cliff@unmvax.UUCP (10/13/84)
> PCM refers to a method for converting an audio signal to a digital > form which is then recorded on the video portion of the tape. It produces > sound which is only slightly better than the HI-FI systems and it costs > mucho much (SONY's PCM unit is about $2000). You also cannot record a > video picture with the PCM sound. I believe you may be giving a somewhat distorted view of PCM recording. The Technics SV-100 lists for $900. I'm not sure of SONY's price on their PCM-F1, but I know it is signficantly below $2000 (that is about how much it cost in 1979 when it was the only unit). The Nakamichi DMP-100 is a SONY model with all the tolerances tweaked; I got mine for $1250 although it goes for as much as $1800 in some areas. Here are the specs of my individual unit (Nak is nice enough to include a little computer printout from their acceptance testing): Left Channel Right Channel Harmonic Distortion: 0.004 % 0.004 % Dynamic Range: 92.1 db 91.8 db Frequency Response 20 Hz: -0.1 db -0.1 db 420 Hz: 0.0 db -0.0 db (sic) 1 KHz: 0.0 db 0.0 db 3 KHz: 0.0 db 0.0 db 10 KHz: 0.2 db 0.1 db 15 KHz: 0.1 db 0.1 db 20 KHz: -0.3 db -0.4 db Wow and Flutter: below measurable limit If someone with a Hi-Fi system could be so kind as to post the corresponding specs, then everyone can compare them and decide for themselves whether PCM is only slightly better than {Beta,VHS} Hi-Fi. One of the best features of PCM is the ability to duplicate tapes without degredation of data (it is all binary with some parity and CRCC thrown in to keep everyone honest). The sad part is now I have to buy better mikes (Nak CM300's are now the weak link of my chain). What do I use it for? To record Grateful Dead concerts, of course. --Cliff [Matthews] {lbl-csam, purdue, cmcl2}!lanl-a!unm-cvax!unmvax!cliff {csu-cs, pur-ee, convex, gatech, ucbvax}!unmvax!cliff 4744 Trumbull S.E. - Albuquerque NM 87108 - (505) 265-9143
newton2@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA (10/16/84)
With regard to posting the specs for {Beta, VHS} Hi-fi:
Let'[s keep in mind that these are garden-variety compandored systems
on top of their FM recording scheme. Which means that the sort of
terse info usually given for, say, noise performance, is pretty
inadequate to characterize the system usefully. A long and soon to be
obsolete (I hope) subject in itself.
Doug Maisel