MUMR1986

SPECIAL! PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD: HF's EDITORS PICK THE WINNER so JSA .3.51 CANADA

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r CAMCORDER CRAZE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING ONE JVC'S VHS -C VS. SONY'S 8mm: WHICH IS BETTER?

TESTED THIS MONTH NAKAMICHI CD PLAYER

DENON RECEIVER SONY SUPER BETA VCR

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onlimons.minommis,c,

MINI REVIEWS 17 POP & JAZZ CDS,

LPS, AND VIDEOCASSETTES 12 CLASSICAL CDS

"ORIGINAL BEETHOVEN" CAN MUSICIANS COPE

WITH A "NEW' TRADITION?

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Not Evolutionary,

Pioneer's Revolutionary C -90/M-90 preamThpereCa-ca

Elite High -Fidelity Components. for the video revo-lution, with six videoinputs, a built-in

video enhancer, and two -buss switching(separate "Record" and "View" selectors). TheC -90's unique system remote -control unitfeatures volume adjustment, input sourceselection, and control of audio and videoinput devices such as Pioneer's"Slr compat-ible VCRs, CDs, LaserVision players andcassette decks.

The M-90 is a superb high -power stereoamplifier, utilizing dual -mono construction.It is conservatively rated at 200 W/CH into8 ohms' and delivers 800 W/CH of dynamicpower at 2 ohms? The wide dynamic range ofdigital sources can now be reproduced effort-lessly, with any loudspeakers. The M -90's highcurrent capacity of 47 amps can handle thechallenge of the most complex speaker loads.To further enhance S/N ratio and channelseparation, relay -operated electronic switchesand a long shaft volume control keep the lengthof signal paths down to a minimum. Why in-clude a high quality volume control on a poweramp? Simple. To pursue the straight -wire-with -gain philosophy when using a CD playerconnected directly. Pure sound, redefined.

The exquisite finish of the M-90 and C-90reflects their quality. Elegant rosewood sidepanels and front panels with a deep hand-brushed lacquer finish emphasize the care ofcraftsmanship we've lavished on these twocomponents. The Pioneer C-90 Preamp andM-90 Power Amp. Evolutionary? Hardly.Revolutionary? Most definitely.

For your nearest Pioneer Elite Hi-Fidealer, phone1-800-421-1404.

Audiophiles, take note: The preamp and ampli-fier you've been waiting, for are finally here.

Introducing the Pioneer Elite Hi-Fi C-90Preamp and M-90 Power Amplifier. Togethecthey combine the finest in both audio andvideo to retrieve every detail and nuance foundin your cherished records, tapes, compact discs,LaserVisionTM discs and other software. Imaginea soundstage spread throughout your entirelistening room! Stunning, transparent, three-dimensional music, the likes of which you'venever heard, apart from a live performance.

We paid fantastic attention to detail to gainthis level of musical truth. One example: theC-90 volume control is a motorized, high pre-cision rotary potentiometer. This permittedus to create the world's first high -end prearnpwith a no -compromise handheldSRTMremote -control unit.

The C-90 features three separate powertransformers-two to power left and rightaudio channels for vanishingly low crosstaic,and a third transformer to the preamp'sunique video capabilities, relays, display andmicroprocessor. All switching functions areaccomplished by electronic relays. Thus thesignal paths are as short as possible, improvingsignal-to-noise ratio and channel separation.Anti -vibration measures taken to further theC -90's sonic excellence include a solid alurri-num volume control knob, polycarbonatechassis feet, and rubber-craded PC boards.Soft copper -plated screws insure a snug fitof chassis, transfuriiiers, transistors, and helpto dampen vibration.

©1986 Pioneer Ebctronics (USA! Inc., Long Beach, CP. 'Based on FTC rules regarding measurement of amplifier power ratings.2Measu-ed by EIA method.

(y) PION ERcAT(',1 i TiE SPIRIT OF A TRUE PIONEER.

Matthew Polk's Awesome Sounding SDA-SRS & SDA-SRS 2

SDA SRS 25995 ea. Digital Disc Ready

Matthew Polk, the loudspeaker genius, with his Audio Video Grand Prix winning SDA-SRS and latest technological triumph:the extraordinary SDA-SRS 2, honored with the 1986 CES Design & Engineering Award.

"The Genius of Matthew PolkHas Created Two Awesome Sounding

Signature Edition SDAs""Spectacular... it is quite an experience"

ow the genius of Matthew Polk bringsyou the awesome sonic performance ofthe SDA-SRS in a smaller, more mod-

erately priced, but no less extraordinaryloudspeaker, the SDA-SRS 2.

Matthew Polkk own dreamspeakers can now be yours!

Matthew Polk's ultimate dream loudspeaker,the SDA-SRS, won the prestigious Audio VideoGrand Prix Speaker of the Year award last year.'Stereo Review said "Spectacular...it is quite anexperience" and also stated that the SRS wasprobably the most impressive new speaker atthe 1985 Consumer Electronics Show. Thou-sands of man hours and hundreds of thousandsof dollars were spent to produce this ultimateloudspeaker for discerning listeners who seekthe absolute state-of-the-art in musical andsonic reproduction.

Matthew Polk has, during the last year,continued to push his creative genius to thelimit in order to develop a smaller, moremoderately priced Signature Edition SDA incor-porating virtually all of the innovations anddesign features of the SRS without significantlycompromising its awesome sonic performance.The extraordinary new SRS 2 is the spectacularlysuccessful result. Music lovers who are priv-ileged to own a pair of either model will shareMatthew Polk's pride every time they sit downand enjoy the unparalleled experience of lis-tening to their favorite music through theseextraordinary loudspeakers, or when theydemonstrate them to their admiring friends.

"Exceptional performance nomatter how you look at it"

Stereo Renege

Listening to any Polk kue Stereo SDA* is aremarkable experience. Listening to either ofthe Signature Edition SDAs is an awesomerevelation. Their extraordinarily lifelike three-dimensional imaging surrounds the listener in360° panorama of sonic splendor. The aweinspiring bass performance and dynamic rangewill astound you. Their high definition clarity

PaleM No. 4,44111, 432 and 4,4117, OM. *thew Wad* 11...11.11.

Stereo Review Magazine

allows you to hear every detail of the originalmusical performance; while their exceptionallysmooth, natural, low distortion reproductionencourages you to totally indulge and immerseyourself in your favorite recordings for hourson end.

Julian Hirsch of Stereo Review summed it upwell in his rave review of the SDA-SRS: "Thecomposite frequency response was exceptional...The SDA system works...The effect can bequite spectacular...We heard the sound to oursides, a full 90° away from the speakers...Asgood as the SDA feature is, we were even moreimpressed by the overall quality of the PolkSDA-SRS....The sound is superbly balanced andtotally effortless...Exceptional low bass. Wehave never measured a low bass distortion levelas low as that of the SDA-SRS...lt is quite anexperience! Furthermore, it is not necessary toplay the music loud to enjoy the tactile qualitiesof deep bass...Exceptional performance nomatter how you look at it."

The awe-inspiring sonic performance of theSDA-SRS 2 is remarkably similar to that of theSRS. Words alone can not express the experi-ence of listening to these ultimate loudspeakersystems. You simply must hear them for yourself!

"Literally a new dimension insound" Stereo Review

Both the SDA-SRS and the SDA-SRS 2 are highefficiency systems of awesome dynamic rangeand bass capabilities. They both incorporatePolk's patented SDA 'the Stereo technologywhich reproduces music with a precise, life-like three dimensional soundstage which isunequalled and gives you, as Julian Hirsch ofStereo Review said, "literally a new dimensionin sound". Each beautifully styled and finishedSRS 2 cabinet contains 4 Polk 61/2" trilaminatepolymer drivers, a planar 15" sub -bass radiator,2 Polk 1" silver -coil polyamide dome tweetersand a complex, sophisticated isophase cross-over system. It is rated to handle 750 watts. TheSRS utilizes 8-6Y2" drivers, a 15" sub -bass radia-tor, 4 Polk tweeters and an even more complexcrossover. It is rated to handle 1000 watts.

Both the SDA-SRS and SRS 2 incorporate:1.) time compensated. phase -coherent multiple

driver vertical line -source topology for greaterclarity, increased coherency, lower distortion,higher power handling, increased dynamicrange and more accurate imaging. 2.) a mono-coque cabinet with elaborate bracing and MDFbaffle for lower cabinet read-out and lowercoloration. 3.) progressive variation of the highfrequency high-pass circuitry for point -source

"the best SDAs yet...impressive and worthy of

Matt Polk's signature"Htgb Fidelity Magazine

operation and wide vertical dispersion. -t.) theuse of small active drivers in a full complementsub -bass drive configuration coupled to a large15" sub-hass radiator for extraordinarily tight,quick and three-dimensional mid and upperbass detail combined with low and sub -basscapabilities which are exceptional. The speakersare beautifully finished in oiled oak and walnut.

Other superb sounding Polkspeakersfrom $85. ea.

No matter what your budget is, there is asuperb sounding Polk speaker perfect for you.Polk's incredible sounding/affordably pricedMonitor Series loudspeakers start as low as $85ea. The breathtaking sonic benefits of Polk'srevolutionary km Stereo SDA technology areavailable in all Polk's SDA loudspeakers whichbegin as low as $395. each.

"Our advice is not to buyspeakers until you've heardthe Polks" Musician Magazine

The experts agree: Polk speakers soundbetter! Hear them for yourself Use thereader service card for more informationand visit 'four nearest Polk dealer today.Your ears will thank you.

polkThe Speaker Specialists

5601 Metro Drive. Baltimore, Md. 21215

Whrs to buy Polk Speakers? For your nearest dealer, see page

Matthew Polk's Incredible Affordable Monitors

ilia

ilin \\N,5tr.

129.95 ea.ontni.t9o5r Monitor 7C/atthew Polk's remarkable Monitors offer state-of-the-art technology and performance usually found only in systems

which sell for many times their modest cost.

$2.411.95 e

"Polk Audio's Remarkable Monitors DeliverIncredible Sound/Affordable Price"

"Vastly Superior to the Competition"Musician Magazine

olk Audio was founded in 1972 by- three Johns Hopkins University grad-uates, who were dedicated audiophileswith a common dream: superior sound foreveryone.

"The iffordable dream"CV the Record

They believed that it was possible to designand manufacture loudspeakers of uncom-promising quality which performed as well asthe most expensive and exotic loudspeakersavailable, but in a price range affordable tovirtually every music lover. The Monitors arethe spectacularly successful result of their quest.

