Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: notesfiles
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcms!mpm
From: mpm@hpfcms.UUCP (mpm)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Carver CD Player & Technology
Message-ID: <14700008@hpfcms.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Mar-85 10:50:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfcms.14700008
Posted: Mon Mar  4 10:50:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 05:33:58 EST
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 49
Nf-ID: #N:hpfcms:14700008:000:2466
Nf-From: hpfcms!mpm    Mar  4 07:50:00 1985


     I've been shopping around for a good CD player for several months
now.  Being in love with technology I, of course, want 4x oversampling
and digital filtering.  (I guess that means 14-bit DACs, n'est pas?)
Being rich in spirit and poorer in cash (just bought a house), I, of
course, want low cost.  (My target:  under $500 if possible; I'm look-
ing for discounts.)

     Anyway I've seen three players that I know qualify:  the Revox
(overwhelming front panel), the Meridian (lacking the program features
I want - i.e. ability to REPEAT a TRACK), and the Nakamichi (the BIG
one).  Except for the Meridian, they are all well beyond what I want
to spend.

     Well, my saga continues:  This weekend I saw a review of the new
Carver CD player in Audio.  I think I'm in love!  It has all the above
goodies PLUS one of those nifty special processing circuits that Car-
ver is well known (but is he loved) for.  AND, that circuit - the
Digital Time Lens - is switchable, so if you don't like it, don't use
it.  The best news - price is (suggested) $649.

     Well naturally I would like to see, touch, hear, etc. one.  Does
anyone know anything about this unit?  Any comments on Carver's repu-
tation for reliability, quality of construction, etc.?  Does ANYONE
discount Carver equipment?  Is the suggested price the same as the
ACTUAL price?  (Anybody seen one in a store yet?)  What is the player's
REAL immunity to shock and disk defects?

     I wouldn't be surprised if someone wants to jump in with basenote
drift on this one.  Well, I would be glad to hear what you have to say
on:  Carver, other "fancy" players, effectiveness of "technological
whizzies", pricing, and (of course) my ignorance of technical issues.
Anything else, use your own judgement.

	-- Mike "time to get back into audio equipment" McCarthy
	   {ihnp4, hplabs} hpfcla!mpm

P.S. Being rather naive about the underlying technology I would like
some feedback on this:

     From previous discussions I have guessed that CD players incor-
porate 4x oversampling and (usually?) digitial signal processing use
the underlying Phillips mechanism.  I think that Phillips uses 14-bit
converters (D-A).  Thus, apparently, there are no players that offer
16-bit DACs (do you need them) AND 4x oversampling.

     Frankly I don't think this conjecture makes much sense.  But with
a degree in CS, most of the technical discussions so far have blown
right by me.  So please help straighten me out.