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In the last issue we published a rather enthusiastic "Quickie" report on a small, $190/pair speaker system from a new company—the FMI Model 80. It was virtually devoid of low end, even as a stereo pair (pairing effectively doubles bass output), and slightly rough as well as a shade soft at the high end, but it had a quality of "aliveness" to it that almost defied belief. Was it a breakthrough in design? A new transducing principle? No, it was neither. In fact, the Model 80 looks like any one of those hundreds of little bookshelf systems that clutter, the pages of Stereo Review's "Hi-Fi…
J. Gordon Holt also wrote about the FMI J-Modular System in September 1973 (Vol.3 No.6):
After the foregoing report was written, we got a preliminary listen to a pair of the Model J systems. The Model J consists of a floor-standing woofer (about 18" square by 33" high) with an FMI Model 80 on top of it and then an RTR ESR-6 tweeter on top of that. Since all three boxes are different sizes and shapes, the combination looks like something Junior would construct from his building blocks, but we understood that "something" will be done about that little hitch.
Sonically, the system…
The "FMI Cult," from December 1977 (Vol.4 No.1):
In our editorial in this issue, we touched on the subject of reference loudspeakers and some ramifications thereof. Stereophile has on occasion been accused of heading an "FMI Cult," and to that we can only reply "Mea culpa." We have been promoting FMI speaker systems, and since we have recently been getting some flack from readers about our obvious pro-FMI biases, it behooves us to explain why we have ridden the FMI horse for so long, and why we feel it is now time to dismount and take a cab for a while.
We have met FMI's Robert…
Sidebar: Specifications
Description: Two-way, three–drive-unit, floor-standing loudspeaker (Model 80); Four-way, five–drive-unit, floor-standing loudspeaker (J-Modular, including two Model 80s). Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Power capacity: 60W program.
Dimensions: 17.5" H x 9.75" W x 8.5" D (Model 80); 33" high x 18" W by 18" D (Model J woofer).
Serial numbers of review samples: 00075 & 00081 (Model 80), 19043 & 19068 (J woofer).
Price: $188/pair (Model 80, 1973), $1196/pair (Model J-Modular, 1975–1977); no longer available (2006).
Manufacturer: Fulton Musical…
The new DV-09 is Pioneer's first DVD player in its Elite line. More than simply an upscale version of a standard Pioneer DVD player, the DV-09 was built from the ground up to be a flagship product. It's also the first DVD player I've seen to have been certified under THX's DVD-player certification program (see sidebar, "THX DVD Players").
The instant you take it out of the box, you know that the DV-09 is no ordinary player. The standard high-gloss Pioneer Elite cosmetics are clearly evident, but more significantly, the weight—nearly 35 lbs—is a surprise. This first impression of…
The DV-09 also provides extensive video controls, which are accessed from the remote's Mode button. Separate video adjustments are available for luminance noise reduction (YNR), color noise reduction (CNR), overall noise reduction (NR), horizontal and vertical sharpness, black level (Normal and Dark), color level (C level), and Y/C timing. In addition, three memories are available for various user-established combinations of these settings, along with three factory defaults: Standard, Sports, and Art. As usual with such features on products from the Far East, the manual's descriptions of…
Returning to full anamorphic playback, I compared the Pioneer directly with the Meridian 586.2 (reviewed in the March/April 1998 issue). There is a considerable difference between these two players in color saturation, and a significant increase in the Meridian's Color control is required to balance things out. This is not a negative in itself, but it does make direct comparisons between the two players difficult.
This one difference aside, however, the two players are very comparable: They are about equally sharp, though I think it's significant that the Pioneer can run neck-and-neck…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Elite DV-09 DVD player
Frequency response: 4Hz- 44kHz (DVD, 96kHz sampling rate); 4Hz-22kHz (DVD, 48kHz sampling rate); 4Hz-20kHz (CD)
Audio S/N Ratio: 115dB (EIAJ)
Audio dynamic range: 108dB (EIAJ)
Total harmonic distortion: 0.002%
Formats played: DVD, CD, Video CD
Digital audio outputs: TosLink optical (PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS), coaxial (PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS), coaxial (PCM only)
Analog audio outputs: L&R stereo (2 pairs)
Video outputs: composite (2), S-video (2), component: Y, Cr (R-Y), Cb (B-Y)
Dimensions: 18.125" x 5.7" x 14…
Elite DV-09 DVD player
Frequency response: 4Hz- 44kHz (DVD, 96kHz sampling rate); 4Hz-22kHz (DVD, 48kHz sampling rate); 4Hz-20kHz (CD)
Audio S/N Ratio: 115dB (EIAJ)
Audio dynamic range: 108dB (EIAJ)
Total harmonic distortion: 0.002%
Formats played: DVD, CD, Video CD
Digital audio outputs: TosLink optical (PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS), coaxial (PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS), coaxial (PCM only)
Analog audio outputs: L&R stereo (2 pairs)
Video outputs: composite (2), S-video (2), component: Y, Cr (R-Y), Cb (B-Y)
Dimensions: 18.125" x 5.7" x 14…
Sidebar 2: Review System
Video Source: Pioneer Elite CLD-99 LD player
Display: Dwin HD-500 projector, Faroudja VP250 line doubler, Stewart Studiotek 130 screen, 78" wide, 16:9
Surround Processor: Proceed AVP
Power Amplifier: Proceed Amp5
Loudspeakers: Revel GEM Home Theater System
Interconnects: Kinergetics AGDL (digital feeds from LD and DVD to processor), Madrigal CZ-Gel (analog, unbalanced)
Speaker Cables: XLO VDO
Video Source: Pioneer Elite CLD-99 LD player
Display: Dwin HD-500 projector, Faroudja VP250 line doubler, Stewart Studiotek 130 screen, 78" wide, 16:9
Surround Processor: Proceed AVP
Power Amplifier: Proceed Amp5
Loudspeakers: Revel GEM Home Theater System
Interconnects: Kinergetics AGDL (digital feeds from LD and DVD to processor), Madrigal CZ-Gel (analog, unbalanced)
Speaker Cables: XLO VDO
Sidebar 3: THX DVD Players
Several years ago, Lucasfilm's THX division established a testing and certification program for laserdisc players. To my knowledge, the program found only one taker—Runco. Laserdisc-player manufacturers, who must have been anticipating DVD, were apparently unwilling to embark on a program that might require them to redesign their LDPs in what could be the final round of serious models for that format.
Several years ago, Lucasfilm's THX division established a testing and certification program for laserdisc players. To my knowledge, the program found only one taker—Runco. Laserdisc-player manufacturers, who must have been anticipating DVD, were apparently unwilling to embark on a program that might require them to redesign their LDPs in what could be the final round of serious models for that format.
But THX hasn't been sitting on their hands. They've modified that LDP-certification program and created a similar program for DVD players. And this time, the…