Polk Monitor Series loudspeakers haveearned a well deserved reputation for offeringstate-of-the-art performance and technologyusually found in systems which sell for manytimes their modest cost. In fact, they have beencompared in sound quality with speakers whichsell for up to $10,000 a pair.

Matthew Polk has continued to work hardover the years to maintain the Monitor Series'preeminent position as the standard for qualityand value in the audio industry. There have beenliterally thousands of improvements made to theMonitors and the current models incorporatethe same high definition silver coil dometweeters and Trilaminate Polymer drivers used inthe SDAs. They are absolutely the best soundingloudspeakers for the money available on themarket. It's no wonder Musician Magazine said,"Our advice is not to buy speakers until youhear the Polks." You owe it to yourself

Win a Free Pair

of Awesome SoundingPolk Audio SDA SRSs

7berek A Polk Monitor Perfectfor You

The RTA 12C ($479.95ea.) has won the AudioVideo Grand Prix Speakerof the Year Award. Itsextremely high powerhandling (500 watts) andefficiency (92db 1 meter 1watt) result in remarkabledynamic range and bassperfor amplifierom large orsmall rs.

The Monitor 10B (S329.95ea.) is considered one ofthe world's best soundingloudspeakers and in thewords of Audiog.amMagazine. "At the pricethey're simply a steal.Like the 12. the 0 utilizesdual Polk trilam natepolymer bass midrangedrivers coupled so a built-in subwoofer for outstand-ing bass pertorrr ance anddynamic range.

The Monitor 7C (S249.95ea.) is a smaller, lessexpensive version of theMonitor 10. Audio Alter-natives Magazine said,"It is amazing.'

The Monitor 58 ($189.95ea.) is similar In designand performance to the7, however It utilizes an8' subwooter rather thana 10' .

The Monitor 51r. (S129.95ea.) has been caned. "thebest sounding speaker ofits price in the world. re-gardless of site."

The Monitor 44 1584.95ea.) was called by AudioCritic Lawrence Johnson,"an all around star ofgreat magnitude." The4A's low price means thatno matter how small yourbudget, you can afford theincredible sound of Polk.

"Absolutelyflrst rate...superior sound at amoderate price."

Stereo Review Magazine

All the Polk Monitors regardless of price offerconsistently superb construction and sonic per-formance. They achieve open boxless, threedimensional imaging surpassed only by theSDAs. In addition dynamic bass performance,lifelike clarity silky smooth frequency response.ultra wide dispersion, high efficiency and highpower handling are all much appreciated hall-marks of all the Polk Monitors. This is in largepart due to the fact that they all utilize verysimilar components and design features. How-

ever, more importantly, it is the elegant integra-tion of concepts and components which resultsin the superior sonic performance and valuewhich sets the Monitor Series apart.

"At the price they'resimply a steal."

Audiogram Magazine

Audiogram magazine said, "How does Polkdo it? We think it is mostly execution. They hearvery well and they care." Audiogram is abso-lutely right! At Polk we take the same care witheach and every product we build, whether it isour most or least expensive. We lavish the samelengthy amount of critical listening and tuningon every single Polk speaker because we knowthat having a limited budget does not necessarilyindicate that you have a limited ability toappreciate true musical quality.

You can afford the incrediblesound of Polk

The experts agree: Polk speakers soundbetter! There is a Polk speaker which isperfect to fulfill your sonic dreams at a priceyou can afford. Visit your nearest Polk dealertoday and audition the remarkable Monitorsand the revolutionary SDAs. You'll always beglad you bought the best.

polkThe Speaker Specialists

;Nil Metro Urnc Baliumore. 11d 21215

Win a Pairof SRSs

Listen to the Polka Give this couponto your Polk dealer

You may win a $2800 pair of SRSsThis is an entry form in a world-wide drawing for a free pair of SDA-SRS loudspeakers. Simply fill out this form andleave it with your participating Polk dealer, after you audition the Polks

Name

Address

City. State County Zip

Phone (please include area code)

What most impressed you about the Polks?

E Deep. tight. full bass 0 High efficiency and power handlingEl Huge sound field and image El Crisp, lifelike clarity

Before Dec. 15, 1986

H

Where to buy Polk Speakers? For your nearest dealer, see page 79.

gm, HIGH FIDELITY

(HIGHFIDELITYTHE CAMCORDER CRAZE

MCIV14.14601,.. IM011614.,141,1111110.1011MI NNOWYWR

Cover Design n err V Cele-sante, Jr., arc '. noel 0 E elevonte

Cover Photo: Nock BasMon

On rho Cover: Denon DRA.,SVRaudio -video receiver Itop). No.anochi OMS-7All Compact Disc player

Volume 36 Number 12 December 1986

TEST REPORTS24 Nakamichi /NIS-7AII Compact Disc player26 Denon I )RA-95VR audio -video receiver28 Pioneer DSS-E10 loudspeaker32 Dual CS -5000 turntable39 Linn LK- 1 preamplifier40 Sony SL-HF750 Super Beta videocassette recorder

AUDIO & VIDEO47 Product of the Year: 1986

by Day id Ranada and Mu, Intel Riggs

The eight finalists (and the winner) in our first annual Product of the Year competition

58 8145-C vs. 8mmby Robert AngusA lens -to -lens comparison of minicamcorders from JVC and Sony

MUSICClassical

68 On to the Pastby Michael H. GrayThe early music movement has come of age; now it comes face to face with Beethoven.

Popular/Backbone

114 In Insert Orderby HIGH FIDELITY'S pop and jazz critics

The debut of a monthly column of mini -reviews, covering CDs, LPs, and videocassettes

DEPARTMENTS8 Front Lines News from the 1986 Japan Audio Fair9 Letters

1 1 Currents I tigital video noise reduction VCRs from NEC21 Tape Tracks Everything but the squeal; Little incentive to create audio -only VCRs22 Crosstalk ()nee and future tapes; QS and SQdecoders72 The CD Spread Symphonies galore: Nielsen, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Mahler75 Classical Reviews Ihe first of ten volumes of 100 Fears of Italian Opera78 Critics' Choice88 Pop Reviews Paul Simon's African sojourn; Van Morrison's passionate rebirth91 Jess Reviews \ vant-gardists in Detroit; Bill Evans on CD96 Advertising Index

NIGH NOWT, (ISSN 00111-1435)n publ.sned monthly ar 825 Seventh Are New York N Y 10019 by ABC Con..., Mogopees. Inc o thyosoon of ABC PubIrshong. Incand a tabs.: fiery of Arnerrcan Broodcoshng Companres. Inc © 1986 by ABC Contactor Maga,ones Inc The des.gn and conform ore Icily protected by copyr.ghtand must

no, be reproduced any manner SOCOnd.CIOSS potrage yard at New York. New York and or odd.hono, rea.l.ng offices Author.zed at 141COACI.Clent marl by ...Pot, OfficeDeportment Ottawa and for payment ol postoge on cosh Yearly subscr.phon n the USA one poisess.ons $13.95. elsewhere $20 95 Single capes 52 501Canada$3 501 Subscrthers Send subscr.phont. ,nctLnr.es. and address changes to HKG,Platllrr. P 0 Bo. 10759 Des Mo.nes. Iowa 5,-Gadd,esses. nciudong ZIP codes Endows add,oss label horn last onus and allow Ire weals for change to become effect.. POSTMSTIER-Send' change of address to

Isom Mum. P.O. Me 10751. D. Meinon, IA SOSO.

HIGH FIDELITY

ChallengingDesi n.

FOR UNDER $500 YOU CAN OWN ANAMPLIFIER JUDGED TO HAVE THE EXACT

SOUND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ESOTERIC

$3000 MODEL.

Bob Carver recently shocked the staid audiophileworld by winning a challenge that no other amplifierdesigner could ever consider.

The new M -1.0t was judged, in extensive listeningtests by one of America's most respected audio-phile publications, to be the sonic equivalent of aPAIR of legendary, esoteric mono amplifiers whichretail for $3000 each!

CARVER'S GREAT AMPLIFIER CHALLENGE.Last year. Bob Carver made an audacious offer tothe editors of Stereophile Magazine, one of Ameri-ca's exacting and critical audio publications. Hewould make his forthcoming amplifier design soundexactly like ANY high-priced, esoteric, perfectionistamplifier (or amplifiers) the editors could choose.In just 48 hours. In a hotel room near Stereophile'soffices in New Mexico! As the magazine put it, "lf itwere possible, wouldn't it already have been done?Bob's claim was something we just couldn't passup unchallenged"

What transpired is now high fidelity history. Fromthe start, the Stereophile evaluation team was skep-tical ("We wanted Bob to fail We wanted to hear adifference") They drove the product of Bob's round-the-clock modifications and their nominees for "bestpower amplifier" with some of the finest componentsin the world. Through reference speakers that arenothing short of awesome. Ultimately, after exhaus-tive listening tests with carefully selected musicranging from chamber to symphonic to high -impactpop that led them to write, each time we'd put theother amplifier in and listen to the same musicalpassage again, and hear exactly the same thing Onthe second day of listening to his final design, we

(A14TER

threw in the towel and conceded Bob the boutAccording to the rules... Bob had won.'

BRAIN CHALLENGES BRAWN. 3elow is aphoto of the 20 -pound, cool -running IV -1.0t. Aboveit are the outlines of the pair of legendary mono

amplifiers used in the Stereophile challenge. Evenindividually, they can hardly be lifted and demandstringent ventilation requirements. And yet, accord-ing to some of the most discriminating audiophilesin the world, Bob's new design is their sonic equal.

The M-1.0t's secret is its patented Magnetic FieldCoil. Instead of increasing cost, size and heat outputwith huge storage circuits, Magnetic Field Amplifi-cation delivers its awesome output from this smallbut powerfu component. The result is a design withthe dynamic power to reproduce the leading edgeattacks of musical notes which form the keen edgeof musical reality.

PO Box 1237 Lynnwood. WA 98046

A DESIGN FOR THE CHALLENGES OFMODERN MUSIC REPRODUCTION. The M-1.0t'sastor 'shingly high voltage, high current output andexclusive operation features make it perfect for thedemands of compact digital discs, video hi-fi andother wide dynamic range playback media. TheM -1.0t

Has a continuous FTC sine -wave output con-servatively rated at 2(X) watts per channel. *

Produces 350-500 watts per channel of RMSpower and 800-1100 watts momentary peak power(depending on impedance).

