Conference napalm::heavy_metal

                
                I use: 
                
                Home :
                
                Denon receiver,  Sony tape player, BSR CD player,
                Criterion 2002+ speakers.
                
                Car :
                
                Alpine  receiver, Alpine  eq,  Alpine  crossover,
                Alpine amplifier, Pioneer speakers, ALPINE ALARM!
                
                :-)
                
                Coming  soon,  Pyle subwoofers  with  a  Nakamici
                amplifier.
                
                Total home power: 120 watts
                Total car power: 140 watts (380 after subs)
                
                Anybody got some spare earplugs?
                

    Home:
    
    LXI receiver, LXI Cassette, Technics TT, Toshiba CD, Realistic 12
    band eq, Ultra Acoustic Speakers...
    
    Car:
    
    I dunno, Chrysler Auto-reverse, with 5 band eq, 6 speaker unit.
    It cranks.
    

Home:
  Technics Receiver - 35 watts/channel (more than enough) - this unit
                      is 12 years old, and has never failed me yet!
  Technics turntable - Adequate - definitely direct drive
  Technics CD player - next time, I'm buying a Sony, This is the first
                       Technics product that I am not totally happy with.
  Fischer speakers - They are these big mothers that I bought 12 years
                     ago. Haven't found anything better since, except at
                     an outrageous price.

Car:
  Delco - AM/FM radio - After 3 stolen cars and five break-ins to steal
          my tapes, I've stopped having a good sound system in my car.
          I'm sick of replacing my tape collection every year or so.

As you can tell, once I find something I like, I'll usually stick with it
until it it falls apart. I am so used to the sound of my stereo now (I've
had the receiver and speakers since the beginning of high school), that I
can't find anything I like.

cat

    Home:
    	Reciever - Akai 100W/Channel, soft touch everything, no knobs,and
    	           more lights (led's) than Christmas !
    	Equalizer - Realistic 14 band.
    	Compact Disc - Technics CD player, nice unit.
    	Tape Decks - Onkyo double deck with high speed dubbing.  Sharp
    		     tape deck, good for playing only (cost $75 new).
    	Speakers - Advent bookshelve speakers (8" woofer, 2" tweeter).
    	           Handle about 80W before they start breaking up. Also
    	           have 2 "homemade" speaker cabs with Realistic guts,
    	           12" woofer, 6" midrange, and 3" tweeter in each.
    
    Car:
    	Roadmaster (megacheap) AM/FM Cassette and Roadmaster speakers.
        It'll do in a rush ................
    
    
    
    
    				Mr Scary II
    

    Mine is sort of a combined effort.  My SO and I are moving to
    California (if we ever get there!!), so we have been building our
    "entertainment center" together.  Currently, it is located at his
    house, but most of the ownership honors go to me:
    
    Home (Even if it is *his* home):  Sony receiver, don't know the
    model, but I know it cost us an arm and a leg.  It does everything
    known to man and more.  Sony CPD550 CD player, Sony 550 double cassette
    deck, Technics turntable that we got before we decided to go Sony
    instead.  As soon as we replace it (it's only a year old!) we'll
    have everything going to one remote, which is nice.  We're pretty
    happy with all of it and don't regret buying Sony a bit.
    
    (My) Pulsar:  Pioneer Supertuner K-somethingorother AM/FM cassette.
    Not too loud, but better than the Clarion that came in it.  I am
    going to try to get a powerbooster or something.  I like my music
    *deafening!*
    
    (His) Astro Van: Alpine something or other w/auto reverse and all
    that.  Pioneer speakers.  Something between the van's acoustics
    and the stereo make it sound great.  It's awesome.
    
    Stacie

    
    	Home:  
    		Receiver:  Onkyo TX65, real nice unit, 65watt/channel
    			   Dynamic bass expander, 16 presets, and a
     			   few other goodies.
    
    	       Turntable:  Technics, Quartz drive.
    
    	       Tape deck:  Sony, nothing fancy
    
    		      CD:  Technics, real nice, no problems sounds great!
    
    		Speakers:  Technics SBX500 (Honeycomb) 130 watts of
    			   pure listening pleasure.
    
    
    	Car:
    
    			Stock Delco unit, quoting Slab:(with all the
                        buttons)
    
    					Scott.
    

    
    	Home (or anywhere, for that matter)  SONY DT3 (CD/AM/FM)
    
    	MR2:  stock AM/FM/Cassette
    
    	   I'm not the hit of the beach party, but I'm never very
    	far from my tunes.
    
    	-=[MOSAT]=-
    	(call me Mr, Hi-Fi)

    
    	Home: Technics Quartz tuned sumthin-or-other 50 watt per channel
    		reciever. It's got alot of buttons.
    		Technics cassette deck.
    		Teac dual cassette deck (so i can tape and still listen)
    		Adc equalizer.
    		technics turntable.
    		
    
    	Car:	Epi high power auto reverse am/fm cassette player.
    
    		Pioneer 75 watt speakers.
    
    	
    		Used to have:
    
    		Alping stero cassette thru a pioneer power/equilizer
    		coming out of 2 panasonic 50 watt door speakers and
    		2 150 watt jensen tri-axels!!
    		
    		That was the balls, pushing a good 130 watts, then
    		on day it all got smoked!!!!!!
    
    			I hooked the power booster to the cirgerette
    		lighter,since I don't smoke nothing happened. Then my
    		brother, who smokes, pushed in the lighter and ZAPPPPP!!!
    
    			My power booster smoked, and 1 speaker blew.
    		
    				Boo Hoo!    F.M.

    
	Luxman Receiver 40Watt per channel (Alpine line of home equip.)
       	Technics turntable
    	Teac Cassette with Dolby B/C/Dbx
    	Technics SL-JP1 CD player
    	Fischer 75Watt RMS speakers

    Since I live in a rather small apartment, this is more than enough
    to blow some windows out.  Specially when playing Judas Priest and
    since my plants started to die I've turned the volume down.  They're
    holding their own now..... :^)
    
    In my car, well....used to run a Sanyo AM/FM/Cassette with Dolby
    B/C.  25 Watts per channel, with a 60Watt Power booster/graphic
    equalizer.  All this through two front speakers (5" round) rated
    to 75Watts RMS (Jensen double cone) and two 6X9 Jensen Tri-axials
    rated at 100Watts RMS.  All in a Jeep Wrangler.....BUT !  Since
    I traded the Jeep in and got a Chevy Beretta, I run the standard
    Delco/Bose set they sell.  Four speakers - AM stereo/FM stereo
    Cassette with five band graphic equalizer all built in.  If I 
    remember the paperwork correctly, it all runs about 55Watts RMS
    output from the speakers.  Not bad for Delco since they paired up
    with Bose.  It serves the purpose !
        
