Advent's successor to the 201
The Model 201A cassette deck from Advent is the successor to its Model 201. The updated deck features a new record/play head made of Sendust alloy, which combines the best characteristics of permalloy and ferrite, and a headphone amplifier. It retains the 201's Dolby system and equalized peak-reading metering, and so on. Frequency response is rated at 28 Hz to 15 kHz ±2 dB. Wow and flutter, according to Ad vent, is less than 0.15%. Fully automatic end-of-tape-shutoff is pro vided in the Model 201A, which costs $399.95.
Bose advances with Series III
The Bose 901 Series III is completely re-engineered from the original 901 using new techniques and materials. One result, according to Bose, is more than 5 dB greater efficiency. Recommended amplifier power range is from 10 to 70 watts (10 to 18 1/2 dBW). The new driver has an injection-molded plastic frame, which is said to eliminate leakage of the magnetic field. A larger cone is specially shaped for extended high frequency response, and a helical aluminum voice coil is edge-wound in a single layer for greater density of conductive material in the magnetic gap. The enclosure, called Acoustic Matrix, is designed to reduce cone motion and distortion. Suggested price is $750 per pair including equalizer.
Arp Minus Noise Mixer
The Model 8 from Arp is an 8-channel stereo mixer designed for in-performance use and billed by the manufacturer as a Minus Noise Mixer.
To get less noise out than goes in, Arp first designed a mixer with super low-noise, direct-coupled, balanced-input circuitry; preamplifiers with selectable gain; and EQ and control sections constructed of high-grade, low-noise components. The Minus Noise then adds the Arp Dynamic Noise Filter, which is said to analyze the whole signal and decide what is music and what is noise. Levels can be monitored with a peak reading LED display. A sequenced power supply keeps the mixer silent when it’s turned on and off. Built-in LED channel indicators blink to let you know what instrument or mike is connected to which slider. The price is $895.
New tweeter in EPI speaker
EPI Loudspeakers, a division of Epicure Products, has announced the EPI-101, which has a one-inch air-spring tweeter with a phenolic cap support that is said to reduce distortion. Linearity of the 8-inch woofer is increased by using a light, stiff cone and an improved spider and voice coil assembly. Recommended amplifier power range for the speaker is 12 to 75 watts (11 to 19 dBW). Frequency response is rated at 46 Hz to 20 kHz. The EPI-101, in a wood-grain vinyl cabinet with bronze trim, is priced at $119.95.
Analogue 520 preamp
Analog Engineering Associates of Florida has begun marketing its line of audio products with the Analogue 520 modular stereo preamp. Features include two tape monitor circuits, continuously variable Summation Filter loudness compensation, the Multi-Path Feedback circuit credited for the unit's low transient distortion, and a phono section with three gain stages. Analog Engineering claims an RIAA frequency response of 20 Hz to 25 kHz ( + 0, -1/2 dB) and total harmonic distortion of less than 0.005% at any frequency from 10 Hz to 20 kHz. The Analogue 520 costs $590.
MXR's Compander
The MXR Compander, according to MXR Innovations, Inc., is capable of doubling the dynamic range of most open-reel and cassette decks. The noise-reduction device compresses the dynamic range of signals during recording and expands them during playback. This process, says MXR, reduces noise sufficiently for the quietest passages to be heard while musical peaks are reproduced without distortion. The Compander is also said to eliminate the need for level adjustments by processing all frequencies at all levels in a similar manner, and it can be used with DBX-encoded recordings. The price is $129.95.
Economy speaker from Jensen
The Model 20, a compact, two-way speaker from Jensen Sound Laboratories, uses an 8-inch woofer and 2-inch cone tweeter. Maximum power rating is 40 watts (16 dBW), and frequency response is rated at 35 Hz to 20 kHz. The Model 20 has a wood cabinet covered in walnut-grain vinyl and costs $59.95.
Servo-motor cassette deck from Sony
The premiere model in a series of Sony servo-motor cassette decks introduced by Superscope is the TC-206SD. Like other recorders in the group, it’s equipped with Dolby, Dolby FM, ferrichrome equalization, and a peak limiter. The TC-206SD, a front-loading deck with mike/line mixing, costs $349.95. The other units in the line range in price from $199.95 to $299.95.
Tandberg's Fasett speakers
The Fasett speaker is a bass reflex system whose multifaceted enclosure allows unusual versatility of placement and angling. The perforated front plate is said to allow the highest audible notes to pass unhindered. Impedance is rated at 4 to 8 ohms, frequency range at 50 Hz to 20 kHz, and maximum continuous power at 25 watts (14 dBW). The Fa sett is available in black, antique white, and orange and costs $160 a pair.
New mixer from Tapco
The latest entry in the Tapco mixer line is the 6200 six-in, two-out, PA recording mixer. Each channel includes a pan pot, high and low equalization, effects send, and rotary volume pot. Two additional switched equalizations affect both output channels: The microphone equalization provides a rising response with 9 dB of treble boost at 20 kHz; a rumble filter effectively provides 6 dB per octave of rolloff and is 6 dB down at 100 Hz. The master section provides a separate effects control for each output and can be used to drive a mono PA without interfering with the stereo buses. Frequency response is rated at ± 1 dB, 15 Hz to 40 kHz; harmonic distortion at 0.06%; equivalent input noise at -128 dBV. The 6200A (unbalanced mike inputs) sells for $349, the 6200B (balanced mike inputs) for $454.
Barzilay's expandable entertainment center
New from Barzilay is a three-piece entertainment center, designated the EEC-1. Its end elements can be pulled away from the central unit, increasing its length from six feet (as shown) to ten feet and tailoring it to a wide variety of home entertainment systems. The cabinet is finished in walnut veneer with solid walnut moldings. The center section includes a record rack and has tambour doors that open and close together and disappear into the cabinet when open. The EEC-1 will sell for about $400.
Dubie Recording Control System
The Dubie Tape-Aid Corporation of Oklahoma has introduced its Recording Control System, a combination mixing/fading console. The Dubie Model CD-5, which can accept up to three tape recorders with one amplifier, has multitrack, sound-effect, and editing applications. Monitoring switching is provided, and fading controls allow professional fade-out from one sound source to another. The CD-5 costs $69.95.
Peavey's portable microphone mixer
New from Peavey, the 600S is a portable stereo mixer that features six channels, each with a high- and low-impedance mike input, variable in put attenuator, separate bass and treble equalization, a stereo pan pot, independent monitor send, independent effects send, and a slide-control output fader. There are four aux inputs as well. The master section provides separate low and high EQ for the A and B stereo outputs. Master-section controls include effects level, reverb contour, effects return, and effects pan. Three slide faders control the A and B and monitor out put levels. Frequency response is rated at 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than 0.1% harmonic distortion, equivalent input noise at -123 dBV, output at 5 volts rms. The price is $424.50.
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(High Fidelity, Feb 1977)
Also see:
The New Releases: Wagner's Masters Get Their Due, David Hamilton; New Life for Louise Conrad, L. Osborne; How Do You Like Your Liszt? by Harris Goldsmith