Delivers 1000 watts continuous sine wave outputat8 ohms in bridging mode without switching or

Is capable of handling unintended 1 -ohm speakerloads without shutting down.

Includes elaborate safeguards including DC Off-set and Short Circuit Power Interrupt protection.

SHARE THE RESULTS OF VICTORY. We inviteyou to compare the new M -1.0t against any and allcompetition. Including the very expensive amplifi-ers that have been deemed the M-1.Ot's sonic equiv-alent. You'll discover that the real winner of Bob'sremarkable challenge is you. Because world class,superlative electronics are now available at reason-able prices simply by visiting your nearest Carverdealer.

*SPECIFICATIONS: Power, 200 watts/channel into8 ohms 20Hz to 20 k Hz, both channels driven withno more than 0.15% THD. Long Term Sustained

Bridged Mono power, - Noise,. - Weight,

POWERFUL MUSICAL ACCURATE

evolutionDistributed in Canada by technology

F R ON T L

Y

WILLIAMT Y N AN

1986JAPANAUDIOFAIR

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM TYNAN

INES HIGH FIDELITY

NEXT YEAR'S STAR?

Ir HIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE RECOGNIZINGI significant audio and video products through the HIGHFIDELITY Product of the Year awards. As elaborated uponelsewhere in these pages by Editor Michael Riggs, finalistsare those products that are deemed truly innovative, eitherI hrough the introduction of a new technology or in their ap-plication of an existing technology.

Some idea of what innovative products are expected inthe coming year can be gleaned from the Japan Audio Fairheld in October, about three months prior to the WinterConsumer Electronics Show here in the U.S. As the capsulereport below shows, digital audio tape (DAT) was the hotitem.

LEFT TO RIGHT, FROM TOP: AT THE 35TH JAPAN AUDIO FAIR HELD IN TOKYO IN EARLY OCTOBER, SEVERAL COMPANIES SHOWED CD-ROM PLAY-

ERS. VCRs RECEIVED A SHOT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, SPROUTING SUCH SPECIAL -EFFECTS MODES AS "STROBE" AND "ART," WHICH ALLOW YOU

TO DIGITALLY ALTER THE IMAGE ON YOUR MONITOR. PROMINENT WERE DOZENS OF PROTOTYPE DAT DECKS, SUCH AS THE VICTOR (JVC) MODEL

SHOWN HERE. TAPE COMPANIES DISPLAYED PROTOTYPE DAT CASSETTES, AND CAR STEREO MANUFACTURERS DEMONSTRATED IN -DASH DAT

DECKS, SOME OF WHICH WERE PAIRED WITH DIGITAL SURROUND -SOUND SYSTEMS.

Nem Possamt and lIsas nosurtnarmuu MAMMA we published monthly by ABC Consumer Magazines, Inc., adivision of ABC Publishing, Inc., and a subsidiary of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. © 1986 ABCConsumer Magazines, Inc. Member, Audit Bureau of Circulations. Indexed in Reoder's Guide to Periodicalliterature. Current and bock copies of HIGH FIDELITY and HIGH FIDELITY/MUSICAL AMERICA are available onmicrofilm from University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Mich. 18106. Microfiche copies 11973 forward) ore ovoilablefrom Bell & Howell Micro Photo Div., Old Mansfield Rd., Wooster. Ohio 44691.

ADVERTISING AMESNow Verb ABC Consumer Magazines, Inc., 825 Seventh Ave.. Bth fl., New York. N.Y. 10019. Tel. (212) 265-8360. Peter T. Johnsmeyer, Group Advertising Director; Andrew Eisenberg, Associate Advertising Director;James R. McCollum, Record Advertising Manager; Maria Monaseri, Classified Advertising Manager; AngeloPuleo. Director of Production; Janet Cermak, Advertising Production Manager.MIdwirsts HIGH FIDELITY, Hitchcock Building, Wheaton, III. 60187. Tel. (312) 653-8020. Starr lane, MidwestAdvertising Director.Los Auseless ABC Consumer Magazines, Inc., 1888 Century Park East, Suite 920, los Angeles, Calif. 90067,Tel. (213) 557-7587. Howard Berman, Western Advertising Director.MINES as senonvifiento should be addressed to The Editor, HIGH FIDELITY, 825 Seventh Ave., New York,N.Y. 10019. Editorial contributions will be welcomed, and payment for articles accepted will be arranged priorto publication. Submissions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care;however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited photographs or manuscripts.

Publisher/Editorial Director15 dila ni I snarl

EditorStu had Riggs

Editor, MUSICAL AMERICASlur les I lerniiiir

Art DirectorSlit Kiel O Deli, Lino

Managing EditorKathleen ( deco

Associate EditorMhldi ea( moat hi,

Copy EditorStephen ( abr.! t

Assistant to the PublisherDarkenEdwards

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Technical EditorD.is it R.,11.01,

Assistant Technical Editor( I I ssr-

Consulting Technical EditorsEdw.ud I Fostel. Robes Long

Contributing Editorj.IL ( 1.1,1H1

Assistantluduh Sir hills

MUSIC ASPARTAMEClassical Musk Editor

I livorlort.Popular Music Editor

hen kin handcars

Contributing EditorsRobert E. BCIIS011. 1.,11Y. Berman. Pamela Bloom,

R. I). Darrell. Francs Das is. Res I bonus 1.. Dixon.Stese Futterman. Eduard Greenfield. h ,,,,, as Dathassas.Paul Hume, Jos e Millman. Paul Shiro. John Northland.Jeff Nesin, Thomas W. Russell III. Das id Patrick Stearns.Airrrs Tear hout. Noah Andre Trudeau. SIR had t Ilman.

Ric hard C Walls. James Wier/hit ktAssistant

hint Dununri,,,,,,

ART DEPARTMENT

Design ConsultantRiibrii Delcsatio.. IrAssistant Art Director

S11,1111IIVILLI

Technical ArtKos I andstrom

PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT

Director of ProductionPill,

Advertising Production Managerlapel .ci risk

Associate Production EditorJonathan I e.ser

Editorial ProductionSigli ed., G Fen ct;w

Ate. System ManagerRn,n 15 d.11 On,

CIRCULATION MENT

Vice -President, CirculationSir, tin I itowillt.

Vice -President, Newsstand Sales/Consumer MagazinesDi ounce

National Sales Manager/Newsstandtun itobei

Circulation Director/SubscriptionsI 1//1,,

Circulation Subscription Staff( Ito Mai Barbara Donlon.:hallow. I 1.111i.tin lohnson. John Rand.

%nitre,. Ru tenhnuse

Customer ServiceMaus loci

AST CONSUMER MADAZINRS, INC.James A Casella. President

Richard J. Marino, Vice -President, AdvertisingLucian A. Parriale. Vice -President, Operations

Chredopher SI Sirs inc. Vice -President, FiErnest G. Sr arlone. Vice -President, Graphics/Production

ONE OF THE ABC PUILISHING 141) COMPANIESRobert C. Bit . President

11V(1 t ol the Anierit as. New Volk. N 111(1111

3PA410111111111140 MALLilny Puoii.nris Ass.tx 4alion

L E

CD PLATER INLIADILITT

SINCE THE SONIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MOST

good Compact Disc players are almost nil.the significant concern for most of us will behow dependable the machines we buy turnout to be. I could have used some reportsalong these lines before I acquired my lem-on. but in fact, all the reviews of CD players Iever read were favorable and spent moretime rattling off the bells and whistles, withhardly a word about long-term reliability.Now that some of the brands have beenaround for a while, could you report on theirtrack records? That kind of informationmight be hard to come by. but if you coulddo it, you might raise some eyebrows.Mow DerrNarberth,

See October's "Basically Speaking" for a full treat-ment of this subject. In short, you are right on bothcounts: Information on rehabihty would be tenuseful, but it is ten hard to come by. It'e do not have

the players we review on hand long enough to deter-

mine how reliable they are the reports would be ob-

solete by the time they hit the stands r, and even if we

did, how would we know in any particular casewhether a failure was the result of a design weakness

or just a fluke? We would need many samples of

each model tested. The only other nay we can think

of to obtain such data would be to sumer dealers and

repair shops. and given the time required for thatplus our three-month publication lead time, theinformation would be badly' out of date by the time it

reached print. -Ed.

VIDEO COVIRAIN MATEDI AGREE WITH JOHN L. MILEWSHI

junel: If I wanted information and articlesabout video. I'd buy a video magazine. Inother words, I think that Meat Flamm' is agreat source of information to its readersand that it shouldn't waste space on mattersthat are of no use or interest to many ofthem.AI PahozzlWM NR -FMMonroe, Conn.

I SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR MAGAZINE (AND NOT TO

your competition) precisely because of thecompleteness of your video product cover-age. Your attention to the technical aspectsof video is all the more welcome now thatone of the dedicated video monthlies hasoriented itself more toward "lifestyle" arti-cles. In fact. 1 would welcome more videocoverage-a test report on at least one video

product per month. for example, and a regu-lar monthly column on the subject. Howabout t?Itioseeld J. Kopookkl

New York, N.Y.

It's a rare issue that doesn't include a test of at least

one video component. For the time being. however,

Technical Editor David Ranada's video column,"Scan Lines." will run approximately every othermonth.-Ed.

DUAL SOLUTIONI.IKE EDWARD PIC:KERING rCROSSTALK,..October]. I own a Dual turntable with whichI have had tracking problems. Recently. Icould not get any of my records to play prop-erly with either of my two principal car-tridges. I thought that maybe by some coin-cidence both styli had worn out or brokensimultaneously, but inspection proved thatboth were in very good condition. I finallytraced the trouble to a rubber ring (part ref-erence number 230, part number 216 845)in the detent mechanism for the 1229Q"single/multi" selector. If this ring is nottight enough. the tonearm can rise justenough to cause the two other parts to rubagainst each other, resulting in excessive

Discwashergets the grubbies out of your grooves.

din(val,her

c 1986 DiscwasherA Division of International Jensen Inc

The Discwasher'tD44-1TM Record CareSystem features a uniquefluid and special direc-tional micro -fiber pad toclean your records safelyand effectively. It picksup the grubbies withoutleaving behind anyresidue.

For your stylus,DiscwasherR SC-2MA

Stylus Care Systemloosens and wipes awayall damaging con-taminants. Gently andthoroughly.