    METALord"

Has any noticed that some of the stock car stereos in the past few years
really kick major ass ?  Damn !  Like I said in a previous reply, my standard
Chrysler stereo cranks !

jc

                Re: .1
                
                Just got the subwoofers, now for the amplifier to
                drive them.   In  case  anybody  is interested, I
                have the 3321 eq/crossover,  3528 amplifier, 7179
                receiver and Pioneer TS-6944 6x9  three-ways (120
                watts each) and a pair of  Pioneer  5.5"  in  the
                front (at 100 watts each).  For  the subs, I have
                a pair of Fender 15" 2803's.
                
                - Rob
                
                

    I have:
                                                
    Home:
    
    -Techniques 25 watts/channel digital receiver, not an awesome amount
    of power, but sounds good.
    -Fisher speakers (don't remember the model)
    -Aiwa autoreverse cassette deck
    -Techniques turntable
    
    Auto:
    
    Sony digital am/fm/cassette w/4 speakers (don't know what kind,
    but they're about blown anyway)
      
    Hey, nothing fancy, but it all works and meets my needs.
    
    gh
    

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;2 >>>
      -< Heavy_Metal - not just a conference ... it's a state of mind!! >-
================================================================================
Note 371.0                  Who knows car speakers???                 No replies
RAVEN1::ROSENBERG                                    28 lines  29-NOV-1988 18:13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                < THAT'S THE WAY I WANNA ROCK AND ROLL >
    
           Well after writing my first note to find out about SMASHED
    GLADYS I felt compeled to write another one to see if anyone else
    who likes to listen to their R&R at metal warping volumes can help
    me. I just installed a new Alpine dual pre-amp deck in my 72 Monte
    carlo. I have a 20 watt sherwood amp for the frount speakers and
    an alpine 60 watt amp for the back. I'm very happy with the volume
    that I'm getting but the speakers rattel and buzz when the sound
    is turned up to an acceptable head banging level. 
      Can anyone else who listens to LOUD LOUD LOUD R&R please give
    me any suggestions on what kind of speakers will satisfy my need
    for extreme volumes.
      
       Also before I leave this note let me say a few word about DOLBY
    C. If you can record and play back in dolby c  DO IT. The clarity
    is excellent!!! And the tape hiss is almost non-exsistent. I thought
    that it sounded as good as some car CD players that I have heard.
    
    
    
            Well help me if you can and if you can't I hope I've helped
    you 
    
    
    
            tanks
        Ray(legs up)
    

    
    	Rob...??? 
    
    	But seriously....try using foam rubber.  I had that prob so
    what I did was cut a hole big enough for the cone (or magnetic)
    end of the speaker to fit through then mounter speaker,foam,then
    car material....understand.  Use the F-rubber as a shock absorber.
    
    	It worked for me.
    
    Bk
    

    Ok, This is what I've got
    
    Home-
    	Klipsch kg4 speakers (the most Kick-ass rock and roll speakers
    		ever made, check them out at tweeter's)
       
    	Kenwood Reciever (35w/ch)
    
    	Sony 5 Disc Carousel CD changer with Shuffle Play
    
    	TEAC 10band/ch equalizer with Spectrum analizer
    
    	Dual Turntable (Excellent Stuff, IMO)
    
    	Hitachi single Tape Deck (Very Nice) 
    
    	Lots of Monster Cable (about 30')
    
    And In addition to all that stuff, I also have (to drive a second
    pair of speakers used to 1) really crank it up  2) Drive the sound
    from my computer {which is an Amiga and Has Stereo outputs for games
    and music}
    
    	Techniches (I hate spelling that word) Preamp
    
    	Tech...... Amp (25w/ch)
    
    	Fisher Speakers                  
    
    	I also have Monster Cable for these speakers too
    
    To play on all of that stuff, I have almost 200 CDs (winning 56
    from WBCN really helped!) about 180 tapes and about 75 albums.
    
    and Now for MY CAR-
    
    	Kenwood Powered Reciever (15w/ch x 4 channels)
    
    	2 Kenwood 6" x 9" speakers
    
    	2 Kenwood 5" Speakers
                                                        
    Now, as you may have noticed, I take my music VERY seriously.  Someday
    I hope to have a home system (including Video) that would be worth
    about $20K.  In the meantime, I'll be happy with what I have.
    
    Steve O

    
    
    Well, my home system isn't *THAT* great, but car . . .
    
    Anyway, first of all, make sure that your speakers are mounted solidly.
     Secondly, the speakers may not be your problem, are you overdriving
    your amp?  If you crank up your stereo all the way, the amp IS going
    to distort, I'm good at doing that.  Also, you can blow your speakers
    pretty easily if you constantly do it.  At the moment (until I get
    my new amp in), I'm driving about 35x4 into speakers rated at 100
    and 120 watts each.  I've gone through 5 100watt speakers and 1
    120watt just by overdriving my amp.  If you are looking for loudness,
    you may also want to try some more efficient speakers, whcih is
    usually cheaper than another amp.  ADS makes some very nice speakers
    (also $$$ though).  If it's the bass that's the problem, and you
    don't mind investing some $$$, then go for some subwoofers.  That
    will also mean another amp, the subs and a crossover (mine ran about
    $1500-1700 for a set of 15" subs driven by 500watts and an Alpine
    11 band eq with a builtin crossover).  I may be getting ahead of
    you here though.  Anyway, my 2 points.  Don't overdrive the amp
    and make sure speakers are solidly mounted.
    
    - Rob who wants to hit 4digit wattage numbers and 135+ db -
    
    

    
    O.K.  here's my set-up...
    
    HOME:
    
         JVC RX-950V  Audio/Video receiver ::  AM/FM (duh) and handles
    TV, 3 video/vcr's, 2 tape decks, turntable, CD, and aux.  Has way
    too many built in goodies to list.  125 watts / .003% THD.
    
         JVC XL-M700 7-disc CD player ::  rated as the best multidisk
    player.  Fully programmable and has a random selection that can
    end and start a song in about 8 seconds while changing from one
    CD to another.
    
         SPL 4000 Monitor's (Canadian made tower speakers) ::  Can handle
    150 watts each.  Excellent rock speakers.  Has anyone else listened
    to these speakers??  I found them here in CO Springs and fell in
    love with their sound.  Also got a hell of a deal on them.  But
    I have never even heard of the brand name before.  
    
         For those who are wondering why I went with JVC, it is because
    their components (if you get their best one's) interconnnect greatly!
    I can use the receiver remote to run EVERY one of their components!
    It's really a trip!  ... I'll hold off on a cassette deck until
    the world figures out which way the cassette industry is going...
    
