HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: law40001@nusunix1.nus.sg (CHENG KWONG WING)
Subject: Question: What power amp for B&W 801F?
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 01:18:36 GMT


Hi folks,

I've had a pair of 801s for a few years but have always felt the sound
could have been much better.  It was only a year back that someone
pointed out that I'm under-powering the pair with my Tandberg pre/power
(I think their the 3016 & 3006 with 150wpc into 8ohms).

Anyway I was just wondering what would be an appropriate amp to power
the pair and what others who own the 801s power theirs with.


PS. Merry Christmas to all who are out there!!!
--
--
____________________   .    .   __         . 
\______NCC_1701_____|) .____.--"--"---._____ 
             ||      /-----._________.----/  
     /=======||====/___/       "--"          
   . \==\____________|(-                .
From: haynes@cats.ucsc.edu (Jim Haynes)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Cheap Place to buy a Portable CD Player
Date: 23 Dec 1992 01:56:06 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
NNTP-Posting-Host: hobbes.ucsc.edu


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
>--

Well, gee, all that stuff taken in household burglaries by druggies has to
wind up somewhere; and then around here's there's the flea market...

:-) :-) (for the humor-impaired)
-- 
haynes@cats.ucsc.edu
haynes@cats.bitnet

"Ya can talk all ya wanna, but it's dif'rent than it was!"
"No it aint!  But ya gotta know the territory!"
        Meredith Willson: "The Music Man"
From: jj@alice.att.com (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: MiniDiscs -- What Are They?
Date: 21 Dec 92 19:26:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.24460
Reply-To: jj@alice.UUCP (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Organization: NJ State Home for Bewildered Terminals

In article <1992Dec21.140133.1002@spider.co.uk> colint@spider.co.uk (Colin Tinto) writes:
>What we really need is a stereo sized component that has both an MD and DCC 
>player in the one component box.

>Surely since the decompression technology is similar (identical ?) this
>would be a reasonable thing to do ?

That's a curious statement. I find the difference between a 128 to 2048 band
transform-filterbank coder and a 32 band polyphase/subband coder
rather large.

Is that what you mean by "similar"?

Enquiring minds want to know.
-- 
Extremism *Copyright alice!jj 1992, all rights reserved, except transmission
   in the    *by USENET and like facilities granted.      Said permission is
  defense of     *granted only for complete copies that include this notice.
 liberty is no vice.  *Use on pay-for-read services specifically disallowed.
From: rkarlqu@scd.hp.com (Richard Karlquist)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Roger Sanders book: info wanted
Date: 22 Dec 1992 18:42:52 GMT
Organization: Hewlett Packard Santa Clara Site
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpscrj.scd.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]


The long awaited "Electrostatic Speaker Cookbook" by
Roger Sanders has been announced by Old Colony (same
company as Speaker Builder).  Does anyone know:

1.  Is is actually available yet?

2.  How many pages?

3.  Is there much new material or is it basically
a reprint of the various Roger Sanders articles that
have appeared in Speaker Builder and Audio Amateur.

4.  How is the coverage of curved diaphragms?

BTW, Old Colony's phone number is (603)-924-6371



--
       -------------------------------------------------
       |  Rick Karlquist                               |
       |  Hewlett-Packard Santa Clara Division         |
       |  Precision Time and Frequency R&D             |
       |                                               |
       |  email:  rkarlqu@scd.hp.com                   |
       |  landline:  (408)-553-2194                    |
       |  radio:  N6RK                                 |
       ------------------------------------------------
From: joe@avs.com (Joe Peterson)
Subject: Suggestions for mid-price CD player
Organization: Advanced Visual Systems Inc.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 17:33:13 GMT

I currently have a low end (Pioneer) CD player.  I really am not happy with
the sound (what can I expect for $150!).  I really want to upgrade to
a great sounding player - one with clean sound that has enough brightness
as well as accuracy.  I also want optical digital output.  Do any of you have
suggestions for a nice higher-end (around $500) CD player?  I'm not looking
for fancy features; I just want quality sound.  I know the FAQ says a lot
of people like Rotel in this price range, but I heard a posting recently
that was negative about Rotel.  So what should I look at?

