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American Woman Motorscene
STEREO GUIDE: For The "SOUND SYSTEM IMPAIRED"
by Sandy Esslinger
There are very few things that are
legitimately divided by gender
differences. Things such as
periods, childbearing and
possibly PMS (thought I'm not
sure that men don't experience
PMS, as well). Stereotypically,
stereos have been seem as a
male interest, though I've yet to
meet a woman who didn't
appreciate a quality sound
system. Women don't often
speak strictly in one-syllable
words like boom, woof, tweet,
or amps. And despite the fact
that they don't share the
vocabulary men use to describe
their sound systems (probably
since women traditionally
haven't been socialized in
high-school shop class, where
these words work their way into
the male system), plenty of
women understand and
appreciate quality sound.
Aside from providing
information about the world, traffic,
weather, etc., stereos provide us
with our tunes. Our most
cherished musical selections find
their way into our chosen forms of
transportation to make commuting
and road trips far more enjoyable.
Here we've compiled a guide to
help you make the important
choice of which stereo to install in
your vehicle if your car's original
sound system just isn't getting the
job done. This guide focuses on
some of the newest products from
the top stereo manufacturers, and
also concentrates on CD players
and cassette receivers, since they
are the most prominent on the
market.
COMPACT DISC PLAYERS
ALPINE
Alpine offers six new CD players.
All six have 1-bit DAC that eliminates
some distortion to achieve linearity.
Alpine has the advantage of an
independent power supply, which
eliminates the digital noise that
sometimes can be present in
conversion from digital to analog.
This also provides better clarity in
the area of the bass and adds a sense
of spaciousness. All of these new
Alpine CD players have a
high-power four-channel amplifier
that's built into the head unit. All
also sport 8X oversampling,
glitchless and jitter-free circuitry and
24-bit digital noise shaping, random
play, music search, repeat and music
scan.
The tuners supplied with the
head units are Alpine's
top-of-the-line ETR/PLL
synthesizers and an AM/FM tuner
with 24 preset stations. The CD
players have detachable front panels
to deter theft.
Alpine's most basic models are
the CDE-7820 and CDE-7821, which
sport all of the above mentioned
features and have a 25-watt X 4
channel output. They retail for $350
and $370, respectively.
The CDE-7822 is a step up from
the 7820 and 7821, having the same
features plus a wireless remote for
more convenient, safer control of
your CD player while on the road.
The player retails for $420.
The CDM-7823 and 7824 are an
even bigger hop up the stereo
evolution chain with 30 watts X 4
channels, CD Shuttle Control and
wireless remotes. The Shuttle
Control allows you to have complete
control of all CD-related functions
for seven discs-one in-dash player
and six CDs in the Shuttle. These
retail for $520 and $570, respectively.
The CDA 7939 "CD MAX" is just
about at the top of the Alpine stereo
hierarchy, sporting ID Logic Format
Scanning. ID Logic locates the
stations you prefer. The display
tells the station by name, format and
locations. This mini information
system runs $670.
The MDX-C150 is the ultimate in
CD systems. It includes the new
mini-disc systems, with more play
time per disc than any CD or
cassette, and the discs are half the
size of regular discs. There's a digital
readout, 18 FM and 6 AM preset
stations, repeat and shuffle
functions, wired remote control,
two-color illumination, and full
detachable face plate, all for a
reasonable price of $500.
JVC
If you're looking for the ultimate
high-tech machine, look no further
than JVC's new KD-GS770 CD unit.
What's so special? How about voice
activation! This system greets you
upon startup with a cheery "Hello,"
and let's you know the system's
operating by saying "CD play" so
you don't have to take your eyes off
the road. It confirms all the front
panel adjustments verbally, in the
dulcimer tones of Graham Nash, of
Crosby, Stills and Nash fame. There's
also a "yackety yack" function that
tells the system to shut up when
you've heard enough.
The system offers 22 watts of
power X 4 channels, incorporates an
AM/FM tuner with 24 preset
stations, and a variety of other
wonderful functions all for $400.
KENWOOD
KDC-6001: This model CD player
is basic but delivers good value for
the money. The player/receiver is an
in-dash single disc system that
delivers a 25 watt X 4 channel
maximum power rating. Its features
include manual tuning and auto seek,
pushbutton controls, removable face
plate, choice of green or orange
positive or negative displays, repeat,
track-scanning and random playback.
The price is just under $400.
SANYO
In 1995, Sanyo offers two in-dash
CD players. All three models feature
Intellituner Circuitry including
30-station presets and 12 auto-travel
presets (a feature where the receiver
automatically tunes in stations when
you drive through other cities). CD
features include 8 times
oversampling with 1 Bit DAC (digital
to analog conversion) and an
anti-vibration suspension
mechanism.
The 50-watt ECD-8590 offers DIN
removable security and
BASSXPANDER sound
enhancement. The
100-watt 4-channel ECD-8590
improves with full-panel
detachable security,
5-mode, 5-band Electronic
Sound Equalization with
defeat and electronic
volume controls. The
120-watt 4-channel
ECD-8595 packs a
whopping 30 watts per
channel. Prices start at
$400.
SONY
Sony's new line of CD players
features an in-dash player,
high-power output, CD changer
control (if you decide to go with the
changer) 8 times oversampling with 1
Bit DAC (digital to analog
conversion).
The CDX-5090 is the least
expensive of the new models Sony
offers at $350. It sports a
20-watt-per-channel, 4-channel
output (often noted as 20X4), green
illuminated display, a clock and a
fixed mount. For an additional $50,
the CDX-5090 offers a few step-up
features such as a full detachable
face plate and an optional
full-function wired remote.