    
    CAR:
    
         Jensen RE512 digital receiver/cassette deck.  Old but one of
    the best of it's days.  Still looks and sounds better than some
    of the new ones.  Except for that damn touchy volume button.  I've
    had many a speaker blown up from people trying to turn up the volume!
    
         Tancredi TE100 7-band eq/bst.  Usually found for sale at those
    weekend madness sales in some hotel's basement.  Think I paid like
    $50!  This thing can not be beaten for the price!  [Hey, why spend
    $20K when you can get the same thing for $10K and then have the
    bucks left over for more toys!]
    
         Pioneer TS-X20 bass reflex 3-way box speakers.  DON'T EVER
    BUY THESE SPEAKERS!!!  They are great advertisement for theives!
    I had a butthead break into my car at the '87 Indy 500 - the first
    week I had them in my rear window!  Great sound but try to hide
    them.
    
    
    Hammer.

    
    	If you had a smaller car, where mounting 6x9s is a problem,
    I would have suggested you pick up a pair of Altec Lansing
    plate speakers for the rear, like I did for my Scirocco.
    They're about 250.00, but are super for their size, and beg
    to be abused to the tune of 100w, (which is TOTALLY ridiculous
    for a car stereo). But you've got that monstrous Monte, so
    you can go with 55 gallon drum sized speakers.
    	Wrothberg, don't you have "protection" for your speakers and
    amps, to keep you from blowing them all the time?
    	I use Alpine amps for the front and rear speakers, so distortion
    is not a problem for me. I have cranked up my stereo past the 
    threshold of pain, and not noticed a bit of distortion.
    Alpine is awesome.
    
    /Motorbreath

                
                Nah, no  protection.    I  hate my speakers, so I
                don't really care  about blowing them up.  Once I
                put some nice ones  in, then I'll worry about it.
                I'm probably going to go  with  some  a/d/s.  The
                pioneers are okay, but not up  to  par  with  the
                rest of the equipment in the car.
                
                - Rob
                
                BTW,  100watts  isn't ridiculous, I have 140  now
                and have another 500 sitting in my room  just for
                the  pair or 15" subwoofers that are also sitting
                in my room!
                
                

    
    > it's not Wrothberg
    
    no sh*t. I thought it looked kind of cool, so that's what I called
    you.
    
     I'd like to see any normal hearing person sit in a car, with a
    full 100 watts of power going to each speaker and live the rest
    of their life as a normal hearing person afterwards.
    
    If you've got 100w split between  four speakers, then I 
    suppose it's not too excessive.
    
    /Motorbreath... that's LOUD!!
    

                
                Just trying  to avoid confusion 'cause there is a
                Pfloyd::Wrothberg, but it's  a  totally different
                person.  
                
                My stereo is like this :
                
                A
                l---------[< 35 watts
                p---------[< 35 watts
                i---------[< 35 watts
                n---------[< 35 watts
                e
                              _________ 15" sub (250 watts)
                Concord -----<                  
                              --------- 15" sub (250 watts)
                
                Total = 640 watts . . .
                
                :`)  
                

I got a question for y'all. I could ask this in the AUDIO notesfile, but that 
thing is *huge*, and I don't feel like wading through it....

Anways, I heard some speakers the other day that I *really* liked - they
pumped out Queensryche at intense volumes, with absolutely no distortion. It
was amazing!!!

Anyways, they were part of the JBL Studio Series, and I think the Model number
was 4012, or something close to that.

Anyone know anything about these speakers? And the biggest question - how 
much would they cost???

cat

                
                Actually, you  might  be  better off in the AUDIO
                conference.  Really  doesn't  take  that  long to
                search for a title, but most people add new notes
                in  there  without  looking.    Nobody  complains
                either.  Very strange after reading  CARBUFFS all
                the time.
                
                - Rob -
                

    re .25
    
    Alan,
    I don't know how much they are, but If you want a pair of real clean,
    loud, speakers with great bass response check out a pair of KLIPSCH
    KG4's.  Great ROCK speakers!  They are about $450/pr.
    
    Steve O

A *quick* response from the AUDIO file, FYI....

               <<< DSSDEV::PUBLIC$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]AUDIO.NOTE;2 >>>
                          -< The Emperor's New Audio >-
================================================================================
Note 1092.5                ANY INFO ON JBL SPEAKERS??                     5 of 5
STROKR::DEHAHN                                        8 lines  11-MAY-1989 14:06
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    JBL 4412's are small 'studio monitors', not home speakers. They are not
    especially accurate, they tend to be bright and sizzly at the high end
    and loose at the bottom. Last time I checked a price schedule they were
    around $800-900/pr.
    
    CdH
    

    Klipsch has a reputation of being one of the most efficient speakers
    on the market.  Efficient in the fact that they don't waste much
    power, what you put in is what you get out!
    
    Do a SET SEEN after you enter your note, that way you won't have
    to read the whole thing.
    
    Mike

    I've seen the KLIPSCHORNS (the huge corner speakers) demonstrated
    by powering them from the headphone jack of a walkman.  I was very
    impressed!
    
    Steve O
    

    Advent make a pretty nice pair of towers...  Not too much bux either...
    They seem to like Metallica too...Or should I say they can handle
    Metallica with out destructing...
    
    jc

    As you probably figured out from my former p-name that I just 
    got a Soundstream headunit.  I am planning on selecting each piece
    of for my car very carefully.  So what type of suggestions do you
    folks have to make that thing really crank some clear tunes.  I
    have thought about some Co-ax in the back (Brand I'm not sure of
    yet.) with a sub blasting through the back seat ( with about 50w
    amp driving it.).  I am also thinking of a nice 5" co-ax in the
    front with a directional tweeter.  Any good names....
    
    The guy that is helping me pick the stuff out is an EE Major at
    U-Lowell and he's been into audio for about 10 years.  He doesn't
    listen to Metal that much and he's having some thoughts on what
    we really need in the thing without causing anything to blow up
    or without causing sonic structual damage to the car.

    
    Any help would be appreciated....
    
    The Rebel..

    Re -.1
    
    Go to TWEETER (if you live in New England) and check out the
    
    			ROSFORD FOSGATE (SP?)
    
    system there.  It simply has to be heard to be believed!  The
    Crossovers for the speakers are on the speakers themselves.  On
    one 22 Watt/Ch amp, it drove a large bass sub-woofer box, 2 woofers,
    4 midrange, and 2 tweeters, and was the most incredible sound system
    for a car that I've ever heard.  
    
    Steve O

    
        RE: Rebel
    
            Come on over to DSSDEV::AUDIO with Rob Rothberg and
            I - I'm just startin' to do the same thing.
    
            Hit KP7 to add to your notebook.
    
