SIGNALS & NOISE (Letters to Editor) (Mar. 1986)

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Awed at a Glance

Dear Editor:

My October Audio plopped through the mail slot right on schedule, and a quick glance-through has convinced me it's the best Equipment Directory to date. The color bars, the tape and Hi-Fi VCR listings, and the rethought signal processors section do make it the most useful guide yet, and I'm awed by the ad spreads too. Very enviable work. And "Audio ETC" goes from strength to strength, too.

-Chris Greenleaf; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Coming to Take Me Away

Dear Editor:

I was so intrigued by the specifications for the Lirpa Labs IPS-D loud speaker in the Annual Equipment Di rectory that I immediately attempted to get the Lirpa telephone number from information. When I was told there was no such listing, I threw a temper tantrum.

Then I looked up the company address in the directory, jumped on my Moped, and went to the Big Apple looking for Main and Elm Streets. Well, to confess to you what happened is slightly embarrassing. I questioned several of New York's finest (police men, that is), getting madder and madder as each one told me there was no such place. One policeman finally told me to wait a minute while he made a phone call. Shortly thereafter, a large van appeared, out of which came two burly men in white jackets giving me the suspicious eye. Needless to say, I hopped back onto my Moped and took off for home.

-James H. Harger; Annandale, N.J.

Give Us a D.

Dear Editor:

Just wanted to drop you a note to compliment you on the 1985 Annual Equipment Directory. To me, this issue is worth the price of a one-year subscription, easily. I act as a neighbor hood consultant on stereo equipment, and this issue (as well as the Car Stereo Directory) has proved to be a very big help in comparing products. Keep up the good work!

-Joe Roberts; Groton, Conn.

It Ain't Heavy, It's My Speaker

Dear Editor:

Before starting, I should state that I have no technical competence in the audio field and, as a consequence, some of my comments may reveal my shortcomings.

When I received my Annual Equipment Directory, I started to look at the equipment specifications. I noted a CD player manufactured by Lirpa Labs, a company I had never heard of. (An observant friend pointed out that Lirpa is April spelled backwards. So what?) As I have said, I lack technical knowledge, but it did seem that 180 pounds was on the heavy side for a CD player.

Lirpa appears to specialize in substantial equipment, vide a 62-pound microphone and a 999-pound loudspeaker.

(I assume they make a 30-pound cartridge, too, but it was not listed.) This loudspeaker's weight intrigued me so much that I looked over the rest of its specs. Aren't woofers usually circular? If so, isn't 36 x 3 inches a queer shape? The midrange diameter is given as 2 x 4 inches. Reminds me of my builder. Tweeter diameter: 12 inches. That must emit a significant tweet.

Most of the other specs of this loudspeaker seem strange to me too.

I have already suggested that 999 pounds seems sort of heavy, but this is redeemed by the price. You can buy this contraption for a dollar a pound! I can't wait.

Although you gave the company ad dress, my letters have been returned to me as undeliverable. Could you give me the correct address? On second thought, don't bother.

-Wilfred Godfrey; Osterville, Mass.

Flipping for Lirpa

Dear Editor:

Upon receiving the 1985 Annual Equipment Directory, I immediately flipped to the loudspeaker listings. After comparing the specifications of the Lirpa Labs IPS-D loudspeaker to some other speakers in the same price range, I went to my local Lirpa dealer to audition a pair, and subsequently ended up buying them. The dealer suggested that I also purchase Lirpa Labs BMA amps as they would help produce a cleaner sound than my two Julius Futterman OTL-1s. How right he was; I made an even exchange. Unfortunately, I was not able to audition the PMS preamp or the LSD Compact Disc player; the dealer had sold all his stock, including the floor samples, the previous day. I hope to see them in the near future. I did see the VR-The World, Lirpa's Hi-Fi VCR, and at $18.98 it is a real steal. I placed an order for one, and the dealer promises to have it in stock soon. I can't wait. Thank you for another excellent Equipment Directory issue.

- Mark Friedman; Lincolnwood, Ill.

Native or Not?

Dear Editor:

I have been enjoying your 1985 Annual Equipment Directory. It is very complete and my copy will be used all through this year, no doubt. However, next time, I wonder if you could add one more bit of information about each item-whether or not it is made in the United States.

- Jimmy S. Wiggins; Bremen, Ga.

A Question of Parentage

Dear Editor:

In September's "Roadsigns" column, Ivan Berger refers to Design Acoustics as being "in friendly competition with parent company Jensen." Design Acoustics is very happy to be a division of Audio-Technica. I would hate to leave the public with the wrong impression and would appreciate it greatly if you could print a correction in an upcoming issue.

-Rock Wehrmann; Assistant Advertising Manager, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., Stow, Ohio

Editor's Note: Oops! Two well-known home audio names made car-stereo debuts at their parent companies' booths at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show; hence my confusion. De sign Acoustics' production models were at the Audio-Technica booth, while Jensen's display included proto types of car speakers they will bring out under their Phase Linear name. I'm sure the competition between Design Acoustics and Jensen is friendly, nonetheless--but not quite as friendly as I implied.--I.B.

(Source: Audio magazine, Mar. 1986)

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