HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: shli@pollux.usc.edu (Shih-Hao Li)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Recommendation for $1500 set
Date: 11 Oct 92 01:19:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: pollux.1b9gluINNb9
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: pollux.usc.edu

I plan to buy the following set:

Amp/Tuner: NAD 1600 + NAD 2100X
           or ADCOM GTP-400 + ADCOM GFA-535II

Tape Deck: AIWA AD-WX777

CD Changer: Technics SL-PD927

Speaker: not decide yet (maybe Acoustic Research M4)

The total budget is around $1500.
Any suggestion?  Thank you very much!

SH
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: roth@3d.enet.dec.com (Jim Roth)
Subject: Re: Interesting Speaker Question (to me, at least)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 11 OCT 92 20:47:45    


In article <5618@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.boeing.com>, bruce@ssc-vax.boeing.com (Bruce Stock) writes...

>Eons ago in freshman physics I remember there was a textbook example of
>wave interference.  It involved a pair of slits which intercepted a
>wavefront, thereby producing an interference pattern at a downstream
>plane, so long as the width of each slit was reasonably less than the
>wavelength.  (I'm sure you all remember this, so I won't include the
>tortured ascii graphics)

This is a standard textbook example because it's easy to analyze
(and usually things are carried to the full extreme of postulating
"point sources", an idea that remarkably was not made rigorous enough
for mathematicians till this century, even though physicists got the
right answers...)  Real speakers are much more like distributed sources
though.  Even a 3/4 inch dome tweeter will appear larger than it
really is when mounted in a baffle.

>It occurred to me that this phenomenon could also appear in the
>soundfield of any stereo speaker system, if certain conditions prevail.
>For example,  when a sustained note appears at frequency where the
>speakers act as a point, or line, source.  Yet, I have seen no
>discussion of this effect in the popular audio literature.  So I assume
>that there must be real world considerations which render the ideal
>situation inaudible.  For example, real instruments do not often produce
>a single frequency, so the effects might not be that obvious.  And of
>course real living rooms have floor, ceiling, backwall, and sidewall
>reflections to contribute (unless near-field listening is used?).

>On my own speakers (Dahlquist DQ-8's) I do hear something when I put on
>intercarrier hiss (poor man's white noise), and move my head from side
>to side about the midpoint.  It isn't the classic interference pattern
>that I would expect, but more like a weak sin(x)/x amplitude variation.

Well, many years ago (I'm dating myself) a friend of mine had a set of
brand new AR LST's.  These used multiple mids and tweeters to get around
the power handling limitations of the drivers (this predated ferrofluid
among other things) and the interference and lobing was a joy to
behold.  If you rotated the LST on a pedestal while playing pink
noise it you'd hear this ch-ch-ch-ch kind of sound from the many
sidelobes due to the multiple drivers.

You may want to try experimenting with a pair of Minimus 7's some time.
These are acoustically and physically small enough that you can have
someone move them around while you listen and can learn to recognise all
kinds of interesting effects having to do with interference, reflections,
and so as they are so exaggerated in this case.

>So how about it gentlemen - why is this effect not the kiss of death for
>detailed, yet stable imaging?

In a word, it is...

- Jim
From: gt0869a@prism.gatech.EDU (WATERS,CLYDE GORDON)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Golden Ears?
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:40:23 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <23834@alice.att.com> jj@alice.UUCP (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch) writes:
>>> In article <1992Oct6.024047.21236@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> crgoc@orlando.uk.cray.com (Gary O'Connor) writes:
>>> >|> >Who in this group can here if the speakers are reversed polarity?
>>> >|> >what are these audible effects.
>
>My impression is that the waveform generated by most drivers
>is quite different under compression and rarifaction at higher
>levels.  This holds for Stax Lambda Pro's as well as for most

I have also read, and heard in an extremely limited number of 
experiences that the ear hears extremely low frequency tones differently 
in compression than rarefaction- one source called it a "rectification" 
effect. This, as far as I could tell, seemed to make low bass sounds 
ever-so-slightly louder in one speaker polarity than the other. I have 
heard systems where either this effect, or the effect of driver non-linearity
mentioned above, must have been operating- one of which had the drivers 
operating in push-pull so driver non linearity _should_ have been 
cancelled out. I believe that Paul Smee made some note of this phenomenon in
an earlier post a few months ago. I do say that I have never scientifically
verified the rectification effect, but I have heard evidence that the volume 
difference thing exists, noticable to some degree in some rare circumstances.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
-- 
WATERS,CLYDE GORDON-Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Ga 30332 
******<LANGUAGE IS A VIRUS! - Laurie Anderson-Home of the Brave>******* 
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt0869a
Internet: gt0869a@prism.gatech.edu
From: fcaic@wbst845e.xerox.com (Frank Caico)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Definitive Technology VS Mirage M990 speakers
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:53:34 GMT
Distribution: rec.audio
Organization: Xerox, Webster, NY