						Thanks, Joe
From: BARRON@RHQVM14.VNET.IBM.COM
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 16:13:58 EST
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Concrete Ideas

Any thoughts on casting an enclosure for Accuton midranges and tweeters
out of concrete?

I am constructing a 3-way system using these mids and tweeters in a separate
enclosure.  In an effort to make the cabinet heavy and dense, and for a bit of
originality I though of using a concrete cast for the midrange/tweeter
enclosure.

Some current thoughts...

Use Thermocrete (tm) as a material.  This is very fine (not rocky) and
sets quickly.

Use the bottom 9 inches of a square plastic waste paper basket for a mold.

Insert a piece of MDF in the face with cardboard molds of the accutons beneth
it into the face of the cast.  This MDF will later be secured to the concrete
and will serve as a mounting/screwing plate for the drivers.  The cardboard
molds underneath will occupy and reserve space for the driver enclosures.

I have made several test casts this way and have met with success.

Note: The Accutons have 'built in' enclosures.  They require no air
behind them (They are completely sealed behind the face).

Note: Dimensions are approx 9W x 11H x 8D (inches)

Reply-To: barron@rhqvm14.vnet.ibm.com
Organization: Advantis Advanced Technology
Disclaimer: This reflects the poster's views, not those of Advantis
News-Software: Usenet 3.0
X-X-From: Dave Barron

Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: pgrg9345@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (pAul rAdja )
Subject: Wanted: Proton D540 amp
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 19:13:26 GMT

I am looking for a Proton D540 amp... If you would like to sell
yours or know where I can get one please reply....

  Thanks... _pAul rAdja

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|  Log....  Log....  Log.... It is better than bad its Good.... Log!  |
|    pAul rAdjA   pradja@adsl.ece.uiuc.edu   GiMME a rIDe!            |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: J.Wang@newshost.cognet.ucla.edu (Jonathan T. Wang)
Subject: Re: The real use of MD and DCC
Organization: Gralla@UCLA Molecular Biology Inst.
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 04:19:23 GMT

In article <ISBELL.92Dec22090226@pop-tarts.ai.mit.edu> isbell@ai.mit.edu
 (Charles L Isbell) writes:

>Well, one of the main uses of cassettes is compilation tapes for the
>car and walkman (we have CD's and turntable for prerecorded material),
>so we HAVE to have a home unit.  Fine.  Now the problems assoiated
>with cars and jogging/walking are the same, but tend to be larger in
>the car, so we must ask the the following questions of both DCC and
>MD.
>- Given the noise of the driving environment, is there a difference
>between them?  Will they be better than the cassettes we have?

I went to GOODGUYs (California chain store) and test the MD and it sound 
just as good as CDs to me and it sounds better than cassettes.

>- How many times can you rerecord on the damn things before they begin
>to sound like oatmeal?

According to the Sony ad 1 million times for MD. 
As for the DCC, I don't know.

>- Which medium is more durable?  Can handle changes in temperature the
>best?  Hey, does the head touch on MD during playback?  My tapes tend
>to disentegrate over time.  I find this most annoying and would be
>happy for something more durable.

The MD is obviously more durable. At least for the prerecorded software the 
MD will last as long as a CD. Considering the MD is encased in a protective 
case the MD will be able to stand more abuse than naked CDs.
As for the DCC, obviously this is a tape and like all magnetic tapes once it 
worn out the magnetic coating on the tape, you're done. Not to mention breaks
and wrinkles that can kill a tape.

>- And, of course, will there be car models available?

