fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (01/05/84)
In reply to Jeff Bowles: I have been using the dbx model 224 encode/decode system for about three years now, and I have little but praise for it. Using Maxell UD35-90 tape at 7.5 ips, I have been able to make recordings that are completely free of noise and distortion, even from such demanding sources as digital recordings. dbx will give you a usable dynamic range over 90dB (more than you will need). Furthermore, there is little perceptible graininess introduced into the recording; it is virtually indistinguishable from the original. It can be used with any record/playback system, but is more or less wasted on cassettes, unless you really need the improvement in dynamic range. If you play cassettes in your car, you won't want to encode them with dbx, because the 2:1 compression and treble preemphasis make an undecoded recording sound pretty wierd. Some auto players are available with dbx, but the effect is wasted in such a noisy environment. I have found Dolby-B and metal tape to be adequate for playback in my car. The 224 fits in the tape monitor loop between the preamp/tape out outputs and your deck(s). The only thing tricky about it is adjusting the input and output levels. dbx provides adequate instructions for this, but they must be followed carefully. A nice fringe benefit from the 224 is a dbx disc decoding capability. dbx discs are perhaps the best analog audiophile recordings available. Unfortunately, they are hard to find, and titles are severely limited. The best price you can get on a dbx system is about $225, mail-order. You usually haveeto call for quotations; you might find a better deal by poring through the ads in the back of the audiophile mags and calling around for prices. dbx systems may be purchased locally (Chicago west) at Hi-Fi Hutch in Villa Park.
spoo@utcsrgv.UUCP (Suk Lee) (01/06/84)
Contrary to what was stated, $225 is
*NOT* the lowest price that one can
get the features of the dbx 224 for.
If you buy the dbx NX-40, you get the
same performance without the level-
matching hassles for about $100 less.
The drastic price reduction between the
224 and NX-40 was caused by dbx developing
chips to do the decoding/encoding,
replacing all the discrete stuff in the
224 with four chips.
From the pooped paws of:
Suk Lee
..!{decvax,allegra,linus}!utzoo!utcsrgv!spootynor@uiucuxc.UUCP (01/07/84)
#R:ihu1g:-12000:uiucuxc:18500015:000:810
uiucuxc!tynor Jan 6 12:43:00 1984
I can't say that I consider the dbx disc to be the finest analog
disc available... I've found that despite the incredible dynamic
range the system provides, the surfaces are usually quite noisy.
I imagine the manufacturers feel that since the signal is going
to be expanded by 2, an absolutely quiet surface is not nessesary.
I've noticed numerous instances of scratchy surface noise on my
discs...
I'll have to vote for Sheffield Lab as the premier analog disc.
steve
note: I am *not* anti-dbx. I use both the 224 and the 3bx dynamic
range expander... I'm just not overly impressed with their discs...
although every time i hear the opening fanfare to the Empire Strikes
Back album.........
question: Who manufactures the dbx discs? Is it dbx, or the
original recording company?fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (01/09/84)
If you can hear ANY noise from your dbx discs, either your ears are much more sensitive than mine, or something is getting into the grooves; dirt or static, maybe. My (albeit limited) dbx recordings by far outperform any of the so-called "audiophile" discs I have heard, both in terms of noise and dynamic range. I use the Shure V15 type IV cartridge, which has a built-in cleaning brush, and of course, I carefully clean and deionize each surface of the record before playing. Despite any of these precautions, to play a vinyl disc is to begin its destruction. Any record played more than a few times is going to show signs of wear, no matter how carefully manufactured. A high-performance cartridge only slows the process. BRING ON THE CD! Perhaps your dbx discs are showing signs of wear. Also, dbx does not manufacture its records; I believe they only license out the process to interested manufacturers. I also believe that dbx discs may not be manufactured by the same companies that put out the regular vinyl. Record companies sometimes license out their masters to other manufacturers, e.g., JVC, which produces the "original master recording" 1/2-speed mastered series. SInce the quality of the master tape is sometimes less than perfect. Any recording made from a noisy analog master is not going to sound good.