Cloning Tube Sound
Tubephiles will lust after Carver's new cost-no-object Silver Seven vacuum-tube power amp ($17,500 per stereo pair). So they could be just a little peeved that the practical Mr. Carver has also produced what he says is its sonic duplicate in the $799, solid-state M-4.0t stereo power amp. According to Carver, a particular amp's sound is described by its "transfer function," the exact mathematical relationship between output signal and input signal. The Silver Seven's transfer function has been designed into the M-4.0t.
Both amps are rated at 375 watts (25.7 dBW) per channel into 8 ohms, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with no more than 0.5 per cent THD. The M-4.0t employs Carver's Magnetic Field design, which results in a lightweight (23-pound) unit that draws current only as needed -therefore generating little heat and obviating the need for heavy heat sinks. Bridged for mono, the 4.0t has a rated clipping power of 1,000 watts (30 dBW). Another new Magnetic Field power amp, the $549 M-0.5t, is rated at 140 watts (21.5 dBW) per channel but does not feature bridged operation or the Silver Seven's transfer function.
Carver's top AM/FM receiver is the new 6250 ($899), rated at 125 watts (21 dBW) per channel and including the company's highly regarded Asymmetrical Charge-Coupled FM tuner section, which works to reduce background noise and the audible effects of multipath interference.
The unit also features Carver Sonic Holography, a process that widens and deepens the stereo soundstage, and a generous array of inputs including two for video sound. A wireless remote operates most receiver functions as well as those of Carver CD players. Carver Corp., P.O. Box 123Z Lynnwood, Wash. 98046.
3-D TV Sound
With the advent of MTS (stereo) TV, manufacturers began paying closer attention to the audio sections of their sets. Perhaps the best example of this is the Zenith/Bose connection. Now Toshiba is making its move by incorporating Carver Sonic Holography in four of its high-end large screen stereo TV sets. So far, two direct view models--the 27-inch CX-2788 ($1,800) and the 30-inch CX-3088 ($2,800), both with subwoofers-and two rear-projection sets--the 46-inch TP-4688 ($3,500) and 52-inch TP-5288 (price not yet available)-incorporate the spatial expansion circuitry. Sonic Holography works by canceling interaural crosstalk, so that your right ear hears sounds almost exclusively from the right channel, and vice versa for your left ear. The effect widens the stereo soundstage and tends to add some depth as well (on stereo material, of course). Toshiba America, 82 Totowa Rd., Wayne, N.J. 07470.
Flexible Power
As a power amp for a surround-sound sys em, the NEC AVA-505 ($449) is hard to eat. It operates in a three- or five-channel ode, accommodating surround-sound processors both with and without a built n stereo amp. For example, the AVA-505 an provide 30 watts (14.8 dB W) per channel to front and back speaker pairs and 60 watts (17.8 dB W) to the center speaker in a full-fledged Dolby Surround setup. Alternatively, the front and back amps can be bridged to provide 60 watts to each of the three front channels, while your processor or another stereo amp powers the back channels. Volume knobs on the 505's front panel enable you to balance levels in either mode. NEC Home Electronics, 1255 Michael Dr., Wood Dale, Ill. 60191.
---- Sony GV-8 Video Walkman
Personal Video
That's Sony's blanket term for a new generation of portable video products, exemplified by the GV-8 Video Walkman. The GV-8 contains an 8mm VCR, a VHF/ UHF TV tuner with a telescoping antenna, a three-inch color LCD screen, and a built-in speaker. Other features include an external antenna connector, audio and video input and output connections, a one event program timer, and a sleep timer that shuts off the set after one hour. The unit can be run from either DC, supplied nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, or alkaline batteries in an optional external case. The GV-8 weighs less than three pounds and measures just 5 by 8 inches across and 2 1/2 inches thick. It's incredible, and you pay for it: $1,300. The striking quality of the GV-8's color LCD will probably change your mind about the viability of such devices.
It's available without the VCR in the 2.7 inch FDL-330S ($650), a cube-shaped set whose tuner "pack" can be removed to make the monitor small and light enough to mount on a camcorder. An audio-video input and an earphone jack are included, and the unit runs on DC or batteries. Sony Corp., Sony Dr., Park Ridge, N.J. 07656.
A/V Centerpiece
Yamaha's AVX-100U ($699) is a "master control" center for audio-video surround sound systems. It contains two separate stereo amps -65 watts (18.1 dBW) for the front channels and 14 watts (11.5 dBW) for the back -plus a digital-delay surround-sound processor featuring Dolby Surround and seven other effects. The back channel amps can be bridged to sup ply 28 watts (14.5 dBW) to a center channel. As befits a master controller, the AVX-100U contains a slew of audio and video connections (including an S-video input), an elaborate independent recording-out selector, and a comprehensive re mote that operates other Yamaha "RS" audio and video components. The unit's operating modes can be displayed on a TV monitor, and a titling feature enables you to superimpose three 24-character lines on a video recording. Yamaha Electronics Corp., 6660 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, Calif 90620.