Just saw a review of Sony's new MD car deck in a car stereo magazine - it 
comes with AM/FM and get this CD changer control. It also has a removable 
face plate and a remote control. At the back inside cover there's a 
advertisment of a Sanyo MD changer deck (yes, that's right you can pute 
three MDs in this flip face MD deck) it also comes with radio and CD changer 
control.

J. Wang
izzynx8@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: gfl@herahera.cc.bellcore.com (lenahan,grant f)
Subject: Kirk- what's your e-mail??
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 15:17:48 GMT


Kirk-

I can't "reply" to you, nor decipher your address.

Re: current source, send me your address at:
gfl@hera.cc.bellcore.com

Thanks for your comments!

Grant
From: curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: MD skipping...
Date: 27 Dec 92 05:49:08 GMT
Reply-To: curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.audio, yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Fractalman) writes:
>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.

I still haven't played with one of these, but I can guess.  The players
have a 4 Mbit buffer (was going to be a 1 Mbit).  They say this gives
a 10 second buffer, but according to my calculations, it's closer to
14 seconds.

I'd guess that the player just ran out of buffered data after you put it
down.  Try shaking it for longer - it should stop playing while you're
still shaking it.  And it probably won't start again until a second or
so after you stop shaking it.

Maybe the palyer's firmware stops trying to read all together if it has
that much trouble and doesn't start again until the buffer is empty -
giving that 1/3 sec pause.

/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Curt Welch - KCW Consulting           By 1995, there will be just two kinds |
| curt@kcwc.com - NeXTmail please!      of professionals:  Those who use NeXT,|
| (703) 938-4152  FAX (703) 938-5756    and those without Jobs.               |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
From: rkarlqu@scd.hp.com (Richard Karlquist)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Tuner/receiver with best AM reception
Date: 23 Dec 1992 20:47:24 GMT
Organization: Hewlett Packard Santa Clara Site
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpscrj.scd.hp.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

George B. Clark (georgec@eng.umd.edu) wrote:
: 
: I got two replies both stating the General Electric Super Radio II is the
: best radio/tuner/receiver for AM reception. It costs about $40, and it
: can be purchased from Best.
: 
: Unfortunately, the II has been superceded by the III, which is said to
: have worse AM reception.

My local Longs still has a Super Radio II in stock, so it pays to check
around.

: 
: Anyway, I went to a high-end audio retail store, and they told me
: Nakamichi makes the best receivers. The Receiver I and Receiver 2 by
: Nakamichi are the two they recommend. They cost several hundred dollars.

Best "high-fidelity" audio quality is completely separate from RF performance
(sensitivity and selectivity).  You stated you wanted to pull in distant
talk shows, not listen to music on your local AM station.  The Superradio's
have 8 inch ferrite rod antennas, and IF filters with sharp skirts (not
wide open for music).  It is highly unlikely a high-end audio tuner is
going to be designed this way.  If you do want a high-fidelity audio tuner,
my experience has been that Yamaha is the way to go.  They sound pretty good
on music.  When auditioning AM receivers, be sure to check bass response.
Many tuners have (inexcusably) rolled-off bass response.  This is easiest
to check by finding an AM-FM simulcast and A-B'ing AM vs FM.  


: 
: I may end up buying a Nakamichi since my stereo receiver is 20 years old.
: 
: Anyway, those of you who only listen to FM music stations are missing out.
: The AM stations where I live include:
: 
:       the audio of CNN cable news
:       Dr. Gabe Mirkin's daily medical talk program
:       weekly program on gardening, and house maintenance
:       programs by CPAs and financial advisors on investing
:       etc.

.. and Larry King ------ NOT!

Mutual has finally seen the light and is replacing him with 
Jim Bohannon.

