[net.audio] summary of equipment suggestions

edler (11/06/82)

A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions for a basic $1000 system:
a receiver, speakers, turntable, and cassette deck.
Here are the (slightly edited) responses I got; thanks for all
of them.   I haven't made a purchase yet, so further comments
are welcome, either by mail or on the net.
I hope none of the people below mind being publicly quoted; I
must apologize in that case.

	Jan Edler		cmcl2!edler	(nyu)
				pyuxll!jse	(btl piscataway)
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>From floyd!harpo!decvax!ittvax!sii!mem Sat Oct 23 15:13:38 1982
Date: Sat Oct 23 15:04:11 1982

I bought my system last year for about $1k.  I chose the receiver more
on looks than anything, since everything in the price range I was
considering was as good as I could discern, anyway.  I found that
in speakers, on the other hand, there was a great deal of difference
in sound quality between various brands.  To keep it short... I ended
up buying a pair of Bose 601 model II, which look rather funny but
sounded (to me) better than anything I listened to except the 901s.
I am very happy with them. 

Mark Mallett
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>From rocky2!steward Tue Oct 26 03:29:50 1982
Date: Mon Oct 25 14:06:21 1982

Of course, when you place a request for information some joker
comes along and tries to sell you something else.  I have never
bought a receiver but have bought several integrated amps.  I
bought a tuner separate from the amp with the thouht that I would
want to change the amp more often.  I have.  Anyway, the nicest
sounding integrated amp that I have heard is one made by NAD.  (I
didn't know of that brand before either.)  I bought it a Harvey's in
NYC.  It is a class A amplifier and behaves extremely well under
varying loads.  From what I remember NAD makes two integrated
amplifiers, a 20 watt and a 100 watt.  I have the 100 but seldom
use more than 5 watts.  (I, too, live in an apartment.)  It costs
around $220.

You will need to get a good turntable to use with this amp.  If you
get a bad one, all you'll listen to will be motor noise.  I see no
reason to get a super-duper quartz phase-lock gizmo machine.  When
I buy a turntable I get the heaviest one I can afford.  A light
turntable picks up feedback at high volumes, skips when people walk by,
and, according to thems that hear it, varies in turntable speed.
I find a strobe is handy to set the speeds after you move it.  Also,
get a good needle and cartridge.  With a little bargaining you can
usually have them install a Stanton EEE (triple E in lingo) when you
buy the turntable.  The Stanton isn't the best but it is consistently good.
HAVE THEM INSTALL IT.  The last turntable I bought was a Mitzubishi for
about $250.  You should find one cheaper.  Get it on sale.  By the way,
someone is bound to tell you to get a turntable with straight tone
arm or a bent one or a loaded one or a graphite one etc.  Bunkum!  For
what you probably want or can probably hear, just get what comes on your
heavy turntable.

For speakers, you are going to have to go down to the store and listen.
I steer away from acoustic suspension speakers (no bass) and speakers
that use a dummy speaker instead of a bass reflex port.  The latter,
I feel is too expensive for any benefit it might provide.  Get whatever
your happy with.  The NAD amplifier will give a good sound out of most
anything you hook up to it.  If you get away with $250 on a pair of
speakers, be warned, you're doing good.

I can't be much help with cassette players.  I had a Sharp computer-
controlled job.  It was fun to play with although it hissed a bit.
It got stolen, and remains unreplaced.

	Bill Steward
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>From floyd!vax135!ariel!deimos!steve Tue Oct 26 10:22:20 1982
Date: 26 Oct 82  10:17:56 EDT  (Tue)

I would strongly suggest the following:
NAD receiver
NAD cassette
I would suggest the following:
Boston Acoustic Speakers
B&O manual turntable
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>From floyd!harpo!decvax!microsof!fluke!bhaskar Tue Oct 26 12:13:49 1982
Date: Tue Oct 26 07:13:21 1982

i went through the exercise of assembling a system about a year ago,
and though i started out with a target of $1000, i ended up with a
system worth 3 times as much.  but i do have a recommendation for
speakers, though:  check out speakerlab in seattle (i don't have the
address or phone number, but directory info for area code 206 should
get you a number).  i found their speakers to be good value for the
money, and if you are a reasonable carpenter, most of their units can
be bought in kit form (they also sell the assembled units).  i almost
bought the speakerlab 500s ($800 / pr), but many of their lower priced
speakers are also excellent for the money... (my system is a phase
linear 3000 preamp, homebuilt amp, nesterovic type 5a speakers, and a
technics turntable with a cheapie cartridge that i am in the process of
upgrading.)  good luck with your system!
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>From philabs!sdcsvax!logo Tue Oct 26 21:59:27 1982
Date: 23 October 1982 2202-PDT (Saturday)

try NAD for your reciever.  they also make a turntable and a cassette deck but
i know nothing of their quality.  sony and teac now seem to be making reputable
decks again.  nakamichi (try audiophile stores) makes a $300 cassette deck
and tandberg makes a similiarly priced model (i LIKE nakamichi but it may not
be the best performance per dollar).  folks whose opinion is worthy of merit
suggest the ~$50 Grado cartridge as cheap, sonically decent (praise at that
price) and not damaging to records.  you might look in the International
Audio Review yearly issues and go backwards from A rated stuff thru D rated
looking for things you can afford (each issue covers only turntables or only
amps, etc).  listen to things, with reprsentative records.  listen to one
system long enough to develop an idea what it sounds like, then listen
to the identical system with only one part changed.  if you hear a difference
in the sound you know it was due to that particular part.

i am losing coherency (too many news groups).  if i come up with other
suggestions, i will type.

  David (Reisner)
  uucp :  ...!ucbvax!sdcsvax!logo
  arpanet : sdcsvax!logo@nprdc
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>From floyd!harpo!ihps3!houxi!houxz!hou5d!hou5a!mat Wed Oct 27 00:38:49 1982
Date: 27 Oct 82  00:35:53 EDT  (Wed)

I have a personal recomendation ... check out the Boston Acoustics speakers,
as well as the Polks.  Both have gotten excellent reviews, and I am very
pleased with my B. O.s ( as a friend is with her Polks ).
One thing that impressed me -- Julian Hirsh as well -- is that they have got
very even radiation patterns -- excellent Hig Freq dispersion and all that.
I bought Carver's 'Sonic Holography test record' and played it back WITHOUT
moving the speakers around -- it Still worked just fine.
Read the stuff Jiulian Hirsch wrote in the last 12 mos. or so in Stereo
Review -- it's pretty good.
And one final thing -- when you audition your system, bring along some
piano music -- preferably some highly colored classical or jazz.
Brahms Piano Concerti will do just fine.
Why?
If you haven't already read this dozens of times, NOTHING tests the power
reserve of an amp/speaker combo at a given apparent loudness like piano
music. Nothing. Try having quality receivers of the same or similar brands
and widely different output power ratings switched in and out as the music
is played.  If it sounds as though a cardboard box has been inverted over
the piano, the receiver hasn't got enough power for the speaker.

There's a lot of other good advice out there, and some conflicting as well.
Good luck.
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