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LETTERS

Thelast wordinphonocartridges

WIZ6.11MIP

audio-technica

horizontal friction and mistracking. I re-placed the ring with a vinyl grommet andhave had no more trouble of this type.David O'ReoleisSanta Maria, Calif.

FREEDOM AND CULTURE

I HAVE FOLLOWED THE DEBATE ON THE TIKIION

Khrennikov interview I-the Czar of SovietMusic," March; see also "Letters," May andJuly, and "A Reply to Tikhon Krennikov,"August], and I must say that, whatever thelimitations on intellectual freedom undercommunism, the anti-Soviet diatribes thatmake up most of the replies generate moreheat than light. One correspondent suggeststhat the dearth of Russian composers of thestature of Prokoliev and Shostakovichmeans that the system finally has won. Well.all I can say is that a system that takes thatmany years to win clearly is not trying veryhard.

Is there even any obvious correlation be-tween freedom and cultural flowering?Would your readers, I wonder, consider19th -century England relatively free com-pared with much of continental Europe atthe time? If so. how can we account for this

being a musical (though not literary) DarkAge in Britain? Is it possible that some formof oppression can be a spur to creative activi-ty, just as the Great War produced great po-etry with the same prodigality with which itslaughtered the poets?Robert MonteMidanbun , England

ME IDENTITY OR "RECORDING AMOUR"HARLOW ROBINSON IF ONthe Soviet record company Melodiya June]failed to identify the "private concern bear-ing the romantic name 'Recording Amour'[that] operated out of the same building"before the Revolution. Its disc label bore thename Pushushchy Amour (in Cyrillic, ofcourse) and EMI's 1898 trademark, whichwe still call the Recording Angel. Fred Gais-berg's pioneering recordings-produced inRussia for EMI (then the Gramophone Com-Dam ) before and after the Revolution-

c locally marketed with the little angel,c( ularized as Cupid or Amour.George Sponlialtz

ngel RecordsIlollywood. Calif.

BAD BUSINESS?

I ,1 I I II JAY C. TAYLOR'S OBSERVATION IN

the July "Autophile" that "a HIGH FIDELITYreader can't be considered an averageAmerican." So shame on Telarc and HIGHFIDELITY, both for doing business in SouthAfrica, and the latter especially for letting itsreaders know that a South African business-man is "overwhelmed by the demand" forCDs, despite "the strong dollar that hasmade their prices outrageous" I"Letters,"May]. Surely none are so obtuse as thosewho fail to see that for the average blackSouth African-indeed, for all 24 million ofthem-neither Telarc nor HIGH FIDELITY iswithin reach, to say nothing of liberty andfreedom.Carotid. A. ForsbergWilliamsville. N.Y.

ll'e can't see what harm South African sales ofHIGH FIDELITY (or Telarc recordings, for thatmailer) could do that country's blacks. (Our salesthere are very small, in any event. ).-Ind why is it bad

for our readers to know that there is strong demandfor Compact Discs in South Africa? ll'e are remind-ed, paradoxically, of a letter we received some time

back from a reader incensed at our description ofNelson Mandela as a South African nationalist. He

felt that Mandela was a Communist and a terronstand that we had unwittingly served the cause of So-

viet imperialism. Sometimes you just can't win.-Ed.

ANOTHER REMEMBRANCE OF RUBBRA

I WAS MOVED 155 ROBLR I R. RE.11.1.1S EULOGY

for Edmund Rubbra 1"Nfedlev ." August].

How right he is in his remarks.It might interest your readers to know

that the Albany Symphony Orchestra com-missioned what turned out to be Rubbra's fi-nal composition: Sinfonietta for Large StringOrchestra. It will be given its world premiereon December 5, 1986. Rubbra was a superbcomposer. Too few people know this, espe-cially in the United States. I hope Mr. Reilly'sremarks help correct this.Peter R. Kerusteal

President, Board of DirectorsAlbany Symphony Orchestra

SACK ISSUES WANTED

I'VE ENJOYED READING HIGH FIDELITY FORalmost 20 years: You have a truly fine maga-zine. I would now like to add to my collectionof copies from the 1950s and 1960s. If anyreaders have individual copies or whole col-lections that they would like to sell, pleasecontact me at 505 King Ave., Columbus,Ohio 43201.Freemen MatthewsColumbus, Ohio

Leant ,noun./ be addreued to The Editor, Mat Flown. 82T ith

.1ve . Neu, York, N 10019 All letten are sub/ea to edatng for

brevity and dank.

10 HIGH FIDELITY

C U R

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ELECTRONICS

aficionado, this decade could very well be re-garded as the beginning of mankind's Digi-tal Era. Nonetheless, decisions on new prod-uct development are being made with morethan a little consideration for compatibilitywith existing goods.

A case in point is today's videocassette

R

recorder, which, though seemingly an ultra-modern device, has remained fundamentallyunchanged from its predecessors of tenyears past. Differing formats aside, efforts toimprove VCR performance have beenreined in by the need to maintain compati-bility with those models already in 30 per-cent of American homes. So far, audio per -

T S

VideoNoiseReductionVCRs

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The Discwasherh Perfect PathCassette Head Cleaner removesoxides and residues from all tapeheads and the entire tape path. Thisunique dry cleaning system is gentlyeffective and totally non-abrasive.

Discwasher C.PRJm cleanscapstans and pinch rollers to prevent

tape jamming. And DiscwasherhD'Magrm eliminates magnetismproblems that could erase portionsof your tapes.

Discwasher, with a completetape care system, is the technologicalleader in seeping your tapes andequipmert in top form. Discwasher,4309 'framsworld Road, SchillerPark, IL &)176.

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1986 DiscwasherA Dins of, i International Jensen Inc

CURRENTS

formance has made the greatest strides, asevidenced by Beta Hi-Fi, VHS Hi-Fi, and.more recently, the entirely new 8mm formatwith both AFM and PCM sound recording.More subtle have been the picture improve-ments made possible by Super Beta and HQcircuitry. Digital circuitry has not been a fac-tor in improving actual picture quality:Field -storage techniques have been em-ployed in so-called digital VCRs solely to

provide jitter -free still frames and slow mo-tion. clearer picture scanning, special ef-fects, and picture -in -picture displays.

But now NEC, the world's largest pro-ducer of semiconductors, has developed adigital video noise reduction system forVCRs that actually seeks to improve the pic-ture quality of any tape being played. Thetechnique is said to increase the video sig-nal-to-noise ratio by as much as 9 dB (as

SOUTHNDE

OF THEFUTURE

THE SYMPHONY I.$550/PR.

BY TENNESSEESOUND COMPANY

The state-of-the-art speakersystem with sound clarityunmatched at any price.

Please call or write for furtherinformation or direct sales.

Dealer inquiries invited.MasterCard and Visa accepted.

law

Tennessee Sound CompanyP.O. Box 1252 Bristol, TN 37621(615) 878-4121

compared to 2 or 3 dB with HQ alone).Video noise manifests itself in three ways: asflecks of spurious color, as graininess in thedark areas of a scene, or as "snow." Since thenoise is random, some of it can be canceled ifsuccessive video fields (two fields equal onepicture "frame") are averaged. The NEC cir-cuit does this by digitizing and temporarilystoring one field, then adding it to the nextand halving their sum (in effect, taking theaverage), creating a single field with as muchas 29 percent less noise (a figure derivedfrom the probability of the two fields cancel-ing some of each other's noise). Each succes-sive original video field is then averaged withthe previously stored notsr-reduced field(which is itself an average). All of this, ofcourse, is happening very rapidly, displayinga picture that is composed entirely of thesenoise -reduced fields. The degree of noisereduction is governed by a feedback loopand can be adjusted to suit the quality of thetape being played (high -quality materialmight actually be compromised if too muchnoise reduction were to be used).

Two NEC VHS videocassette recordersare the first to get this digital treatment: themonaural DX -1000U and the VHS Hi-FiDX -2000U (pictured). Definition is im-proved by the effects of two HQ circuits:white -clip extension and detail enhance-ment. Although each model has just twovideo heads, the quality of effects like slowmotion and still frame is said to surpass thatof conventional four -head machines-anadded benefit of the digital field -storageprocess. Also, a freeze frame can be takenfrom any off -air broadcast received on theVCR's tuner. Other features common toboth models are a wireless remote controlthat also works with current NEC TV moni-tors. an electronic cable -compatible tuner.and on -screen timer programming. The DX -2000U has an MTS/SAP TV tuner and canrecord and play back both VHS Hi-Fi andDolby linear stereo soundtracks. Price is$700 for the DX -1000U and not yet an-nounced for the DX -2000U. For furtherinformation, write NEC Home Electronics.1255 Michael Dr.. Wood Dale, III. 60191.

VERSATILITY, FOR SHORE

SHURE BROTHERS CALLS ITS MODEL AVC-20the Power Station. It's a remote -controlledfour -channel integrated amplifier with abuilt-in Dolby Surround decoder and video

CURRENTS

eassn-411111-.....-

and audio switching and processing con-trols, and according to the company, it is de-signed to act as a "foundation on which tobuild a home entertainment center."

The unit contains four amplifiers rated at30 watts (14.8 dBW) per channel (bridge-able to 60 watts, or 17.8 dBW, per channelfor stereo), making it possible to connecttwo pairs of speakers for surround soundwithout using an additional back -channelamplifier. A monaural center -channel out-put can be used to reproduce the dialogue inDolby Surround-encoded movies (a sepa-rate amplifier is needed); a separate sub -woofer output is also provided. In additionto Dolby, there are two surround modes foruse with other stereo sources. Three sets ofvideo connections (one for playback only)and a fourth hookup for an audio tape deckare included. Switching among the sourcesis arranged for easy dubbing. An unusual(and welcome) feature for a component ofthis type is a phono input, although owing toShure's heritage, it seems almost obligatory.

Other features include a video image en-hancer, a high -frequency noise filter forvideotape hiss, individual volume controlsfor the four channels, and a master volumecontrol. Most functions can be operatedfrom the wireless remote. The AVC-20 inte-grated amplifier is priced at $550 and isavailable from Shure Brothers, Inc., 222Hartrey Ave.. Evanston, III. 60202.

