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From: shauns@vice.UUCP (Shaun Simpkins)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Blaupunkt vs Sony auto decks?
Message-ID: <90@vice.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 12-Mar-85 12:59:53 EST
Article-I.D.: vice.90
Posted: Tue Mar 12 12:59:53 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Mar-85 02:55:40 EST
References: <2300018@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 61

> 
> 
> 	I am mulling over the purchase of a new 
> 	Auto car cassette/stereo.  I have gone through the
> 	past years worth of Stereo Review and Hi Fidelity, 
> 	without finding anything that tells me whether the
> 	mid-price-range Sony decks are better than their
> 	equivalently priced Blaupunkt competitors...
> 
> 	Anybody out there have a strong preference in 
> 	auto cassette stereos in the $200-300 price range?
> 	Are any of the other brands outstandingly better?
> 
> 	Thanks a bunch,
> 	Jim Andreas
> 	{ decvax, ucbvax } ! harpo ! hp-pcd ! jim

I have had both a Sony XR-75 and a Blaupunkt Tucson in my 79 Scirocco
(the latter is my present deck).  There are distinct differences between the
decks, specifically:

FM reception:      Sony: great for distance; front end overloads badly, even
			 with local switch on, close to transmitters.  Bad
			 picket fencing in city driving.  User features very
			 nice.
		   Blau: fm tuners have always been Blaupunkt's strength, and
			 this deck is no exception.  Reception in all conditions
			 is superb - no picket fencing, no overload, nada, zip.
			 User features very nice, more practical than the Sony
			 though not allowing as much user participation in
			 reception characteristics (mono/stereo, in particular).
			 I never missed the `missing' buttons.

AM reception:      Mediocre on both.  Who Cares?

Tape Deck:         Sony: Lower wow and flutter at rest than the Blau but
			 horribly sensitive to engine vibration.  Tapes were
			 basically unlistenable (piano, oboe, that type) while
			 driving.

		   Blau: About 3x wow and flutter of the Sony at rest but less
			 sensitive to vibration than the Sony.  Result? About
			 the same.  Piano, oboe, etc. recordings were still
			 unlistenable while driving.  This has always been
			 Blaupunkt's weakness - crappy tape drives, well built.

Remember, the stability of your mounting system in the car has a profound
effect on tape listenability.  Most new cars have a MUCH better mounting
system than my car dash, which shakes like a wet puppy.  I'll be looking into
the new Nak TD-500/700 when I replace my steed.  The wow/flutter specs on
these decks are 2-3times better than the Sony, and I suspect their
stability is better, too.  I just hate the price one must pay to get it.

The wandering squash,

-- 
				Shaun Simpkins

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