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REVIEWS
STRAP
First Run
HEAD
SAMSUNG SV-160i, £360 ****
Why’s it here? Samsung appear to be making a concerted
effort to shrug off the cheap‘n cheerful image their VCRs have acquired over
the years. From the outside the smoothly styled SV-160i could easily pass for
any one of half a dozen top-end machines from the better known European and
Japanese companies. However, all is not as it seems, the 160i costs just £360,
putting it firmly in the budget category.
Any unique features? The classy-looking drop-down front
panel and jog/shuttle dials are both rare on machines in this price bracket. So
too is the comprehensive multi-speed replay facilities, that extend from 9x
fast play to 1/10th normal speed slow-motion (in both directions). Not so
welcome are the fine-tune buttons on the remote, right next to the channel change
keys, making it all too easy to knock the picture off-bonk. Front-mounted AV
sockets and audio dub are useful video movie-making features. Even though it
has PDC there’s no auto-install or clock-check features, though manual set-up
is reasonably straightforward.
How does it perform? Picture quality is generally good.
Resolution on SP recordings is just over 240-lines, though picture noise levels
are only average. Colours are crisp and well defined and it compares well with
most other mid-range VCRs. Slow motion and fast-play are both very steady; the
deck is unexpectedly smooth, able to change speed and direction quickly,
without the customary clunks and grinding noises of previous Samsung machines.
Some actions are still quite slow though, and it takes a full five seconds for
a picture to appear after the play button is pressed, (from stop, fast wind or
recording modes). The stereo soundtracks are reasonably clean, there’s some
background hiss, but it’s not serious.
Our Verdict. A very pleasant surprise; any fears the 160i is
simply a budget VCR inside a fancy cabinet are quickly dispelled by the picture
and sound quality. It has few convenience features, and no gadgets to speak of,
but that could well be seen as an advantage by a lot of users, looking for a
sensibly price NICAM VCR with average to good AV performance.
SAMSUNG SV-1601, £360
Features NICAM stereo, hi-fi sound, Video
Plus+ with PDC, multi-speed replay, index search, parental lock, audio dub
Sockets 2 x SCART AV in/out, AV out (phono),
front AV in (phono) RF bypass (coaxial)
Dimensions 430 x 97 x 358 mm
Picture Quality ****
Sound Quality ***
Build Quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
Aiwa HV-FX3500 £350
Philips VR-6557 £370
Sanyo VHR-776 £350
Samsung UK, telephone 0181-391 0168
HEAD
AKAI VS-G855, £370 ****
Why’s it here? Barely four months after the launch of their
first sub-£300 NICAM VCR, Akai have brought out a second low-cost stereo
machine, this time selling for £370. This is known as a step-up model in the
trade; it has the same basic facilities as the earlier VS-G745, but with a
number of ‘added-value’ features. This strategy helps dealers ‘sell-up’ to
better-equipped models, without having to steer prospective purchasers towards
a competitors range.
Any unique features? The general specification is identical
to the G745, with NICAM, Video Plus+ and PDC, full auto-install, Super I-HQ
tape optimisation and NTSC replay (with stereo sound). The extras appear to be
mostly for the benefit of video movie-makers. They include a jog/shuttle
control on the remote handset, audio dub and insert edit. It’s one of only a
handful of stereo VCRs with a manual recording level control these days, and
there’s front-panel sockets for a microphone and headphones. The S-IHQ system
has enhanced chrominance processing circuitry, designed to give improved colour
fidelity on second generation recordings and there’s an extra set of AV input
sockets on the back panel.
How does it perform? Not surprisingly there’s very little
difference between this, and the 745. Resolution hovers around and above the
240-line mark, and like its stablemate, S-IHQ processing makes a real
difference on LP recordings. They look almost as good as (in some cases even
better), than SP recordings made on some budget machines, with very low noise
levels, and only a slight drop in resolution. The other S-IHQ enhancements work
well, and colours look reasonably crisp on copies made using this machine.
