Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site vice.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!petrus!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekcrl!vice!shauns From: shauns@vice.UUCP (Shaun Simpkins) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: Choosing a CD player Message-ID: <974@vice.UUCP> Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 12:30:34 EST Article-I.D.: vice.974 Posted: Thu Jan 9 12:30:34 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 19:40:19 EST References: <207@myrias.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 73 > Ken Pohlmann in his ProAudio column (Digital Audio, Dec. 1985, pg. 96) > outlines an interesting method of CD player evaluation. The technique, > although not foolproof, should serve to separate those players worthy of > furthur consideration and careful listening. > > The technique simply assigns an arbitrary point value to the basic > specifications, design criteria, and features inherent in a player. The > total of these points when weighed against the price of the player should > highlight the "good deal". The rating is acheived as follows: > > Specifications > - Frequency response: one point for every 0.1 dB less than 2 dB deviation > from 0 dB > - S/N ratio: one point for every dB above 85 dB > - Channel separation (@ 1 kHz): one point for every dB above 80 dB > > Design > - Output filter: no points for analog; ten points for oversampling > - # of DACs: ten points for dual DACs > - Weight: one point per pound for stationary units; one point for every > pound less than 20 pounds for portables > > Features > Programmability: ten points; one additional point for every program > location above 10 > Audible fast search: five points > Indexing: five points > Remote control: twenty points > Headphone jack: ten points, five extra points for variable level control > Portability: ten points > > > Using this system Ken rated 67 players. > > 67. Sony CDP 650ESD: $1300, 143 pts. > 66. Denon DCD-1500: $580, 136 pts. > 65. Mcintosh MCD 7000: $1400, 135 pts.> 64. Nakamichi OMS-7: $1300, 135 pts. > 63. Kyocera DA-910: $1600, 135 pts. > 62. Sony CDP 620ES: $950, 133 pts. > 61. ADS CD3: $900, 131 pts. > 60. Sylvania FDD 304SL: $600, 127 pts. > 59. Bang & Olufson CDX: $700, 127 pts.> 58: Sony CDP 520ES: $600, 124 pts. > 54. Revox B225: $1150, 115 pts. > 53. Technics SL-P3: $600, 113 pts. > 46. HK HD500: $600, 106 pts. > 43. Yamaha CD3: $500, 105 pts. > 23. Mission DAD-7000: $650, 82 pts. > 15. Meridian MCD: $700, 73 pts. > 7. Carver DTL-100: $650, 67 pts. > This is really amusing. Digital Audio has done it again! If we look at just the specification and performance sections of this code, a PERFECT oversampling player (separation, S/N = 96dB, f.resp. perfect) Would amass a score of only 67 points! Roughly another 60 points would come from its bells and whistles, and the player would advance one point in the ratings for each pound more it weighed than the average of all others in the sample set. I find it amusing that the new Sony units differ by only 19 points in the ratings. Around five points come from weight differences, 5 from variable loudness, 4-5 from the number of programmable selections, and a paltry 5 points from actual specification differences! I contend that if you threw out most of the specious criteria in this rating system that tend to bias it towards heavy, highly programmed players these players would fall into two groups about 20 points apart(remote, no remote) with a spread of about 5-8 points each owing to basic performance differences. I think I'll strap a 50 pound bag of sand to the Yamaha CD3 and get a 155 point player for 1/2 the cost of the Sony CDP-650ES. Talk about dime-store metaphysics... The wandering squash, -- Shaun Simpkins uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!vice!shauns CSnet: shauns@tek ARPAnet:shauns.tek@rand-relay