HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Jonas.Palm@orgk3.lu.se (Jonas Palm)
Subject: Re: Pioneer "Auto BLE" opinions?
Followup-To: rec.audio
Organization: University of Lund, Sweden
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 15:35:41 GMT

In article <10583@vtserf.cc.vt.edu>, ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu (Wm. L. Ranck)
wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello Folks,
>    Does anyone have experience with the Pioneer "Auto BLE" type decks?
> I was looking at them over the weekend and the idea seems good to me.
> The deck records a test signal on the tape and then reads it off again to
> set the bias level for the individual tape in use.  I'm not a fan of gee-whiz
> gadgets but this actually aeems useful.  
>   The particular models I was looking at were the CT-S410R and the CT-S601.
> I think those are the right model numbers.  One has 'quick' auto-reverse 
> while the other has selectable equalization curves.  Anyone have opinions,
> preferably backed by experience?  Thanks.  
> --

I own a Pioneer cassette deck with Super Auto BLE (SABLE). Pioneer uses
schemes of differing sophistication under the same name. The more 
advanced models are basically adjusted in finer increments.

The scheme as I have experienced it works very well. In fact, as it
adjusts the recording equalization as well as bias and level, it can
adjust the deck even to dual-layer tapes.

It is _definitely_ worth having, especially if you haven't done calibration
work before. I would never buy a cassette deck which didn't allow the
user to calibrate it to different tape types easily.


Personally, I am wary of auto-reversing decks. (Nakamichi has shown that 
it can be done right, for ludicrous amounts of money.) 
Auto-reversing decks are _usually_ plagued by relatively unstable 
tape transports and azimuth errors in either or both directions.
If you do not absolutely need this feature, I would recommend that you 
spend your money elsewhere.

                                            Jonas Palm
From: demaine@ee.ualberta.ca (Cal Demaine)
Subject: Re: Velodyne ULD-12 hums - why, and can it be fixed?
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 08:21:13 GMT

>Mike_Benna@mindlink.bc.ca (Mike Benna) writes:

>>2 months ago I purchased a Velodyne ULD-12 and I have only one complaint...

Hey, I've been in this boat!  It was not exactly clear from your description
as to how you have your ULD hooked up, and this may be of no use.  However,
after setting up my VA 1012 (Hey, we're not all rich) the unit hummed much
more than I would have liked.

The problem?  Bad ground, of course.

The bad ground?  The crappy feed from my local cable company, feeding into
my VCR, feeding into my preamp, feeding into my brand-new sub.

The solution?  Unplug the cable when listening to music/tapes/Laserdiscs.
Or build an isolation transformer.

  - Cal

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  - Cal Demaine                   | "You shot him in the back!"                 
    (demaine@bode.ee.ualberta.ca) |    "His back was to me!"  - El Diablo    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: lgoodfie@sobeco.com (l.goodfield)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Please suggest Audio magazines!
Date: 29 Dec 92 07:58:43 GMT
Organization: Sobeco Ernst & Young

In <1992Dec28.132824.3657@e2big.mko.dec.com> owen@emds.enet.dec.com (Steve Owen) writes:


>In article <1992Dec26.142802.14163@scott.skidmore.edu>, mcobb@scott.skidmore.edu (mary cobb) writes...
>>I'd like to subscribe to some good Audio magazines, but don't know what they
>>are.  I have found this to be a problem in attaining a subscription for them.
>>One person mentioned _Stereophile_ a while back, that sounds cool, if there
>>are any others please mail me with a phone number (or internet address? => ) 
>>that I can reach the company at to get a subscription.  Thanks!
>> 
>>Eric

For subscriptions to the Absolute Sound: 800-825-0061
			    Stereophile: 800-238-2626

Personally, The Absolute Sound is the better of these 2 magazines, but
Stereophile does providfor decent reading.

