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I invar \ hthntan. 1979
and two three-way speaker systems (8-inch
woofer, H-inch passive radiator for increased
efficiency, and 3-inch tweeter). The tape sec
tion has two VU meters, five function-
indicator lights, a pause control, and a
three-digit tape counter, among its many
other features. All of this for a suggested price
of $300.00.
Optonica’s SCJ-400. at a suggested cost of
$500.00, incorporates a 4-hand receiver of
15-watt per channel power rating (4-ohms,
from *»0 11/ to 20.000 11/ with no more than
l.o percent harmonic distortion), a semi
automatic belt-driven turntable and a
record/play cassette deck with Dolby noise
reduction system. The two-speed turntable
boasts a wow-and-flutter spec ofO.OH prr< cut
while that same specification for the cassette
section is 0.08 percent. Speakers are not in
cluded in this model.
Panasonic's Model SK*5506 features an
\N1 KM stereo radio with a stereo casette
recorder/player, a three-speed automatic
record changer, ind two panasonit Thrusters
multi-driver speakers. Power output of the
receiver is quoted at 10 watts per channel
continuous, from 70 H/ to 20,000 H/.H-ohm
loads, with distortion rated at 2.0 percent.
This combination carries a suggested retail
price of around $430.00
Sanyo’s top-of-the-line compact system is
their model (»XT5000, with a suggested
price of $6.50.00. It consists of a four-band
receiver, a stereo cassette deck with Dolby
in< luded. a turntable fitted with a magnetic
cai tridge and a pair of their SXH30 acoustic
suspension speakers. Power output is tela-
ti\ely high lor a compact, at 25 watts per
channel continuous, 20 Hz to 20,000 H/, and
l.o percent harmonic distortion.
In addition to the manufacturers normal!)
associated with separate components who
also now make compacts, there are a lew
"mass consumer product” makers who also do
a competent job in this area. Included are
such well known names as Magnuvox and
Zenith. Some major department store out
lets, such as J.(’ Penney, Sears and
Montgomery Ward, sell compacts under
their own brand names, but in nearly a
instances, the units are actually manufac
tured by some of the various name-brand
makers we have already named. For exam
ple, much of Sears’ compact merchandise is
actually designed and built fry Fisher Corpo
ration.
Some of the prices we have cited for the
better compacts suggest that the serious au
diophile on a limited budget might do just as
well assembling his or her own component
system from separates, but that’s not always
true. Remember, each of the compacts in
cludes some form of tape deck, whose
minimum value (if purchased separately)
would run well over $100.00. Ten to fifteen
watt receivers these days are selling at
around the $150.00 to $200.00 mark. Add in
the speakers and even a minimal quality
turntable and magnetic cartridge and you
quickly see that, in most instances you are
ahead (financially at least) with a good com
pact system. But the emphasis here remains
on the word nood. An inferior compact sys
tem, in the $150.00 to $250.00 list price class,
can’t possibly match even the most inexpen
sive component system assembled lor about
$300.00 to $400.00. And, of course, with ant
compact system you are relying upon the
manufacturer’s ability to do a better job of
matching the components than you tan.
Most audiophiles would never acknowledge
a manufacturer’s talents in this area, but
(here seems to be enough of us who don't
*ant to get involved in all those decisions to
lustify the growing numlier of available t om*
pacts that are sold annually.
Len Feldman