The most FEBRUARY 1976 ONE DOLLAR txtraordinary cassette deck valueever offered. n n- n 099E IV AlID XIN3Hd -99Z X ZO HiIWS NN3% 2 DOLBY SYSTEM FULL AUTO -STOP WON rP,1. 063992'08 IIS Man Thenew2121. With 00: Ever since the cassette deck stepped TAPE POLE, NI, Twin illuminated VU meters, plus Frequency Response (Chrome Tape): into the spotlight with proven high separate input level controls for each 30-16,000 Hz fidelity performance, great advances channel help you set accurate Wow & Flutter (WRMS): 0.12% J1111111111111111111111111111111111k in tape and cassette deck technology recording levels. Stereo microphone Signal -to -Noise Ratio (with Dolby): 58dB have been made. Despite this inputs as well as the headphone Input Sensitivity: 0.3mV - 63mV (mic); INIONCOSINIV; 63mV - 12V (line) progress, most of the high fidelity PHONES L N110 output jack are all easily accessible industry was convinced that it was Outputs: 450mV (line & DIN); 80mV 8 ohms on the front panel. (headphones) 03200V®®@ virtually impossible to build a really 0 By any point of reference, superior front -loading, front -control compare the CT-F2121's combination U.S Pioneer Electronics Corp., cassette deck equipped with Dolby - Switch from one mode to anutbai, bypassing Separate bias & equalization switches for any of performance and features with 75 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, The CT -F2121 comes ready for custom that could sell for less than two the Stop lever. type of cassette tape. installation. Handsome, optional cabinet with cassette decks costing much more. New Jersey 07074. walnut veneered top and sides also available. hundred dollars. Everything's up front for Versatile features increase You can come to only one conclusion West: 13300 S. Estrella, Los Angeles Pioneer thought it might be optimum operating convenience. listening enjoyment and simplify - at under $2001-, this is the most 90248 / Midwest: 1500 Greenleaf, impossible, too. But we figured it was Pioneer's engineers have designed recording. extraordinary cassette deck value Elk Grove Village, III. 60007 / Canada: worth the try. the CT -F2121 to give you the highest ever offered. S. H. Parker Co. The engineers at Pioneer were Pioneer has outdone itself on the when you want something better degree of flexibility in use. You can CT -F2121 with a host of easy -to -use given the 2121 project two years ago. stack it easily with other components They were asked to build a front - features. A long life permalloy-solid in your system because every control record and play head and a ferrite access, front -control cassette deck function, as well as cassette loading, loaded with features. A deck that erase head insure excellent signal- is operable from the front panel In to-noise ratio. The ti anspoi l uperatiny would outperform any unit In the two addition, the illuminated cassette hundred dollar price range that had levers that permit, direct, jam -proof compartment permits rapid cassette switching from one mode to another ever been built before. loading at an easy -to -see 30° angle, Th,=. rc-siiil is without having to (Ter air:. thr- shy An LED indicator lets you know when CT -F2121 -a cassette deck with lever, are a great advancement. And, you're in the recording mode. And, like Pioneer's more expensive enormous capability, performance, as all Pioneer components, the reliability and features, Pioneer cassette decks, the CT -F2121 has a eeilliels are siiiiplw to line anr1 Juputule electronic servo-systeni believes the GI -F-2121 has the logically arranged. greatest combination of value ever and a solenoid that provides automatic stop at the end of tape put into a cassette deck at such an Improved sound reproduction extremely reasonable price. travel in play, record, fast wind and with built-in Dolby B system. rewind. The CT-F2121's selectable Dolby B provides as much as 10dB improve- ment in signal-to-noise ratio with standard low noise tapes. There's an even greater improvement with chromium dioxide tape. An indicator light tells you instantly when the Dolby system is in operation. And to insure better, interference -free recordings of FM stereo broadcasts, Pioneer has built in a multiplex filter. Outstanding performance with every type of tape. Separate bias and equalization switches permit you to use any kind of cassette tape: standard low noise, chromium dioxide - and even the eevvest forrIchrouic formulations.1 he CT -F2121 brings out the fullest capabilities of each tape. And to PAUSE STOP/E produce the best performance, the operating manual of the CT -F2121 gives you a chart listing the most popular cassette tape brands with their recommended bias and equalization control settings. There's never any guesswork. DOLBY SYSTEM FULL AUTO -STOP "Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc, ((Optional cabinet with walnut veneered top and sies. Approxima above are'manufacturer's approximate v REC 0 INPUT TAPE DOLBY NR LEFT RIGHT BIAS ED rDOOR nn STD STD