Trick play performance is very smooth, though the deck is quite noisy when
switching modes. NTSC replay is very clean, so too is the stereo hi-fi sound.
Noise levels on PAL soundtracks are a little below average, so all things
considered it stacks up reasonably well as an AV source component.
Our Verdict. The price is a little higher than we would have
expected; it’s likely that’s partly to do with the unusually low price of the
G745. Nevertheless it’s still good value. The extra features are definitely
worth having, especially if you’re a camcorder fan, or want to get the most
from the hi-fi recording system, otherwise, stick with the 745.
Akai VS-G855, £370
Features NICAM stereo, hi-fi sound, Video
Plus+ with PDC, auto tuning and clock set, multi-speed replay, index
search/intro scan, 16:9 recording, NTSC replay, manual recording level control,
insert editing, record search, audio dub
Sockets 2 x SCART AV in/out, audio our and
AV in (phono), front AV input (phono), headphone and microphone (minijack)
Dimensions 380 x 90 x 317 mm
Picture Quality ****
Sound Quality ****
Build Quality ****
Features *****
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
Hitachi VT-F450 £400
Mitsubishi HS-551 £380
Toshiba V-726B £400
Akai UK, telephone
0181-897 6388
HEAD
GRUNDIG R14 DPL RECEIVER, £280 ***
Why’s it here? Grundig’s distinctive ‘Fine Arts’ range of
audio separates is upgraded to home cinema status by the arrival of the R14
DPL. It replaces the R2 AV amp/receiver, though from the outside they look
pretty much the same. The new features are the Dolby Pro Logic processor and
three extra channels of amplification, for the rear and centre-front speakers.
This is a highly practical combination of technologies, helping to keep down
the box count in a home cinema system, but without sacrificing flexibility.
Any unique features? Grundig have shown considerable
restraint, and the R14 has to be one of the few AV amps on the market not to be
decked out with multiple digital audio processing modes and a garish front
panel display. The RDS tuner takes care of station naming; idents can be stored
manually for non RDS stations. Surround sound features are confined to DPL and
Dolby 3-Stereo modes. It’s a rather sober design, dominated by the giant
motorised volume knob. All of the secondary controls are hidden behind a hinged
flap. Nil points for the remote handset, a case of form taking precedent over
function. It looks smart, but just try finding the right button in a dimly-lit living
room...
How does it perform? With 40 watts going to the right, left
and centre channels the front soundstage is evenly balanced, with plenty of
power in reserve. Centre channel resolution is very good, with hardly any
leakage. The rear channels have to be wound up quite high, but they do manage
to keep up and never quite run out of steam. It delivers a good solid sound,
bass is well controlled and can develop quite an impressive rumble when
necessary. The rear channel is cleanly separated, it’s particularly good with
loud dynamic sounds, there’s a tendency for subtle effects to be swamped
though, when the front channels are on full song. The tuner is a very capable
design, with an efficient antenna FM reception is very crisp, sensitivity is
good and there’s very little background noise.
Our Verdict. It’s fairly obvious the R14 has been configured
to give its best when used with other Grundig Fine Arts speakers and components,
which share a common control system. Even so, it’s still worth considering as a
stand-alone component, or as part of a mix-and-match system. There’s
refreshingly few gadgets and gimmicks, it sounds good and the price is very
reasonable.
Grundig R14 DPL, £280
Features 3 x 40 watts RMS (left, right and
centre), 2 x 20 watts RMS (rear), 1 phono & 4 line-level inputs, Dolby Pro
Logic and Dolby 3-Stereo, 59 station memory, RDS with user definable idents,
multi-function remote control, integrated remote system (with other Grundig
components)
Sockets audio inputs (phono), front stereo
speakers (binding posts), rear and centre channel speakers (spring terminal)
Dimensions 435 x 125 x 300mm
Sound Quality ****
Build Quality ****
Features ****
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
JVC RX-416 £270
Kenwood KA-V3700 £300
Yamaha RX-V390RDS £300
Grundig International, telephone (0345) 125598
HEAD
PHILIPS MC170 Micro System, £350 ****
Why’s it here? Micro hi-fi systems are the flavour of the
month and manufacturers are churning them out in an attempt to grab a slice of
this lucrative market. The first ones were all a bit cheap and cheerful but
they’re slowly gaining respectability as more thought is being given to speaker
design. Some recent mid-range models actually sound quite respectable. The
MC170 is in that category, it’s ideal for small rooms, bedsides and kitchens,
anywhere in fact where you want a big sound from a small box.
