Technics SL-Z1000/SH-Z1000 (1989) | Digital Reference

 

The SL-Z1000 grew out of Technics' vast experience in high stability, anti-vibration construction. Beneath its luxurious finish lies one of the highest precision, quickest access linear motor transport systems ever implemented in a CD transport, a masterpiece of digital audio engineering. Power transformers are located symmetrically to the left and right on either side of the centre disc tray so as to achieve optimum overall mechanical balance. Anti-Vibration/Anti-Resonance Design and Construction: The optical deck has a 4-point support floating construction using coiled springs and rubber dampers to shut out the effect of external vibration. Metal rollers using ball-bearings are employed in the vertical guide assembly of the traverse mechanism. Magnetic attraction keeps the rollers closely aligned with the guide, eliminating mechanical play, and improving anti-vibration performance. Player construction features a 2 mm thick chassis, 2 mm thick anti-vibration steel baseplate, 3 mm thick vibration-damping aluminum top, and 8 mm thick aluminum extruded panels. It also includes large TNRC insulators. Technics unique linear motor transport is a highly logical design that does not depend on gears or similar mechanisms. It uses a highly efficient and quiet linear motor design for high speed access. High-torque brushless motor and High precision pressed glass lens offer excellent reliability.

The SH-X1000 is a D/A converter unit with a state-of-the-art 3-chip MASH DAC LSI system which can handle multiple digital sampling frequencies. This allows it to accept virtually any home digital audio source including CD, DAT, and DBS (satellite). Its anti-jitter interface is a breakthrough which makes possible the reproduction of unstable digital signals with high potential fidelity. Top-of-the-Line MASH 1-Bit D/A Converter System. The MASH 1-bit D/A Converter System originated by Technics bypasses the manufacturing problems which were insurmountable with conventional DACS. It eliminates non-linearity and zero-cross distortion, while enabling faint music signal components to be reproduced with significantly greater accuracy. To maximize the advantages of this approach to digital fidelity, the SH-X1000 incorporates ultra-high performance MASH DAC LSIs. It uses three chips: a digital filter and MASH LSI (MN64730), and separate PWM LSIS (MN64731) for the left and right channels. The two components have the same size: Dimensions: 484 x 139 x 419 mm (WxHxD) Weight: 20 kg

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KENWOOD LS-1900 (1980) | State-of-the-art

 

The LS-1900 from Kenwood is a rare example of the art of high quality speaker design. Kenwood was not claiming another "revolutionary break-through" in speaker design but there's no doubt that the design techniques used to aid the creation of this remarkable system are state-of-the-art. To maintain linearity of the speaker cone movement at all inputs, the LS-1900 woofer features a 33cm diameter cone with an accordion shaped edge support, driven by a massive Alnico V magnetic structure encased in a pot yoke. Since the mid-range driver's area covers most of the frequencies we actually hear in music, it is one of the most important elements of a speaker system. For this Kenwood developed a mid-frequency driver with center support for linear cone movement. It is the high frequency driver that gives a high fidelity system its "presence" by its ability to reproduce musical overtones. Kenwood engineers designed a ring-diaphragm driver for wide dispersion and low distortion. In order to isolate vibrations produced by the woofer and its enclosure the mid-range and tweeter are mounted in a separate housing that can also be rotated for optimal sound in your listening room. The LS-1900 is designed to be placed directly on the floor. There are two ways of using the LS-1900 loudspeaker system.

One way is to use the loudspeaker normally with a stereo amplifier in which case one will use the dedicated inputs marked "internal network". A more sophisticated method is to use a cross-over network inserted after the control amplifier which will feed separate low-range, mid-range and high-range power amplifiers with dedicated input at the back of the LS-1900.

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Sansui AU-X1 (1979) | Ultra-High Speed

 

Can it surpass the pinnacle of separate amplifiers? The AU-X1 super integrated amplifier was born from a straightforward approach. If you were to create the ideal amplifier, the theme would likely remain unchanged from the past and present: "Straight wire with gain is best." Without compromising the purity of the program source, for the purpose of pure amplification, Sansui believe that each part of the amplifier must be permeated with a straight idea, and so they created the AU-X1. For example, from the MC head amplifier to the power amplifier, all components are configured with full push-pull, all DC amplifiers. Furthermore, the signal path is simplified by enabling direct transmission from the equalizer amplifier to the power amplifier over the shortest possible distance, resulting in an exemplary construction for high-fidelity playback. The power amplifier section takes the dynamic characteristics of the amplifier one step further, by combining a diamond differential circuit with the newly developed linear high-speed element LAPT. Furthermore, the power supply section that supports these must naturally be strengthened. With completely separate left and right channels for all stages, the power stage, pre-drive stage, flat amplifier, equalizer, and MC head amplifier, all are powered by independent power supplies, using two transformers: a large-capacity toroidal transformer of over 600Ω and an 8601W EI transformer. The AU-X1 features a total of eight power supply systems. Combined with a gigantic 80,000m² electrolytic capacitor, this powerful power supply section remains unfazed by any peak input or continuous large input, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving the amplifier's dynamic characteristics. The AU-X1's weight of 27.7 kg is a symbol of the comprehensiveness of its power supply section. The AU-X1 approaches the ideal amplifier. We are confident in calling it "a super integrated amplifier that can comfortably drive world-renowned instruments such as the JBL4343."

Specifications:

Effective output (5 hz to 20 khz, THD 0.007%) 160W + 160W (8 Ω) 220W + 220W (4 Ω)

Total harmonic distortion factor (5 Hz to 20 kHz) 0.007% or Less (8 Ω)

Output Bandwidth (IHF, THD 0.02%): 5 Hz ~ 70 kHz (8 Ω)

Frequency Response (1W) DC ~ 500 kHz (+ 0 dB, -3dB)

Rise Time / Fall Time 0.5 μ sec

Slew rate: ± 260 V / μ sec

Total harmonic distortion factor MC (1 kHz, Rec Out) : 0.005% or less

External dimensions: Width 480x Height 195x Depth 450 mm

Weight: 27.7kg

Original sale price in Germany: 2800 DM

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