Has anyone had any experience with either the 
Definitive Technologies BP10 bipolar speaker
or
Mirage M990 - also bipolar.

I am currently testing both of these (to see which I want to keep).
I got the BP10's for around $950 and the M990's for $850.  They are both
great speakers and I am having difficulty deciding which to get. I think
the BP10s are better at imaging and both speakers have very good bass, but
the Mirages are a little more relaxed (and maybe slightly more comfortable
to listen to).  

The Definitive speakers came with a manual that indicated a break-in period
after which "a more blossoming midrange - and smoother high frequency
reproduction" would be heard.  If this were the case I think I would prefer
the BP10s (unless the mirages also have a break-in period just not stated).

Also, does anyone have any comments on quality or customer service with
regards to these two companies?  

Thanks!

Frank
--
  +-----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
  | Frank Caico                 |                  fcaic@wbst845e.xerox.com |
  +-----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
  | Xerox KBS Competency Ctr.   |                                           |
  | Bldg. 845-20C               |    "I am pink, therefore I am Spam."      |
  | Webster, NY  14580          |                                           |
  +-----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: ingoldsb@cuug.ab.ca (Terry Ingoldsby)
Subject: Re: Quality of Speaker Wire Inside your Speakers
Summary: Crossovers are the dominant factor
Keywords: speaker wire, crossovers, still going
Organization: Calgary UNIX Users' Group
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 23:06:41 GMT


>I have wanted to try and upgrade my speakers but as funds are low I thought that
>I would open up my speaker cabinets (v. carefully!) and see what the cross-over
>to speaker connection wire looked like. To my horror the wire is just ordinary
>CRAPPY basic connection wire that one would use for soldering between a switch a
>nd printed circuit board in a school science room!

And what will you do about the approximately 200 feet of (probably) 18 gauge
wire in the crossovers.  Not to mention the >18 gauge (i.e. thinner) wire
that is almost certainly used in the voice coils?  This could turn out to be
an ambitious project!

Terry Ingoldsby
ingoldsb@cuug.ab.ca

All opinions are my own.




Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: dvc@eagle.hr.att.com (David Van Cleef)
Subject: Need a copy of the Pioneer VSX-7300 manual
Originator: news@cbnewsb.cb.att.com
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 19:06:50 GMT

I recently picked up a VSX-7300.  It was a store demo model and came
without the System Remote (which I can live without), and the owner's
manual (which I can't, as things like setting tuner presets are
non-intuitive).  Is there another 7300 owner out there who can send me
a photocopy of the manual?  I'll gladly pay for the copy/postage costs.
--
David A. Van Cleef			AT&T Bell Laboratories
internet: dvc@eagle.hr.att.com		Red Hill Facility, Middletown, NJ
					+1 908 615 4906
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: rej@sal.wisc.edu (Randy Jones)
Subject: Re: Hughes SRS experiences?
Organization: Boredoms Fan Club USA
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 03:25:34 GMT

In article <8OCT199215114397@elroy.uh.edu> st1q9@elroy.uh.edu (Devine, Della M) writes:
>In article <1992Oct8.185641.5649@beaver.cs.washington.edu>, pinch@cs.washington.edu (Ricardo Pincheira) writes...
>>I am considering the purchase of one of the Hughes "SRS" units, probably
>>the AK-100.  Has anyone had experience with these particular units?  Do they
>>genuinly add a lot of ambiance and listening enjoyment to recordings?

Look in this month's Home & Studio Recording for a seemingly objective
discussion of various "3D Sound" processes, including the Hughes.

Or if my brain is dead again, this was in Mix, but I think it was H&SR.

Only you can determine "listening enjoyment", though, 'specially when
trying to equate it to dollar amounts...