Lionel.
-- 
Lionel Goodfield
(514) 592-4204
Internet Access: lgoodfie@sobeco.sobeco.com
    UUCP Access: uunet!sobeco!lgoodfie
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu (Cal Lott)
Subject: Re: front spearkers for Sony STR-D990
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 16:38:34 GMT

chris@adx.adelphi.edu (Chris Chen) writes:

>Hi there:
>
>	I just bought a Sony STR-D990 receiver. Could somebody please
>recommand what kind of speakers (front, rear, center). I plan to spend
>about $300 for the front ones. Thanks in advance.
>
>	BTW, Could somebody e-mail me (or tell me where I can ftp) the
>FAQs for this group. Thanks.
>
>--Chris

	I just bought my sister a pair of Polk S6's for Christmas, and
paid $314.99. They have a 3/4" soft dome tweeter, a 6-1/2" woofer, and
a 6-1/2" passive radiator. She likes them a lot, and I think that they
are an excellent speaker for the price. They are very clear and open,
and manage to produce a fair amount of bass for their size without
attempting to overdo it.

	If you are planning on buying center and surround speakers as
well, Polk offers the CS100 (~$180) as a center channel and M3's
(~$160/pair) as surround speakers. The M3's are nicely compact speakers
with a variety of mounting options.

	I have also listened to Boson Acoustics and found them to be
a nice speaker in that price range. I beleive that they also offer a
range of surround components, as well.

	I would avoid Infinity. Their low-end speakers somehow manage
to sound both shrill and congested at the same time. (Probably an
extremely bright tweeter coupled with a flabby woofer cone.)

	This is all IMHO, of course. Good luck!

						-Cal
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cal Lott          "Oh, I see-- I thought 'no' meant 'spoon'!" --Dan
Email me, baby!   cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu   cjl1@midway.uchicago.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: m1msc00@fed.frb.gov (Mike Cringoli)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Can CrO2 tapes damage heads?
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:55:15 GMT
Reply-To: m1msc00@fed.frb.gov (Mike Cringoli)
Organization: Federal Reserve Board, Wash, DC

Can I play/record CrO2 tapes on a deck not specifically
designed for them, without damaging the deck. 

I bought a SONY CFD-757 boom box for $300. It has many nice
features and great sound, but it wasn't designed for CrO2
tapes. When I bought it, I took for granted that a $300 box
would have that feature but the owners manual says NO. 

I like the boom box but all of my tapes are CrO2 and I'd
like to be able to play them AND record on them without
worrying about damage to the heads. Will that be a problem?
Should I be concerned about the CrO2 feature?

Can you recommend any other boom boxes in the $300 price range?

Thanks!
-- 
   Mike Cringoli
   Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC, 20551
   uucp: uunet!fed!msc   internet: msc@fed.frb.gov
   Voice: 202-728-5806
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: tk11957@medtronic.COM (Tim M. Kunau)
Subject: NAD still in business?
Organization: Medtronic, Inc.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 16:34:07 GMT


I heard a rumor recently explaining that NAD was going, or is, out
of business. Is this true?

I am negotiating with my dealer to purchase the following NAD
equipment:

	705   Rcvr/Amp	
	505   Disk Changer
	6325  Cas/Recorder

Should I hold off until the skys clear, or is this just a rumor?

Thanks for any help,

Tim
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Timothy M. Kunau                        Bradycardia Pacing Net-Ops |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Internet: tim.kunau@medtronic.com       Medtronic, Inc.            |
| UUCP:     uunet!medtron!tk11957         MS-T480                    |
| AT&T:     +1 612/5743850                7000 Central Avenue NE     |
| FAX:      +1 612/5746177                Minneapolis, MN 55432      |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: tonyb@juliet.ll.mit.edu ( Tony Berke )
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Do I really need 200W?
Date: 29 Dec 92 22:05:24 GMT
Organization: M.I.T. Lincoln Lab - Group 43

In article <184727@pyramid.pyramid.com> lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:

       The nice thing about CD is that audio is coded as dB below
       maximum.  For any given player (sadly players vary somewhat in
       voltage for max record level) the maximum POSSIBLE output is
       always the same.  

       If you have a test CD and a distortion meter (or even o'scope
       and good eyes), you can determine the clipping level for max
       output at all frequencies for your specific player/amp
       combination.   Then all you need to do is mark your level
       control and never exceed that mark...bingo NO clipping!


