[SBE] Ready to turn analog back on?

[A9xw at cs.com]

For those of us old enough to remember the "sweet 16" speaker system from 
Popular Electronics (and repeated in other publications): When CD's first came 
out and Radio Dhark advertised digital speakers, I labeled a set with 0 and 1 
symbols to represent 16 hex. I carried it around and told store clerks how 
superior it was as the digital signals would drive each speaker so that the all 0 
(16 zeros) was no sound, and all 1's (16) was the loudest and the digital amp 
(a solid state Dynaco 400 with the blue lighted VU meters with binary scale) 
separated the digits to drive each speaker as needed and how it was so superior 
to their 2-3 way digital speakers.  LOL LOL  I still have the Dynaco 400 and 
Marantz Model 20 with the 1" CRT. (along with the FM 5 and matching preamp).   

A friend was all braggy about his new RS digital stereo. He had a CD of the 
1812 overture that had a warning label;  WARNING 6 Hz digital content, use only 
on digitally rated speakers.  The lousy 8" speakers did nothing on the cannon 
fire. We put it on my Empire 9000M 1963 vintage speakers, 12" woofer with 40 
pound magnet, mid and tweeter, marble top, and made the walls shake. That was 
with a Dynaco 70 stereo tube amp.  We took the CD to a 50 kW RCA Ampliphase 
TX, that was DC to light and popped 3 fluorescent lamps from the pulsing RF 
power. Nothing quite like sub 10 Hz at 120% modulation.  Sweet! [It has enough 
residual FM that Motorola called one day and asked when we had begun stereo AM 
broadcasting. LOL]  I had bought the speakers/Dynaco when working at Olson 
Electronics in the early 60's,  I knew it was going to be good when I cracked one 
of the 8 x 8 foot windows with the opening of the Grand Fugue by Bach low pedal 
organ notes from and LP on an Empire turntable and Shure cartridge.  I used a 
CD copy to test my big ol speakers in my 79 Caddy, great for blowing those 
idiot thumpers that seem to pull up beside/behind you with their window rattlers 
going thump thump rattle rattle.  Dig this organ music from Granddad's old 
car at 1800 watts!  (the 550+ HP impresses them too).  I used to have a part 15 
AM and FM transmitter preset for the gutter radio stations, ready to pump some 
elevator syrup Hollywood Strings, Montevani, etc over their car radios too.   
Don't mess with engineers, we can take away your TV and Radio! 

Henry