OFCREST CDsFACTOR DECEMBER 1988 $2.50 RISTONt.s.ENTAT -93 FORTE TUNER VMUL TURNTABLE 76301 Lii,a AUTO TUNING Presenting the culmination of American engineer- The TSW 810 & 910. Our top of the line floor ing...the TSW loudspeaker series from Acoustic standing columnars. Research. TSW loudspeakers utilize the best in AR sound innovations. "Acoustic Suspension" woofers Choose from the best. Our TSW 810 and 910 and liquid -cooled tweeters with Tetra Helix" mount- loudspeakers offer you dual woofers on two different ing plates are specially combined in every TSW planes. One is placed at the front of the speaker loudspeaker to give you unrivalled sound quality in and the other at the rear to provide bass power to a size and style that is right for your musical taste. the limits of audibility. Differing placement of the Choose your loudspeaker from the TSW Series: woofers eliminates loss of output in the mid -bass region caused by room reflections. Floor Standing Acoustic Suspension Floor/Shelf Acoustic Suspension In addition, a 1" titanium tweeter with a Tetra Helix" Bookshelf Acoustic Suspension mounting plate and an acoustic lens provide Self -Powered A/V Speakers dynamic treble without beaming or unnatural boxi- ness. The shape of the Tetra Helix" works to distri- bute any reradiation so that edge diffraction of the tweeter plate does not affect any single frequency. The TSW 810 and 910 have bi-wire capabilities for those who wish to maximize the performance of their loudspeakers. The TSW Loudspeaker Series. The TSW Floor Standing and Bookshelf The TSW 115P Self -Powered Audio/Video Loudspeakers. TSW 100, 110, 210, 310, 315, Speaker. The smallest of the TSW loudspeaker series, the 410, 510, 610, 710. TSW 115P contains its own power amplifier to give AR offers you nine additional TSW loudspeakers you astonishing volume levels and unlimited versa- with a variety of features to meet your exact stereo tility! Use the 115P with a VCR, guitar pre -amp, system need. All nine loudspeakers are equipped electronic keyboard, computer music program or with AR's Acoustic Blanket", an exclusive design ideally feature that eliminates the cabinet and grille reflec- any other line level device. The TSW 115P is suited for "surround sound" video applications as tions that blur stereo image. Plus, all speakers well. Drivers on the TSW 115P are shielded so that feature carbon -loaded polypropylene cones, no harmful magnetic fields escape the speaker "Acoustic Suspension" woofers, and liquid -cooled cabinet. This makes the TSW 115P perfect for use Tetra Helix- tweeters. near a video screen or computer equipment. leTELEDYNE ACOUSTIC RESEARCH American Engineered home, 330 Turnpike St. Canton, MA 02021 car and portable high fidelity 617/821 -2300 systems. Contact Acoustic Research for the name of the ACOUSTIC AR Audio Speciallists near you. RESEARCH Enter No. 2 on Reader Service Card DECEMBER 1988 VOL. 72, NO. 12 Speaker Design, page 72 Rick Rowe Restoring Hair. page 82 FEATURES SPEAKERS BY DESIGN, PART II Ken Kantor 72 REPRISE: THE COMMODORE AND KEYNOTE COLLECTIONS Frank Driggs . 78 AUDIO INTERVIEW: RICK ROWE, "HAIR" RESTORATION Susan Elliott 82 OBERLIN SMITH: CENTENARY OF MAGNETIC RECORDING Jon R. Sank 90 CREST FACTORS OF CDs Leonard Feldman 96 1988 ANNUAL INDEX 199 EQUIPMENT PROFILES MB QUART 280 SPEAKER David L. Clark 102 MARANTZ PM -94 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER Leonard Feldman 116 AKAI AT -93 TUNER Leonard Feldman.. 128 ARISTON FORTE TURNTABLE AND ENIGMA TONEARM Edward M. Long 140 AURICLE: AR TSW 115P MB Quart Speaker, page 102 POWERED LOUDSPEAKER Leonard Feldman 156 MUSIC REVIEWS ROCK POP RECORDINGS 160 CLASSICAL RECORDINGS 168 JAZZ & BLUES 176 DEPARTMENTS SIGNALS & NOISE 13 AUDIOCLINIC Joseph Giovanelli 16 TAPE GUIDE Herman Burstein 26 WHAT'S NEW 30 AUDIO ETC Edward Tatnall Canby 36 SPECTRUM Ivan Berger 44 BEHIND THE SCENES Bert Whyte 48 THE BOOKSHELF 57 ROADSIGNS Ivan Berger 60 The Cover Equipment: MB Quart 280 speaker. The Cover Photographer: ©1988, Bill Kouirinis. Audio Publishing, Editorial, and Advertising Offices, 1515 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10036. Subscription Inquiries, (800) 525-0643; in Colorado, (303) 447-9330. 3PA Magnetic Recording, page 90 THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME Products recognized for their ability to reproduce music and to advance our perception of high fidelity emerge from unique companies. The community of individuals dedicated to the production of Mark Levinson components has es- tablished an unequalled tradition of ex- cellence and accomplishment, while accepting the responsibility for refining the state of the art in music reproduction within the boundaries technology and imaginationallow. The No. 26 Dual Monaural Preamplifier introduces a new level of performance in audio system control. Until now, the most musically accurate preamplifiers have had limited control flexibility due to the sonic advantages of direct signal paths. The new generation of circuitry developed for the No. 26 provides full control flexibility, for six audio sources with two tape loops, and such refine- ments as absolute phase selection, all with