This is an interesting idea, but I would warn anyone who's trying to
implement it to use a cd with a tone BURST that goes to 0dB, and not
the typical 1KHz sine wave at 0dB that most of my tests CDs seem to
have.

Unless you have a test load (which may not simulate your speakers), a
full-power sine wave at 1KHz from anything but a tiny amp is quite
likely to melt just about any midrange.

Furthermore, if you use a steady-state signal, you'll be limiting
yourself to the max steady-state power output of your amp, which for
many designs is a least a dB or two below the peak output -- in many
cases, much more.


Does anyone have a suggestion for an affordable CD with "official" IHF
(or whatever's current) test signals ?


Happy listening,

Tony Berke
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: Mike_Benna@mindlink.bc.ca (Mike Benna)
Subject: Re: Velodyne ULD-12 hums - why, and can it be fixed?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 18:39:54 GMT

> Norman P. Tracy writes:
>
> Ok I can't resist tossing in my $0.02 worth, in spite of the fact I
> have no direct experience with Velodyne!  Remember free advice is often
> worth what it costs.

:)

> Could it be that what you are hearing is the AC power transformer's
> asoustic hum through the woofer cone and/or port?

It's a definite possibility.  I can feel the cone vibrating slightly, but it
doesn't get quieter when I try damping it.  Thanks for the suggestion.
--
Mike_Benna@mindlink.bc.ca      Vancouver B.C., Canada
MindSpan Technologies          Video Game Design and Development
HardBall III, Summer/Winter Challenge, Joe Montana Football, Face Off!, etc
Newsgroups: rec.audio,rec.video
From: bladin@wam.umd.edu (Ilana J. Getz)
Subject: Re: Radio Shack garbage
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 21:46:15 GMT

In article <1993Jan2.084526.1056@cmkrnl.com> jeh@cmkrnl.com writes:
>In article <C05qz7.Mp7@cs.uiuc.edu>, gillies@cs.uiuc.edu (Don Gillies) writes:
>> Re: Somebody's Radio Shack Speakers (the ones rated highly in Consumer
>>   Reports) are not working well as center-channel speakers.
>> 
>> Radio Shack makes total garbage; most likely your problem is all Radio
>> Shack's fault.  I would never buy a Radio Shack product.  
>
>This is a trifle overstated.  RS's upper-end scanners, for example, are widely
>considered to be among the best available, and they have a long history of
>reliability.  Many of their short wave (now often called "world band") radios
>are also well-regarded (these are relabelled Sangean units, so I guess you 
>could say that they're not really a RS product).  
>
I worked at good 'ol RS when I was in college, and I think I can provide
some insight.

Radio Shack manufactures about 50% of th stuff they sell, and the rest is
farmed out to other suppliers. For example, when I worked there, they made
all of the stereo receivers, but none of the VCR's. To make matters worse,
the situation is not consistant within a product line. They made all of their
low-end cassette decks, but none of their high end ones. The cheap ones were 
crap, and the high end ones were pretty good. On top of all of this, the
list of outside suppliers chages from year to year. One years models may be
repackaged Sharp TVs & VCRs, the next may be a different model all together.

What's the bottom line? A total lack of consistancy. You simply cannot say
that "all of the RS gear is bad," or even that all of one particular
line of products is good or bad. They may all come from a different place.

As a sales person with a morals (yes, a contradiction), I had a hard time
selling a lot of this stuff with confidence. I didn't work there long...

I agree that it is best to avoid RS products in general, but not because
they are all bad. Rather, there is no way to know which ones are bad.

*****************************************************************
*  [~\  /][  /[~~ **** Dave Bittner **** "Lemme' get this    ****
*  [  )/-][ / [~  ****   Mac User   ****  straight...you do  ****
*  [_//  ][/  [.. **** Rollerblader ****  offlines on D2 ?"  ****
*****************************************************************


From: myers@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Bob Myers)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 17:38:43 GMT
Subject: Re: quiet current sources.  Any ideas?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.audio


Have you tried the good old JFET current source?