OFF ANL Cr02 Cr02/Fe-Cr ON PHONES L-MIC-R PUSH CLOSE PIONEER STEREO CASSETTE TAPE DECK MODEL CT -F2121 Actual resale prices will be set by the individual Pioneer dealer at his own option. CIRCLE NO. 1 ON READER SERVICE CARD Advice from a professional recording engineerabout blank tape When I record a session, I can't I need perfect tape to That's why, in the recording take a chance on anything less deliver perfect performance. studio so many engineers like than perfect tape. me use Ampex professional mastering tape. ;46 And at home, I use Ampex -8 -track cartridges-and open the same tape formulation as cassettes- reel tapes. These Ampex tapes the Ampex professional tapes for the home are made with- I use in the studio. Ampex tapes are used by the Take a professional's advice- most demanding professional buy Ampex. I wouldn't record recording engineers worldwide. on any other tape-in my studio or in my home. Discover for yourself the professional reliability builtinto every Ampex cassette, 8 -track cartridge and open reel tape. Discover what a difference this professional qualitycan make on your equipment. Try Ampex blank tape in your home. Made with thesame know-how that goes into Ampex studio mastering tape, acknowledged by recording engineers around the world as the finest professional mastering tape available. Get Ampex- the tape the professionals use. Ampex is the #1 name in studio recording- make it the #1 name in your home recording. AMPEX CIRCLE NO. 5 ON READER SERVICE CARD StFORMERLY HI FI/STEREO REVIEW Review® ereo NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1976 VOLUME 36 ate `Equipment NEW PRODUCTS A roundup of the latest in high-fidelity equipment 12 AUDIO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Advice on readers' technical problems LARRY KLEIN 16 AUDIO BASICS Glossary of Technical Terms -25 RALPH HODGES 20 TAPE HORIZONS Drop That Mike CRAIG STARK 24 EQUIPMENT TEST REPORTS Hirsch -Houck Laboratory test results on the Dokoder 1140 four -channel tape deck, Onkyo Model 8 speaker system, Tandberg TCD-310 stereo cassette deck, Rotel RA -1412 integrated stereo amplifier, and an addendum on the Uher 134 cassette recorder test JULIAND.HIRSCH 29 HARD ROCK, SOFT EARS Can loud music cause loss of hearing? ALEXBURR 52 rto usk EDDIE PALMIERI ON SALSA The rhythm's the thing for the leader of "the orchestra of the happy feet" JOHN STORM ROBERTS 58 RECORD OF THE YEAR AWARDS -1975 STEREO REVIEW'S critics and editors select the industry's top artistic achievements 61 JASCHA HEIFETZ A diamond -jubilee testimonial for an All-American violinist IRVING KOLODIN 66 LILY TOMLIN, MODERN SCREAM Her sixty-two (last count) separate personalities get another outing PAUL KRESH 79 ANNE MURRAY: TOGETHER The voice is used with increasing skill, but are the emotions being taxed? NOEL COPPAGE 82 SIMON & GARFUNKEL, SOLOISTS A pair of singer -songwriters seem to have gone astray STEVE SIMELS 88 CHARLIE PARKER ON DIAL Six albums for the record-more than we have ever had before CHRIS ALBERTSON 94 UNACCOMPANIED BACH The six sonatas and partitas for violin in two new integral versions IGOR KIPNIS 104 THE ROMANTIC REVIVAL CONTINUES "An aural feast of fascinating musical entrees" FFtAN K COOPER 108 WeRevieug BEST RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH 73 POPULAR DISCS AND TAPES 78 CLASSICAL DISCS AND TAPES 98 WeGitgulars EDITORIALLY SPEAKING WILLIAM ANDERSON 4 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 6 TECHNICAL TALK JULIAND.HIRSCH 28 THE SIMELS REPORT STEVE SIMELS 42 GOING ON RECORD JAMES GOODFRI END 46 THE OPERA FILE WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE 48 THE BASIC REPERTOIRE MARTINBOOKSPAN 50 CHOOSING SIDES IRVINGKOLODIN 96 ADVERTISERS' INDEX 117 COVER: Portrait of Jascha Heifetz by Alan Magee COPYRIGHT © 1976 BY ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. All rights reserved. Stereo Review, February 1976, Volume 36, Number 2. Published monthly by Ziff -Davis Publishing Company; Editorial and Executive Offices at One Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016; Telephone: 212 725-3500.Hershel B. Sarbin. President; Furman Hebb, Executive Vice President; Vincent Perry, Financial Vice President and Treasurer; Charles B. Seton, Secretary. Alsothe publishers of Boating, Car and Driver, Cycle, Flying, Modern Bride, Popular Electronics, Popular Photography, and Skiing. One year subscription rate for U.S., $7.98; U.S. possessions and Canada,.$8.98; all other countries, $9.98. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. and at additional mailingoffices. Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, Canada, and for payment of postage in cash. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Forms 3579 and all subscription correspondence should be addressed to Stereo Review. Circulation Department, P.O. Box 2771, Boulder, Colorado 80302.Please allow at least eight weeks for change of address. 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