                                                       GTI
    

                Rockford Fosgate definately makes some nice amps,
                but they are  *BIG*  bucks.    The best way to go
                (also the most expensive)  is  to  take  the head
                unit (I used to have  a  Soundstream  TC301), run
                that  to  an  equalizer, run that  to  an  octave
                parametric  equalizer,  run  that  to  an  active
                crossover,    run   that  toat  least  two  amps,
                preferrably 3.    Medium  amp  to drive a pair of
                seperates in the  front,  smallest  amp  to drive
                seperates  in  back,  big  amp  (either  mono  or
                stereo) to drive subwoofers.  Viola!  Hearing aid
                time!
                
                - Rob who hit 127 dB SPL -
                
                

    Rob...If I did that I think Metallica on Cd would blow the Toy
    into shrapnel.  I have such a small space inside the car it will
    be easier to hit the louder levels then in a bigger car.  On the
    other hand it is so tightly packed together I don't have much room
    for speakers...
    
    Shawn...
    
    Thanks for the pointer to the audio file but since my manager is
    taken away notes for all off shift employees I won't have much time
    for it.  One week tops....

    Steve....
    
    I've heard mixed reviews about those.  I know that they are great
    but I heard that they aren't worth as much as you pay for them.
    
    

                If you  want the best amp for the money, I'd vote
                for Concord.   Usually  runs  about $1.25-$1.50 a
                watt instead of $2.00-$2.50  watt  (which is what
                you'll pay for Alpine, a/d/s/,  Rockford Fosgate,
                Nakamichi, Soundstream, etc).  I'm running  a 500
                watt  Concord  on  the  subs,  and  I    have  no
                complaints.  400 stereo/500 mono cost me $525.
                
                - Rob -
                
                

    I try not to judge by wattage.  A 15W/Ch alpine will blow away a
    100W/ch jensen.  The Alpine is louder, tighter, and much more accurate.
    
    Wattage is an important stat. but it's not that important.
    
    Steve O

                
                Sort of  true,  but  not quite.  If they are both
                100 watts RMS,  and  both used with the same pair
                of speakers, they SHOULD produce  the  same  SPL,
                but of course it doesn't quite  work  that way as
                the  Jensen  amp  will  distort  long before  the
                Alpine  and that will reduce effiency of the  amp
                and also possibly damage the speakers.
                
                Concord CA200.2 vs Fosgate Power 650 Mosfet
                
                Distortion: .06% vs. .05%
                S/N ratio:  >100dB vs. >80dB (means nothing)
                Slew rate:  both 15V/uS
                Price:      $525 vs. somewhere around $1200
                
                I  would  have given more specs but that's all  I
                have on Fosgate.
                
                

    
    Mere toys........  :^)
    
    Harmon Kardon makes the best car equipment around.  I'll get the
    specs when I go home, but I've researched far and wide.  You don't
    find better sounding amps - no distortion, extremely high current.
    
    But.... big bucks, and you don't find them in every Tom, Dick, and
    Tweeter stereo store either.  
    
    Their 60 Watt amps blow away most 200 Watt amps because they are
    *very* conservative with their ratings (none of this "peak" stuff,
    they know people come to them for the best, they don't have to
    pad the numbers).
    
SEAN/BEER=LABATTS    

    
    You got it dude.I have a Harmon Kardon tape deck in my car.The system
    also includes a Linear equalizer,Pyle Driver speakers and a Hyphonics
    Thor 250 watt rms amp.This system is bad for the heart.If you've
    ever listened to Motorhead or Metallica at this sound level..........
    
    
    
    
                             DEEBS

                
                Oh no,  are we going to start a stereo contest in
                notes?  Deebs, you'll lose :`).
                
                Harmon Cardon used  to  be  a  big  name  in home
                equipment,  but  there are  many  companies  that
                smoke them now.  I'm  haven't  heard  much  about
                their  car  audio equipment, but if  you  have  a
                catalog or an address or tel no  so  I  could get
                one, I'd appreciate it.  I'm always looking for a
                new catalog.
                
                -  Rob who is running an Alpine head, Alpine  Eq,
                Alpine Xover, Alpine  seperates, Alpine 4x35 amp,
                Concord 1x500 amp and a pair of 15" subs -
                
                :`)

    A contest huh.....
    
    Well maybe I'll expand my budget a little more....
    
    Have you guys ever entered on of those contests?
    
    The Rebel

                
                I haven't  yet with this system.  Actually, I was
                supposed to be  with  my  last  system,  but  the
                amplifier (I only had  one  at the time) blew the
                day before on the way  home from the beach.  I'll
                be in a couple this year  though.   Cuomo's Crank
                It Up should be coming soon.   I  don't expect to
                win, just doing it for the hell of it.  I have to
                balance  out  my sound up front first to overcome
                the bass, which means another amp.  I may go with
                an a/d/s/ PQ20 running KEF seperates up front.
                
                - Rob -
                

    What type of affect does 127 db sound have on windows and ears...
    
   
   The Rebel

                
                A very  bad  one.   Rattling windows (and louvres
                and license plates), and heads turn 2 or 3 blocks
                down the road.   I  wear earplugs when I'm at the
                beach :`).  Threshhold of  pain  is 120dB.  Human
                ear  can  only  stand 15min/day at  120dB  before
                being  permanently damaged (or something close to
                that, I read it in the AUDIO conference).
                
                - Rob -
                

Here's my machinery:

JVC amplifier.
JVC tuner.
Sony CDPM-50 CD player.
Technics RS-B605 cassette recorder with Dolby HX Pro, B, C and dbx.
	dbx is THE NR for heavy metal as it reproduces the dynamics like on CD
	and let the quiet passages like on CD (no tape hiss)..but for the car
	I use no NR (just the HX Pro implicitely).
B&W DM 110i loudspeakers (75W ?).
AKAI VS-77 HI FI VCR (beats the cassette but I find the VHS cassettes too big
	and uneasy to manoeuver).
Sennheiser 540 headphones (once you hear them you cannot live without - but
	take care, they are much more powerful and resistant than your ears !).
A simple Sony Walkman.
In the car a Blaupunkt radio-cassette with 4 loudspeakers.

Sorin

    .47 Rob-
    
    I know it was an old reply, but I have to ask how loud 120db is.  In
    comparison to...
    
    Steve

                
                ummm...   let me see if i can find the chart from
                audio...  be back shortly...
                
                - rob who  hopes  to  be  up  about 140db when he
                builds his new subwoofer enclosure -
                

                Hmmmm....   can't  seem  to  find it.  i posted a
                note for a  pointer,  and  used  search  to  scan
                through an extracted directory.  i should find it
                tomorrow.
                
                cheers, rob
                

    
    	140 db!!!!
    
    	OHMIGOD!

    Rob??
    
    Hello??
    