Bob Myers  KC0EW   Hewlett-Packard Co.      |Opinions expressed here are not
                   User Interface Tech. Div.|those of my employer or any other
myers@fc.hp.com    Fort Collins, Colorado   |sentient life-form on this planet.
From: kirk@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Lindstrom)
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 15:12:37 GMT
Subject: Re: Just got my new Yamaha RX-V850 -- a few questions
Organization: Shredding the water of SF Bay, HP-OCD
Newsgroups: rec.audio

>>You should only hear the rear channels on some movies.  Some people say
>>"if you can hear the rear channel, then they are too loud".  You should
>>calibrate with a noise source.  Check rec.video for the FAQ on how to do
>>this.
>
>Last night I played with the music DSP settings (Hall, Video, etc),
>and the rears are *MUCH* more prominant in these modes than surround.
>When running the test tone mode, should the rear tones be the same
>approx volume as the fronts, as a general rule?
>
>Mike
Yes.  I found that using a RadioShack SPL meter helped make a big
improvement over just using my ears.

Kirk out
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu (Cal Lott)
Subject: Re: Velodyne ULD-12 hums - why, and can it be fixed?
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 03:53:32 GMT

Mike_Benna@mindlink.bc.ca (Mike Benna) writes:

>2 months ago I purchased a Velodyne ULD-12 and I have only one complaint
>about it: it hums.  Not loudly, but it hums.  Even when everything else
>around it is unplugged (except the control unit), it hums.  It sort of
>sounds like transformer hum and it seems to be coming from the speaker
>(I haven't turned it over to verify).  Since it hums even when it is the
>only thing plugged in (and all speaker leads are disconnected), I'm sure
>it's not a ground loop problem.

>1) Is this normal?
>2) It wouldn't be so bad if the unit would automatically shut off after
>   several minutes of inactivity.  Any idea why the Foundation series
>   has the auto shut-off but the ULD series does not?

>Thanks in advance for any suggestions which will help me to solve (or
>give up on) this problem.

	Is the sound coming from the woofer itself? If so, it is 
possible that the active servo circuit of the Velodyne thinks that it
is receiving an input signal. (For those unfamiliar with Velodynes,
most models have an accelerometer in the voice coil of the woofer
that allows it to monitor the actual woofer movement vs. the input
signal and make corrections as needed.) You should also be able to
check the woofer with your hand as well-- if you feel any vibration,
you know you have some sort of problem.

	Good luck.

						-Cal
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cal Lott          "Oh, I see-- I thought 'no' meant 'spoon'!" --Dan
Email me, baby!   cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu   cjl1@midway.uchicago.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu (Cal Lott)
Subject: Re: Stereo Review's critical judgement
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 05:16:11 GMT

andrew@alice.att.com (Andrew Hume) writes:

>In article <1993Jan1.015237.447@leland.Stanford.EDU>, paulxxxx@leland.Stanford.EDU (paulastya gupta) writes:
>> I agree with most persons that Stereo Review is not an altogether good
>> source of information, but it does help ground one to reality (its OK to 
>> not be able to afford 20k for a system).  

>	i would point out that according to a study submitted to
>the letters section of stereophile, the high-end mags like
>stereophile and TAS actually reviewed a higher percentage of low
>end componets than did either audio or stereo review. hard to believe
>but the evidence was there (a one year sample).

>	andrew hume

>p.s. for my money, stereo review is worthless except for the rodrigues
>cartoons.

	Well, a single issue of Stereo Review has around 150 pages,
whereas Stereophile has around 400. Stereo Review also costs $2.95/
issue and $13.94 for a one-year subscription, and Stereophile costs
$4.95/issue and $19.95 for a one-year subscription.

	Nevertheless, your point is well taken. Not only does
Sterophile have more low-end reviews (especially since they are
currently in the process of reviewing a raft of <$1000 speakers),
they reviews are actually *critical*. I have yet to see a review in
Stereo Review that fails to give the component at hand at least a
lukewarm recommendation, whereas Stereophile reviewers will not
hesitate to write that they think component "x" is clearly better
and/or a better value. Stereophile also has clearly stated criteria
for their reviews.

