US $2.75 UK £11.95 CANADA $3.50 NOVEMBER 1993 POWERING UP FOR SURROUND SOUND -Ay SEPARATE AMPS ADD MUSCLE Nit TO AN A/V SYSTEM DIGITAL RADIO IS IN THE AIR TESTED Technics A/V Receiver, MB Quart Speaker, Yamaha A/V Integrated Amp, and more 272861 JUKEBOX YOUR CDs. Pick a song. Pick 1000 songs. The new Sony 100 Disc Changer plays songs in any order from up to 100 CDs. Program your own mix. CustomFile" memory displays the name of each disc. It's the perfect way to store and play CDs. For a free information packet, dial I -800 -648 -SONY. For your complete personal guide to all Sony consumer electronics, we're introducing Sony Style magazine. To receive your copy for S4.95. plus S1.50 shipping and handling, call the above number. V152 and MC. Offer expires 4/94. © 1993 Sony ElectronicsInc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Sony, Sony Style and CustomFile are trademarks of Sony. 1 20 Hz. What does it mean? The fact is, to the average person, 120Hz means diddly. What's impor- tant is how a speaker sounds. But, in truth, the sonic range around 120 Hz is a big deal when it comes to the sound of the SubSat7. Here's why. After having a look at a ThenewSubSat7 The SubSat7 satellites come in two of the most popular colors in the history of hasnodipat120Hz. speakers. Black. And white. number of other three-piece sys- tems, we found that many were Whoop-di-doo. using small midrange drivers- some as small as two inches. And we asked ourselves, "How can they use such small midranges and still hope to create a smooth transition between midrange and bass?" The answer: they can't. In fact, several of the units we tested *** had an obvious dip in the 100 to 200Hz range-a range that, it so happens, contains much of your music's fundamental information. So, in designing the SubSat7, Then we designed a mighty 4 -inch YOU need stereo -separated systems with an all -in -one sub - bass chambers. Really. our primary goal was to create a copolymer mid -bass driver with a woofer. Such systems typically Let us explain. Until recently, [Host system that didn't sacrifice sound more -than -ample frequency range. place left and right woofers in one bass info was mixed in mono. The PowerVent So it meets the Su3Sat7's chamber. When these two woofers bass unit, placed behind furniture, Bur then digital audio came along sounds fantastic Pow.erVent"14 Bass Unit without drawing encounter stereo -separated bass, attention away from anc made more realistic stereo your Picasso. with its two, powerful, they push against each other, bass possible. A great idea, but a quality for a convenient size. Or vice 7 -inch drivers. to create a smooth cancel each other out, and bass problem for ordinary three-piece versa. We started in the satellites transition. At the infamous '.20 Hz. becomes muddy and anemic. The with our famous 1 -inch, soft -dome The result: a tlree-piece system SubSat7, however, places left and tweeter, which plays lower than with seamless, natural, aud.ophile right woofers in separate chambers Subwoofer drivers don't competitive 3/4 -inch tweeters and sound. And satellites so small, your play well with others So we in a push/pull configuration. So sent them to their own rooms. The result: clean stereo - has excellent dispersion. house guests will be dumblounded. separation in the bass. they work independently of each with dual active drivers. So everyone gets the best seat in the house, not just one person. The SurroundSat To see how a large, flat TV screen can distort dialog from an ordinary speaker, have a friend talk to you like this. The SubSat Center Channel speaker is tuned to compensate for this effect. rear -channel speakers look just like the SubSat7 satellites and can be mounted in the back of the listening area facing up or to the side using our optional mounting bracket. The net result: a one - room studio apartment becomes a gigantic concert hall (we won't tell the landlord if you won't). railable now: Number, a new mini. rnizgazine about music, monies, sonic., and free ialmost) music on CO (does not contain perfume umplesi. To