    What did you say??  Can you even hear at all?  Like, 120db isn't
    enough.  140!!  Talk about metal up your a$$!!!!  :-)
    
    Steve

                

                I'm still  waiting for a pointer in AUDIO, but at
                the moment, the  highest reading I've achieved is
                129db.  I've been  reading a lot about enclosures
                lately,  and  am surprised at  the  SPL  increase
                associated with the proper box.   I  built my own
                box,  and  at  the  time,  I knew  nothing  about
                enclosures,  so it's just a box, not even  sealed
                and definately  not  ported  properly.    With  a
                correct box, I hope to gain from 6-12db, so I may
                hit the 140 mark,  but  if  not, should come very
                close :').
                
                Cheers, What?
                
                

    
    	I finally fixed my portable CD player!!
    
    	I dropped it during the winter, and it then skipped at about
    	35 minutes into every disc I played.
    
    	I tore it apart and greased the worm gear ... no luck.  Last
    	night I took it apart again and greased the other 2 gears,
    	and now it's back to normal (so far).
    
    							GTI
    

    
    	Well, maybe it's not fixed yet.
    
    	Now the ******* thing skips at about 7 minutes into the
    	disc, which would indicate a problem with the OTHER end
    	of the gear now.
    
    	Oh well ... back to the drawing board.
    
    							GTI
    

    i was wondering how greasing a gear could fix it considering how it
    broke...

    
    	But it DID fix the skip that was towards the end of the
    	discs ... and somehow transferred it to the beginning of
    	the discs.
    
    	I'll regrease the thing again and try it.
    
    							GTI
    

                I don't think that's all Shawn's greasing...
                
                :')
                
                

    maybe a can of green spraypaint would help it out

    
    	RE: Toenail
    
    	No green marker/spraypaint on MY CD's I'll tell ya ... I
    	don't believe that crap for a second.
    
    	RE: Rob
    
    	[insert nasty phrase here.  8^)]
    
    							GTI
    

                Hey  Shawn  !    Doncha'  know  that  you're  not
                supposed to be  dropping those things ?  Read the
                owners manual and you'll  find  that  it  isn't a
                frisbee ! :^)
                
                METALord"�

    
    	Yeah, I know - it was winter, and I had my bulky gloves
    	on, and it slipped out of my hand.
    
    	Next time I'll let my fingers freeze, so I at least won't
    	drop anything!!
    
    	8^)
    
    							GTI
    

                What  would   we  be  reading  if  it  wasn't  an
                emergency?
                
                Taking evasive action!
                
                As far as  "low as reasonable", 3.5 watts/channel
                is hardly what I  would  call  reasonable.   Most
                head untis have more power  than that.  Let's see
                wht else we have for that peice range...
                
                For $80, we have the Alpine  3501  @  2x13 watts,
                s/n  90db,  20Hz-20KHz  (which is really all  you
                need,  desigining  an  amp  to  be  totally sound
                efficient  beyond  those    specs   is  virtually
                useless).
                
                For $80, the Clarion200A  2x14, same specs as the
                Alpine.
                
                For  $65  the  Coustic AMP-100A  18x2  s/n  80db,
                30Hz-20KHz (yuk!)
                
                $65  will buy the Craig MA201  at  an  astounding
                2x40 85db s/n 20Hz-20Khz...
                
                $54 the FAS PA25 12.5x2 s/n 86db 20-20Khz
                
                $59, the Harmon Kardon CA205 2x3.5 90db 10-100Khz
                
                $70, Hi-Comp HCB-8036 18x2 80db 20-30Khz
                
                $69, Jensen A-80 2x18 86db 20-30Khz
                
                For $80, the Kraco...  I'll skip  this  one  (s/n
                60db HAHAHHAHA!!)
                
                $69, the LA Sound (believe it or not, a new audio
                company)  LP-1105  2x40  70db 20-20Khz or for $49
                the same specs but 2x25
                
                Majestic makes  3  with  horrible  specs (down to
                50db s/n)
                
                MEI PA-7220 2x16 75db 20-30khz
                
                Metrosound 2x20 80db 20-30khz
                
                Phoenix Gold MPH-6300 6x75 110db s/n 15-25khz for
                $13,500... oops, how'd that get in here :')
                
                Proton CA212 2x12 90db  s/n  20-20Khz (I'd choose
                this one over the HK) oh for $89
                
                Radio  Shack...    nah...   (Shawn's  going,  why
                didn't he tell us???  :'))
                
                Radion DAP-100 for $70 2x9 s/n  80, but even more
                important than the 100Khz level, this has  a freq
                range of 15Hz-250KHz... :')
                
                Sparkomatic  actually  has  one in here with some
                respectable  specs,  the  AMP8000  for  $90  2x45
                10Hz-30Khz 100db s/n...
                
                Yamaha YPA-100 2x12 20Hz-20Khz 100db s/n
                
                So, the HK does have some good specs, but how can
                you screw 'em up if there is no power?  Absurd...
                my  choice  would be the  Alpine  or  the  Proton
                taking into account various experiences I've  had
                with several of these amps.  The  Sparkomatic has
                some GREAT specs, but I haven't seen them winning
                any soundoff competitions yet...
                
                My $8.02...
                

    
    >            Radio  Shack...    nah...   (Shawn's  going,  why
    >            didn't he tell us???  :'))
    
    
    	OK, then I'll tell YOU:  [8^)]
    
    	RS 12-1957 2x40watts, 20-25KHz for $80.  S/N not given.
    
    
    							GTI
    

                Wise guy!  :')
                
                You must have the same directory!  Did ya see the
                Phoenix Gold amp  I was talking about a couple of
                months ago?!?
                
                - Merlin -
                

    
    	No, I have the RS catalog.
    
    	8^)
    
    	I remember you telling me about that 6x45 for $13K ... sounds
    	like alot to me.  $48/watt?  No thank you.
    
    							GTI
    

    
    	There will be a Mustang Saleen appearing at various Leiser
    	locations in the next week or so ... loaded with $15K worth
    	of Pioneer stereo equipment.
    
    	[No, the trunk isn't full of boxes ... I'm pretty sure it's
    	all wired in and working.  8^)]
    
    							GTI
    

                $15K on Pioneer?!?  YUK!
                
                Shawn, you  oughtta  see the Rockford Fosgate Van
                ($50K+ 4000 watts) or the Sony van (not sure what
                this thing cost, but  it had video DAT players on
                board as well).
                
                - Merlin -
                

    
    Just noticed I'd better update this note!  Current stereo:
    
    Alpine 7390 head unit
    Alpine 5952S CD player (currently at Alpine being repaired)
    Alpine 3321 11band eq/crossover
    Alpine 3528 amp at 4x35 watts/channel
    2 Soundstream D100-II's @ 50x2 watts/channel
    Concord CA200.2 amp @ 500 watts
    2 Alpine 6255 midrange drivers and tweets
    2 Rockford Fosgate SPP-158 15" subwoofers
    
    Total power: 840 watts
    

    
      Wow, how did you get all that in your car Rob?
    