-- 
| Randy Jones           | "The electron tube is a marvelous device. It makes
| rej@bob.sal.wisc.edu  |  possible the performing of operations, amazing in
|                       |  conception, with a precision and a certainty that 
|                       |  are astounding."     -- RCA Receiving Tube manual 
Organization: Sophomore, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Date: Thu,  8 Oct 1992 08:02:20 -0400 
From: Bambang Suryanto <bs3f+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Speaker recommendation ($1500/pair)
	<1992Oct8.075354.4746@menudo.uh.edu>

>BUT beware of these speakers !
>You must have a relatively big room and an expensive amplifier (i.e. high
>current, ex. Aragon 4004 II).

I agree that that you really need a big room for it ( and a perfect one
) but I don't agree that you need an expensive amp. I try the apogee
with the NAD and it sounded like a million. Well I never try with aragon
4004 II but I think you can use a not so expensive amp.
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: smills@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (MuffinHead)
Subject: Re: Black rubber CD rings - Any good ?
Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 09:00:51 GMT

gre253@mis.csiro.au (Steven Green (+61 6 276 6813)) writes:

>I have often seen adds for these black rubber CD rings in hi-fi magazines and
>thought nothing of them. Yesterday I borrowed an "Audio test" CD from a freind.
>It had one of these on it. The music tracks on this CD sound great. I tried
>it without the ring and could not detect any difference.
>Whats the feeling of people out there regarding these rings. Are they simply
>another snake-oil remedy or do they actually work ?

   The only thing they DO do is keep the edges from chipping if you happen
to drop the CD on concrete. They do NOTHING for the sound. It's another
Green Magic Marker phenomenon.
From: st_waldman@zodiac.dsto.oz.au
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Acoustic Measurement/Designing Crossovers
Date: 11 Oct 92 23:38:48 GMT
Organization: D.S.T.O. Aeronautical Research Laboratory

> For those interested in acoustic design/measure software you can't leave
> out LMS for speaker enclosure design,

Slight correction here. LMS stands for Loudspeaker Measurement System. It
consists of a frequency programmable sine-wave generator and a tracking
RMS voltmeter capable of gating the response signal to produce good quality
measurements in a non-anechoic environment. It also takes impedance
measurements, quickly and easily. It includes a calibrated microphone.
LMS specializes in measurements, but does not do any simulations to help
you design loudspeaker enclosures.

> SPICE for crossover design,

There are many other programs that help with crossover network design and
loudspeaker system simulation in general. Some of these are CALSOD, LEAP, LMP,
SpeakerDesigner. I think that any of these programs would provide a
collection of loudspeaker design facilities that make things a lot easier
than trying to use SPICE.

There are also some good books on speaker design, one of the more readily
available being "The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook, 4th Edition" by Vance
Dickason.

Some extra information (new or corrected) follows:

Distributor:    Audio Teknology Inc   <<<<< Corrected spelling
Name:           LMS
contact:        503-624-0405
Price:          $1100 (hardware and software)

Distributor:  Audiosoft
Name:         CALSOD 2.50
Contact:      Fax: +61 3 497 4441 (Australia)
Price:        US$365 (AUD$449, including air mail postage)
Capabilities: Enclosure response simulation (vented, closed, bandpass, PR)
              Curve-fitter for modelling driver reponses in the
                absence of test equipment (use manufacturers data sheets)
              Crossover design using passive and active networks
              Crossover optimization
              Ability to predict response at multiple off-axis locations
              Imports measurement data from LMS, MLSSA, SYSid, System One

Witold Waldman
WITOLD@HOTBLK.DSTO.GOV.AU
From: znpt01@trc.amoco.com (Norman P. Tracy)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Vinyl source
Date: 7 Oct 92 13:40:49 GMT
Organization: Amoco Production Company, Tulsa Research
Originator: znpt01@gpss43


In article <CB.92Oct6152827@tamarack13.timbuk>, cb@tamarack13.timbuk (Chris Brewster) writes:
> 
>  - Let's stop referring to LPs as "vinyl".  CDs are also vinyl.  LPs
>    were called LPs from the very beginning, and that term is still the
>    clearest.
> 
> Chris Brewster
> cb@cray.com

Actually CDs are polycarbonate not vinyl.  I like the terms from an English
mag., "black disk" (LP) and "silver disk" (CD).  Then CD-R would be "gold
disk".

