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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcla!mpm
From: mpm@hpfcla.UUCP (mpm)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <14700020@hpfcms.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 19:12:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfcms.14700020
Posted: Mon Aug 12 19:12:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 03:21:00 EDT
References: <3339@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 59
Nf-ID: #R:decwrl:3339:hpfcms:14700020:37777777600:3069
Nf-From: hpfcms!mpm    Aug 12 15:12:00 1985


Re:  Carver DTL-100 CD Player

GOOD NEWS

     I am a satisfied owner of the Carver CD player.  I bought one in
early April and have been using it EXTENSIVELY since then (about three
hours plus PER DAY).
     What I like best about the Carver CD player is the simple front
panel layout.  It is simple, functional, easy-to-learn, and elegantly
executed.  By the way, it is also very light.
     I was most concerned about features when I was shopping around
for CD players - programmability and ability to repeat.  Other features
of the Carver that I like include the ability to see elapsed time per
track and total time for the disc.  As with other players, the fast
forward kicks into overdrive after holding the button down for about
ten seconds.  Finally, I admit to being a bit of a technology freak:
I wanted a player with oversampling and separate (not multiplexed)
D/A converters.
     Note:  The Carver unit does not have a remote control or headphone
jack which is a pity but I haven't missed them.
     
BAD NEWS

     Old problem:  I had the player in the shop after about two months
because it would not play one of my (Warner Brothers) discs once it
had warmed up.  The repair folk cleaned and realigned the unit and I
have not seen a repeat of the problem.  (Strange thing was that the
fault only occurred with one disc.  I have since heard others talk of
problems with tracking Warner discs.)
     I had a Denon loaner unit while my Carver was in the shop and
practically went into withdrawal.  I did NOT like the Denon.  It was
overloaded with buttons and framishes.  Also my loaner had a problem
detecting discs in the tray.  (The Denon was very heavy also.)
     New problem:  occasionally my player fails to respond when I push
a button (like PAUSE or STOP).  A friend of mine thinks it is a prob-
lem with the solenoids.  Once I have a better grasp of the problem
(like how to consistently duplicate it), I plan on taking it in for
repair.  Meanwhile the problem is a minor irritant.
     
     Despite the problems I love the Carver player.  I recommend it
highly.  By the way, the DTL-100 uses 2x oversampling and as far as
I know uses separate D/A converters.
     One last point:  the DTL-100 lists for $649.  I have not found
any mail order houses that offer it for a discount.  However, I was
able to buy the unit for $589 (about 10% off).

			-- Mike "digital crazy" McCarthy
			   (ihnp4!hpfcla!hpfcms!) mpm
     
P.S. The "digital time lens" circuit in the player is NOT the same as
the "sonic hologram" in other Carver equipment (preamps I think).  The
DTL circuit is meant to compensate for some sonic differences that Car-
ver (the man) found between CDs and LPs of the same recording.  I rarely
use it.  (In fact I'm not sure I can detect its effect.)  I had an audio
salesperson switch the circuit in and out without me knowing what set-
ting it was in and I couldn't tell the difference.  (I listened to the
player for most of two to three hours when I was auditioning it, but by
no means consider myself a golden-eared audiophile.)