Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    Does anyone know how the Sony UX-ES compares to the TDK HXS-90 line?
    I am very happy with the recordings I've made off CD's with the
    HXS-90's and I'd like to know if anyone has compared these two brands.
    

    I haven't compared them, but I've bought about ten UX-ES tapes
    so far and I like them a lot.  They're a "hot" tape, in that the
    high end is extended.  This may or may not be a blessing for you.
    The price is certainly right - even without the free CD!
    				Steve

    I'll ask the question one step further (back?). I normally use TDK-SA
    which I like a lot. I historically was able to pay as little as
    $1.49-1.59/tape (C90) but realize those days are probably gone and
    $1.99 is probably the ball-park sale price for these tapes nowadays.
    
    The question is: Where do either Sony UX-ES or TDK HXS stand in
    relation to TDK SA? 
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Dick Rosenberg

    How is the selection of CDs at Lechmere's?  Do they have much in
    the way of classic rock?  It seems that some dept stores that sell
    CDs will only carry CDs for the top 40 songs.  I'm just curious
    and would appreciate any info on what to expect to find on CD at
    Lechmere.
    Thanks,
    BMW

    Reply to 750.3:  The HXS-90 blows away the SA-90.  I had purchased
    a bunch of SA-90's before learning of the HXS-90 performance.  If
    you are recording from CD's try recording the same song on both,
    but I must warn you; you'll want to throw out your SA-90's after.
    Of course you will also pay twice the money for them.  Cuomo's was
    selling a box of 10 HXS-90's for $36.00 which is the best price
    I've found.  TDK says that the HXS-90 will boost the performance
    of inexpensive players and it does.  My cheap car stereo has never
    sounded better.
    
    
    Reply to 750.4:  Lechmere in Nashua has a good selection of CD's
    but they tend to sell out of more popular disc's quickly.  They
    do tend to focus more on top 40 stuff but you can find all kinds
    of classic rock about a mile down the street at Rockit Records in
    Nashua on the Daniel Webster Highway.

    Question:  How does the Sony stand up to Maxell XLI-S or MX?  Those
    are what I usually use.

    A note of caution:  I tried the HX-S tapes on my Onkyo TA-2058.
    They drove the deck nuts!!!  Channels dropped off after indeterminate
    amounts of time, recording levels changed randomly, bias fluctuated.
    We tried four different units over a month period and they all did
    the same thing.  Onkyo said they felt that the extended high end
    on the tape might be interfering with the Dolby and/or bias signals?

    Your tape deck probably won't show this kind of aberration, but
    you might want to try one tape before you buy a case.

    good luck,
    Dave

    
    Re: questions about Sony
    
    Currently there are three Sony UX formulations:
    
    Regular UX is roughly equivalent to TDK SA, Maxell XLII
    
    The UX-ES is roughly equivalent to SA-X, XLII-S
    
    the UX-PRO has a special shell (who knows if it is really better)
    and supposedly better sound than the ES.
    
    My experience with UX is with the old -CS type (precursor to ES)
    and thought they were very good.  Like most good tapes, on any given
    machine each tape will have slightly different sound (better or
    not is subjective, of course).
    
    I have used a lot of Sony type I tapes and found them very good
    mechanically and less dropout prone than TDK (my main gripe with
    them).  Only minus is the ridiculously small labels ...smaller than
    the Maxell and TDK ones....I don't realy want to see the tape pack,
    I want to write more than two words on my labels!!
    
    But hey, this is a CD note, right??  At the Lechmere price for the
    tapes, the CD is basically 100% free.

    The actual deal is even better than Lechmere advertises in three
    ways!
    
    	1.  The box doesn't contain 10 UX-ES tapes.  It has 9 UX-ES
    	    plus one UX-Pro!
    
    	2.  You can redeem up to two of the coupons for free CDs
    	    if you buy two boxes (though they don't seem to have
    	    any real way of enforcing this restriction).
    
    	3.  At the display are Sony mail-in certificates - you buy
    	    any five of the same kind of Sony tape, they send you
    	    one free of next higher grade (so for five UX-ES you
    	    get another UX-Pro).  Since Lechmere doesn't require
    	    any "proofs of purchase" for the free CD deal, you
    	    can cash in on this one too.  The certificate doesn't
    	    say how many times you can take this offer, so I guess
    	    if you buy two boxes (but get two receipts), you can
    	    get two free tapes.
    
    You can get your free CDs at the same time as you buy the tapes,
    the wording on the coupon notwithstanding.
    
    I bought two boxes (and two free CDs).  As I was already using
    UX-ES, it was great for me.  (And I agree on the small labels,
    but I don't have a problem with it.)
    
    					Steve

    I need a little help. I picked up my box of Sony tapes and got my
    free CD at the Woburn Lechmere's yesterday but didn't see the Sony
    coupons for mailing in the recipt and getting a free tape. if anybody
    finds themself in a Lechmere's and can pick a coupon up and send
    to me via interoffice mail I would appreciate it.
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Dick Rosenberg
    VRO 5-2/C7

    Re: .10
    
    I have a couple extra - will send you one.
    
    			Steve

    Those of you looking for the Sony rebate coupons should make sure
    you check the large display by the customer service desk where they
    keep all the rebate coupons.  I was in Manchester this afternoon
    and they had a whole pad of them.  (I picked up some extras, so
    if you can't find one, send me MAIL with your mailstop and I'll
    send you one - first come, first served.)
    
    					Steve

There is  now  a  similar  sale  on  at Lechmere's again through Oct. 3. The
difference is that the Sony UX-ES C90 ten packs are now $19.99 on sale and
still include a coupon worth upto $16.99 on any CD (good through Oct. 17).
Some of the ten packs also include a free carrying case.

In addition, all Columbia CD's, cassettes and LP's are on sale for 20% off
(for those who aren't boycotting them over copy guarding).

						Rod Burr