Norman Tracy (znpt01@trc.amoco.com)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: DPierce@world.std.com (Richard d Pierce)
Subject: Re: Estimating Speaker Efficiency
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 00:21:21 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.184643.2935@schbbs.mot.com (John Byrns) writes:
>
>Can any of the speaker experts out there tell me if it is possible
>to estimate the efficiency of a direct radiator speaker without
>actually measuring it directly. Can it be derived in any way using
>only the equipment you would use to measure the Thiele-Small parameters?
>Could you calculate it from the Thiele-Small parameters and an estimate
>of the piston area?
>

Yes, there is a way to calculate it directly from the Thiele-Small
parameters, as follows. The reference efficiency, n0, is calculated by:

                             3
                      -10  Fs  Vas
        n0 = 9.64 x 10    ---------
                             Qes

where Fs is the free air resonance in Hertz, Vas is the equivalent volume
of compliance in liters, and Qes is the driver Q at resonance due to
electrical losses only. This gives you a conversion efficiency (power in
to power out) that's usually expressed in %.  To convert that to a
sensitivity figure, (power in to SPL out), use the following:


        sens = 109 + 10 log(n0)  [ for full space load ]

or

        sens = 112 + 10 log(n0) [ for half space load ]

The difference being the system radiating into a full sphere vs a half
sphere. The answer will be in dB SPL.

I find agreement to within 1/2 dB fo the measured sensitivity, the errors
due to inaccuracies in measuring the T/S parameters, especially Vas.


-- 
|                Dick Pierce                |
|    Loudspeaker and Software Consulting    |
| 17 Sartelle Street   Pepperell, MA  01463 |
|       (508) 433-9183 (Voice and FAX)      |
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: torda@igc.ethz.ch (Andrew Torda)
Subject: Speaker impedance: Why is a range quoted ?
Organization: Computational Chemistry, ETH, Zuerich
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:03:09 GMT

When describing speakers, they always quote a range for the impedance
like 4-16 ohm.
Why is that ?
Is it just that speaker impedance varies with frequency ?

In the same vein: What damage could be done if you have 40 ohm
speakers connected to an amp that says it only wants 4-16 ohm
speakers.
Is this just a problem of impedance matching ?

Thanks for answers
-Andrew
-- 

Andrew Torda, Computational Chemistry, ETH, Zurich, torda@igc.ethz.ch
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: jwg@iedv7.acd.com ( Jim Grey )
Subject: Re: 6th Ave. mail order SUMMARY
Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute IN
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 18:32:41 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.172057.11493@javelin.sim.es.com> blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com writes:
>hochberg@misty.boeing.com (michael hochberg) writes:
>
>>The very best mail order stereo/video/stuff house I have found
>>is Crutchfield.
>
>Crutchfield does have a nice catalog, but most of their prices are too
>high. Everything I've priced locally has been cheaper than Crutchfield's
>prices.
>-- 
>Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  BIX:blaine_g
>580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108           Favorite road signs:
>Dumper of Dirtbikes #46             FJ1200   Winding Road Next 77 Miles
>My other motorcycle is a Quadracer           Caution: Passing Areas Not Marked


You're paying for their terrific support and Money-Back-Guarantee-If-Not-
Completely-Satisfied.  I bought a car stereo from them last summer.  I had
little knowledge of the whole car stereo biz, and they helped out a lot in
fitting one to my car and price range.
 
But if you're going after price alone, there are places that'll sell the 
stuff for less.
 
jim grey
jwg@acd4.acd.com
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: rajesh@maruti.ece.cmu.edu (Rajesh H. Zele)
Subject: Herman/Kardon CD player
Organization: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 01:28:35 GMT

Hi Netters:

	I would like your opinion about the following situation 
I am facing.

	I bought a "herman/kardon" CD player Model no. HD7400
from Appliance store. It was on sale (Display Model). The salesperson
quite convinced me that it was used very little. It looked really new,
no scratches etc. The original price of this player was $299. Since it 
was a display model, I got it for $149. I am just begining to be an 
audiophile and know that Herman/kardon is kinda higher end product.

	After I got it home, I found out that this model was manufactured
in August 1989. This really scared me. I looked up the specs for HD7400. 
( sampling freq = 176.4KHz, THD = 0.008 %, Dynamic Range = 96 dB, SNR = 100dB,
Channel seperation= 88dB). I compared these specs with the most recent SONY
CD players and found out that SONY (CDP-397) performs rather better with a 
lot more functionality (like shuffle, better display).