CLARION CAR COMPONENTS

-10 ,:a..."..."*" - - - -

CLARION AUDIA 200 (TOP), AUDIA 200E (BOTTOM)

CLARION'S TOP -OF -THE -LINE CAR UNITS ARE

headed by the Audia 200 ($580). which in-cludes a digital tuner that receives both FMand AM stereo broadcasts, a full -logic auto -reverse cassette deck with Dolby B and C, apreamp output. and separate bass and treblecontrols. The 200E is a DIN -size versionpriced at $590. The Audia 20 ($500. avail-able in compact chassis only) is a similarmodel without full -logic control or AMstereo reception.

Two passive seven -band equalizers, theEQX-70 ($200) and the EQX-700 ($330),each have RCA and DIN inputs in a slim 1 -inch -high chassis. The EQX-70 has an "ef-

DIGITALAUDIO

STORAGEThe prect marriage be-tween fine cabinetry andhigh technology has beenachieved to give you theversatility and expandabilitya compact disc collection

demands.

Specific features includesolid oak cabinets, fine dove -

ail joinery, wall mountable,horizontally and verticallyexpandable.

Optional services includeany cabinets available in vir-tually any hardwood alsocustom cabinets designed tocustomer dimensional andcapacity needs. Call or writefor quote.

COMPONENTSACCESSORIES E5

P.O. Box 1082, Palmdale CA 93550(805) 947.4588

VISA, MC or COD ordersHours: 9-5 pst M-F

Call or write for free brochure

SA 241-1/$80.00 ppdSA 25V/$80.00 ppdSA 50V/$95.00 ppd (not shown)SA 75V/$115.00 ppdGlass - Clear/SmokedFin ish - Lt - Med - DkShipping paid within Continental U.S.Calif. residents add 6.5* Sales Tax

L7.

The best sound you can hearnext to Carnegie Hall.

Toshiba's new CD player makes concert quality sound portable.Yet, hooked up to your stereo system it's atop of the line home CD player.Offering 16 program random memory 3 beam laser pick up, evena wireless remote. Toshiba's XR-P9 is the In Touch wsthTonoor-ow

TOSHIBAa concert hall nothing sounds better. Wm.) Arne.. inc 82 Tom.. Root Vg.vne NJ 0 WOcomplete, portable CD player. Outside of

FOR THOSE OBSESSED WITH MUSICAL PERFECTION,

TECHNICS NOW OFFERS FOUR WAYS TO ATTAIN IT.

Compact disc playersfor your home. Car. And everywfiere

in between.

Before we could satisfy your obses-sion ,ivith musical perfection, we hadto satisfy our own. And we have.

Our newest home compact discplayer is the ultra -sophisticated andfully programmable SL -P500. It playsany selection. In any order. Even by

remote. Cr you may chooseto drive off with the qew

Technics combination car

ICD player and digital AM/FM tuner.Its shcc

CUR R ENTS

fector" control that is said to create a "con-cert hall" experience. The EQX-700 is anelectronic design with an LED spectrum an-alyzer. a three -preset EQmemory, and sepa-rate front/rear defeat controls.

A fourth model has been added to Clati -on's amplifier line. The slimline four -chan-nel AFX-20 ($100) delivers a claimed 20watts (13 dBW) per channel (5 percent totalharmonic distortion) in its bridged stereomode. Additional information may be ob-tained by writing Clarion Corporation ofAmerica, 5500 Rosecrans Ave., Lawndale.Calif. 90260.

ZENITH'S HI -Fl TVs/.1St 1)E51.1.01.1 I, I ul. TIA:11No1.0(:1' FORmultichannel telt-% ',ion sound I NI I.S), whichshowed the potential fOr high -quality stereoaudio in TV broadcasts. Unfortunately, thedismal audio quality of most TV sets severe-ly limits the benefit of MTS: serious listenershave to run the sound through their hi-fi sys-tems. But not anymore, according to Zenith.The company has retained the services ofthe loudspeaker manufacturer Bose for thedesign of a high-performance sound system

ZENITH SC -2793S STEREO TELEVISION

that's built into a 27 -inch digital set.The Bose system is (-entered on the com-

pany's "acoustic waveguide" design, whichis basically a small woofer with two different -length tubes (waveguides) attached at eitherend. The tubes are folded so that each end isdirected out the back of the set, and the en-tire assembly fits into the top rear portion ofthe cabinet, making the 'UV no deeper thancompetitive models. The key characteristicsof the waveguide design are high operatingefficiency and extended bass reproductionunusual for such a small enclosure. (See our

report on the Bose Acoustic Wave MusicSystem its the June 1985 issue.)

One amplifier powers the driver in thewaveguide, while mid and high frequenciesare reproduced through two front -mounted"twiddlers" (a name coined by Bose forcombination midrange -tweeters). each driv-en by its own amplifier. Loudness compen-sation is achieved by what Bose calls its "dy-namic equalization circuitry." whichautomatically adjusts the bass output tomaintain the same tonal balance at all vol-ume levels. To permit the Bose system's useas a hi-fi sound system. an "audio only"switch disengages the TV picture.

The set itself rides on a digital chassis,converting incoming video and audio sig-nals to their digital equivalents: an on -boardcomputer then controls the picture -process-ing circuitry and ensures that the set stays upto spec. Naturally, an MTS/SAP decoder ispart of the package. Other features includeon -screen display of remote -controlledffinctions and 178 -channel tuning.

The Digital System 3 Color T\' withSound by Bose is available in four styles: TheSC -2793S and the SC -27931' are table mod-els with slate and pecan finishes, respective-

CURRENT

ly: the SC -2747P is a pecan -finish compactconsole with doors: and the SC -2749V is ablack -lacquer compact console with "Chi-nese style" doors. Prices are empected torange from $1,400 to $1,700. More infor-mation is available from Zenith ElectronicsCorp., 11:00 Milwaukee Ave.. Glenview, III.60025.

AUDIOSOURCE SURROUNDPROCESSOR

AdIMPOOMI".

TIIE REAR-CIIANNEL SOUNDS EN.A)DED INDolby movies can be reproduced using Au-diosource's Mode. SS -One Dolby SurroundProcessw. It leatot es an ampl.fier rated atIS watts (11.8 &IVO per channel to powerthe back -channel speakers for two additionaleffects: "Matrix" is said to create a stereo im-age front a mono source, and "Hall" uses avariable delay (10 to 30 milliseconds) to si m -ulate the acoustics ()fa larger list (min rvmom.Delay time is variable as well in the DolbySurround mode, to optimize the effect in

rooms of different sizes. Separate left andright "calibration" controls can be adjustedto effectively cancel any front -channel infor-mation coming out the back, according tothe company. There arc two tonal boostswitches, centered at 100 Hz and 10 kHz,that affect only the back -channel signals.Overall balance between front and back re-quires adjustment of both the SS -One's vol-ume control and that of the front amplifier.Price is $290 For $50 more, a pair of LS -Tentwo-way speakers (with 4 -inch woofers) is in -chided for the surround channel. For moreinformation, contact Audiosource, 1185Chess Dr.. Fostet ( , Calif. 94404.

DISCWASHER CD RACKSI.\DE (.K.N1 ABS 1'1..55 IC. THE CDStorage s stem from Discwasher can bewall-moanted or placed on any flat surface.Its light weight makes it easily portable be-tween I and car. Measuring 6 by 15 by 2inches, the $20 device can hold as many as20 C pat Disc jewel boxes in its pivotingstorage dips. Details are available from Disc -washer. 4309 Transworld Rd., Schiller Park,III. 60176.

SHERWOOD'S TOP RECEIVER

o

THE `, 7(1R RECEIVER INCLUDES A WIRELESS

remote control that can also operate certainother Sherwood components. A seven -bandgraphic equalizer can memorize four EQset-tings that can be called up by the remote.Three video components can be connected(two for playback only), and an RF terminalis pros ided for hookup to a standard TV.During video dubbing, an original sound-track can be replaced with audio from anyconnected source. A surround -sound circuitis said to create a "home theater" expe-rience when a pair of back -channel speakersis used. Other features include a digital Ire-quencv -synthesis AM/FM tuner with 16 pre-sets and inputs for tape deck, turntable, andCD player. The receiver is rated at 70 watts(18.5 dBW) per channel. The price is $450.Details can he obtained by writing Sher-wood. 13845 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, Calif.90701.

Our new UX tapes deliverhigher highs, lower lows andwider dynamic range.

If you're going to list( 11 to music at all,you may as well get it all. No matter howhigh or low, how loud or soft. Captured sofaithfully that trying one of these newtapes at least cnce is something you oweyourself And your music.

Each of these four new UX tapes rep-resents the kind of advancement of musicreproduction you've come to expect fromSony. UX-ES, for instance, offers the bestfrequency response of any Type II tapewe've ever formulated. Yet UX-PRO actuallygoes one beter with a ceramic tape guidethat yields the most incredibly quiet tapehousing Sony has ever produced.

Sony UX tapes. Now when a musicianreally extends him- soNyself, so will your tape.

1986 Sony Corporation ' in ttrademark.; of Sony.

THE ONE AND ONLY.

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Lots of com3anies let you run a compo-nent hi-fi system .rom across the room. Someeven let you do it with only one remote con-troller. Sound terrific? That depends ...0f1 howthe components sound.

At Denon, we believe that superior soundis the only thing that makes high fidelity worththe money. We call this philosophy DesignIntegrity. And it's evident in every new Denonremote cornponert -from the top of the lineyou see here* to our most affordable remotemodels.

The DCD-110 Compact Disc Player(shown) has already been declared "ReferenceClass" by Germany's Audio and HiF Visionmagazines. In the U.S., Digital Audio pro-claimed, "The Denon engineers who createdthe DCD-1500 should be honored in public:'

Denon's expertise in making pro digitalrecorders and blank tape is reflected in the newDRM-30HX Cassette Deck. You can see it in thethree -head design. in the super -smooth three -motor transport. A Id in the choice of Dolby' B,C, and HX Pro.

Thanks to Design Integrity, the DRA-95VRReceiver uses the same Pure Current PowerSupply, Non-NFB circuitry; and MC cartridgeinputs as Denon in-egrated amps. What's more,every Denon receiver provides switchingfacil ties for a VCR, a video disk player and avideo monitor.

So before you buy components whosemost impressive feature is a remote control, getyourself to a Denon dealer. And listen to theremote control whose most impressive featureis t ie components it controls.

DENONDESIGN INTEGRITY

To hear why Genesisrecords on Sony digital equipment,play them

back on a Sony Compact Disc Player.When it comes to capturing the experience of

live music, no audio equipment delivers the lifelikereproduction of digital audio.