greater sonic purity than even the minimalist preamps of the past. The No. 26 offers two optional phono in- put sections for precise matching with any phonograph cartridge. Either of these circuits can be factory installed at the time of purchase, or added later by your dealer. The No. 26 also offers the option of true differential balanced connection to as- sociated equipment. While this superior interconnection technique has been taken advantage of in professional equipment for many years, only recently have domestic products offered it as an option. The No. 26 will allow you to achieve the maximum performance from Mark Levinson amplifiers and other products offering balanced connection capability. All Mark Levinson products are hand- crafted in limited quantities to ensure their high standards. Visit your Mark Levinson dealer to hear how good music can sound in your home. Mark Levinson'" products gyre designed and manufactured by MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES PO. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457 ITT TLX 4942 1 58 Headphones that work withyour ears, Audio not against them. Editor:Eugene Pitts III Art Director: Cathy Cacchione Technical Editor: Ivan Berger Managing Editor: Kay Blumenthal Copy Chief: Marita Begley Associate Art Director: Linda Zerella Assistant Editor: Karen Clark Editorial Assistant: Michael Bieber Associate Editors: Edward Tatnall Canby, Bert Whyte, B. V. Pisha Senior Editors: Leonard Feldman, Howard A. Roberson SeniorEditor/Music Features: Ted Fox Editor -At -Large: David Lander Contributing Editors/Artist: Michael Aldred, Susan Borey, Herman Burstein. cever01144 David L. Clark, Anthony H. Cordesman, Ted Costa, DT 990 head- John Diliberto, Frank Driggs, John M. Eargle, Joseph Giovanelli, Bascom H. King, Gary Krakow, phones use "diffuse Hector G. La Torre, Edward M. Long, Jon R. Sank sound field equalization;' based on George Shellenberger, Donald Spoto, Michael Tearson. Jon & Sally Tiven, Paulette Weiss, new studies of how the human ear af- -/-51years Michael Wright fects sound. This design produces a flat of dynamic Business Services Director: Greg Roperti frequency response, accurately recreating )-heallphtme <42t2.yn Circulation Director: Leon Rosenfield the experience of the listening environment.. Production Director: David Rose Hostaphan" diaphragms and Neodyne" magnets are twotn3re reasons Production Manager: Michele Lee Research Director: Neil Karlin DT 990s have won technical and critical ac-..:laim in European Airrrica. Special Projects Coordinator: Phyllis K. Brady They ". .delivered a superb sound" and were ".. .remarkablycomprtable Ad Coordinator: Sylvia Correa to wear" according to Stereo Review. Administrative Assistant: Joan R. Mitchell So if you enjoy losing yourself in the music, start by finding the Geyer V.P./Publisher: Stephen Goldberg dealer in your area. Call the reader response number below,or w-ifie-- beyerdynamic US, 5-05 Burns Avenue, Hicksville, 1VY ADVERTISING Associate Publisher: Stephen W. Witthoft (212) 719-6335 ACCURACY IN AUDIO beyerdyrnamicli Account Managers: R. Scott Constantine Canada: LI NOVA 4190 rue Sere, St. Laurent, Quebec H4T1A6 Tel. (514)341 69 33Te.Gr 5E24.086 (212) 719-6346 Barry Singer (212) 719-6291 Western Manager: Bob Meth Regional Manager: Paula Borgida (213) 739-5130 The CD -BOX & Classified Manager: Carol A. Berman (212) 719-6338 The TAPE -BOX Automotive Manager: James Main (313) 643-8800 Efficient, Elegant for CDs DCI EXECUTIVE STAFF and Audio, 8mm Video, President and CEO: Peter G. Diamandis Executive V.P.: Robert F. Spillane and VHS -C Cassettes. Sr. V.P., Finance, and CFO: Arthur Sukel Sr. V.P., Mfg. & Distribution: Murray M. Romer Sr. V.P., Operations: Robert J. Granata V.P., Controller: David Pecker Solve your V.P., General Counsel: Catherine Flickinger storage AUDIO, December 1988, Volume 72, Number 12. AUDIO (ISSN 0004-752X, Dewey Decimal Number problems. 621.381 or 778.5) is published monthly by DCI, a Get rid of wholly owned subsidiary of Hachette Publications. Inc., at 1515 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10036. Printed in clutter. U.S.A. at Dyersburg, Tenn. Distributed by Warner Publisher Services Inc. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. 10001 and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions in the U.S.. $19.94 for one year, $35.94 for two years, $49.94 for three years: other countries, Organize CDs and cassettes with the and teak. The CD -BOX stores 60 single add $6.00 per year. AUDIO" is a registered trademaik CD -BOX and TAPE -BOX. Modular, standcompact discs. Two smooth -sliding of DCI. ©1988, Diamandis Communications Inc. All alone units, an alternative to custom drawers hold single and multiple CDs with rights reserved. Editorial contributions should include return postage. Submissions will be handled cabinets, they fit in the space intended fordividers to organize and keep discs with reasonable care, but the Editor assumes no LPs in audio -video furniture, shelves, andupright. The TAPE -BOX holds 64 audio responsibility for safety or return of manuscripts, wall systems. The solid hardwood drawer photographs, or artwork.