[BC] Best Buy Dropping Sony XDR-S3HD Table Radio

[Rich Wood]

------ At 09:38 PM 5/25/2008, Glen Kippel wrote: -------

>On Sun, May 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM, Rich Wood <richwood at pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > I just returned from a Best Buy in Western MA. They're dropping the Sony
> > receiver and have it on sale for $106. Try your local store if this unit
> > interests you. There are still plenty left.>
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Hey!  Such a deal!  I could put it on the shelf next to my Marantz
> > quadraphonic amp...

While the Sony is one of the better of the revolutionary tabletop 
receivers in the lo-fi genre it's still a toy. A Marantz is a man's 
machine if it's a Saul Marantz vintage. Don't put them near each 
other. They'll fight.

In my never ending effort to get this revolution off the dime I 
bought one. It's more sensitive than the Accurian but still doesn't 
offer the awesome CD quality audio improvements 96KBPS is alleged to 
provide. The salesperson was pretty sharp. She knew what the 
technology was and made a funny face. She was about 22 and saw no 
reason for new radio technology. She listens to her iPod and 
Satellite radio because she has a 3 month trial subscription that 
came with her new car. She doesn't plan to subscribe after the trial 
period. . I asked how many they'd sold. She said five. Only two 
customers wanted them for the "additional" stations. They wanted the 
local NPR station's Classical music for those hours when they were 
running Talk. The rest bought the unit for its design. They were sold 
at the clearance price, not the original $199. She indicated there 
was a little more interest in the car audio department. I asked the 
installation department and was informed they had installed about 10 
receivers in the past two years.

With the supplied rat tail and dipole antennas I was able to receive 
only the station whose tower I can see. The AM is OK with the Crane 
Justice antenna. Only a 50Kw local (WNNZ) was listenable with the 
supplied loop. It's very clear to me the digital power increase is 
absolutely essential, not only for building penetration and a solid 
lock but to decrease the differential of about 20-25 miles between 
analog and digital.

I noticed that WVEI-FM, the WEEI, Boston, simulcast has just added a 
secondary. I haven't figured out the format, yet, but the display 
still says Sports radio. Part of my irritation with this rollout is 
the lack of attention to detail. What if GM introduced a car and 
decided to add the wheels later? I realize the call letter display 
can't be changed without additional licenses, but a few minutes is 
all it would take to change the format description or add a slogan 
relevant to what the listener is hearing. If the excuse is going to 
be "nobody's listening" this is a good way to ensure that continues.

The devil is always in the details. Ignore the details at your peril.

Rich