That's why the only digital recording equipmentchosen by Tony Banks, Phil Collins and MikeRutherford of Genesis is, not surprisingly, theleader in the industry: Sony.

Not only has Sony led the way in profes-sional digital recording equipment, weinvented the digital audio system for play-back-the compact disc player. Sony alsointroduced the first home, car and portableCD players. And Sony sells more types of compactdisc players than anyone else in the world.

But whichever Sony Compact Disc Player youchoose, each allows you to hear the music the way theartist originally intended.

So why not do what Genesis does? Play backthe top -selling compact discs like "InvisibleTouch" the way they were mastered. On

Sony Digital equipment. You'llfind that when it comes

to bringing you close tothe music, nothingeven comes close.

The Sony CDP-55.Sony's best value ina full -featured compactdisc player.

From its Unilinear Converter and digital filter to itsprogramming flexibility and supplied Remot,

Commander unit, the Sony S ONYCDP-55 has everything youneed in a home CD player. THE LEADER IN DIGITAL AUDIO'"

1986 Sony Corporation of America Sony Remote Commander and The Leader In Digital Audio are trademarks of Sony

Buy Any SonyCompact Disc Playerand get 2 CDs free.Between September 15, 1986 and Jan-

uary 31, 1987 buy any Sony home, car, orportable compact disc player and re-ceive 2 CDs free from the 20 listed be-low. (You pay only for shipping andhandling.) Just mail the coupon below,together with a copy of the proof ofpurchase for your Sony CD player.346478 MadonnaTrue Blue (Sire)

346312 Billy JoelThe Bridge (Columbia)

346270 WhamMusic From the Edge ofHeaven (Columbia)

346023 GenesisInvisible Touch (Atlantic)

343327 Wynton MersalisJoliverIbmasi Trumpet Concertos (CBS Masterworks)

346809 Enrique RaftsDvorak Sym No 9 'NewWorld" London Philharmonic(Verese Sarabande)

346015 Joan -Claude Malgorie,Cond. Handel Royal Fireworks Music. La GrandeEcurie Et La Chamber DuRoy (CBS Masterworks)

345892 Ruthless PeopleOriginal Sound 'hack (Epic)345827 Bob James and DavidSanborn. Double Vision(Warner Bros )

343095 Phihp GlassSongs from Liquid Days (CBS)

345553 Branford ManualsRomances rot Saxophone(CBS Masterworks)343947 Tony BennettThe Art of Excellence(Columbia)343582 Van H118115150 (Warner Bros )342097 Barbra StreisandThe Broadway Album(Columbia)339226 Michael TilsonThomas, Gershwin Rhapsodyin Blue. Etc Los AngelesPhilharmonic (CBSMasterworks)336222 Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms(Warner Bros )334391 Whitney Houston(Arista)326629 Bruce SpringateenBorn In The USA(Columbia)323261 Lionel RictusCan I Slow Down(Motown)339200 Stevie WonderIn Square Circle (Tamla)

And, as a special bonus we'll enroll youin the CBS Compact Disc Club-whichoffers you the CDs you want at substan-tial savings! But you have absolutely noobligation to buy anything, ever-andyou may cancel your membership at anytime.How the Club works: every four weeks (13 times ayear) you'll receive the Club's music magazine. Ifyou want only the Selection of the Month, do noth-ing-it will be shipped automatically. If you preferan alternate selection-or none at all-mail the re-sponse card, always provided, by the date speci-fied. You will always have at least 10 days to makeyour decision. If you ever receive any selectionwithout having had at least ten days, you may re-turn the selection at our expense. The CDs you or-der as a member will be billed at regular Clubprices, plus shipping and handling.

PPony/CBS CD Offer, 1400 N. Fruitridge, 1O Box 1129, Terre Haute. Indiana 47811

I have enclosed a copy of proof of Sony CD play-er purchase. Rush my 2 FREE CDs (1 will bebilled$3 00 forshipping and handling only)andenroll me in the Club under the terms outlinedabove. I understand I have absolutely no obli-gation to buy anything, ever -and may cancelat any time.

Send these 2 CDs

Insert Code I Insert Code

My main musical interest is( ) Rock/Pop ( ) Classical

Name

Address

City State ZipCoupons must be postmarked by February 15 1987 CBSCompact Disc Club reserves the right to cancel any membership Offer good in continental USA only excludingAlaska SONY

THE LEADER IN DIGITAL AUDIOC.) 1986 Sony Corpora ion of America. Sony and The

Leader in Digital Audio are trademarks of SonyRDWiNA

T APE T R A C K S

No STOP

eQUEALING TAPE IS ONEaproblem for which, morethan any other, I wish I couldbe of some help to our readers;frankly, it has me entirely sty-mied. I've experienced it-butnot for many years, though Iwork with all sorts of decks andall sorts of tapes.

Squealing is a form of R 0 Bscrape flutter. Instead of mov-ing at a constant speed, thetape is slowed by friction,jumps ahead when tension overcomes thefriction, slows when the tension is released,and so on. This not only modulates tonesthat the recorder is trying to record or playbut produces acoustic output directly fromthe site of the friction. The frequency of thesqueal is a function of both the deck and thetape, just as tonearm resonance in turnta-bles is determined by both the arm and thecartridge.

I've brought up the subject with deck andblank -tape manufacturers. Most don't seemto know what I'm talking about; others ac-knowledge that such a problem could exist,with tape makers citing the deck and deckmakers citing the tape. Usually, the only con-crete advice I turn up is to try a differentbrand of tape (if not another deck).

Most of those who have written to meabout the problem have done just that.Along the way, they have compiled lists ofthe variety of decks and tape types andbrands used (ranging from well-known,high -quality brands to some that I've neverheard of or would avoid using any way).

I understand the frustration that thisproblem generates. But while I can empa-thize with it. I can't dispel it beyond citingsome obvious remedies: readjustment of thedeck's tape tensioning, checking the cap-stan(s) for worn bearings or a bent shaft, ex-amining all parts in the tape path (guides,heads, pucks) for signs of wear or misalign-ment, checking the reel- or hub -drive partsfor alignment or friction, and cleaning thedeck.

AINNO-0111.1f VCRs?

LETTERS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE ASKING ABOUT

the potential of Hi-Fi videocassette record-ers for audio -only use. As a reader from Hol-lywood, Maryland, puts it: "We need bettermetering, level controls that are easier to use(larger and visibly calibrated), and easiercueing." And, as he goes on to imply, off -the -tape monitoring during recording.

Frankly, I don't see much hope of VCR -

I. 0 N

based recorders replacingopen -reel home audio decks,though that looked like a fairbet only a few years ago. Thereason is that digital audiotape recorders (using theRDAT format) are close to in -

t troduction, and that's wherethe manufacturers willing to

R T go after a new high-per-formance audio format are

G placing their chips. The stor-age density is far better (two-

hour RDAT cassettes are even tinier than8mm videocassettes). and the RDAT formatis engineered from the ground up for audio.whereas Hi-Fi VCRs (and the PCM digital -sound option in 8mm video decks) are de-signed with video as the top priority.

Among other things. that meanscramped and undercalibrated audio con-trols. Even as is, many VCRs are monstrous-ly complicated. I know of one line of modelsthat can't be operated until the owner hasgone through a complex installation ritualthat is difficult for many to understand. Theresult: The decks come back to the companyin droves as "defective." The company inquestion can legitimately point out that themanual gives all of the necessary instruc-tions, so if buyers can't or won't follow thatmuch, the prospect of piling on still morefunctions and controls for audio use is dim.Add to this the fact that the potential marketfor audio -only features is minute comparedwith that for the advanced video capabilities,and you can see why there's little incentivefor designers to compromise good video de-signs by catering to audiophiles. And thatreadily translates into no dollars for the de-velopment of monitoring rotary heads. Withall that's going on already in a Hi-Fi VCRhead assembly, I shudder to think what thestructure would be like with an added set ofplayback heads.

But monitoring heads aren't as impor-tant with Hi-Fi VCRs as they are with con-ventional audio recorders because whatcomes off the tape has less opportunity todiffer from what's fed to it; and if there is adifference you don't like, there's relativelylittle you can do about it. With conventionalmachines-particularly professional -gradeopen -reel decks-you can tweak bias, re-cording EQ or head azimuth or some com-bination of the three to tailor the sound. Thefrequency modulation system in a Hi-FiVCR doesn't respond the same way to thesefactors. And digital systems (such as RDAT)are virtually unaffected by them.

DECEMBER 1 9 8 6 21

C R OS S T A L KCD OVER 1.11

I'VE NOTICED THAT SOME (:1) PACKAGES CARRY

the message that the enclosed disc is limitedby the quality of the original tape from whichit was mastered. Is it safe to assume that if anLP contains a lot of background noise orsounds bad, then the CD version also willsound inferior because it was made from diesame master tape? If so, why can't the tioi.ebe filtered out of the original tape to make abetter -sounding Compact Disc?John Pendiede

Hawthorne, N.Y.

It all depends. If the reason on LP sounds bad isthat the original master tape was hissy or poorlyrecorded, the CD version is not going to soundmuch, if any, better. But making a record is a com-

plicated process: There can be many a slip 'twixttape and disc. In other words, you can take a good

master tape and make mediocre records. It's evenpossible (though harder) to goof up the CD trans-fer. So the short answer to your first question isthat unless the fault you're hearing is steady, low-level hiss (which most likely is tope hiss from an old

analog master), you can't be certain that it will beduplicated on CD-or even on a reissue of the LP.

The answer to your second question is lessequivocal but may change soon. It's very hard with

current technology to remove preexisting noisewithout taking some of the desired signal along.However, after -the -fact noise reduction schemesbased on digital signal processing are under inten-

sive development. When such methods becomeavailable, record companies will be able to issueCDs (and LPs, for that matter) from old mastertapes that will sound (at least in terms of noise) asthough they were recorded on modern equipment.

TAPE FOR TOMORROW

WHENEVER I BUN' A PRERECORDED TAPE, I DUB

it onto a Type 4 (metal) blank cassette; I thenstore the original safely away and use thecopy for listening. This keeps the originaltape in mint condition, so that if the dub everwears out or gets damaged. 1 can easily re-place it with a new copy that's just as good.However, a friend tells me that CompactDiscs have greater longevity than cassettetapes, which can wear out and will stick afterbeing stored for a long time. Would it makesense for me to get a CD player and copy thediscs onto cassettes, instead of buying andcopying prerecorded cassettes the way I donow? Which approach will give me the bestsound and greatest longevity?Steven Douglas Taylor

Norton A.F.R., Calif.

