Center Speaker Is Last Word in Sound System
In this day of stereo everything, why would anyone want to buy just one speaker? Perhaps you’d rather concentrate on Paul and John, ignoring George and Ringo. Then again, maybe you’ve been contemplating adding a center-front speaker to your surround-sound system.
A center-front channel adds a great deal to the enjoyment of surround-sound-encoded movies. The addition of a center-front channel means that the dialogue will be “locked on” to the screen, no matter where a viewer sits in the room. In addition to dialogue, today’s movie soundtracks use the center-front channel for explosive sound effects and drama-enhancing music. With all this work to do, quality is important--you shouldn’t use just any old speaker.
Unfortunately, most high-quality speakers are sold only in pairs. To get the speaker you want, it may be necessary to find a friend who also needs a single speaker, and buy a pair to share--or, buy a pair, and leave those unused dollars languishing in a box on a shelf in the garage.
Yamaha, responding to the plight of surround-sound enthusiasts, is offering a high-quality speaker designed specifically for use at the center-front position.
The new speaker, designated as the NS-C70, is magnetically shielded so it can sit directly on top of or underneath a television set without interfering with the picture quality. (Speakers use magnets to move their cones, and so to reproduce sound. Unshielded magnets can cause bizarre changes on the face of a TV’s picture tube, including color disturbances and the distortion of on-screen objects.)
The Yamaha NS-C70 is long and low, not your typically rectangular speaker. Its dimensions are 17.5 inches wide by 5.35 inches tall by 6.25 inches deep. The face of the speaker is slanted at a 15-degree angle, so depending on which side you place up, the sound can be directed down from the top of a TV or up from under the TV screen. Because of its shape, this speaker would also be at home mounted on the ceiling or floor.
The speaker contains two 4-inch, full-range drivers. It is rated at 6 ohms, with a frequency response of 70 to 20,000 Hz. The NS-C70 is finished in black, with a black grill cloth. Its suggested retail price is $119.
Camcorder Kit
If you own a full-size VHS camcorder, let me introduce you to the Scotch brand camcorder kit, from the 3M Company. All in one box you’ll find: a head-cleaning tape, a Pro/Camera T-120 blank videocassette tape, a roll of Re-Label tape (for marking cassettes) and a cleaning kit for camera lenses. The lens-cleaning kit includes, in its own clear plastic box, a brush with a built-in squeeze bulb to blow dust away, a package of lens-cleaning tissue and a one-ounce bottle of special, lens-cleaning fluid. You’ll find the Scotch camcorder care kit (for full-size VHS camcorders only) in most stores that sell videotape. It lists for under $30.
Laser Video Discs
Laser Video File is the name of a catalogue that announces it offers “The Complete List of Laser Video Discs, Over 4,000 titles in all!” Without counting, I must assume the title is accurate. At any rate, this little 5- by 8-inch paperback book contains 240 pages jammed with titles of movies, music videos, and material catering to special interests.
Each page holds 18 listings. The listings include a postage-stamp-size black and white photo of the disc’s jacket, a short description of the program, the name of its current distributor and the year of release. A coded panel gives the following information: catalogue number, sound (mono, stereo, digital, etc.), indication if the soundtrack is CX encoded, color or black and white, CAV or CLV, its theatrical rating (PG, R, etc.), running time in minutes, number of sides, and suggested retail price.
Laser Video File (Vol. 2, No. 1 is the current issue) includes 12-inch, 8-inch and 5-inch (CDV) disc titles. Its cover lists a suggested retail price of $3.50, though I’m sure many laser-disc stores will be happy to give you one with your next laser videodisc purchase. Laser Video File is produced by New Visions Inc. and Pioneer LDCA. For the name of a dealer near you who carries it, write to P.O. Box 828, Westwood, NJ 07675; telephone number is (201) 712-9500.
NEC Folds Its Tent
Last month, NEC announced it was getting out of the home entertainment equipment business in the United States. All that will remain are the computer and video game divisions.
I found it hard to believe, but I guess it’s true. I suppose they weren’t making enough money; but that surprises me, because their product line of TVs, VCRs and audio equipment was excellent. In fact, I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of several of their recently announced units, especially a hot new audio/video switcher.
With quite a few manufacturers out there producing goods of marginal quality, it’s sad to see a really good one go away. Those of you who own NEC products, don’t worry, NEC will maintain its parts/service network for some time to come. For those of you who were considering the purchase of NEC products before you read this, I’d buy what I could of whatever products are still on the shelves. When those units are gone, there won’t be any more.