SIGNALS & NOISE (Letters to Editor) (Jul. 1987)

Admiration from Australia

Dear Editor:

Thank you for offering a reduction in subscription prices. For those of us who live in the more-distant countries and cities, the opportunity to subscribe at a reduced price is most welcome.

Perth is the most remote capital in the world, and is a virtual wilderness in the world of hi-fi. Whilst we do have some top brands available, we do not have the plethora of equipment available in your country, the U.K., or even the eastern states of Australia. This leads me to wonder whether or not American audiophiles appreciate the availability of so many brands and models.

Of course, the market in America is monstrous compared with Australia, which in itself leads to an expanded supply. Having such a large domestic market, prices are consequently competitive, and I would shudder to think that there are complaints about prices.

For those Americans who lament the price of their dream equipment, it might be of some consolation to learn of the situation here in Australia. For example, a pair of Magneplanar SMGa speakers costs nearly $2,000 in Australia compared with $535 in America.

Of course, we suffer from a poor exchange rate (U.S. 650 equals $1 Australian), but this does not explain a four-times increase in costs. Such governmental wonders as import duty and sales tax really do the damage, not to mention the mark-up for local distributors and retailers. There are many Australian music lovers who would desperately love to be able to buy American or English equipment without the governmental charges which impose such barriers to listening to high-quality re production of music.

One does wonder sometimes, how ever, how Americans decide between similarly priced equipment. It would be an impossibility to make comparisons between all products in a given price/ quality range. For an amplifier up to, say, $1,500 ( U.S.), there would be a mind-boggling comparison of data, plus the difficulty of trying to audition a select number. I wouldn't be surprised if some people use the dart-board sys tem and settle for the brochure with the hole in it. Oh, for such a problem! Thank you for producing a quality magazine. Not only is it one of the best-value publications of any nature, but it is well written and authoritatively documented. I especially enjoy the "Equipment Profiles" and "Auricles," which provide tremendous technical detail (none of which I understand) plus subjective information. The notation of ancillary equipment is of inter est. The only difficulty is that some of that equipment has not, to my knowledge, been independently reviewed in your magazine-for example, Snell Type A-III loudspeakers.

I look forward to having my own library of Audio and wish you well for the continuing publication of your fine magazine.

-Bradley J. McIntosh; Bentley, Australia

Antenna Article Accolades

Dear Editor:

I would like to express my admiration to your Technical Editor Ivan Berger, WINZ broadcast engineer Richard L.

Edwards, and interviewer Lewis T. Fineman for the article on the operation of multiple FM transmitters driving a single antenna array (January 1987).

With approximately 30 years' experience in military electronics, I can appreciate both the design and performance excellence of this "microwave" engineering feat, as well as the superlative technical writing in making these concepts clear to the general reader.

Figures 1 and 2 and the accompanying explanation were particularly well done! The article is but the latest ex ample of Audio's preeminence in its field. Congratulations are extended to all concerned.

-Robert L. Goodwin Rockville, Md.

Expression of Sympathy

Dear Editor:

We were saddened to hear of the death of Dick Heyser in March, as we read upon receipt of your May issue.

Please accept and convey the sincere sympathy of the Studer Revox staff to the Audio "family" and to all those who were close to Mr. Heyser. His work was unique and pioneering, and his death represents a major loss to the audio community.

-Thomas E. Mintner; Vice President & General Manager; Studer Revox America

(Audio magazine, Jul. 1987)

= = = =