You will be better off on both counts buying CDsinstead of cassettes. In fact, you probably will beamazed at how much better Compact Discs (andtapes made from them) sound compared to prere-corded tapes, which often are pretty bad sonically.And since Compact Discs do not wear out and only

rarely sustain permanent damage in normal han-dling, you probably could forgo the hassle of dub-bing to tape every one you buy, unless you makethe tapes primarily for use in a portable or car cas-sette deck.

QUAD DECODERS

ARE. THFIRE ANY COMPANIES Iii F CURRENTLY

manufacture matrix decoders for extractingback -channel information from old QS andSQquadriphonic recordings?Paul R. Wilkinson

Washington. D.C.

Many surround -sound decoders have settings thateither ore designed specifically for this purpose orwill do a creditable job of it. Sansui's D5-77, forexample, has a QS setting, and the Sony SDP-505E5's Matrix mode is intended for use with SQand QS records.

Ili regret that the valuate of leader mall 11/00 prat far 10 ill women

all guettant,

ABALANCHINEA Balanchme Album features four of GeorgeBalanchine's most enduring ballets: Tchaikovsky'sSerenade, Hindemith's The Four Temperaments,Stravinsky's Agon, and Emeralds with music fromFaure's Pelleas and Shylock), performed by the NewYork City Ballet Orchestra, Robert Irving, conductor.'Just as there is a Balanchine style in choreographyand in dancing, there is a Balanchine-or BalanchineiIrving-style in the performance of music. Irvingbrings to the music years of watching the balletsbeing created, reshaped, rehearsed and performed...and so the score for him is not only a cluster of blacknotes on white paper, but the images of dancersdancing as well:' If rom the liner notes)

Nonesuch 791351

STRATASSINGSWEILLStratas Sings Weill is Teresa Stratas' long awaitedfollow up to The Unknown Kurt Weill Only the secand solo recording in her career, it features fifteenof Weill's greatest American, French and Germantheatre songs in the composer's original orches-trations. with Gerard Schwarz conducting the YChamber Symphony.

Nonesuch 119131

The release of "the dancing, hypnotically involving"IN. If Times) Sextet and Six Marimbas marks SteveRetch's first compositions for percussion ensemblesince the classic Music for 18 Musicians.

Nonesuch 79138,

IMphoto credits (clockwise ham lairHenri Cartier Bresson. Beth Bergman 1986 Clive Bardai

ON NONESUCH RECORDS, CASSETTES AND COMPACT DISCS

The Energy 22 Pro Monitcr hasbeen hailed by critics as one of themajo- loudspeaker designbrezkthrougi-s of the last decade.

Ir tact, the Energy 22 m y wellrank as a stardard against whichother spezke-s should be judged.Audition either the Energy 22 ProMonitors or the ReferenceConnoisseurs and we tiin<agree that they are not Dnly themo=t exciting speakers you've everheart, but ma stunningachievement" indeed!

"A STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT"Top Retail ExpertsPersonal Views AboutThe Energy 22

New York, New York, The Listening Room, Ron Mintz -Owner...As one of theFirst dealers in the U.S. tc realize the cuality of the E-22. we continue to be amazed bythe imaging and spaciousness c' this speaker of sucn compact size & price."

Hicksville, Lorg Island, New York, Designation, John Thomas - Manager."Never before have we experienced a speaker system which exhibits the level of realismthat the Enengy 22 provides. The excitement generated by Energy speakers is onlyexceeded by the pleasure of owning them. The Energy 22 sets a reference standard bywhich all other speakers must be judged:"

Washington, D.C., Audio Associates, Mike Zazanis - Owner. -.The ENERGY22 is a very musical speaker at a very inexpensive price that easily CO -1.0 cost a lot moremoney."

Chicago, Minds, Pro Musica, Ken Christianson, John Schwarz -Co -owners. "The Enegy 22 Reference Connoisseur & Pro Monitors simplyoutperform the competition. Musically satisfying to the most demanding :isteners:'

Miami, Florida, Audio By Caruso, Don Caruso - Owner. The REFERENCECONNOISSEURS are among the most neutral. uncolored. speakers we nave found!!!They provide very relaxing listening.'

El Paso, Texas, Sound Room. Mark Pearson - Owner. Energy 22 pro monitor isthe most three dimensional speaker ever

Phoenix, Mesa, Arizona, HI Fl Sales, Dave Ross - G. Mgr. -ENERGY 22. One ofthe most accurate. best imaging speakers we have ever heard:

Los Angeles, California, Christopher Hanson Ltd., Christopher Hanson -Owner. "The Energy 22 is very musically involv ng - 'Absolutely BOIT-it':

San Diego. California, Stereo Sound Co., Bob Kokley -Owrer-Over. theyears we have heard mans promises of new breakthroughs in speakersw thdisappointing results. The ENERGY 22 is oneof the only products which performedbeyond those promises. A job we I bone!"

Berkley, California, The Sounding Board, Jeff Smith, Jim SerenaCo -Owners."The Energy 22 is an outstanding speaker. Whars incredible is the value. compact sizeand its performace level."

THE DEALER'S #1 CHOICE

Copyright AR1985. Energy LoudspeakersEnergy Lou ispeakers 135 Torbay Road. Markham On'arioL3F11G7 - (4161475-0350 TLX 06-98E689

T ES

Report preparation

supervised by

Michael Riggs,

David Ranada,Christopher]. Esse,

Robert Long, and

Edward]. Foster.

Laboratory data

(unless otherwise

indicated) is

supplied by

Diversified Science

Laboratories.

T R EP OR T S

Nakamichi OMS-MII

Compact Disc PlayerDIMENSIONS: 17' , BY 4' INCHES ;FRONT..12' , INCHES DEEP PLUS

CLEARANCE FOR CONNECTIONS. PRICE $1,650. WARRANTY "LIMIT-

ED," ONE YEAR PARTS AND LABOR. MANUFACTURER NAKAMICHI

CORP...JAPAN: U.S. DISTRIBUTOR. NAKAMICHI U.S.A.CORP.. 19701 S.

VERMONT AVE., TORRANCE, CALIF. 90502

E\ l'ERNALLY, THE ONIS-7A11 COMPACT DISC

player shows its heritage most obvious-ly in its use of well -placed, luxurious -

feeling slanted -keypad transport controlssimilar to those found on Nakamichi cassettedecks. A 24 -slot programmed -playbackmemory is provided, and the tastefully sim-ple status readout is all of one color (paleyellow -green), not the usual razzle-dazzle.The remote control duplicates every front -panel function except the power switch andthe headphone volume control. The outputpin jacks are gold plated, and a subcode out-put jack is provided. And yes, the playerdoes grant direct access to each track or in-

dex point on a disc via a numeric keypad. De-spite all this, the Nakamichi OMS-7AI I ismost special where it counts: inside.

One can get an inkling of what's going onfrom some of the test results. The channelseparation of 133 V, dB at 1 kHz is in itself ex-traordinary, but what is really astounding isthat it is still 116 dB at 20 kHz. Althoughthese figures are far in excess of what is nec-essary for subjectively complete stereo sepa-ration. they speak volumes about the qualityof engineering behind this product: Suchperformance is difficult to achieve even insomething as simple as a preamplifier.

There's more. The linearity figures(which portray the difference in actual vs. ex-pected output level) are the best we haveever encountered. In fact, Diversified Sci-ence Laboratories couldn't find any errorexcept at the lowest test level ( - 90 dB), andthere it amounted to less than 1 dB. This is

24 HIGH FIDELITY

one player that approaches "the theoreticallimits imposed by the digital system," toquote from a Nakamichi white paper. Thatpaper also goes on to explain some of the de-tails of the OMS-7AII circuitry, which maybe responsible for this exemplary behavior.

Digital -to -analog conversion, that mostcrucial of processes in a CD player, has ap-parently come under intense engineeringscrutiny at Nakamichi. The OMS-7All con-tains two digital -to -analog converter ICs(DACs), a separate one for each channel,which restore the binary numbers decodedfrom the CD to analog voltages. Most, butnot all. DACs used in CD players generatesmall bursts of noise ("glitches") beforetheir output settles down to the value it issupposed to have according to the binarynumber fed to it. Glitches are commonly re-moved by a sample -and -hold circuit placedat the output of the DAC to store the correctanalog voltage reached after the DAC out-put has stabilized. Nakamichi's designershave opted to eliminate this stage and to tryinstead to reduce glitch generation by ad-justing the timings of the eight most signifi-cant bits (the "leftmost" eight digits in a bi-nary number) of each sample value as itenters the DAC. Two glitch -preventiontrimming adjustments are made on eachconverter: one to optimize performance at IkHz, the other at 10 kHz.

Nakamichi makes a third adjustment fol-lowing the recommendation of the DACchip's manufacturer (Burr -Brown of Tus-con, Arizona). The particular converter usedin the OMS-7All (the PCM54KP) can betrimmed to a most -significant -bit differen-tial nonlinearity of nearly zero at "bipolarzero," which reduces distortion as a signalcrosses between positive and negative volt-age values. Each of these three adjustmentscan improve measured linearity, though thislast is probably the most important. Also im-proving linearity is the running of the DACsat four times the normal CD sampling rate.They operate at 176.4 kHz to convert theoutputs of the player's four -times oversam-pling digital filters. In any case, Nakamichi'sthree adjustments are three more than mostother CI) player manufacturers make whenusing the same DACs-another example ofthe lengths the company has gone to im-prove player performance.

As for the other test results, none is lessthan excellent. Frequency response bothwith and without de -emphasis is unusuallyflat, the signal-to-noise ratio is exceptionally

1 2 3

MI INI4 5 6

MO MI MI7 8 9

MEGov 0 Memory

Ns asIN Mi

BAaW 00

ote Control

THE OMS-7All COMES

WITH A COMPREHEN-

SIVE WIRELESS REMOTE

CONTROL.

high. and the channel imbalance (measuredas 0.07 dB) is strikingly small. And the playereasily passed the now somewhat tame tor-ture trials of the Philips error -correction testdisc.

How much Nakamichi's extra effortshave contributed to the OMS-7A11's soundquality is hard to say. In a single-blind com-parison with another high -quality player. us-ing pink noise and music, we could not heatany difference between the two machines.Output levels were matched to within 0.01volt at I kHz (by means of the other player'svolume control), listening was over head-phones, and music playback was synchro-nized by using pairs of the same discs.