Autosound Fashions
Last month's "Autophile" mentioned Clarion's new Audia 6000 car CD changer ($1,649), a 12-disc model with a stalk mounted control head that can be re moved for safekeeping and to program CD sequences at home. A similarly eye-catching design is used for the 720EQ seven band electronic equalizer ($500), which features a surround-sound processor with a three-preset digital delay line. As many as five EQ curves can be memorized and the spectrum analyzer display has eight different modes to aid in making EQ adjustments. A three-position subwoofer crossover is included.
Clarion says its 551ORP autoreverse cassette/receiver ($390) was designed by a young female Japanese engineer. That may explain its unusual and refreshing styling, which Clarion thinks will appeal predominantly to young women. The unit comes in white or charcoal and contains a two- or four-way high-power amp. We welcome new styling trends for car audio, and don't see any reason why a man wouldn't appreciate the Clarion's look. ("Hey, sweetheart, I got this radio for you.")
Clarion Corp., 5500 Rosecrans Ave., Lawndale, Calif 90260.
Sweet 18
The prices of 18-bit CD players are drop ping, as evidenced in two new models from Onkyo. The DX-5500 ($600) and the DX 7500 ($700) each feature dual 18-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs), the former model employing a four-times oversampling digital filter and the latter's filter operating at eight times the standard rate. Both units incorporate " Opto Drive," wherein an LED controls a photo transistor that is said to generate a highly stable reference voltage for the DAC power supply. Optical coupling is used else where to isolate the digital and analog circuitry. Both models also include optical and coaxial digital outputs, fixed and vari able analog outputs, trays that accept three-inch CDs, and a remote that operates certain Onkyo cassette decks. Onkyo U.S.A. Corp., 200 Williams Dr., Ramsey. N.J. 07446.
Super Deck
JVC's third Super VHS Hi-Fi VCR, the HR-S5000U, offers a wealth of features to complement its high-resolution recording.
Among them: noiseless still frames and variable slow motion, a flying erase head that ensures clean edits, the VHS Index Search System, cueing by time, remote timer programming with on-screen instructions, and an MTS (stereo TV) tuner.
The flip-down control panel doubles as a cover for the tape slot. Price was not avail able at press time, but should be lower than for JVC's previous S-VHS decks.
JVC Co., 41 Slater Dr., Elmwood Park, N.J. 07402 USA
Big and Bright
Last month we reported here on the new Philips IDTV (Improved Definition Tele vision) sets. The good news continues with a line of rear-projection sets said to pro vide 40 percent increases in brightness and contrast as well as improved sharp ness and color accuracy in comparison with typical rear-projection models. Philips claims that its Internal Angular Reflection Coating (IARC), deposited on the inner side of each of the three picture tubes, reduces light scattering and turns the tubes into more efficient light sources.
Colors are also said to be rendered more accurately--with "film-quality," to use the company's words.
Available in October will be three stereo models: the 41-inch 41-JP2 ISA ($2,999), the 46-inch 46-JP45SA ($3,599), and the 52-inch 52-JP55SA ($3,999). All sets feature six-speaker audio, S-video in puts, picture-in-picture (PIP) display of a second video source, and a variety of on screen menus for control adjustments. The learning remote supplied with each set is also preprogrammed to control most other manufacturers' VCRs and cable boxes, as well as audio products (including, of course, those from Philips); the remote can also adjust the set's convergence. Philips Consumer Electronics Co., P.O. Box 14810, Knoxville, Tenn. 37914.
Show and Tell How about a user-friendly VCR?
Hitachi's VT-3050 ($429) has a built-in memory containing 16 pages (or screens) of operating and troubleshooting instructions that can be displayed on your TV set. Such thorny procedures as timer programming and channel setting are described, as well as how to go about identifying the cause of a problem (an 800 service number is even provided). The VHS model includes four video heads, clean still frames and slow motion, and a remote that can transmit timer programs.
Hitachi Sales Corp.. 401 W. Artesia Blvd., Compton, Calif, 90220.
Music Without a Cord "Private Ears" ($100) is a wireless head phone that operates by radio frequency (RF) transmission over a stated range of 75 feet. The small transmitter, which operates from an AC adapter, connects to an audio or headphone output and broad casts to a miniature, battery-operated receiver. A pair of bud-style headphones plugs into the receiver. Both receiver and transmitter have volume controls and two-position frequency selectors (giving you a choice of the clearest broadcast channel). Unlike infrared headphones, Private Ears is not restricted to line-of sight use. Data wave, Inc., 19611 Ventura Blvd.. 2nd FL, Tarzana, Calif 91356.
Also see:
Bits & Pieces -- The real reason to want an 18-bit CD player. (Jan. 1988) DAVID RANADA
Audio Fetishes--True-life tales of strange audio beliefs.
Crosstalk: For different music, different speakers; equalizers and the well-trained ear