plucked strings, the rattle against the
fingerboard, the chest thumping resonance, the harmonics, they're all
there.  All of the groans and squeaks basses make (not to mention the
music!) are captured.  The air around the bowed strings is right
*there*.  You hear Drummond breathing, gasping, moving with his
instrument.  I play bass and can't imagine a better sounding recording
of a bass.

The piano spans the 7 foot width between my speakers and the imaging
of the soundboard is unsurpassed.  Pedals and key noises, sustain and
the echo of the soundboard, the attack of the Hamburg Steinway's
hammers, perfect dynamics, you'll hear them all.  And Mays makes the
instrument sing.

The room they recorded in is just right: not too dead with just the
right amount of reverb and sense of space.

DMP's Tom Jung was the engineer and used a Cello console with custom
discrete class A electronics and B&K 4005 microphones.  On the bass
he used a Shure SM81 omni with a Rane pre-amp.  The A-D converter
was Yamaha's 19-bit AD2x feeding a Sony DTC 1000.  Monitors were
Duntech 2001 Sovereigns driven by Krell KRS200s.

And not least, it's wonderfully involving music.

After enjoying the performance on this disk, a few months back I
caught Mays and Drummond, along with a drummer and a guitarist, at the
Village Vanguard one wintry Saturday night.  They were just great.

What can I say?  This is one fine recording!
-- 


Len Moskowitz
moskowit@tronsbox.xei.com
From: chowkwan@alumni.cco.caltech.edu (Raymond Maihin Chowkwanyun)
Subject: Re: KT88 v.s. 6550 and KT90?
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 13:06:26 GMT
	sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.2-sun via SMTP
	Mon, 13 Apr 92 11: 27:19 -0700 for info-high-audio@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <1992Apr9.053910.8292@usl.edu> ulowell!cacs.usl.edu!ws@samsung.com (Werasak Suengtaworn) writes:

   Would someone please explain what is the benefit of KT88 over 6550?
   Why ARC and others started putting KT88 in place of 6550 for the
   whole line of their amps?

   Has anyone tired KT90? Are they really that good?

   werasak


I have KT90's in my VTL 500.  I'm using it as a bass amp and in that 
role it has provided bass that is controlled and which at the same
time can be *felt* as pressure on  your chest.   I'm driving
B&W  801's.   While listening to Sonny Rollins Saxophone Collosus, a fellow
audiophile was driven to announce that he could feel his pants legs
flapping.  And I emphasise, there was no boominess.  Those of you 
familiar with stock 801's may be forgiven for raising your eyebrows.
But I've loaded down my 801's with 125lbs of lead and put them
on Arcici stands with another 50lbs of sand in the base so I've
successfully tamed the bass boom problem.

How does the VTL 500 do full range?  I had a chance to check that
out when my mid-range/tweeter amp was in the shop.  It's musical,
it's surprisingly good, but overall, I'd have to say the sound
was lean in the mid-range and treble.  When I got my Ichibans
back, they exhibited a fullness of tone that the 500 could not
match.  The difference was not subtle.  

To be fair, the 500's run the KT-90's in pentode whereas 
the Ichibans run their EL-34's in triode.  If the KT-90's
were run in triode too, they might exhibit beefier tonal 
qualities.  Bottom line though, no way is Luke Manley
going to convert my Ichiban to KT-90's, as he has offered to do.

Reliability wise, I've been using the KT-90's for about a year now
without a squeak, pop, or fart.  They do tinkle when shut down
and they do look kind of cheap.  But they do perform.

One other detail: Jadis has switched to KT-90's, if that means
anything.

I guess it sort of depends what kind of sound you're after.
If you like a lean sound, then KT-90's run in pentode may
just be your cup of tea.  If, on the other hand, like me,
you prefer a full-bodied, big-toned kind of sound, then
Tesla EL-34's run in triode would seem to be more appropriate.


-- ray




Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: sundinKC@dna.lth.se (Anders Sundin)
Subject: Re: STAX Electrostatic headphones
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Organic Chemistry 2, Lund University, Sweden
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 12:50:01 GMT

In article <1992Mar24.102023.16709@newcastle.ac.uk>, Andrew.Thomas@newcastle.ac.
uk (Andrew Thomas) writes:
|> I am daft enough to part with a large sum of money for a pair of headphones.
|>
|> At the moment I am considering a pair of STAX Lambda Pro's with an as yet
|> unknown energiser. If anyone has strong opinions about the phones or
|> an energiser, then I'd like to hear from you (I'll summarize email
|> replies).
|>
|> The phones retail for about (pounds) 400, energisers from around
|> (pounds) 200 to (pounds) 900.
|>
|> Incidently, I'd like a portable energiser and it MUST be line level.
|> [Don't tell me to spend the money on a pair of speakers and an amp -
|> I have a pair of active Isobarik's..]

Given that you specified portable, the SRD-X Pro active drive unit is 
probably your best bet.
I wouldn't feel too comfortable (physically or mentally) lugging around 
the tube amp.

The SRD-X Pro has clear practical advantages over the SRM-1 MkII. It is 
considerably smaller, and can be powered by batteries _if need be_. It is 
also half the price.
Primarily for these reasons, it does not hold great sex appeal for 
audiophiliacs, but it does its' job competently enough IMHO. 
As usual, your own ears must be the final arbiter, as far as sound is 
concerned.

