JUNE 1985 S1.95 Ne\ SPECIAL REPORT: AMERICAN AUDIO AN AMERICAN DREAM SYSTEM MAXINE SULLIVAN, AN AMERICAN CLASSIC LAB TESTS: HARMAN KARDON CASSETTE DECK ACOUSTAT SPEAKER KOSS HEADPHONES ...AND MORE azaop A4 311IASI1101 ID H13:11,4110 bOTE WZ*90 NUNUHDI18 OIA80 8W 06NUf 1-TP4 S600VOTE HD8 26P0£* EE20t, IIDIC-S**********036G20 SOUND HANSFANTEL SpeakerIdea AnEnduring Concertsof the thecapabilities From stretching compensate by to Cue properresponse it's easier of thespeak- a to get We think properties innovation, materials.mechanical Takes speaker for the box are soar- compulsive more lives by What is electronically the single which news.audio isthe structuralelements."speakers in rearward to In anindustrymerely newis hardlyfield of er's separate sound the -changing its meritover The nine of fourradiates rearward to somethingin thefast proving that a group of fourradiates According remarkable old concept ranged forward. of an makes aclassic. the another groupspeakerfaces soundfield persistence That's what column on oneside,and asingle results in a While again. noted in arecent other side, and overclassics, as and theOhm/Walsh Bose, thisconfigurationa liveperformance.feeling of a Such turntable updated ver- to Dr. experienced at the AR up inbasically true that sound creates speaker AcousticResearchhave a wayof poppingbut similar to rearward forward-facing technologies reflected the theimaginary loudspeakers, changing One oldacquaintance the sonicambiance,musicians on "stereo adapted to selves. the Bose901 loud- generous of the is called sions,former andfamiliar guise is and owes thelocations to what thespeakers to their to 1968 pinpoints contributing wall inmodernizeddates back Dr. Amar stage,thuseffective inthis manner,from the nowreappearingbasicdesign ideas of stereo To be foot distant for this whose theseminalInstituteof Tech- imaging." least one available speaker, lifespan to positioned at pedestals arefrom theceiling, itsremarkable theMassachusetts must be Attractive be hung professor at achieve- rear. speakers may unobtru- Bose, a basic tocreative at theiror the beingvisually(21 x 12 x13 feats ofengi- purpose, floorspace atall and nology. ofimaginationworks ofart or no compactness The kind they be distinctive taking upto theuncommon V springboard-throwing a away sive thanks the Series requires abegan by 901-calledprecursors Dr. Bose Recogniz- inches). version ofthe Bose from its neering-usuallydeparture. loudspeakers.perform- The new pair anddiffers against the point of notionsaboutheard at alive $1,400 per fortify thespeaker has been established the sound from thesound sells for intended to dynamic range most most of directly of re- - The thanenough ing thefact that listener not by way byalterationschallenges. the fashioned a digital 106decibels-moreDespitetheir ancereaches instruments-butBose rigors of staggering laserdisks. musicians' ceiling, Dr.similar way.In extended to a from thesespeakers source-the walls and in a onslaughts fortissimi, with equal from the the sound of itssound not tobrave sonic laserized of music flections todisperseradiates most the with aspects fullness and 901 wall inback of masterly way the subtler loudspeakerthe Bosetoward the rear- treat theircharacteristicvolumelevels. consequence, but Where the nonetheless not lose low may ap- listener sides ofthe room. reflects as and do atmoderate or toward thetoward the walls, it aplomb of sound scattered, onefeeling speaker and hits the the apparent spaciousness is broadly without ever sidewayssoundthischanges the sound closely ward and And since speakersquite mirror.Surprisingly, by anal- these from a understood proach listening room. easily yourself in a blasted. size of the effect is more look at then sonically speakers to Thiscurious Suppose you reflection these reflections. feet. 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A 'DIVISION OF TA JD1 CORPORATION Stereo Review BULLETIN 5 TECHNICAL TALK 30 EDITORIAL 8 POPULAR MUSIC 113 LETTERS 10 CLASSICAL MUSIC 123 NEW PRODUCTS 16 VIDEO REVIEWS 131 AUDIO Q&A 20 THE HIGH END 144 EQUIPMENT CAR STEREO 24 In the lab and on the road with the Kenwood KRC-999 tuner/cassette player by Julian Hirsch and Christopher Greenleaf HIRSCH-HOUCK LABS EQUIPMENT TEST REPORTS 37 Harman Kardon TD392 Cassette Deck, page 37 American Acoustics D8500 Speaker System, page 40 Vector Research V-5000 VHS Hi-Fi VCR, page 49 Koss SST/7 Headphones, page 59 Acoustat One + One Speaker System, page 60 SPECIAL REPORT: THE STATE OF THE NATION'S AUDIO 64 Innovative design and superb craftsmanship keep America at the forefront of audio technology by Steve Birchall SYSTEMS 7-I An American dream by Michael Smolen AMERICAN AUDIO COMPANIES 78 A directory to hi-fi equipment manufacturers based in the U.S. by William Burton and staff HEADPHONES 95 How to make an informed choice for good sound and comfortable listening by E. Brad