Understatement of the Year
<I>Variety</I> headline: "Digital proves problematic." Oh who would have ever thunk it? Oh wait—maybe it was us audiophiles.
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Bryston B100-DA SST DAC/integrated amplifier
Over the years, I have used and enjoyed in my audio system large, single-purpose components. Each of these chassis has had but one role: preamplifier, amplifier, digital-to-audio converter (DAC), etc. I guess I've been just a little suspicious of products with multiple functions crammed into a single small chassis; I've figured that the designer may have cut a corner that could affect the sound.
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Audience Adept Response power conditioner
I can't remember a time when I wasn't concerned about power quality. I grew up around finicky, home-brew ham-radio gear and labs full of instruments, and with both, power-conditioning gear was standard fare. When I moved into high-end audio, it seemed obvious that power quality was important. As a result, I've experimented with a wide range of power-conditioning equipment, from simple ferrite loops to huge isolation transformers, and even exotic laboratory power supplies that could vary the voltage, frequency spectrum, and shape of the AC signal.
JPS Labs Aluminata interconnect, speaker cable, AC cord
Taken together, these unusual interconnect, loudspeaker, and AC cables brought a new measure of spaciousness, scale, smoothness, heretofore unimagined detail, and overall musical ease and naturalness to my music system. And they did it while sounding neither dull nor bright—just right.
Kuzma Stabi XL turntable & Air Line tonearm
Almost immediately on entering the analog marketplace in 1982, Franc Kuzma, a mechanical engineer based in Slovenia, then part of the former Yugoslavia, established a reputation for manufacturing finely engineered, high-performance products that sold at reasonable prices. Kuzma's early industrial designs, however, while serviceable, looked less than distinguished.
Do you have some headphones, and if so, what type are they?
Whether for home or portable use, many audiophile like to have a good set of headphones, and perhaps special headphone amplification, lying around. Do you have decent headphones, and if so, what type are they?
Head-Fest 2007: Head-Fi Meets Silicon Valley
The Internet audio forum <A HREF="http://www.head-fi.org/forums">Head-Fi</A> is one of the few places on the Web where you can hang out with truly passionate audiophiles and not come away despairing at the state of current public discourse. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Head-Fi's regional and national meets have that same sense of relaxed solidarity. But what always strikes me at these events, such as the national Head-Fest 2007 get-together in San Jose on April 21 and 22, is just how darned sociable Head-Fiers are, considering they are celebrating an activity that is so intensely solitary.
Looking Grim for Net Radio
On April 16, the US Copyright Review Board (CRB) denied an appeal of its decision to restructure the royalty fees for Internet radio. As we <A HREF="http://stereophile.com/news/031907internet/">reported</A>, independent Internet broadcasters and the NPR called it a "stunning, damaging decision," predicting that it would price small operators and public broadcasting, which do not receive widespread commercial underwriting, out of business.
Linn Getting in Tune
Iconic audio manufacturer Linn Products announced April 18 that the Scottish firm will "realign" its business strategy to create "a more focused range of even higher quality products, specifically aimed at the premium end of the consumer market."
