Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    well, i own a magnovox/phillips cd player which was modified by
    musical concepts (located in st.louis missouri) it sounds fine.
    the unmodifed mag/phillips players are quite good price/performance.
    check them out. good luck, michael

    
    	While we're on the Magnavox topic, I've been looking to upgrade
    	my Yamaha CDX2 (worst piece of stereo equipment I've ever owned!)
    	and have decided to give the Magnavox an audition because of
    	it's highly favorable price/performance ratings.
    
    	My question is, what stores carry them (between Worcester and
    	Boston) and has anyone heard of any recent sales?
    
    	Thanks in advance,
    
    	Dave

    Yeah... don't buy a Yamaha, at least not unless your SURE they've
    greatly improved them from the first 2 generations.  They don't
    track well, and  the sound is only OK (for a CD player)

    --check out musical concepts they are extremely knowledgable. give
    them info about your system and they will recommend what type of
    cd player would best fit your system. they also do mods for amps
    and pre-amps. also in the audio conference there are many topics
    on purchasing low to high end cd players. hope this helps
    
           michael

I did some fairly extensive listening tests last winter in Boston area
stores. At the same time, a friend who used to own and manage a hi-fi
retail store did the same thing on his own. We were quite amazed to
discover that we both picked the NAD for best sound. It's a very
simple "black box" but has a smooth, sweet response in the high
frequencies equalled only by some very expensive products. 

Its only problem is reliability, according to the salespeople.
However, we discovered that Proton and NAD are related companies and
that the Proton is the same machine, made in Japan instead of the
U.S., and works just fine. I bought one (around $325) and have been
delighted with it. Few frills, just good sound. 

        Re: .5
        
        Proton is related to NAD about the same way that Data General is
        related to DEC. Both are designed in the US, but neither company
        has any manufacturing facilities anywhere. They both have their
        products built in the far east by whoever will build them the
        cheapest. I suppose that it is possible that the same factory over
        there might build things for both, but there is no connection
        between the two. 

    Re: .6
    
    Sorry, I believe you are mistaken.  Proton was formed to produce
    the video monitor designed by NAD which NAD didn't want to make.
    The two companies share quite a bit of engineering and design,
    and the Proton and NAD amplifiers, tuners and receivers share many
    of the same circuit designs (NAD's Power Envelope is the same as
    Proton's Dynamic Power on Demand, both use Larry Schotz tuners,
    etc.).  This is not to say that Proton and NAD make identical products.
    
    				Steve

        I think you are close. Proton was formed by the NAD video folks
        when NAD decided not to go that route. They left NAD and formed
        Proton as a seperate company. Later NAD did eventually get into
        video, and Proton into audio. Since they split off, it isn't too
        surprising that they would use some of the same circuit designs,
        and hire the same consultants. 

re .8

So it sounds like .6 was right using DG and DEC in the analogy, but for the 
wrong reasons...