    
    GAZ
    

    
    Ah, still plenty more room!  Next additions will be to dump the Concord
    amp, replace it with a Precision Power amp, an Eclipse DSP unit for
    surround sound, a center channel, some mirror mounted tweets, a couple
    of midbass drivers up front.  Dump the Rockford Fosgate 15's and
    replace them with 4 Polydax 12's.  Pick up an Altec Lansing ALC-20 eq
    unit and a couple of active crossovers.  Haven't decided from who yet. 
    For home, I don't go nearly as mental (though I got my brother into it
    now. He has a surround system with a sub now, drives me up a wall). I
    have a Denon receiver, BSR CD player, Sony dual deck, Criterion
    speakers.  Nothing fancy.  I'm a car audio psychopath, I don;t want to
    become a home audio one, that's too much money :')
    

    
    	RE: Rob
    
    	No, I don't have an EQ/amp combo ... they're separate.  But I
    	usually have the EQ bypass on to eliminate the static.  The
    	Sherwood amp I have is 120WPC max, and I estimate I'm running
    	it at about 70WPC or so.
    
    							GTI
    
    

    
    ah, thats right!! the crutchfield sherwood!  okay!  coolness!  btw,
    what static?  is the amp causing some sort of static problem withiin
    the system?  ive never heard a sherwood, so im kind of curious how well
    they sound.
    
    

    
    	Well, part of the problem is that I am running the amp off
    	of the speaker outs from the radio ... I didn't like the
    	sound from the pre-amps out.  Then the amp just multiplies
    	the static, and the EQ adds even more.
    
    	The reason I'm pretty sure the radio is the problem is that
    	if I use the portable CD in the car, running through the CD
    	input on the EQ, it sounds great ... just a bit of static
    	that you don't even notice on non-classical music.
    
    	I like the Sherwood so far ... not as clean as an Alpine, but
    	I really don't have the need/money for super clean sound.
    
    							GTI
    

    I have a question for Rob (our resident car audio expert)...   8-)
    
    What frequency do you cross your subwoofers over at?  I've had
    suggestions of 80Hz to 125Hz.  I'm in the process of adding a 2-12" Pyle 
    sub box to the system in the Bronco-saurus.  I'm using one of the older
    non-adjustable ADS crossovers (AX-2) and I have to solder up the
    correct resistors to change the crossover frequency.
    
    Thanks for any and all advice.
    
    -Stevie D

    
    	[I'm not Rob, but I do know this much.  And nothing more.]
    
    	If you use 125Hz you'll be losing some of the stereo signals
    	that you'd otherwise hear.
    
    	80Hz is right around the point where stereo sound starts to
    	occur.
    
    							GTI
    

    WTF ... the folks in audio didn't help me on this one, maybe some of
    you people can.
    
    I got a *killah* deal on a Clarion AM/FM/Tape deck ... but, the cables
    (RCA ends) that connects to the power amp was cut off.  So now I need
    to wire some RCA cables back to it.  Any suggestions ?  
    
    To the best of memory, it has white, red, green, blue, yellow, black
    wires - plus a white one with no copper wire in it (?), all this
    wrapped in sheilding ... 
    
    The red wire goes to the remote on the power amp, I'm pretty sure -
    past that, I'm in the woods.
    
    
    HELP !
    
    Scary 

    
    	Is this a Clarion set-up, IE Clarion deck and Clarion amp, or
    	is just the deck a Clarion, and the amp is something else?
    
    	There are so many combinations for wires on stereos it's am-
    	azing.  2 channel output, 4 channel output, common ground for
    	each side, common ground for all 4 speakers, etc.
    
    	I think this is the reason you haven't gotten an answer yet.
    
    							GTI

    BTW - Where are the AUDIO and VIDEO conferences now?
    
    When it comes to VCR head cleaners, do you guys prefer the dry or wet
    system?  Why?
    
    Mike

    >If you use 125Hz you'll be losing some of the stereo signals
    >that you'd otherwise hear.  80Hz is right around the point where 
    >stereo sound starts to occur.
    
    
    I'll be running the subwoofer with a mono amp, so stereo imaging isn't
    a problem.  
    
    So what crossover frequency do y'all recommend?
    
    -Stevie D

    RE: Clarion ...
    
    Non-powered unit ... front/rear fader ... left/right fader ... going
    into a 40x40 Radio Shack power amp ...
    
    
    Scary (who'd rather (not* take it to a reapair shop ... $30 plus parts)

    
    	RE: Steve
    
    	BUT, if you use 125Hz as a cross-over point, then that's a
    	range of 45Hz or so [80Hz-125Hz] that won't be going to the
    	stereo speakers in your set-up.
    
    	In other words, you'll be "losing" 45Hz worth of stereo sig-
    	nals due to the cross-over point.
    
    							GTI

    So Shawn, in regards to my subwoofer,
    
    Are you saying I should use a crossover frequency of 80Hz or less?
    
    That sounds awful low...but of course I'm not really an expert!
    
    -Stevie D       8-)

    
    Okay, let me try this, I'm pretty messed up, but... :')
    
    My personal system is xovered at 50Hz, but that's me.  Can you tell us
    a bit about your equipment, frew response of your speakers, etc? 
    Perhaps with that bit of info, we could help out a bit better.  Car
    audio is half my life.  If I'd spent on my drums what I have on car
    audio, I'd make Neil Peart look like he had a 5 piece set :').  Tell us
    your complete setup.  Head unit, amps, speakers, car type, speaker
    locations, angle, etc.  If you could come up with thiele/small
    parameters for your subs, that would be even better (but I suppose
    thats pushing it :'))
    
    As far as someone mentioning the Clarion, why not just call them?  I'm
    sure they'd be happy to send out a wiring diagram.
    
    - Rob back to the Jim Beam...
    
    

    Re: -1
    
    Rob, right now the Bronco-saurus ('85 full-size Bronco) has:
    
    o Kenwood KRC-3002 head unit
    
    o Infinity CS-1K component system - Freq Resp 36Hz-32KHz - has its own
      passive 3-way crossover - tweeters are mounted on either corner of the 
      dash, mids are in the doors, and woofers are in the side panels behind 
      the front seat.
    
    o Boston Acoustic C700 plates - Freq Resp 58Hz-20KHz - these are mounted
      above the Infinity Woofers in the side panels.
    
    o ADS PQ10 power amp in 4 channel mode 4x40 watts - 2 channels power the
      Infinity system and 2 power the BAs.
    
