Q&A # 279 - March 20, 2002

Staff

Q Reader # 1:

I am a devoted reader of your site and a fellow audio video enthusiast. However I was a little dismayed with the article written by Jason Serinus on the "Bedini Dual-Beam Utlraclarifier." Such "technology" is utter quackery at best and to find your magazine endorsing such hocus-pocus is disappointing.

As you, your educated staff, and I are aware, digital is digital. Barring errors, there is absolutely no degradation from the source to transport. Therefore the only room from improvement in CD quality is in affecting the correction rate of CDs to the hardware. Where I work I have a special hardware that allows me to monitor the error and correction rate of the CD, due to read errors. I've tested a number of my own CDs, some exceeding ten years in age, and the correction rate was always MINIMAL TO NONE. So what good is the Bedini? The claims that are made by Serinus made it sound like the Bedini was a miracle product that increased readability, and made the room come alive.

The only feasible excuse is that the Bedini is somehow reducing RF interference in the analog circuitry caused by a moving static surface charge on the CD. If this is the case, then the player's manufacturer deserves to be shot for not properly isolating the pathways from noise.

Although I love your highly objective, and informative video reviews by Stacey Spears, I regret that I have to view your magazine with a bit more skepticism in the future.

Reader # 2:

I�ve really enjoyed your site with its straightforward reviews and use of analytical and subjective methods in reviewing. However, I was completely disappointed with the Bedini review. The product and its predecessors have not received unilateral flattering reviews. One example is a review ay Aaron Marshall, in the Canadian magazine Audio Ideas Guide, which he found to have no effect, other than possibly a placebo effect. This magazine cannot be accused of the �if you can�t measure it, you can�t hear it� philosophy. They have tested �tweaks� and have found some to work and others not to work.

I find it disturbing, in that it appears that the author of the review and/or the editor-in-chief did not use any analytical tools in reviewing a product with claims that seem questionable and possibly contradict the laws of physic, i.e. a non-metallic item holding a magnetic charge. I�m no scientist, but I would have liked to have seen the results of listening tests that were more structured with the data being released. Home Theater Magazine did a somewhat structured listening test a few years ago to determine if Dolby Digital was inferior to DTS. General consensus was that DTS was superior, although there were many variables noted that could have contributed to the difference. For example, the soundtrack mixes itself and the differing peak levels.

If the review involved some sort of structured listening, then it should have been noted in the review with the results. What controls were used in the listening sessions? Did the author account for fact that when a person listens to something or sees something a second time he or she will tend to notice more than the first time around? Were blind listening tests done so that the listeners did not know when the product was used on a CD?

How does static electricity affect a laser�s ability to get the 1s and 0s off a disc? Does static electricity affect the bending of light and the reflective nature of the disc? If so then how does it do it? Is the so-called better sound coming from the players using less interpolation because they are now better able to get all the data off the discs? I don�t want an explanation from the manufacturer. I want evidence from an independent source. Some further research into this would have gone a long way in validating the findings of the review.

Without the validation noted above, and as with other tweaks that make claims that are way out there, it is difficult to accept these conclusions. I�m tempted to discount as being either due to a placebo effect or simply that the listeners are hearing what they want to hear.

Reader # 3:

I have a problem with the Bedini review:

The Bedini Company claims that, "with its patented Electro Magnetic Beam Configuration, the Clarifier polarizes the polymer in such a way as to maximize the laser's ability to retrieve stored data."

In e-mail exchanges conducted with Gary Bedini, he further explains: "The Dual Beam runs opposing beams (specially configured magnetic structures) that oppose each other at the base of the motor.

"Extensive research has gone into the development of this product. Although the disc does hold electrostatic charges just from normal operation, it is also degraded from the manufacturing processes as well. We have incorporated a highly specialized electromagnetic beam(s) configuration to process the disc, as well as centrifugal force to achieve the ultimate treatment.

"It is apparent that electrostatic charge alters the polymer's configuration and causes the laser's light to diffract while reading the bits of information encased in the disc; thus more error correction is employed to compensate for this effect. This means that the CD has more noise, causing reduced clarity and degraded sound to the specific tones of the original recording. By simply removing the electrostatic charge it will not re-align the crystalline structure of the polymer composition which causes the diffraction."