Any unique features? The amplifier is rated at 75 watts RMS
per channel, which is well above the average for this type of product.
‘Incredible Sound’ is supposed to create a wide spatial effect, when the
speakers are set close to the system box. A three mode digital sound processor
optimises tone settings for jazz, classic, rock and pop music sources, plus,
there’s a bass boost function, to pump up the low-frequencies. It has a single
auto-reverse cassette deck, with continuous play and syncro-start modes, for
simplified CD recording. The AM/FM tuner has an RDS facility, that displays
station idents and text messages, and there’s a clock with a simple timer, that
can be used as a wake-up alarm.
How does it perform? Even with the bass-boost facility
switched on, it never really gets going with the lower frequencies. Incredible
sound broadens the soundstage, but it gives a slight treble lift, accentuating
hiss on tape and tuner sources. The DSP modes tiddles around with equalisation
but the assignments -- particularly those for jazz and pop -- seem somewhat
inappropriate, with too much emphasis on treble. The amplifier is quite beefy,
though, and the compact speakers give a refreshingly clean, open sound, even at
higher volume levels. It’s capable of filling a medium sized room without any
difficulty. The only weak point is the tape deck, which appears to have little
in the way of noise reduction; home recordings on regular ferric tapes can
sound quite hissy.
Our Verdict. The overall sound is quite pleasing, in spite
of the thin bass and noisy tape deck. Incredible Sound works better with some
sources than others but it’s worth a try. Other plus points include the generous
power output and lively, detailed speakers. Good sounds, good value.
Philips MC170
Features 2 x
75 watts RMS, 4-mode DSP (jazz, classic, rock, pop), single auto-reverse
cassette deck, CD with 20-track memory, AM/FM tuner with RDS station ident
Sockets stereo
line in (phono), headphones (minijack), speakers (spring terminals), antenna
(2-pin & coax), mains (Telefunken)
Dimensions 510
x 225 x 320 mm
Sound Quality ***
Build Quality ***
Features ****
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
Aiwa LCX-800 £350
JVC UX-D66 £380
Sony PMC-301 £300
Philips Consumer Electronics, telephone 0181-689 4444
HEAD
GRUNDIG PA1-MAX, £330 ***
Why’s it here? Good question, substance abuse and disturbed
minds are two possibilities, either way it’s not something you’d want to
stumble across in a darkened room. This has to be one of Grundig’s wackiest
products yet -- and they’ve had quite a few --
looking more like a prop from a sci-fi movie than a portable audio
system. But we’re in danger of taking this too seriously; it fun, it’s
different, it’s well... you make up your own mind.
Any unique features? You mean apart from the shape? It does
have a three-channel amplifier, driving a total of five speakers. Grundig call
it Space Fidelity; the idea is the ‘live’ sound follows you around the room,
‘like Mona Lisa’s eyes’, according to the instruction book. It can be powered
by mains or batteries, it has it’s own built-in battery pack (8 D-cells), or from a car battery, using
the supplied adaptor lead. The tape deck at the bottom is a fairly basic
design, with mechanical controls; the CD deck on has a 20-track memory. In the
middle there’s an AM/FM tuner, with 15 station presets. On top there’s a
fold-away carry handle, and a telescopic antenna, for FM reception.
How does it perform? The manual optimistically describes it
as the most exciting sound you’ve ever heard; well, that’s possible if all
you’ve ever listened to are cheapie audio systems. Space Fidelity is a bit of
an acquired taste, the stereo image is quite diffuse, a bit muddled really, but
it’s not unpleasant. Bass response is a tad muted but it has reasonable
mid-range and treble coverage. The cassette deck is quite noisy but we’ve heard
worse. Incidentally, the tape holder is incredibly slow to open, and the tuner
takes an age to step through the band; very laid back. The amplifier outputs
look quite impressive on paper but it’s not terribly loud and even at full
whack it’s probably not going to upset the neighbours.
