Ludwig van Beethoven went deaf by trying to squeeze the entire orchestra into his coach with him. Trips between concert venues were long and arduous in those days, and Beethoven desired music during his journeys. Though orchestras employed fewer players in Beethoven`s time, all that brass in such a confined space eventually destroyed the master`s hearing.
Today we celebrate Beethoven`s 220th birthday, cruising down the highway at 65 m.p.h. in our serene aerodynamic coaches surrounded by Beethoven`s music. Some drivers prefer the tunes of the more recent Camper Van Beethoven, at deafening levels. Regardless of preference, 1990 will be remembered for taking us out of the coach and placing us in the concert hall, without ever applying the brakes.
The interior noise level of some cars comes close to the quiet of the auditorium. Automobile companies make it easier every year for car stereo manufacturers to improve mobile sound. The musicians crammed into Beethoven`s coach contended with the clatter of wood and steel wheels on wretched roads. They played at overpowering volumes just to be heard above the noise. Early car stereos fought the same foe. Good sound never results from wrestling noise to the carpet. The eerily low noise level in the new Japanese and American luxury cars provides the perfect stage for a concert on wheels.
Computer chips under the hood direct fuel injection and braking. The digital revolution keeps pace on the other side of the firewall. All the hot new car sound systems take advantage of some aspect of digital technology.
If the 1970s brought power to car stereo, and the 1980s brought finesse, the 1990s will be remembered for being digital.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is not a return to using hand signals to warn other motorists. DSP uses sophisticated computer technology to create sonic illusions. The concept first altered the sound of home stereos about six years ago. With the placement of extra speakers around the room, a digital signal processor can alter the apparent size and structure of the room. At the touch of a button you can be in a concert hall, jazz club, warehouse, stadium, pavilion or about a dozen other venues. While positioning extra speakers around your living room creates an expensive eyesore, affordable additional speakers can easily be concealed around your car.
Besides creating illusions, DSP also cures sonic problems, resulting in a more realistic listening experience. A DSP works a little like a digital audio tape recorder (DAT). It converts the analog signal into digital bits. Rather than storing them on tape, it manipulates the bits for results not possible with analog sound. When the DSP computer finishes working its magic, it changes the digital signal back into analog sound.
Eclipse, Pioneer and Panasonic heralded the DSP era last January at the Consumer Electronics Show. Eclipse, manufactured by a division of Japanese computer giant Fujitsu, was first to the dashboard with its EQS-1000 outboard processor for $700. Eclipse intelligently figured most dashboards would not have space for the conventional ”head” unit that contains the radio/tape player and the DSP. So it offers the modified EQS-1001 Hide-Away processor with the $200 EQR-1100 remote controller, permitting you to hide the DSP unit anywhere in the car.
Eclipse designed its new EQZ-301 radio/cassette head unit to match the DSP.
Pioneer responded by introducing what well could be the ultimate car stereo head unit. On Dec. 4 in New York, Pioneer unveiled the KEX-M900, a unit containing AM/FM radio, cassette player and CD player with full DSP. A large liquid crystal display shows all the unit`s functions, including memorizing and displaying up to 72 CD titles. The Supertuner IV presets 18 FM and 6 AM stations. The CD player performs as well as a home unit. The DSP section recreates the sonic environments of a studio, jazz club, concert hall or stadium. It also works as a supercharged tone control, allowing the adjustment of nearly any frequency of sound by as much or little as you desire.
The KEX-M900 will memorize your three favorite tone settings for easy recall at the touch of a button.
A detachable face plate deters theft by rendering the unit inoperative when removed. Pioneer thoughtfully provides a carrying pouch for the face plate. Pioneer also includes a wireless remote control. The KEX-M900 will cost about $1,200 when it goes on sale in January. You must still supply amplifiers and speakers. If Beethoven had had this Pioneer in his coach, he probably could have composed 18 symphonies.
Panasonic`s view of the future also includes DSP, but the here-and-now CQ-ID90 uses computer technology differently.
The ID in the model number stands for ID Logic, which stores the call letters, formats, frequencies and geographic location of 9,400 North American AM and FM radio stations.
The CQ-ID90 cross-correlates all this information. Tell the radio where you`re driving and what kind of music you like, and it automatically tunes a station broadcasting that format. When traveling from one place to another, tell the radio which direction you`re traveling. It will automatically jump from one station to another of the same format as the signal behind you fades and a stronger station comes into range. The CQ-ID90 acknowledges classical, country and western, rock, jazz, easy listening, and talk formats. Those of you who prefer heavy metal or New Age must find solace in one of the other categories. The CQ-ID90 is the automatic transmission of radios. Just as with automatic transmission, Panasonic also lets you select stations manually and stores your favorites with 12 AM presets and 24 FM presets. It also includes a high-quality cassette player.
About 3.4 percent of radio stations change call letters or format per year according to Panasonic. You can reprogram some changes yourself. Panasonic is considering offering an easily inserted updated computer chip every few years. The ID-CQ90 with its prodigious memory has a suggested list price of $649.
CD and DAT players keep the excitement coming. Alpine recently introduced the world`s smallest automotive CD changer, the six-disc 5952S CD Shuttle. Less than a foot wide and less than 3-inches thick, this $600 deluxe CD changer will fit even the trunk of a Miata. Its CD magazine matches that of the Luxman DC-114 home CD changer, permitting you to go from home to the road without missing a beat.
Alpine also offers good news to those who feared they were condemned to drive through eternity without a CD or DAT player. The CD Shuttle Link will mate your existing car sound system, such as some premium factory installed systems, to an Alpine CD player or future DAT. It costs just $100 plus the few minutes of labor for installation.
Sony, first to market with a home DAT recorder and a DAT Walkman, is also first with a car DAT player. The DTX-10 combines an AM/FM radio, DAT player, and the controls for Sony`s DiscJockey trunk-mounted, 10-disc CD changer. The DTX-10`s Sony Super Interference Rejection tuner features 18 FM and 6 FM station presets. For this marked improvement in sound quality over cassettes, expect to pay a suggested retail price of $1,100. The complementary CDX-A100 state-of-the-art CD changer costs an additional $900, although Sony makes other models starting at about $500.
To reduce noise, Blaupunkt uses fiber optics to transmit digital audio signals from one part of a car to another.
Blaupunkt`s $900 CDC M1 10-disc CD changer mates with its premium $650
”Washington” model (SQR 49) using lightweight, ultrathin optical cable.
Drivers desiring great sound who don`t want to tangle with fiber optics, DSP and other high-tech gadgetry enjoy a greater choice than ever. Ford continues to add its superb JBL sound system to more models, including the first utility vehicle, the Explorer. Bose continues custom-outfitting more nameplates.
The Infiniti Q45 and Nissan 300ZX are recent recipients of outstanding Bose systems. GM now offers the new Delco/Bose Silver System as an option on the Chevy Caprice and the improved Gold System on the Corvette and the Buick Park Avenue. The Corvette has by far the finest head unit of any factory-installed system on the market, with an easy-to-read display and big, clearly labeled buttons.
When driving at 150 m.p.h., you probably need an easy way to operate stereo.
So when you get in the car today and crank up the sound system, think of poor Beethoven. At least today`s technology well serves the works of his genius.