    I have in my basement that I want to install:
    
    o Pyle TS212 subwoofer - Freq Resp 20-500Hz
    
    o Nakamichi PA-400M 140 watt mono amp
    
    o ADS AX-2 Electronic Crossover 
    
    The speakers in the side panels are not capable of producing good low
    bass just because of the design of the truck, so I want relieve them of
    this responsibility by crossing over everything below a certain
    frequency and feeding it to the subs.  I just need some advice on what 
    you think that frequency should be? If you think I should try a few
    different ones I could solder up a couple sets of headers for the AX-2
    with different frequencies, but it's not as simple as turning a pot to
    change the cutoff.
    
    As an aside, I picked-up everything except the head unit about a year
    ago from a former Wang employee who had all this stuff and more in a
    Porsche.  He was in a fix and I got the whole kaboodle *CHEAP*.  So my
    selection of components was based purely on monetary reasons, rather
    that esoteric ones   8-) 
    
    So what do you think?
    
    -Stevie D

Article: 850
From: [email protected] (DAVE McNARY)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.electronics,clari.news.music,clari.biz.economy
Subject: Agreement reached on digital recording
Date: 11 Jul 91 21:43:45 GMT
 
	The recording and consumer electronics industries announced a
landmark agreement Thursday ending a decade-long standoff over home
recording on digital audio recorders.
	The agreement calls for producers of digital tape recorders, which
can copy digitally recorded music to produce near-perfect versions of
songs, to pay royalties to the recording industry for sales lost to
taping.
	The compromise, encompassed in a draft of copyright legislation to be
submitted to Congress, provides for a royalty of 2 percent of the
wholesale price of recorders, with a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $8
per machine, and a 3 percent royalty on blank tapes and discs.
	Those payments would be divided through a complex formula among
record companies, songwriters, artists and publishers.
	The proposed legislation also would require that all non-professional
consumer digital audio recorders include electronics that will prevent
the making of digital copies of copies. That would be accomplished by
programming the recorders to read encoded information in digital
recordings, which would specify whether the song may be copied without
limitation, may be copied only once, or may not be copied at all.
	The pact also said that the music industry will not seek similar
royalties on conventional analog recorders or tapes.
	The pact was announced at a news conference in New York by the
Electronic Industries Association, the Recording Industry Association of
America and the Copyright Coalition of songwriters and music publishers
represented by the National Music Publishers Association.
	``This proposed legislation will settle the debate over the legality
of consumer audio taping,'' said Gary J. Shapiro vice president at the
consumer electronics trade group.
	``The royalty which manufacturers will pay on new digital recording
technologies will benefit consumers, assuring them full access to new
product and an ever-increasing, diverse supply of prerecorded music.''
	The compromise had been widely expected. Shapiro had hinted last
month that the trade group was willing to settle the issue when he said,
``It is time for this digital stalemate to be broken.''
	Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp. introduced digital audio tape
players into the United States last year with the goal of selling 100,
000 units annually. But sales have been far under expectations because
of their high costs and a lack of digital product from record companies.
	Sony was sued by songwriters over alleged violation of their
copyrights because the players allow unauthorized recordings by
consumers, but the songwriters and Sony announced Thursday that the suit
will be dropped.
	The compromise could open the door for lower-cost digital recorders.
N.V. Phillips of the Netherlands and Tandy Corp. of Fort Worth, Texas,
have reportedly been developing a moderately priced system called
digital compact cassette, or DCC.
	Additionally, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. of Japan, which
makes Panasonic products and owns MCA Inc. of Universal City, Calif.,
has said it will back DCC.
	Sony, which has said it may introduce a low-cost home digital
recording machine called the Mini Disc which would use CDs instead of
tapes, also said Thursday it will ``actively support'' the compromise
legislative proposal.
	The Mini Disc, which would have a 2.5-inch diameter and fit easily
into a customer's hands, would be the first CD that could both record
music and play it back.
	The first DCC players, produced by Phillips and Tandy, are expected
to reach U.S. electronics stores in about a year, while Sony's Mini Disc
will probably be available late next year.
	Sony recently indicated it plans to license the DCC technology and
begin production possibly next year.
	Recorded music sales are estimated at more than $7.5 billion
annually, with audio cassettes making up nearly half of that.

    Does anyone have a delay system hooked up to their stereo????

    
    	What kind of a delay?
    
    	My amp clicks on about 2 or 3 seconds after I turn on the radio.
    	Is that what you mean?
    
    	If so, it's built into the amp.
    
    							GTI

    I think she means delay from front to rear speakers.  I would assume it
    would hook into a pair of line out jacks, and then it would have to go
    to another amp which would drive your rear speakers.
    
    |KS|
    

    forget the delay, put an Eventide H3000 harmonizer on your stereo ;-)

    it does delays too...

    
    you solve that delay problem yet sue?  i looked over the unit you have
    pretty thoroughly cause i wanted to swipe it :') so, what's up?
    
    (send mail)
    
    

    
    	I sent her what I thought would work ... Sue, did you try my
    	method?  Did it work?  Did it blow up?
    
    	8^)
    
    							GTI

    I installed a used JVC AM/FM/Cass in my father-in-law's truck.  It has
    digital tuning.  There are 6 buttons; channels 1-5 and a band channel.
    There is a clock button and a scan button.  I figured out how to set
    the clock,  but I can't figure out how to set the stations.  Can anyone
    help???
    
    Chris D.

    
    Pull the on-off or tuning knob out. press the selected station.
    
    Repeat.

    
    I know the on/off/volume knob also works the electric antenna(if he had
    one).  I'll try the tuning knob.
    
    Chris D.

    Some of those preset ones program the preset by holding the preset
    button in.  The factory radio in my Ford is like that.
    
    gh

    
    HUH!!!  What preset??  There is no preset button!
    
    Chris D.

    Tune to a station you want, and just hold in the button of your choice
    (1-5) untill you hear a beep, or the music come through the speakers.
    
    |KS|
    

    
    Well, I tune to the station I (he) wants and as soon as I touch the 
    button it jumps back to the station the button was originally set for.
    
    Chris D.

    
    "Throw the f*cker out the window"
    
    
    Tommy Chong

    re-1  BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
    
                  Frizkid
    

    
    Well, maybe I would, butit ain't mine, it's my father-in-laws.  So, it
    doesn't bother me that much, it's just curiousity since I tried
    everything I could think of.  But I'll tell ya, if he didn't buy it, I 
    would have.  $35.00 from a junk yard.
    
    Chris D.

    
    
    	Great!  Thanks Mike.....  =)
    

    
    	I just bought a Clarion removable CD player for my car ... going
    	to pick it up tomorrow and hopefully install it this week.
    