Our Verdict. We suppose Grundig should be congratulated for
daring to be different but we can’t say, hand on heart, that it breaks any new
ground, sonically at least. As we said earlier, it’s a fun product, designed
for the young at heart and fat of wallet. If you’re looking for an
eye-catching, go-anywhere, moderately capable music system, give it the
once-over, but bear in mind what else you can buy for £330. You never know, it
might become a collectors item.
Grundig PA1-MAX, £330
Features 2 x
15 watts RMS plus 1 x 30 watts RMS, 3-band equaliser, bass boost, CD player
with 20-track memory, AM/FM tuner with 15 station memories, mains/battery
operation (battery holder and car cord supplied)
Sockets mains
(Telefunken), external power (2-pin plug)
Dimensions It’s
unmeasurable...
Sound Quality ***
Build Quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ***
Overall value ***
Competitors
You’re kidding!
Grundig International, telephone (0345) 125598
HEAD
PHILIPS FR-751 DPL AV RECEIVER, £300 ****
Why’s it here? A few months ago Philips declared their
intention ‘To take ownership of home cinema in the UK’, they got off to a very
good start with the FW672 DPL mini system. Now they’re having a go at the separates
market, with the FR-751 Dolby Pro-Logic AV receiver, we’re looking at here, and
the slightly less powerful FR-731. They’re playing safe to begin with, it’s a
relatively conventional design, realistically priced and conservatively styled.
Any unique features? Philips have done their homework and
rightly concluded that the trouble with a lot of DPL systems is an underpowered
centre channel. In surround sound mode the FR-751 delivers 50 watts into the
right, left and centre-front speakers, and 25 watts split between the two rear
speakers, which should even things up nicely. Apart from that there’s nothing
unusual about the design -- the front panel display is unusually understated --
though the remote handset looks a bit complicated. That’s because it can
control a wide range of Philips AV products, including TVs, VCRs, CD and Video/Photo
CD, CDi players and DCC decks.
How does it perform? Matching the centre-front output with
the right and left stereo channels was a good move; it makes balancing the
system a whole lot easier, and gives added impact to dialogue. It’s worth
playing around with the level settings as the normal technique, of setting all
channels so they sound the same, left the centre channel sound a little quiet
on our sample. At higher volume settings the rear channel can get swamped but
most of the time it sounds fine, and there’s remarkably little bleed through from
the other channels. Bass output is satisfactory, a little more wouldn’t have
gone amiss, but with a good set of speakers, (and possibly a sub-woofer as well),
it shouldn’t disappoint. Pro-Logic resolution is very good, picking out quieter
effects just as cleanly as the louder ones. The tuner section is unremarkable,
and it needs quite a good aerial to keep the background noise levels in check, otherwise
selectivity and channel separation are fine.
Our Verdict. It’s a competent no-nonsense design and a good
starting point for Philips onslaught on the market. The tuner is a little tame
in comparison with some of the others on the market -- there’s no RDS for
example -- but the poky amps and efficient DPL decoder definitely count in its
favour.
Philips FR-751, £300
Features 3 x 50 watts, 1 x 25 watts RMS,
AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby 3 stereo, ‘hall’
surround mode, multi-function remote control, RC5 bus system control, sleep
timer
Sockets stereo line-level in/out and RC5
remote bus (phono), speakers and AM antenna (spring terminals), FM antenna
(coax), Switched AC mains (continental
2-pin)
Dimensions 435 x 125 x 350 mm
Sound Quality ****
Build Quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
JVC RX-416 £270
Kenwood KA-V3700 £300
Yamaha RX-V390RDS £300
Philips Consumer Electronics, telephone 0181-689 4444
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R. Maybury 1996 2208
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