--
       -------------------------------------------------
       |  Rick Karlquist                               |
       |  Hewlett-Packard Santa Clara Division         |
       |  Precision Time and Frequency R&D             |
       |                                               |
       |  email:  rkarlqu@scd.hp.com                   |
       |  landline:  (408)-553-2194                    |
       |  radio:  N6RK                                 |
       ------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: stevan@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu (Stevan Vidic)
Subject: Voltage mismatch (European gear in the US)
Organization: Alchemy International
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 03:48:11 GMT

Hi there,

I would like to bring a CD player, preamp, and power amp from Europe to US.
The voltage there is 220V.  Will this equipment work fine if I connect it to a
110V->220V transformer?  My main concern is the power amp (Electrocompaniet
Ampliwire II) which runs in class A and draws a lot of current (I don't
remember how much).  I checked the FAQ and found that the biggest transformer
mentioned there is the 300W Stancor P-8639.  Can I hook up all three units
to this trasnformer?  I would appreciate any advice you might have.  Thanks
much!

Regards,
Stevan

Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: young@tellabs.com (Craig Young)
Subject: Re: Ribbon Forever
Organization: Tellabs, Lisle, IL
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 14:29:41 GMT

In article <1992Dec24.101319.1010@cmkrnl.com> jeh@cmkrnl.com writes:
>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

A lot of the planar versus cone debate really distills down to how important
the listener considers correct mid and high frequency reproduction versus deep
bass performance. I am a professional musician who has owned cone type speakers
for many years. There was always a "cup" or "aw" sounding coloration in the
sound that does not exist in live symphonic sound. I switched to a pair of
Apogee Centaurs about a year ago, precisely because they (along with the other
full-range ribbon speakers that Apogee makes) do not exhibit this coloration in
their sound. They have the most neutral, open mids and highs that I have ever
heard in a speaker (I listened to a lot of speakers when I was shopping,
including Vandersteen 2ce and 3, Thiel CS2.2s, B&W 801, 802, 804 and DM640, PSB
Stratus Gold, KEF, Infinity Renaissance 90, among others).

I do not think, however, that planar speakers are for everybody. The Apogee
Stage / Apogee subwoofer combination would probably be the closest that a
planar speaker would come to satisfying both camps. As Mr. Barker notes, most
planars are a little light in the deepest bass without adding a subwoofer. It
really becomes a question of what tradeoffs you personally can live with.
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Why is my FM reception ordinary (was Re: FM reception)
From: MATGBB@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU (BYRNES,Graham)
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 02:50:39 GMT
Organization: La Trobe University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.24

In <1992Dec30.072855.8927@mel.dit.csiro.au> gre253@mis.csiro.au writes:

> OK. I have a NAD 4225 Stereo tuner. I also have a external 28? element
> UHF antenna aimed at the local TV (and FM radio) source 7km (~4miles) away.
The UHF band starts around 800MHz. The FM band stops at 108MHz. The elements
of the UHF antenna are too small by a factor of 8. Go buy an FM or small VHF
antenna from Dick Smith for $50.
Graham
      
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: lauusitalo@tnclus.tele.nokia.fi
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Subwoofer amplification
Date: 21 Dec 92 10:51:42 GMT
Organization: Nokia Telecommunications.

In article <1992Dec21.111548.1@tnclus.tele.nokia.fi>, lauusitalo@tnclus.tele.nokia.fi writes:
> You do need an LP filter. You should use active filter before amp. This
> filter sums both channels. For 12" element you need about 100 litre
> box. 
> 
> And as said before that supply needs reconsideration. For full swing
> you need about +-24V supply with enough current capacity.
> 

Few things more. If you are using car amp or some other amp that has
switching power supply, then you can use that 12V but you would need
much more current than 2.5A. At least 15A. You can get clue from fuses
in the amp.

You know that P = U times I. And using switching supply you have about
70 - 90% efficiency.

Buy a good toroidial transformer and use that, JMHO.