BTW, the SRD-X Pro has outputs for for both Pro-level headphones (580 V) 
and Normal-level (2?? V) headphones.
I own both a couple of Lambda Signatures, and a couple of Sigmas, so this 
is a boon. Note that the older SRD-X does not offer Pro-level 
polarization voltages.

Francis Vaughan added:
>Any of these headphones will anihilate the Isobariks, although
>you won't get the super smooth laid back sound, it will be much
>more detailed and overall much more accurate.

I agree, but I guess you have already found this out yourself!
Of course, no headphone will ever thump your chest with their bass.


Posted from the account of a friend:           Jonas Palm

E-Mail: OK3JONAS@SELDC52.BITNET 
        ok3jonas@gemini.ldc.se

Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: zzzk@nyssa.cs.orst.edu (Ken Eshelby)
Subject: Harmon Kardon A30K tube amp...
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Oregon State University, Computer Science Dept
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 12:56:21 GMT

  Hello, 
     I have recently acquired a HK "The Award Series" A30K tube amp quite
   cheaply at an IEEE auction.  Hooked it up into a Triad Trio, and got 
   a satisfyingly _warm_ sound resulting. (I didn't even know if it would
   work!)  The bass and treble controls appear to be dead (I think they 
   were chopped) and the stereo blend control is gone..

     Onto the question, what type of value does this little sucker have, and
  what type of level of amp is it (high-end, mid, low...)?  This assumes
  everything was in perfect working order, of course.

  Thanks for any info.  (email or post)

-ken


Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: ulowell!cacs.usl.edu!ws@samsung.com (Werasak Suengtaworn)
Subject: KT88 v.s. 6550 and KT90?
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Reply-To: <ulowell!usl.edu!news@samsung.com>
  (5.65c+/IDA-1.4.4 for <samsung!rec-audio-high-end>); Thu, 9 Apr 1992 01: 39:35 -0400
Organization: The Center for Advanced Computer Studies
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 12:56:27 GMT
	for info-high-audio@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (from ulowell!usl.edu!news@samsung.com)
	id <AA23382@schizo.samsung.com>; Thu, 9 Apr 92 01: 43:29 -0400

Would someone please explain what is the benefit of KT88 over 6550?
Why ARC and others started putting KT88 in place of 6550 for the
whole line of their amps?

Has anyone tired KT90? Are they really that good?

werasak

Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: Scott Dorsey <kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Rega Elys
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 13:10:07 GMT


I got a chance to hear the Elys very briefly, and it seemed a lot more lush
than the very dry Blue Point.  Still not anywhere near as lush as the Grado,
and the quality of female vocals wasn't as crisp as I would like.  In that
general price range I would have heavily recommended the Adcom silver
cartridge, which is a high output moving coil that does an amazing job.
Unfortunately, my dealer tells me that it's recently been discontinued.

Anybody have a pin-compatible replacement for the LH00003 op-amp?  I have
some Bruel and Kjaer line drivers which use the things, and they sound 
amazingly dreadful.  I am tempted to rewire the things for MC34081s, but
I'm not sure if I want to get that heavily into cutting board traces.


--scott

Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
From: tom@minster.york.ac.uk
Subject: re: SL 6 amps
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 13:12:44 GMT
Via: sun3.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk; Wed, 15 Apr 1992 10: 04:11 +0100


Ken was asking about amplifier recommendations for the
Celestion SL6 speakers

I like these speakers but know that they are REAL
hard to drive well - they are very inefficient.
They won't sound good unless you get them with an
amp that is not scared of driving some current.
Of those you list I only know the Rotel and the
Audiolab.  I would not recommend the Rotel power
amps with the SL6.  The Audiolab is known to be
happy with difficult loads and is a good sounding,
powerful amp.

Regards,

tom.



____________________________________________________________
 Tom Jackson,			       | One thing about intellectuals,
 Advanced Computer Architecture Group, | they proved that they can be
 Dept. of Computer Science,   	       | absolutely brilliant and have
 University of York, Heslington,       | no idea what's going on. 
 YORK. YO1 5DD.  UK.		       |     Woody Allen 'Annie Hall'

 Tel: [044] (0904) 433747
 tom@uk.ac.york.minster			JANET
 tom%minster.york.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk  ARPA 
 ..!ukc!minster!tom			UUCP
 tom@minster.york.ac.uk			eab mail
____________________________________________________________
From: hunter@sdg.dra.com
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: High-Audio Low-Budget
Date: 6 Apr 92 12:50:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: sdg.1992Apr3.121840.35
Organization: Data Research Associates, St. Louis MO
News-Moderator: Approval required for posting to rec.audio.high-end
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <Pine.2.4.55.9204020906.A26361@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>, Ed Faulkner <faulkner@beta.tricity.wsu.edu> writes:
>      Has anyone had modified (or rebuilt) old Hafler equipment? I have 
> reworked the power supply and improved decoupling on a 220. This helped in
> many ways, but does not exactly rivit me to my chair with tears in my eyes. 

I suggest you contact Musical Concepts, who have been modifying Haflers for a
long time. (Address: 1832 Borman Court Lane, St. Louis, MO; tel: 314-831-1822)
I have had a modified Halfer preamp and power amp of theirs for quite a while,
and have had no problems. The owner, John Hillig, is another tube lover, and
his new preamp does use a pair. I believe many or most of his mods are available
in "kit" form.
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end