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Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

Title:Welcome to the CD Notes Conference
Notice:Welcome to COOKIE
Moderator:COOKIE::ROLLOW
Created:Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:Fri Mar 03 1989
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1517
Total number of notes:13349

1486.0. "advice wanted - Technics CD purchase" by ISLNDS::CAPLOW () Wed Jan 18 1989 17:52

    I am in the process of purchasing a CD player and have done a 
    fair amount of research to-date incl reading thru this and the
    AUDIO notefiles.
    
    I'm seriously considering the Technics SLP350 based on the specs,
    which seem to be better than those of most other players:
    
    	freq resp = 2-20 +/-0.3
    
    	S/N       = 103
    
    	THD%      = 0.005%
    
    	over-sampl = 4x
    
    	bit/wrd    = 18
    
    These specs taken together, and with a price tag of $270 seem to make
    the choice obvious.  I must be missing something.  I'd like to 
    solicit some advice on this purchase or some alternatives $200-$300
    range.  
    
    thanks,
    
    Rich
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1486.1QUARK::LIONELAd AstraWed Jan 18 1989 21:0411
    The specs are meaningless.  At that price range, buy a name brand
    that does what you want it to.  The Technics is competent enough.
    
    Better is to look at the reviews in the magazines, especially
    Digital Audio, where they put various players through the same tests,
    unlike the manufacturers who may use different testing techniques.
    Anyway, in CD players, most of the "specs" are hype as the differences
    between most players is inaudible.  Certainly at $250-$300, you're
    going to get an ok, but not great, player.
    
    					Steve
1486.2Looked at any SONYs?GLORY::HULLHallalujah!! The Resurrection (Plan A) has come!Wed Jan 18 1989 21:1639
re:
	< Note 1486.0 by ISLNDS::CAPLOW >
                   -< advice wanted - Technics CD purchase >-

    For about the same $$$ ( ~299) you could get a SONY CDP-C50 carousel
changer model, with the following specs (almost identical to your Technics
one):
    
    	freq resp = 2-20 +/-0.3
    
    	S/N       = >100
    
    	THD%      = 0.05%
    
    	over-sampl = 4x
    
    	bit/wrd    = 16

        3 beam tracking
    
>    These specs taken together, and with a price tag of $270 seem to make
>    the choice obvious.  I must be missing something.  I'd like to 
>    solicit some advice on this purchase or some alternatives $200-$300
>    range.  
    
    I had the C50 for about 3 weeks then upgraded to the C70 for the added
programming functionality. Look in many other notes here for comments
on the SONY CDP Cxx models.  So far the player has been flawless except for
SONY's brain-dead method of *multi-disc* shuffle (random) play mode (you
can get repeats often).  Single disc shuffle is fine.  

I wouldn't hesitate in the least to recommend a SONY to anyone based on my
own experience with it.  Plus, if you hurry, a SONY buy gets you 5 discs
for 1 thru the CBS disc club.  Dealers should have the card to send in.
Offer expires 1/31/89.  I was very satisfied. 

Good hunting!

	Al
1486.3Check Sony ADVLSI::MALLYAFri Jan 27 1989 17:2234
I almost bought the SLP-350 myself. I liked it's features and the 
display is real neat. I was very particular about specs (2x, 3-beam etc.)
during my initial survey, but looking back at it I think almost all the
present day CD players in that price range are more or less equal in
that regard. The SLP-350 has most of the features that I was looking
for (remote,skip,search,random access etc.) Besides I think it's also
got some sort of peak detecting feature which is useful for dubbing. 

I had a Technics SLP-230 for about 15 days. I believe it's discontinued
now and the SLP-350 is almost the same player. It was on sale at
Lechmere and the salesperson there convinced me that I wouldn't get
a better deal and that with the 30 day no-questions return policy
I stood no risk. I hadn't looked at any other players then. With the 
It cost me $280 with an  extra 1 yr warranty. (I personally won't 
recommend paying extra for a warranty) 

I later saw the 350 advertised at much lower prices (as low as $230).
I would have bought it, but I got the Sony CDP-32 for $179. I've
had the Sony for over a month now, and would recommend it anytime.
It's almost equivalent to the SLP-350.
The only thing I miss is headphone volume control 'cos I haven't 
bought my speakers and receiver as yet. However for the price plus
the 5 CD deal, the offer was too good to pass. 

The response time (switching between tracks) of the Technics is slower
compared to the Sony's. (I didn't feel the Technics was slow till I
got the Sony).

For $250-$300 you could easily get the carousel player. It's pretty
useful, especially if you buy CD's at the rate that I am :-). I
didn't like any of the cartridge loading types though. 

Sudhir.