Lauri

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauri Uusitalo                 I          "Life is hard,          
lauri.uusitalo@ntc.nokia.com   I                then you die..."  
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: caro@adobe.com (Perry A. Caro)
Subject: Re: questions on new digital formats
Reply-To: caro@adobe.UUCP  (Perry A. Caro)
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 23:45:33 GMT

In article <chiu-181292132637@222.8.248.8> chiu@gpb-mac.sps.mot.com (Norman Chiu) writes:
>In article <lisfn9INNgm@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>,
>drp@reed.Eng.Sun.COM (Darrell Parham) wrote:
>> 
>> I have some questions about the new recordable digital formats
>> (MD, DCC, DAT):
>> 
>> - The claim is that you can play analog cassettes in DCC
>>   machines. Can you also record analog cassettes in DCC
>>   machines? I would like the capability of recording
>>   cassettes for friends who might not have DCC yet?
>
>No. DCC decks can only play analog cassettes, not record them.

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.  At least, that's what magazine
articles in Audio and Stereo Review said.

Why don't these early DCC decks do ACC recording?  I dunno.  All I know
is that the next generation of home decks will probably include ACC
recording, as a high end feature, no doubt. :-)

While I'm at it, I can't sympathize with all the *a priori* angst about
PASC encoding.  So it loses data?  So what?  So does every analog
recording I've ever made!  I'll believe people can hear a difference
when someone, anyone, can do a double-blind A/B/X test and beat 50/50
chance.

I *do* think DCC has a major technical problem, but it has nothing to
do with encoding.  It's the requirement for heads that can read 10(?)
linear tracks on standard ACC size tape.  From reports, the first
thin-film versions of these are lousy (they're fussy, they get gummed
up too easily, etc.)  If you go down to the store and play with a DCC
demo unit, I bet that any problems you have will be caused by the heads,
including audio artifacts, loss of tracking, skips, etc.

Finally, DCC is not a replacement for CD, and Philips is screwing up
its marketing message by claiming otherwise.  DCC and MD only make
sense as replacements for ACC, not CD or even DAT.  That's why it's
pointless to complain that MD and DCC must inherently sound worse than
CD, the point is that MD and DCC must inherently sound BETTER than
ACC.  This confusion is rampant.  My local news channel had a teaser
that went like this, "Have a CD player on your Christmas list?  You
might want to think again after you see what's new . . .", referring to
MD and DCC.  Arrrggh!

As far as Johnny Walkman Consumer Of Popular Music On ACC is concerned,
DCC's strength is its backwards compatability, MD's is Sony's name and
not inconsiderable marketing power.  We'll see who wins.  My bet's on
backwards compatability.  MD may lose the battle, but a company with
such a long view that it creates a product line called "My First Sony",
to instill brand name recognition in *children*, will probably win the
war.

Perry

-- 
caro@mv.us.adobe.com  ...!{sun}!adobe!caro   Contents: my opinions, no others
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: marks@keinstr.uucp (Mike Marks)
Subject: Re: Parasound 1200, 2200 amps
Organization: Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 15:57:54 GMT


mlm2@crux1.cit.cornell.edu (Mark Lee Margolis) writes:

>Anyone own or have any experience with the Parasound HCA-1200 or HCA-2200 
>amps? I am thinking of upgrading (yet again) from the Parasound HCA-800II
>to a more powerful amp, and I was wondering what people thought or have heard
>of those more powerful amps, especially in comparison to the 800-II and other
>high end amps.

I can't compare with too many other high-end amps, but I upgraded to
the HCA-1200 from an old Hafler DH-200.  The difference was quite
incredible, and for the money, hard to beat.  The HCA-1200 has more
than enough power to drive my relatively inefficient MG-IIIa's in
a large (32' x 20'), carpeted room.  As for the old Hafler, well, it's
running the rear speakers :-).

I can't say how the Parasound compares with others in its price class,
such as the Adcoms and newer Haflers.  I do think it sounds pretty
darn good, however.
_____________________________
Mike Marks
Newsgroups: rec.audio