Harmony Newsletter vol. 198

CD review

J.S. Bach Cello Suites
Mstilav Rostropovich

A long time favorite of classical music fans around the world, the Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J. S. Bach are a true delight to experience.

This particular recording, performed by Mstilav Rostropovich in 1991, is stunning not only for the sublime performance by the late cellist, but also for its outstanding sonic characteristics.

Recorded by Radio France at the Basilique Sainte-Madeline, this CD is absolutely reference quality. Detailed, yet warm and enveloping, this disc is an all-time favorite for auditioning audio equipment and setting up systems.

It's rare that a great sounding disc also features a historic performance, but this version of the Bach Cello Suites by Rostropovich is it. Highly recommend for music lovers as well as picky audiophiles!

Tips & Techniques
TV calibration - Sharpness

Last newsletter, we shared a tip for getting a better picture from your set by adjusting the contrast setting. This time, we have another tip for a clearer picture.

It would seem that the sharpness control would benefit the picture when you turn it up. Surprisingly, it actually has the opposite effect. It makes the picture worse!

Let’s explain…

The sharpness control can accentuate the high frequencies of the video signal, where all the detail is (think of a treble control on your stereo).

When you turn up the sharpness, you boost the high frequencies, but also any noise that may be a part of the signal.

Again, think of the treble control on your hi-fi, when you crank it up, it raises all the highs, including unwanted aspects, like hiss or background noise.

It’s the same thing with the sharpness control on your TV set. When you crank it up, it enhances any noise within the picture.

Even Blu-ray discs use video compression, so there will always be some artifacts in the picture. Turning up the sharpness will actually reveal more noise in the picture and give it a fuzzy quality.

Most sets have the sharpness set at 50-100% out of the box. We’ve found that the smoothest picture is when the sharpness control is set to 10% or less.

So, give it a shot and see for yourself. It may take a day or two to get adjusted to the set, but soon you’ll realize it actually does look better - and clearer!

Feedback
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Featured item
Denon DP-400

Fascination with LP playback does not seem to be waning whatsoever, and manufacturers are responding with new turntable models to feed the masses.

New at Harmony, the Denon DP-400 is a belt-drive turntable and an upgraded version of the bestselling Denon DP-300F.

There are several changes in design, such as an S-shaped tonearm with a removable headshell. It includes a moving magnet cartridge that is pre-mounted, but the origin isn’t known. That said, you can always upgrade it with offerings from Sumiko or Grado.

The DP-400 includes a built-in phono preamp, which Denon refers to as an ‘equalizer’. A switch in the back sets its mode.

The turntable is a semi-automatic, meaning that you need to lower the tonearm to the record’s surface, but at the end, the DP-400 will lift it up, return it, and shut off the motor. This is also selectable from the back panel.

Unusual for a modern turntable, the DP-400 offers three speeds for playback: 33, 45 & 78 rpm, controlled by a knob on the top plinth.

The body of the turntable is metal-weighted, with a plastic covering (available in black or white). The platter is cast from aluminum and is covered by a thick rubber mat.

Another nice feature is a pair of female RCA output jacks - which means you can upgrade your cables from the generic ones that come with the turntable. A nice touch!

Currently in stock in the white finish, Harmony is selling the Denon DP-400 for just $499. Stop by and check it out!

Clearance item

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless

Back in 2016, Bowers & Wilkins first entered the soon to be crowded Bluetooth wireless headphone market with the P5.

The P5 offers a unique retro-styling that includes a genuine leather headband. The soft, luxurious earpads are held in place with magnets (more on this in a bit), covering the 40mm full range drivers, which are similar to the P9 headphones.

A standard three button control is built-in, offering volume up/down & and play/pause controls.

B&W claims a battery life of 17 hours. The internal power cell is charged by plugging in a microUSB cable (included), at which point a small LED glows to let you know its charging.

If you do run out of power, however, there is a back up plan. A normal, wired cable is included and is easy to install by lifting off one of the earpads (hence the easy magnet idea).

Comfortable, as well as easy on the ears (pun intended), the Bowers & Wilkins P5 is a great set of headphones for audiophiles on the go. Rich, dynamic and detailed, they should thrill even the pickiest music lover.

Normally selling for $399, Harmony is offering our display unit for just $249! And if you don’t need the wireless aspect, you can snag our display unit of the hard-wired P5 series 2 for just $199 (normally $299)!

Featured item Denon DP-400

Featured item
Denon DP-400