The CDX-5290 increases the
output to 30 watts by four channels,
two-color illumination, and an
optional full-function remote. This
player is priced at $450. If you want a
CD player with a changer, the
CDX-C490 would be an option. The
model has a built-in control for an
optional DiscJockey~ CD changer
with intro, repeat 11213, shuffle
11213, station memo, 30 presets,
program play, and many more
functions. It comes with an RM-X25
remote control. (A wireless remote is
optional). This head unit sports the
suggested retail price of $500.
CASSETTE RECEIVERS
Once upon a time, when cassette
tapes stepped in to replace the aging
eight-track sound systems, everyone
thought technology just couldn't get
any better. Now with the advent of
CD players (both home and mobile),
we know that time marches on and
presents a constant stream of bigger
and better toys. But the compact disc
is still reasonably expensive,
although nothing like it was available
just a few short years ago. That's
why, although cassettes have fallen
out of favor with the elitist
audiophiles, cassettes are still a
reasonably priced alternative to the
basic AM/FM radio. While tape
players do allow a bit more hiss into
the sound field, Dolby Noise
Reduction has helped make that hiss
barely noticeable. And looking at the
price difference between CDs and
cassettes, there are still many of us
who appreciate good sound quality
at a reasonable price.
ALPINE
Alpine offers TDA and TDM
series cassette decks with the
benefits of expanding to a CD Shuttle
Control (see Alpine CD players).
Both series include anti-theft
detachable face plates, a removable
trim plate so that the cassette
receiver fits snugly into any
dashboard. Both come with the
top-of-the-line synthesizer and tuner.
The TDM models are all 25 watts X
4-channel outputs; the TDA models
are 3 0 watts X 4 channel outputs.
Prices range from $270 to $680.
The TDA-7537
has built-in amps to
provide better bass
performance, automatic tape head cleaning (the first of
its kind) and light-touch operation.
Provisions are provided for easy
system upgrading, and it can be
controlled with a card-sized wireless
remote control. This receiver lists at
$680.
CUSTOM AUTOSOUND
Custom Autosound builds
stereos to fit classic cars of the '40s
through the '70s. They are authorized
to convert Pioneer and Kenwood
audio products for most classic cars.
They offer reproduction face plates
in the original styles and provide
speaker assemblies that fit without
any modifications to the vehicles.
The stereos come with a limited
3-year warranty.
JVC
As is the case with its CD player,
JVC's voice support system can be
had in two cassette/receivers: the
KS-RT707, which retails for $300 and
the KS-RT808 for $350. Both offer the
same talking features found in the CD
player, and have CD changer
controls (in case you upgrade later),
direct disc selection, and auto
reverse with Dolby B noise
reduction. The 707 offers preamp
outputs for attaching an outboard
amplifier, and the 808 offers a
wireless remote control unit and a
second pair of preamp outputs. The
707 offers 22 watts X 4 channels,
while the 808 delivers 30 watts X 4
channels.
SANYO
This year, Sanyo offers 11
different cassette receiver units.
Styles range from economical to
full-blown stereos that also will
control Compact Disc changers.
The MAC-4195 is an all-in-one,
top-of-the-line unit that's also a CD
changer controller. Sanyo's CD
changers are some of the smallest on
the market and allow you to load
either six or 10 discs, depending on
the model, CDs into a changer unit
hidden in your trunk or elsewhere.
This CD changer unit then can be
controlled from a dashboard unit like
this one while you enjoy hours of
trouble-free continuous music. Some
of the feature of the MAC-4195 are
auto reverse cassette player with
Dolby B noise reduction and
five-song automatic music search,
30-station presets with scanning, 120
watts total power output and
removable face plate security
complete with a carrying case for
protection. $230.
SONY
Five new models are in the lineup
this year. The least expensive is the
XR-2500, for $170. It consists of an
auto-reverse cassette deck,
high-performance tuner, Dolby B
noise reduction, metal tape selector,
and 4-channel internal amps.
The XR-3500 is a step up from the
XR-250. It features 15-watt 4-channel
output, an auto tuner that allows you
to rewind your tape while listening to
the radio, and a full detachable face
plate, all for $200.
The XR-6450 has a few more
features than the 3500 model, such as
full logic auto reverse, Dolby B, metal
tape selector, multi-track automatic
music search and full-function wires
remote. The amp is 20 watts X 4
channels, which ups the power and
accuracy from the XR-350. Retail
price is $230.
The XR-C190 sports 30 presets, 20
watts X 4-channel internal amps and
preamp outputs. CD changer controls
are built in so you can upgrade your
system at any time. The XR-C610
adds Dolby B and C, disc/track,
intro/shuffle, custom file memory,
program play, 30 watts X 4-channel
power amp, preamp outputs and
optional wired/wireless remote. Also
included is a fully detachable face
plate with two-color illumination. The
XR-C190 is $230; the XR-C610 is
$430.
CONTACT LIST
Alpine Electronics of America
19145 Grammercy Pl.
Torrance, CA 90501
310/326-8000
Custom Autosound
808 W. Vermont Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92805
714/535-1091
Fax: 714/533-0361
JVC
41 Slater Dr.
Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407
800/252-5722
Kenwood
2201 E. Dominguez St.
Long Beach, CA 90810
800/536-9663
Sanyo
21314 Lassen Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
818/998-7322
Sony Electronics, Inc.
One Sony Dr.
Park Ridge, N.J. 07656-8003
800/222-7669
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