[net.audio] HELP...

halb@tekid.UUCP (Hal Bates) (07/18/83)

HELP...

I have just purchased an Alpine set up for my car. With the
modular system the sound is awesome. My friend showed me several
different tapes in the system. All except one sounded ok. The odd
one out was unreal. The bass and highs were much more vivid than
the rest. As it turns out, the good tape was maxell udxls-2 taped
with high bias. The question I have is...

What type of home tape deck do I now have to buy to reproduce
that clean sound onto the xls-2 tape? There are soooo many
and the prices vary greatly. Also the Alpine is set up for
metal tapes. Are these any better or just more expensive?
Please help me before I throw away several hundred dollars
on something I may not need. Thanks in advance.

                        Hal Bates
                    teklabs!tekid!halb

finn@pur-ee.UUCP (07/23/83)

	To start with, metal tapes do have a better frequency response
than Chromium Oxide (CrO2) tapes, however, I have yet to be shown that
their extra frequency response justifies their extra cost.  I use Maxcell's
UDXL II and II-s and do just fine with them.  I also get them for roughly
$2.25 and $2.99 apiece respectively.  For my listening dollar, I'll stick
to CrO2 tapes.
	As for Harmon Kardon, I must agree (with sigurd) that you should
be cautious with them.  It used to be (years ago) that they had the
best reputation in the business.  They were the top of the line.  Their
equipment was the best sounding, most reliable stuff you could buy.  What
I heard was that it was built like a rock.  You put it through a war, and
it would still work.  And if it didn't, they would fix it, no problem.
Unfortunately, in recent years, their equipment reliability and consequently
their reputation, has gone drasticly down hill.  Their sound quality is
still there, but that alone just doesn't cut it.  It sounds a bit like their
service department has taken a dive, too.  Anyone know any reasons just why
this has come about?
	Suggestions.  JVC has been considered among the top in tape decks
for years now.  You might also check out Akai.  Good luck.

	The Arch-Druid of Sound...
	David Hesselberth,	Purdue University Computer Center
	{harpo, decvax, ucbvax} !pur-ee!finn  (or)  !pur-ee:pucc-h:adr