	The appliance store has very good exchange/return policy. 

	I would really appreciate, if I could get opinions from experienced
ears on the NET. What should I do? Return HD7400 or keep it?

	Thanx a lot

	Rajesh
From: kevinm@ocf.berkeley.edu (Kevin Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Mail Order Places
Date: 12 Oct 1992 10:02:50 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
Distribution: USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: tornado.berkeley.edu

I thought I would take this opportunity to make a suggestion to the group
regarding Mail Order recommendations.  When you recommend a Mail Order place,
PLEASE include at least a phone number where the firm can be contacted.

It's a real drag to hear someone praising the virtue of some Mail Order place,
when they leave no indication of how to get in contact with them.

Specifically, someone recommended a place called CRUTCHFIELD, saying that the
place had great customer support.  What's their phone number?  I'd very 
much like to contact them!

Thanks,

Kevin
kevinm@ocf.berkeley.edu
From: francis@cs.adelaide.edu.au (Francis Vaughan)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: SPEAKER "POP"
Date: 8 Oct 92 05:49:01 GMT
Reply-To: francis@cs.adelaide.edu.au
Organization: Adelaide Univerity, Computer Science
NNTP-Posting-Host: heruka.cs.adelaide.edu.au

In article <92279.204121U37426@uicvm.uic.edu>, U37426@uicvm.uic.edu writes:
|> 
|>      I just moved into a small apartment with "dirty " electrical power.  By
|> this I mean that every time my refrigerator goes on my speakers go POP!  Just
|> quick pop no matter what the volume level is.  Not knowing anything about
|> what was going on I bought a surge protecter.  This made only a slight improve-
|> ment.  Question:  AM I FRYING MY $300 A PIECE SPEAKERS? 

No. (Well unlikely)


|> Is there anything I
|> I can do to eliminate these pops?  Please drop a note and put my mind at rest.


Have you tried putting the surge protector on the refrigerator?
Try a line filter, a surge protector protects against surges, these
pops are not just surges.  Again placing the filter on the source of
the interference can often be better than placing them on affected item.

Having someone check the supression capacitor on the refigerator may
eliminate the problem anyway.  You don't really have dirty power, just
a dirty 'fridge.

					Francis Vaughan
Xref: sparky rec.audio:13815 sci.electronics:17213
From: eehaigh@cybaswan.UUCP (j a haigh)
Newsgroups: rec.audio,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Headphone audio -- how do they simulate distance
Date: 15 Oct 92 09:44:33 GMT
Reply-To: eehaigh@cybaswan.UUCP (j a haigh)

In article <1992Oct14.015436.12819@sol.ctr.columbia.edu> es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes:
>
>	When you listen to music over headphones, it is possible
>for the audio to be recorder such that it either sounds like it
>is coming from the center of your head, or that it is coming from
>both sides.
>
>	How is this accomplished? And, please, I'm mildly
>technical but not overly so.

If you transmit similar acoustic signals in both headphones, then the
net result is that the sound appears to be sourced from the centre of
your skull. Strangely enough, if the left and right channels differ,
then the sound appears to originate from the sides. This is an unusual
phenomenom called `Stereophonic Sound'.

The sound appears to originate from the centre of your head due to the
way your brain interprets the sound and assesses its directionality.
If you reverse the phase of one of the channels, then this effect is
destroyed, and the sound does not appear to have any locatable source.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Science versus TechnoBabble and Golden Ears
Date: 9 Oct 92 00:14:50 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <1b0skhINN39p@huon.itd.adelaide.edu.au> francis@cs.adelaide.edu.au writes:
>
>Making a few bucks from pseudo-science has been with us
>with since before snake oil, and will probably be with us
>for a long time yet.
>
>At the end of it all we are left with slow but real
>scientific progress.  Real advances are made by people that
>understand the problem and the underlying physics, and who
>are able to apply scientific method to isolate and quantify
>effects and make use of this knowledge.
>
   Ah, but as you've implied, real MONEY is made from pandering to
   vanity, stupidity, and the innate desire to pretend you know
   everything about everything.   

   There will always be a market for products which pander to these
   human weaknesses....mainly from companies more interested in
   money than really advancing the art.   And there will always be
   self-delusioned people who swallow it hook, line, and sinker.
   Usually these are people with absolutely no knowledge of
   psychology and human perception.