Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!whuxj!whuxk!wjm
From: wjm@whuxk.UUCP (MITCHELL)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: High Quality Recordings
Message-ID: <355@whuxk.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Jan-84 12:11:48 EST
Article-I.D.: whuxk.355
Posted: Wed Jan  4 12:11:48 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Jan-84 01:05:53 EST
Lines: 26

The most recent (Jan. 1984) issue of "Audio" ought to add more fuel to the
digital vs analog debate.  It contains an interview with Doug Sax and Lincoln
Mayorga of Sheffield Labs, and their comments (and reservations) about
digital recording.  Given their background and the type of recordings they
produce at Sheffield, their words should certainly be considered heavily.
The same issue of "Audio" also discussed the myth behind the apparent difference
in dynamic range (analog 70-80 dB to digital's 90 dB)
between high quality analog and digital recording systems.  The authors stated
that the analog figures should be about 15 dB better than commonly stated to
compare them with digital numbers since one can retrieve a musical signal 15 dB
below the general noise level (this is somewhat analogous to the cocktail party
effect, where a person can pick one conversation out of the general noise and
follow it) in an analog system, while in a digital system, the lower level
is no signal (digital zero) and one cannot retrieve anything below it.
The same issue also pointed out that analog tape equipment can obtain a 90dB
dynamic range by using dbx noise reduction.
I'm not anti-digital, but I feel these items should be presented to the net.
While we're on the subject of high quality recordings, the same issue
of "Audio" contained a Nak ad for their new Dragon turntable.  Nak is attacking
a problem that no one else in the turntable business has discussed to any
great length - off center records, with their consequent distortion of tonearm
geometry.  However, the question I'd like answered, is how does Nak's table
stack up to a Linn, Mission, or Sota???
Bill Mitchell
Central Services Organization
Whippany, NJ  (whuxk!wjm)