    	The 16V/240W antenna mobile lives again!!
    
    							GTI

    I think that, like most vendors, Teac has both high and low quality
    equipment (and cooresponding prices).  I imagine that the quality of
    what you get depends a lot on what model it is.
    
    But, for my vote, even the cheapest of CD players that I've seen
    (like...umm...mine for instance) sound great!  Better then some of the
    best cassette players...
    
    Greg

Yeah JJ - What Greg says.

FWIW - I bought a cheapo Toshiba like 5 years ago that goes to our gigs
with us in my Van (this means it regularly gets crushed, dropped, bashed
and otherwise abused), and I haven't had a problem with it EVER...And it sounds
GREAT !

RE: Carosels and Magazines.

Stay away from the Magazine loaded CD players.  IMHO, they S*CK!
...Unless you have multiple magazines.  I think the Carosels are more
convenient.  And the singles work good too.

jc

Well Mike, that would be pretty decent for sure...  However, I don't
have but a single disc player in my van, and a 6-CD mag for my home
system...  And I only have one mag for the home system !

I'll load it up with,say:

MegaDeth - RIP
Annihilator - Never,Neverland
Annihilator - Alice In Hell
Metal Church - The Dark
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Metallica - AJFA

Flip the bloody thing on "Random" and go feed the doggies.  I come back 
after two tunes and find my wife has slipped a Madonna CD in there or something
just as nasty (Beastie Boys or sum-such).  And of course all the GOOD CD's
are sittin' in a pile on the coffee table... :)

Eewwwww.  anyway, I just think the carosels are a little more convenient.
:)

    
    	I have a Technics [insert model # here] carousel player that I
    	bought at Leiser [about 6 months before they closed down] for
    	$149 ... cashed in all my spare change I'd been saving.  The
    	thing is great!!  Works off of the same remote as my Technics
    	receiver, and has all the usual features plus a "link" for the
    	Technics cassette player I have [length of songs to be recorded
    	is tallied up and the cassette player decides how many songs
    	will fit on side one ... with the rest going on side 2].
    
    	And the magazine-type players don't let you change a disc if
    	the CD is in "play" mode.  With the carousel, you can remove
    	any of the 4 CD's not currently playing without having to stop
    	the unit.
    
    							GTI

I seem to remember that stock checks arrive one week exactly from the date of
sale.

Judy:  I'd recommend a Technics also.  I bought one for $100 for my mom that
did amazing things.  You could program tape length in and it would stop at the
right point and wait for you to flip the tape.  Too bad she doesn't have a tape
deck (but I did!).  The exact opposite of mine which has no remote and isn't
even programmable.  I still like mine though.

Watch out for Lechmere, they'll put the squeeze on you for the service contract
which can run $20-30.


Tim

    
    
    	Ok, I'll check out Technics at Lechmere first.....
    
    	Thanks guys!
    

RE: Shawn

Yeah man - thats why I say Carosels RULES !

JJ- get the one Shawn has !!

jc (Who wishes his was not a mag)

    I like Carousels too...esp. the double decker on at Great America!

    
    	RE: Buck
    
    	Wise-*ss!!  8^)
    
    	RE: Service contracts
    
    	Yeah, I wouldn't bother with those stupid things.  A friend and I
    	had a LONG discussion with a salesman at Leiser, where I basically
    	told the guy that if the service contract wasn't a money-maker for
    	the store then they wouldn't be offered.  And he came back with the
    	expected "But what if something unforeseen happens?  Then you're
    	stuck paying out of your pocket."  Well, during 6 years of buying
    	ALOT of Technics/Panasonic stuff, I have had 1 power supply blow
    	in my 1st receiver ... which was covered under warranty.
    
    	The moral of the story ... pick a brand you can trust and you'll
    	probably have no problems.  Especially considering Leiser wanted
    	something like $80 for a $250 Panasonic stereo TV I bought.  It's
    	really not worth it, IMO.
    
    							GTI

    re: service contracts
    
    Consumer Reports agrees with Shawn that these are a waste of your
    money.  
    
    I personally have never had a piece of stereo gear which needed
    anything other then normal maintenance (which those contracts don't
    cover).
    
    gh

    
    	Consumer Reports agrees with me?  Oh no!!
    
    	That almost makes me want to change my mind, but I won't.
    
    							GTI

    
    	Well I "splurged" and went for the Pioneer.  It was 10%
    	off cuz it was the display model but when the stockboy 
    	brought the box out, it had a brand new one in it so 
    	the guy gave me the new one for the 10% off price anyhoo!
    
    	I wanted one with a remote and being able to program the
    	playing order by numbers.....I haven't had a chance to play
    	with it yet cuz my CDs are still at the 'rents!  But I'm
    	picking them up tonite.
    
    	JJ
    

    When(if)I get my share money I'm off to buy a new cd player.I've got 2
    in mind;a Marantz 42 or a Technics 400(yslp or something).The Technis
    is slightly ahead in my want list and can be bought for 175 quid!
    
    
    
                                                Staynz

    I've had a Technics reciever, turntable, and eq.  All three components
    have had problems to some extent which I never got fixed because they
    weren't "fatal" and the warranties were expired.
    
    Turntable is supposed to auto-size a 7" or 12" record and start playing
    the first track when you press START.  Sometimes it thinks it's a 7"
    when it's a normal 12" LP and starts playing from the middle of the
    record.
    
    EQ has a cold solder joint or something which causes one channel to
    crackle sometimes when a tape is played through tape monitor.  Twisting
    the case slightly fixes this.
    
    Reciever went wacko one day and blew one channel of the amp out (and my
    speaker with it.)  I guess this one was fatal come to think of it.
    
    I'm not knocking them... I just don't buy Technics stuff anymore.
    
    Ken

About all you can do is try to avoid "known problem" components.  Much of my
stereo right now I bought used because I can't afford the stuff I like.  

I do own a pair of KEF speakers formerly owned by Robert Parrish (of the Boston
Celtics).  He blew them up and they were rebuilt at the factory and bought by 
me.

I'm asked by my family what to stereo stuff to buy since I have been a stereo 
nut since I was in high school.  I think that Technics is the unit to buy for
around $100.

Tim

    
    	I finally got the front speakers back in the VW after a couple
    	months ... had water leaking through the doors and had the VW
    	dealer replace the "foils" [plastic sheets in the doors] since
    	the old ones were shriveled up and not stopping the water from
    	coming in.
    
    	I also had 1 bad interconnect between the EQ and right front
    	speaker, which I "temporarily" replaced by running an RS gold
    	connector right along the floor [under the right front mat] and
    	over to one of the amps.  One of these days I might even pull
    	up the carpet and run it where it should be.
    
    	Sounds MUCH better with sound coming out of the front now!!
    
    							GTI