It's not your components that are getting worse, it's your ear that's getting better.
By better, we mean it's learned to pick up things in music that it was never
able to before.
And that's why that system you bought may have sounded great a couple of months ago but doesn't sound so great today. The human ear, you see, is the most advanced sound receiver system in the world. Your eardrum is sensitive to one billionth of a centimeter. And it has a tiny bone called the incus that can vibrate up to 20,000 times a second.
Enough said about how good your ears are. Now what can you do to improve your system? A general tip: Whatever you buy, buy up. You might not think it's worth the extra couple of hundred dollars now but you'll be glad you sprung for it later.
A specific tip: Consider Sony separates.
Separates offer you specs you generally can't get in non-separates. And therefore a better quality of sound. Our TAE-8450 pre-amp, for example, has a low distortion rating of THD 0.03%, a wide dynamic range of 60-70dB and accurate phono equalization (RIAA).
In addition, it offers you such features as a step attenuator gain control (volume control) that allows precise gain adjustment readings (our 2dB reading is the minimum loudness change the human ear can detect), extremely accurate tracking in 2 channels, and a quieter, longer lasting performance due to the use of low resistant sterling silver contacts. The unit also has a single peak program meter with a hold position that al lows reading at the highest point of the signal wave form, thereby helping to detect overload distortion. And it also serves as a volume unit meter (vu) that al lows for easier monitoring by showing the average value of a signal over a period of time rather than sudden changes within a short period.
We have separates that start at prices a lot lower than you'd expect to pay. And go all the way up to prices you're probably not ready to spend right now. So if your ears ever outgrow the system you buy we have others they can easily grow into. Why not stop into a Sony dealer and ask one of our salesmen for some help. After all, if you really appreciate music, shouldn't you have a system you can really appreciate it on?
SONY®. ©1975 Sony Corp.of America. Sony, 9 W. 57 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10019.
SONY is a trademark of Sony Corp.
(adapted from Audio magazine, Apr. 1975)
Also see:
Sony X-series turntables (Nov. 1978)
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