reserve a copy, writ to: Boston Acoustics, Dept. 113, 70 Broadway, Lynnfield, M 01940 It sounds good. Duh. Actually, the SubSat7 doesn't just sound good. We think it's the best sounding system ever created for other and give you tight, clean bass Most people watch about companions-the Sub:;ar Center the price. Three-piece. Or two. 40 hours of TV per week. with accurate stereo imaging. In But few actually hear it. Channel Speaker and a pair of But don't take our word for it (after addition, the SubSat7's Bass Unit This kills us: people buy a bigger SurroundSats-each tonally all, we could be a tiny bit biased). handles more power than other subs. TV to get a bigger, more dramatic matched and balanced to play with Bring your favorite CDs and your So it can reproduce everything p.cture. And they listen through the the SubSat7 system. Tne Center ears to a Boston dealer and com- scrawny speakers that Channel Speaker features our pare the SubSat7 to any speakers What's on TV? The SubSat7 Center Channel 1 -inch dome tweeter and a dual in the listening room. We think speaker. To the rear: come with it. But to get matching SurroundSat speakers. Now the only you'll find the SubSat7 to be amaz- thing missing front your sound that equals tne pic- 51/4 -inch active/passive mid -bass home theater is the gum stuck to the seat. ture in depth and emotion, driver system. It provides a broad ing. Especially around 120Hz. from a triple fortissimo timpani roll all they need to do is add a Dolby' horizontal sound dispersion instead to a slapped low B on a five -string Pro -Logic" eceiver to the SubSat7 of the beaming sound common BostonAcoustics bass with ease and clarity. and its matching home theater with other center channel speakers Just what's important ciE SAVO IEr Winston ELECT LIGHTS ert' 4111a-,--e-AZIA -"OAT Now -"*. 100 Marlboro ..i:04446.°-111**. LIGHTS SELECT SMOOTH TASTE LOWEREDAR & NICOTINE 200OFF! PRICE: Offer good while supplies last CHALLENGE at participating retailers. SPECIAL All promotional costs paid by manufacturer. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy. 11 mg. "tar", 0.8 mg. nicotine av per cigarette by FTC method. Stereo Review INCORPORATING FIGR HMO' O EQUIPMENT Cover Equipment Test Reports More and more power amplifiers, like the NHT 34 MA -I, NAD Model 906, and Parasound HCA- Technics SA-GX650 A/V receiver, page 34 1206 shown here, are being designed with home MB Quart Quart Three loudspeaker system, page 45 theater in mind. See page 70 for details. Jamo 507 loudspeaker system, page 48 Photograph by Dan Wagner Yamaha DSP-A2070 A/V integrated amplifier, page 58 Car Stereo 66 In the lab and on the road with the Kenwood KDC-C800 CD BULLETIN changer by Ken C. Pohlmann LETTERS 14 Amplifiers for Surround Sound 10 Separate power amplifiers add muscle and flexibility to home theater TIME DELAY 16 systems by Michael Riggs NEW PRODUCTS 17 Do CD's Cost Tee Much? 89 The impression that the record industry has engaged in predatory MUSIC MAKERS 24 CD pricing is widespread. Are we really getting our money's AUDIO B&A 29 worth? by Ian G. Masters TECHNICAL TALK 32 1994 Autosound Preview..94 Automakers pump up the volume for POPULAR MUSIC 120 the new model year by Bob Ankosko CLASSICAL MUSIC 134 Digital on the Air 102 CENTER STAGE 150 Digital radio is emerging as an exciting THE HIGH END 160 alternative to FM by Peter W Mitchell COPYRIGHT t.1993 BY HACHETTE FILIPACCti I MAGAZINES. INC. All rights reserved. Stereo Review. November 1993. Volume 58. Number 11. Stereo Review (ISSN 0039-12201 is published monthly by Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. Inc. at 1633 Broadway. New York. NY 10019: telephone (2121 767-6000. One-year subscription rate for the United States and its possessions, $15.94: Canada. $23.94 (includes 7% GST. GST registration number 126018209. Canadian Sales Agreement Number 992361; all other coun- MUSIC tries. $23.94: cash orders only. payable in U.S. currency. Second-class postage paid at New York. NY 10001. and at additional mailing offices. 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