Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: mingo@well.sf.ca.us (Charles Hawkins Mingo)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: DAT for $800 ?
Message-ID: <6017@uwm.edu>
Date: 30 Aug 90 12:51:42 GMT
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


In article <5813@uwm.edu> mofo@bucsf.bu.edu (jason greene) writes:
>
>I have two questions however, regarding both this Sony model [presumably the
>DTC700] and DAT in general:
>
>1)	DAT moves the tape along at ~4 mm/s. The head rotates at ~2000 rpm.
>	The combination of these two lend me to believe that the head will
>	wear down fairly quickly. This might apply to wear of the tape as 
>	well. 

	DAT uses a helical scan technology quite similar to VCR taping.  Based
	on my VCR experience, the tapes should last for hundreds of playings
	unless they are abused (eg, extended pause).

>	In the manual for their new DAT, Sony recommends using a
>	DAT cleaning cassette (which I haven't seen in this country yet)
>	once a month. 

	The manual for the Sony DTC700 recommends cleanings "periodically"
	and warns against cleaning "more than five times in a short period."
	I found the Maxell R-CL DAT Cleaning Cassette widely available in
	the Washington, DC area, for $13.99.

>	The rest of the DAT technology seems wonderful and complete with
>	strong construction.
>	Will the head wear down quickly? 

	I think the head is pretty safe (ever hear of a VCR head wearing out?).
	It's the tape I would be more concerned about.

>	If so, would you need to replace
>	the whole DAT unit to fix it, or could the head be replaced (and at
>	what cost) ????

	The head should be separately replacable, but don't count on getting
	quick or cheap service.  At Circuit City (near Washington), I was
	told that any significant repairs would likely cost at least $300
	(which I found credible).  However, I was able to purchase a five-
	year extended warranty for $78, on top of the $779 for the DTC700.

>2)	This new Sony DAT sits comfortably within my spending budget, being
>	sold at most high-end stores for $799.95. Does this lower-priced
>	DAT suggest that even lower priced DAT's will be soon in coming
>	(DAT's for ~600) ????

	Yes.  I recall seeing an advertisement in late-July NY Times for
	a JVC DAT for about $650.  Last Sunday's NYT has an ad for a
	car DAT-player for $449.

	My personal DAT experience (after one week), is that the DTC700
	not only makes virtually perfect digital recordings, but also
	is a pretty damn good analogue tape deck, when recorded at 48kHz.
	But for the fact that I have hundreds of conventional audiotapes,
	I would get rid of my old tapedeck.  [Onkyo TA-2070 tapedeck,
	NAD 7175PE receiver, Celestron SL-6 speakers.]

-- 
Charlie Mingo					Internet: mingo@well.sf.ca.us
2209 Washington Circle #2			CI$:  71340,2152
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