Sensible Sound articles from May 2007

Sensible Sound archives from May 2007

CD recorder reliability: an oxymoron?(RAMBLINGS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... I recommended the Sony RCDW500C CD recorder in Issue 108, but have since discovered that the unit's reliability is suspect. Two units of which I have direct knowledge went south within a window of 6 to 12 months. Both refused to record or...

Sangean HD FM tuner: I cannot wait to give you a preview.(RAMBLINGS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... This is the first reasonably priced HD FM rack sized tuner (no amps or speakers) of which I am aware. For $200, the unit not only captures the core stations transmitting HD signal well, but also captures stations at the fringe in analog. When...

Red-faced Dr. Rich.(RAMBLINGS)(power rating calculations)
May 1, 2007... In my review of the NHT active speaker, the power rating of the power amplifiers was given in units of RMS (i.e., root mean square). I cannot tell you how many times I have taught my students in EE101 that power is not measured as an RMS...

Our favorite things: recordings.(STAFF PICKS)
May 1, 2007... Once again, we have asked our staff to pick their 10 favorites from among the many recordings they have encountered, employed, and enjoyed during the past year. Note that the selections are not limited to recordings that were released during...

A sensible look at vinyl playback.(COMPONENTS)
May 1, 2007... Some audiophiles are ambivalent about CD's--they applaud the technological advance, but rue the sanitized sound. A resurgence of vinyl has sought to address these concerns. This missive, however, is not directed at those looking for the holy...

KAB Special Edition Technics SL-1200MK2SE and custom modifications.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: KAB Electro Acoustics, P.O.Box 2922, Plainfield, NJ 07062: 908-754-1479 www.kabusa.com Source: Manufacturer Loan Price: $475 Reviewer: David Arthur Rich The unit includes added QC test bearing friction vertical...

Audio Technical Turntable Cartridge AT150MLX.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224; 330-686-2600; www.audio-technica.com Mount: 1/2" centers Vector-aligned moving magnet Output: 4 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec Channel balance at 1 kHz:...

Audio Technica Turnable Cartridge AT440Mla.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224; 330-686-2600; www.audio-technica.com Standard Mount: 1/2" centers Vector-Aligned Moving Magnet Output: 4 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec Channel balance at 1 kHz:...

KAB-sourced Stanton 681/D11S.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: KAB Electro Acoustics, P.O.Box 2922, Plainfield, NJ 07062: 908-754-1479 www.kabusa.com Standard Mount: 1/2" centers Moving Iron Design Long Hair Brush Output 3.5mV at 1 kHz : 5 cm/sec Channel balance at 1 kHz: 2dB...

KAB-sourced Ortofon Concorde Pro/Stylus 40.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Integrated mount with alignment guaranteed for Technics S-shaped arms only Moving magnet Output 4mV at 1 kHz: 5 cm/sec Channel balance at 1 kHz: 1dB Channel separation at 1 kHz: 25 dB Channel separation at 1 kHz: 15 dB...

Onkyo TX 8511 Stereo Receiver.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: Onkyo USA, 18 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458; 201/785-2600; www.us.onkyo.com Price: $300 Source: Manufacturer Loan Reviewer: David Arthur Rich Features: 5 line-level audio inputs 3 line-level record...

Blue Circle Audio BC101 Preamp and BC100 Amplifier.(COMPONENTS)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2007... Manufacturer: Blue Circle Audio, RR2. Innerkip, Ontario, Canada, N0J 1M0, 519/469-3215; www.bluecircle.com Price: $1,595 amp; $1,795 preamp Source: Manufacturer Loan Reviewer: Gary Lea Those who meet Blue Circle Audio owner Gilbert Yeung...

More jazz than not.(THE MUSIC)(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... Anat Fort: A Long Story (ECM 1994 B0008505-02) Young Israeli pianist Anat Fort leads a group of jazz veterans on A Long Story, including Perry Robinson on clarinet and ocarina, Ed Schuller on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. She has composed...

Carousel corner.(THE MUSIC)(music albums' reviews)(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... Okay, okay--I take it all back. Well, most of it. First, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway, and Colin and Jon Greenwood are a great band, maybe even one of the best bands around. Second, Thom Yorke is a whiney, sniveling, irritating weenie. So I guess...

The 10 best-of-class multichannel discs.(THE MUSIC)
May 1, 2007... A brief update of the current multichannel situation: DVD-A material of merit for five-channel may be difficult to find. New releases in the DVD-A format are dwindling, but SACD still offers a reasonable selection. Some labels continue to sell...

American Orchestral Works.(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... American Orchestral Works. Carlos Kalmar, Grant Park Orchestra. Cedille 90000 090. This album of contemporary American orchestral works includes five relatively short pieces that are advertised as making their recording premieres. I must...

Audiophile Reference IV.(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... Audiophile Reference IV. FIM 029 VD. There is no doubt that FIM, First Impression Music, is first and foremost an audiophile label. Its president and producer, Winston Ma, is a dedicated audiophile for whom sound is everything. Fortunately,...

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1.(Ludwig van Beethoven, Max Bruch)(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1. Arthur Grumiaux, violin; Sir Colin Davis; Heinz Wallberg; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; New Philharmonia Orchestra. PentaTone Classics SACD 5186 120. After an evening of close...

Bizet: L'Arlesienne, incidental music.(Georges Bizet)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Bizet: L'Arlesienne, incidental music. Michel Plasson, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. EMI Classics 0946 3 55671 2. When Georges Bizet wrote his incidental music to Andre Daudet's play L'Arlesienne (The Girl from Arles) in 1872, the...

The Bolshoi Experience: Highlights from Russian Operas.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Bolshoi Experience: Highlights from Russian Operas. Alexander Vedernikov, soloists, chorus, and orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. PentaTone Classics SACD 5186 089. I would never think of recommending a disc of music I didn't...

Brahms: Symphony No. 3; Haydn Variations.(Johannes Brahms)(Sound recording review)
May 1, 2007... Brahms: Symphony No. 3; Haydn Variations. Marin Alsop, London Philharmonic Orchestra. Naxos 8.557430. Marin Alsop continues her Brahms symphony cycle, releasing them in order, this Third Symphony coupled with the Variations on a Theme by...

Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra; Four Sea Interludes.(Edward Benjamin Britten)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra; Four Sea Interludes. Elgar: Enigma Variations. Paavo Jarvi, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Telarc CD-80660. Call this one the return of the big bass drum. Telarc engineers made quite a...

The basic classical collection on compact disc--Part II by JJP.(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2007... KODALY, Zoltan (1882-1967) Hary Janos, suite: Tennstedt/LPO (EMI) Dorati/Phil. Hung. (Decca) Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony) LEHAR, Franz (1870-1948) The Merry Widow: Schwarzkopf/Matacic/Philh. O. (EMI) Studer/Gardiner/VPO (DG) ...