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What kind of fantasy are you trying to promote here? Am I supposed to believe that my CDs/DVDs etc have such a bad electrostatic charge on them that it's actually changing the polymer structure of my discs? Should I be wearing a space suit when I listen to my stereo or watch a movie? Why are there no measurements to go along with this? A CD can hold a charge of several hundred or thousand volts? Are you serious? Oh, sorry, I see it said, "probably..."?? (Q+A section) And just how do they manage to build an electro magnetic BEAM into this little thing? Does the military know about this? How they can put such technology into this thing for the remarkable price of only $179.95 is incredible. Also, could someone explain to me how centrifugal force affects the treatment? Or does this refer to the washing of the discs? This review isn't very clear on this, or anything else, other than how wonderful this thing is, with no proof to back it up. Where is all this extensive research? If I ask Gary Bedini for proof, will he provide it? Why didn't you ask for it, instead of some voodoo explanation? This must be the worst review I have ever read. No measurements, no listening tests involving other people, or blind listening, etc, just one big advertisement for a product ridiculously priced for people that should know better.  I'm going to the HiFi Expo in Montreal at the end of March (www.hifiexpo.com). How many of these devices will I see there? A product as miraculous as this should be everywhere. I'm looking forward to hearing this amazing product. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find my green pen and outline all my discs for my YBA blue light player to sound even better. I just hope the planets are aligned properly for that ultimate experience. I'm wearing a lead vest, have the windows covered, and there's a copper wire running down from my CD collection to a grounding rod that runs a hundred feet down under my listening room.  God forbid one of those things should become ungrounded! Remember, voltage doesn't kill, current does . . . .

Thanks for listening. I just wanted to let you know that you might have lost some credibility here. Please let me know if I'm wrong here, or if Mr. Bedini can provide some research documentation to back up his claims. If he does, and offers a money-back guarantee, I might even buy one. Until then, I'll stick to the facts . . . when I see them.

A Jason decided to revise his article based on the criticisms that came in, and the revision has been published. He will be involved in a blind test of the Bedini, using identical pairs of CDs, one of which will be treated with the Bedini, and one of which will not be treated. The CD pairs will be presented in random order, and Jason will try to identify the treated discs. We will report the results when the tests are completed.

Q You said that the DVI jack standard has been set. What does it look like?

A The standard is set, but there is more than one configuration. Here is a diagram of all the variations.

We have begun to get products for review that have the DVI jacks, but we are not sure how it will all work together. For example, my video card has the DVI-I dual link jack, but the projector I am testing right now has the DVI-D jack even though the diagram (from Pacific Cables) shows that the EVC variation is the one that is for projectors. Frankly, I think we are all in for a long period of adapters, adapters, and more adapters, just like we did with SCSI cables as they got more and more pins.

 

Q I am trying to figure out which of the several modestly priced home theater packages is best. I want to spend around $700-$800. I was looking at Yamaha and Pioneer. RCA has a couple of packages too.  I know that the center speaker in these systems should have its own power source, so how much wattage should it have for a slightly larger than normal living room?

A All the speakers need a power source. You may be getting confused by some of the packages that have amplifiers for the center and two rear channels, but which merge with your two-channel stereo system that would feed the front left/right part of the surround sound. You will get the best results by getting a complete package that runs all the channels, including front left/right, center, and two rear channels. Sometimes they are called "Home Theater in a Box" systems, and they usually include a subwoofer too. Some of them have a CD player integrated with the receiver and amplifier. It is one of the hottest markets in home theater right now, because most people do not have a home theater yet, and they are fed up with the complexity of putting one together. We will be testing some of these systems shortly. Remember though, you will pay a little more for the convenience of having everything compact and organized for you. In any case, about power, you can never have too much, only too little. This is especially so with subwoofers, which need tremendous amounts of power to do the job properly. For a basic living room system, no less than about 75 watts per channel for the speakers, and no less than 150 watts for the subwoofer.

Q  I recently upgraded my monitor from the Sony Wega 36XBR400 direct view (4:3) to the KP-57HW40 RPTV (16:9). I also have the Sony ES-9000 . . . chroma bug notwithstanding - WOW! What a dramatic improvement having a large HDTV monitor makes! I primarily watch anamorphic DVD and routinely shun network broadcasting . . . With the exception of "The Simpsons." But, I digress. My question is, as good as the image is (after several sessions with the AVIA disc) I am led to believe that an ISF Calibration would result in a "startling improvement" in image quality. This procedure would cost $500 and take several hours. I am having a difficult time with deciding between "extremely good right now" and what "could be." I have also been told that I should wait a few months for the unit to "settle in" before having the calibration done, but the ISF Tech that I am speaking with says this is nonsense as they are burned in at the factory before shipping. What are your thoughts on this? I very much appreciate your help.

