Michael wrote:
I have those upgrades done on my R-75. I also use an external speaker wich
is a must on both the R8a and the R-75. I can say that my R-75 sounds VERY
good for program listening. The R8a may still have a bit more rich and
defined audio, but not by much !!!!

Sheesh. Stick a wire in the phono input of a $2,000 McIntosh amplifier
connected to $3,000 Klipschorn speakers. Who cares if the receiver
needs to be within fifty feet of the transmitting antenna, the audio
will be terrific!

If you're *that* worried about pure audio, reach into a *good* receiver
and tap off a low-level audio feed for your expensive stereo.

These audio rants always remind me of the ads for Magnavox televisions
in the sixties. They'd spend three seconds on the quality of the TV
and the rest of the commercial on the fine cabinetry and many different
styles to suit all decors. Their motto could have been stated as,
"Magnavox: an okay TV in really, really fine furniture." People bought
them because they matched their other furniture, then cried because
the picture on their brand new TV looked about like the neighbor's
three-year-old set.

Then again, people would buy $800 Grundig receivers in fine cabinetry
and then wonder why Radio Moscow was so weak.

And all this time, the guys at the transmitters are distorting the
audio input to get higher modulation indices.

--
It just goes to show ya;
never have a heart valve replaced by Dr. Vinnie Boom Box.
See ya, Rodney.