Proton 550

[m. zillch]

Here's why I referred to the $410, 1987, Magnavox 650 as "superb". From one of the very few magazines that spoke the truth:

"If CD players can be said to be equal in most respects, it is nonetheless true that some are “more equal than others.” In our judgment, the Magnavox CDB-650 is possibly the “most equal” of them all. We have tested some forty-seven CD players over the past several years. Although a couple of others have matched or even slightly surpassed the Magnavox CDB-650 in a few of their measured characteristics, none has come even close to equaling its overall performance.

It is unlikely that any practical or audible benefit results from a noise level of — 125 dB rather than one of — 95 dB, or a 20,000-Hz phase shift of zero degrees instead of 90 degrees, or a channel separation greater than 100 dB at 20,000 Hz instead of only 85 dB, and so on. Nevertheless, these and all the other outstanding measurable properties of this machine convey a clear impression of excellence that cannot be disregarded."

Magnavox CDB-650 CD-player Review price specs - Hi-Fi Classic

www.hifi-classic.net

Stereo Review c.1987

 

[m. zillch]

The early 80s was the most exciting time in audio history. For some of us working in the industry one of the first indicators something was afoot was a curious new input name on some of the gear (including Denon and Yamaha, both of which I carried), apparently named after one of our parents: "DAD".

. . . "Huh? what the heck is that?!"

An examination of the owners' manuals had the answer: Digital Audio Disc. [They hadn't settled on the exact name yet.]

Shortly after this the trade rags had some mentions of it. The claims were very hard for us to believe:
- dead flat frequency response superior to pretty much anything else
- nearly perfect channel separation
- nearly perfect absence of wow
- nearly perfect absence of flutter
- nearly perfect speed accuracy
- nearly perfect absence of audible distortion
- nearly perfect absence of hiss (other than the noise in the recording itself, still usually made from an analog tape machine)
- nearly perfect absence of rumble
- nearly perfect absence of hum
- nearly perfect absence of pops and tick if stored properly and returned to the supplied protective "jewel box"

. . . and then we read the first independent test reports from people using state of the art analyzers. . . Holy shi t: they really did it!