This is not to say that the Nakamichi nec-essarily sounds the same as all other CDplayers-merely that its sound quality is notunique. Fortunately, that sound is very cleanand smooth: we heard nothing untowardthat could not be attributed to the software.This is to be expected from the player's mea-sured performance. It also comes as no sur-prise that the controls operated smoothly,faultlessly, and with decisive tactile feedbackas each metal pushbutton snapped home un-der our fingers (no cheap plastic parts hereor anywhere else on the player). Our overallimpression-from the sound, the measure-ments, and the feel of the controls-is of en-gineering of the highest quality. Vet that.too, could have been predicted. After all, theOMS-7All is made by Nakamichi.(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 fi)

411 data wart obtained Leng the Sony YEDS 7. Technics SH CD001 Ni es 410

)55 2 and MIdlps 410 056 1 test discs

FREOUENCT RESPONSE WITHOUT DE -EMPHASIS

DB

0

-5OMS 7A MY 111,1

HZ 20 50

- LA4th

100 200 500 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K

+0 1. -0 2 dB. 20 Hz to 20 kHz

+01. -0 2 dB. 20 lit to 20 kHz

TRIOUITILI PISPONS1 WITH DE4A1PNASIS

080

-5OMS 74 Mk 11)21

HZ 20 50

ch

1 lb

100 200 500 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K

+01. -0 3 dB. 20 Hz to 20 kHz

+01.-0348.20 Hz to 20 kHz

:HANNEL SEPARATION (at 1 kHz) 133 dB

CHANNEL BALANCE on 1 kHz) t

S T R EP OR TS

Denon DRA-95VR

AudioVideo Receiver

FM TUNER SECTION

FREQUENCY RESPONSE E. CHANNEL SEPARATION

DB

0

-5TO

15

- 20- 25

DNA-95VR tIi

HZ 20 50 100 200

FAY response

500 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K

- Wft dlanelright channel

Osemnel seperonon

+ 1(4. -3 dB. 20 Hz to 15 kHz

+ I/4. -3 de. 20 Hz to 15 kHz

24 dB. 40 Hz to 15 kHz

FM SENSITIVITY L ouirnwo

DB

10

20

- 30

40

50

BO

DIM 95v0 IL)

DBE 0 10 20 30 40

RUIN Fplelis (NNWIssue quIsIlms Fmk*

50 BO 70 80 90 100

DIMENSIONS. 17 BY S INCHES (FRONT), IE., INCHES DEEP PLUS CLEAR-

ANCE FOR CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS. AC CONVENIENCE OUT-

LETS. ONE SWITCHED (100 WATTS MAX.), ONE UNSWITCHED (250

WATTS MAX.). PRICE $650. INCLUDING RC -95 WIRELESS REMOTE

CONTROL: OPTIONAL ACA -37 WOOD ENDPIECES, S30 PER PAIR. WAR-

RANTY: "LIMITED," TWO YEARS PARTS AND LABOR. MANUFACTURER:

NIPPON COLUMBIA COMPANY. LTD., JAPAN, U.S. DISTRIBUTOR:

DENON AMERICA, INC., 27 LAW DR., FAIRFIELD. NI 07006.

IN THE DRA-115 \ R. DENON BRINGS THE SORT

of circuit refinements that havecharacterized its purely audio com-

ponents to the service of audio -video sys-tems. No video circuitry is built in (no TVtuner, for instance), but switching is provid-ed for two video sources, whose associatedaudio may be chosen for reproductionthrough the receiver or replaced by a differ-ent audio source-as for simulcasts. Allswitching, including the volume adjustment.is electronic, which offers performancebenefits in addition to making possible thereceiver's wireless remote control.

The total complement of connections in-cludes two direct video inputs-VCR andVideo, intended for a video recorder and aplay -only video source such as a videodiscplayer, respectively-and two video outputs.Each of the video inputs also has an associat-ed set of stereo audio connections: inputsand outputs for the VCR, inputs only for theother. The selected video signal will be fedto both video outputs. And if the videosource button is pressed, the audio from thatvideo input will be sent to the amplifier sec-tion.

The remaining audio portion includes

the receiver's own tuner section, a CD (aux)input, a phono section (switchable for usewith either moving -coil or fixed -coil car-tridges), and two audio tape inputs. Whenthe monitor/copy button is off, any input ex-cept those for tape will feed the recordingoutputs; for dubbing from deck to deck, youmust turn the monitor/copy switch on andchoose the source machine at the audio se-lector buttons. As a result, you cannot usethe monitor/copy button for source/tapeswitching during dubbing, although it willserve this function (provided you have athree -head deck) during taping from othersources.

To simplify operation, Denon has limit-ed the tuner section to two modes: one in-cludes automatic stereo switching (forstereo FM stations received above the stereothreshold), automatic seek of the next "re-ceivable" station when you press the up ordown tuning button, and automatic muting

REPORT POLICYEQUIPMENT REPORTS ARE BASED ON LABORATORY MEASURE.

MINTS AND CONTROLLED LISTENING TESTS UNLESS OTHER-

WISE NOTED. TEST DATA ARE PROVIDED BY DIVERSIFIED SC,

ENCE LABORATORIES THE CHOICE Of EQUIPMENT TO BE

TESTED RESTS WITH THE EDITORS OF HIGH FIDELITY. SAMPLES

NORMALLY ARE SUPPLIED ON LOAN FROM THE MANUFACTUR

ER. MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO READ REPORTS EN

ADVANCE OF PUBLICATION AND NO REPORT OR PORTION

THEREOF MAY BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY PURPOSE Of IN ANY

FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. AU

REPORTS SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS APPLYING TO THE SPECIE

IC SAMPLES TESTED HIGH HMOs AND DIVERSIFIED SCIENCE

LABORATORIES ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT

PERFORMANCE OR QUALITY

26 HIGH FIDELITY

of interstation noise. The other offers monoreception only, manual tuning (100 -MHzhalf -channel steps on FM, 10 -kHz full -chan-nel steps on AM), and no muting (so that youcan listen for signs of life down in the roar).

There are 16 station presets-each ofwhich will hold one AM or one FM frequen-cy-ranged in two eight -button banks, with ashift button for toggling between them. Thetuner automatically shifts bands if youchoose a memorized AM station whileyou're tuned to the FM band or vice versa. Asignal -strength "meter" consisting of threeLED pairs operates on both bands. Wefound the FM thresholds (28, 3414. and 51dBf) well chosen in that they all lie within therange where antenna rotation is most likelyto be needed.

The tuner -mode switch is only onemono/stereo option; there is also a front -panel switch that blends channels from anysource. Another simulates stereo frommono sources, though it's specifically in-tended for the audio from mono TV broad-casts or videotapes. Subjectively, it seems todo little more than shift the mono sound to-ward the right speaker, so we were no moreimpressed by it than we usually are by suchstereo -simulation features. Also on the frontpanel is a loudness -compensation knob thatdelivers flat response at its maximum settingand introduces a deepening midband dip(together with some overall attenuation) asit is turned down.

Further signal manipulation can beadded by removing the pre-out/main-injumpers on the back panel and patching inan outboard processor (an equalizer. ambi-ence -recover device, or whatever). Becauseof the speaker -connector design. we advisetaking care to gel good, solid connections atthe speaker outputs. The antenna inputs for

ABOUT THE dBW

We currently are ...pressing power in 'ems of 45W-moonm9 Dower in dB with a reference (0 48W) of 1 watt.The conversion table will enable you to use the advan-tages of dBW m comparing these otoducts to others forwhich you hove no d 3W figures.

WATTS dBW WATTS d3W

1.0 0 32 15

1.25 1 40 16

1.6 2 50 17

2.0 3 63 18

2.5 4 SO 19

3.2 5 100 20

4.0 6 125 21

5.0 7 160 22

6.3 8 200 23

9 250 24

10.0 10 320 25

12.5 1 1 400 26

16.0 12 500 27

20.0 13 630 28

25.0 14 SOO 29

300 -ohm FM twinlead and the supplied AMloop are conventional lightweight finger -screw terminals, but we were delighted tofind that Denon also provides a 75 -ohm co-axial F connector, which has become thestandard in the U.S. for coaxial FM and TVleads.

The supplied RC -95 remote handset du-plicates most of the front -panel controls.One significant difference is in the way thepower switches work. The main chassis'spower switch is marked to indicate that ON isSTANDBY and OFF is just OFF. If you leave thereceiver on STANDBY and turn it off at the re-mote, it will return to the current source andvolume settings when you once again pressthe remote's power switch. But when it hasbeen turned off at the chassis switch, it al-ways reverts to the tuner section (though tothe last -tuned station) and to the minimumvolume setting.

All such preset controls plus the up anddown tuning buttons are included on the re-mote. but not the tuning -mode button, soyou can't tune manually from the remote un-less you've left the receiver itself in the monomode. Also on the remote are all of thesource selectors (audio and video) and tapemonitor/dub controls of the front panelplus its "muting" (actually, 20 -dB attenua-tion) switch. And the manual says that thecontrol also can be used with Denon cassettedecks and Compact Disc players (except theDCD-1800R). For these purposes. mostcommonly -used options (recording, skip.repeat, programming, pause, and so on) areincluded.

On Diversified Science Laboratories' testbench, the loudness -compensation and tonecontrols proved relatively gentle in their ac-tion. The treble control itself shelves above10 kHz or so at the extreme settings, deliver-ing about 8 dB of boost or cut in that range;less extreme settings begin shelving at lowerfrequencies-as low as about 500 Hz for a 1 -dB attenuation. The BASS shelves belouabout 100 Hz at any setting. with the samedB or so of maximum boost or cut.

Turning the LOUDNESS to its minimumsetting attenuates the range near 1 kHz by amaximum of just over 15 dB, the bass below80 dB by no more than about 6 dB, and thetreble above 10 kHz by about 10 to 11 dB.Relative to the I -kHz range, then. maximumcompensation boosts the deep bass by lessthan 10 dB. the extreme treble by about 5dB. The volume control is very unusual, butbeneficially so, in being "linear." (Standardpractice is to taper the control's action sothat a median setting delivers much morethan median level, giving the uninitiated theimpression that the receiver or amplifiermust be very powerful.) It steps in incre-ments of very nearly 2 dB for the most part,though some are closer to I dB.

No filters are built into the DRA-95VR.What attenuation of infrasonics (from warpsor feedback) it provides is inherent in th