	Besides, Stereo Review doesn't have Corey Greenberg! 8-)

					-Cal
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cal Lott          "Oh, I see-- I thought 'no' meant 'spoon'!" --Dan
Email me, baby!   cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu   cjl1@midway.uchicago.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu (Wm. L. Ranck)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Pioneer "Auto BLE" opinions?
Date: 22 Dec 92 16:15:02 GMT
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Jonas Palm (Jonas.Palm@orgk3.lu.se) wrote:
: In article <10583@vtserf.cc.vt.edu>, ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu (Wm. L. Ranck)
: wrote:
: >    Does anyone have experience with the Pioneer "Auto BLE" type decks?
: 
: It is _definitely_ worth having, especially if you haven't done calibration
: work before. I would never buy a cassette deck which didn't allow the
: user to calibrate it to different tape types easily.
:
Thanks for the information.  Of the two decks I looked at one was "Auto BLE"
while the other was "Super Auto BLE".  I was under the impression that the
"Super" variety was due to the deck having 3 heads so it could do the 
adjustment in a single pass, but maybe I'm wrong there.
: 
: Personally, I am wary of auto-reversing decks. (Nakamichi has shown that 
: it can be done right, for ludicrous amounts of money.) 
: Auto-reversing decks are _usually_ plagued by relatively unstable 
: tape transports and azimuth errors in either or both directions.
: If you do not absolutely need this feature, I would recommend that you 
: spend your money elsewhere.

I share your distrust of auto-reverse, but it seems hard to find a deck in
that price range without it.  I'm willing to listen to possible alternatives.
I'm still shopping and considering how long my last deck lasted I am willing
to take my time finding a new one.
   Now if I can only find a shop that deals in Nakamichi . . .
--

*******************************************************************************
* Bill Ranck                                          ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu *
* Computing Center at Virginia Tech, not Vermont ----------------------^^     *
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: daniel@netcom.com (Sam Daniel)
Subject: Re: Adcom 575 vs. Rotel 955
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 18:57:37 GMT

Unfortunately, the Rotel 955 is not exactly the same as the 855.
Rotel added a small capacitor in the wrong place, changing the sound
for the worse.  I have seen a news message or article somewhere
telling how to cancel the modification (and the warrantee), so the
problem can be fixed.

The Adcom 575 is not as good as their new 675 changer, which has
updated circuitry.

Try the NAD 5000 or 53xx players and see what you think.
-- 
*
Sam Daniel          *   UUCP (Smart):  daniel@netcom.com
Paramax Systems     *         (Dumb):  {...}!uunet!netcom!daniel
1001 W. Maude Ave.  *          Voice:  1-408-235-2661
Sunnyvale, CA 95131 *     Disclaimer:  It's only my opinion, but it's
                                       a DAMN good one...
From: ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu (Wm. L. Ranck)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Pioneer "Auto BLE" opinions?
Date: 21 Dec 92 19:52:14 GMT
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Bob Krull (bobk@sequent.com) wrote:
: >set the bias level for the individual tape in use.  I'm not a fan of gee-whiz
: >gadgets but this actually aeems useful.  
: 
: It *does* seem like a useful feature.  I guess that's why major manufacturers
: have neen offering it for the last 10 years ;-).
:
OK, let me clarify a little.  My 18+ year old (top loading) cassette deck
just quit working recently.  This is the first time since I bought it that
I have been in the market for a new cassette deck.  That's one of the reasons
I'm asking about it here.
 
: Ok, that *was* a cheap shot.  I don't know anything specifically about
: the Pioneer deck, but I do have two comments.  First, I've always just
: considered auto bias adjustment a mandatory requirement.  I'd like to
: hear from the net on whether this seems reasonable.  Second, just because
: a piece of equipment has a feature "commonly found" on higher-end gear
: doesn't make it quality equipment.

I am looking for something in the $200 to $300 range.  So far I have not
seen auto bias adjust on any other machines in that range.  Are we talking
about the same thing?  Do you mean the gross bias adjust that is set by detecting
tape type from indentions in the cassette shell, or fine bias adjust that I 
have only seen as a manual adjustment?  I don't think I have seen fine bias
adjust as an automatic feature on any other deck, but I have been out of the
market for a long time so maybe I'm just hopelessly out of date.
--

*******************************************************************************
* Bill Ranck                                          ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu *
* Computing Center at Virginia Tech, not Vermont ----------------------^^     *
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.audio