A TVs are burned in for a time at the factory, but mainly to make sure they are not defective. Most products will blow right away rather than down the road. However, when they are shipped, stocked, and shipped again to your home, the electronics have been shaken up, and are now in a completely different location, with different line noise, different magnetic field, etc. I would follow your original instincts and let your new TV get adjusted to your home for two months before getting the ISF calibration done. It will do no harm, so be patient.

Q I purchased a Proton 440 Tuner (with the Schotz Noise Reduction circuitry) back in '87, and always liked it. To my ears, it produced very clean, spacious, dynamic sound.

A couple of years ago, it went on the fritz. Specifically, the reception became very noisy and splintered, full of hiss and pops. At the same time, the signal strength meter indicated poor reception.

It wasn't a particularly expensive component so, instead of taking it in for service, I shelved it. I picked up a "vintage" Kenwood tuner (KT-6500) which, while not bad, and cooly "retro," is no match for the (working) Proton.

My question: Is this a problem that can be remedied, without great expense? I'm assuming it's an IC that went bad, although I'm not sure. I'd like to use it again, so I'd appreciate any technical advice you might have.

A This does not sound like an expensive problem to fix, and since you like the Proton, I think it would be worth the service to repair it. Take it to someone who will give you an estimate before repairing it, and will let you specify the cost limit, e.g., no more than $100, or whatever you decide is the maximum you are willing to spend. Get details on what went wrong and what parts were replaced.

Q I have a spare power amp given to me by my brother (Hafler 220) that I would like to use to drive the center channel. How do I hook it up? I have an outlaw 1050 with an Outlaw 750 power amp driving front Paradigm monitors.

A The Outlaw 1050 receiver has pre-outs for all five channels, and the 750 is a five-channel power amplifier, so I am not sure why you want to use the Hafler. However, in order to do this, you simply route the center channel pre-out on the 1050 to the Hafler input, and the Hafler output to your center channel speaker.

Q I read your review of the Bohlender Graebener Radia X3s, and it made me more comfortable with my decision to buy them. I have also talked with the friendly, informative staff over there in Carson City, Nevada to determine that these speakers are ideal for my needs. I first tried out the X1 (picking it up on ubid.com) and was very impressed with the clarity and efficiency of this speaker. My first love is music but I am also a movie lover and can't wait for my X3s to arrive.

I just have a few questions for you. Since Bohlender doesn't currently make surrounds to match the X series, are there any particular bookshelf speakers you would recommend? Since these hybrids use aluminum cones, would a surround using the same materials be better voice matched? I saw some B&W CDM1s which look like they would be a good match (aesthetically as well as structurally) but that's just a hunch - I'm no expert. I also like the idea of using dipole Boston VR-MXs, but I wonder if that design would detract from the quality of music reproduction in a studio sound-field and especially multi-channel SACD recordings? Both of these surrounds do use aluminum cones and tweets. I would greatly appreciate any recommendations - even if it's to use my current KEF Qs until BG comes out with Ribbon-Hybrid surrounds.

A Aluminum cones don't necessarily have a sound quality of their own. In fact, they are not supposed to. No speaker is. The idea for any design is to approach neutrality and low distortion. So, with that in mind, any neutral tone speaker will go with any other neutral tone speaker. Since most speakers are not totally neutral, it is just more likely to get a match in sound if you stick to the same brand and model line. If I were you, I would simply get two more X3s for the rear. Other than that, yes, just wait for Bohlender to produce the matching design for the rears.

Q I am in the process of buying a new DD receiver. I have narrowed it down to two. But I just can't decide between the Denon AVR-1602 and the Yamaha HTR-5450. Witch do you think is the better of the two?

A Mass market products represent an arena where you get a lot for your money, and comparably priced units have very comparable performance, so between the various brands, choose your price point, and then select the product based on its features, looks, and remote control comfort. Look on the rear panel and make sure it has the digital inputs for your other components, analog connections for such things as S-Video or component video for your DVD player, with corresponding outputs to your TV, at least one RCA subwoofer output jack, and five-way speakers binding posts for all channels. The mass market receivers are so good these days, you really can't go wrong as long as you do your homework.

� Copyright 2002 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
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