LATEST ADDITIONS

In a way, you could say that Meridian started the now epidemic practice of modifying stock CD players (usually of the Philips-Magnavox species). The original Meridian player, the MCD, was a reworking of the first-generation Philips and was <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/285meridian">praised by J. Gordon Holt</A> in these pages in his 1985 review (Vol.8 No.2). The Meridian Pro (Vol.8 No.6) won similar plaudits, and is still to be seen lurking in JA's system. And the original 207 was well-received by MC in Vol.10 No.3.

Snickering was heard from the major consumer electronics purveyors when California Audio Labs came out with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/654">original Tempest</A>, their first CD player using tube output stages. But not from the audiophile community. It was, all things considered, an inevitable product; I'm certainly not the only one who wondered&#151;before the emergence of California Audio Labs&#151;who would be the first to build such a unit. The obvious candidates were Audio Research or Conrad-Johnson. But those companies apparently read the audio tea-leaves and, perhaps perceiving the early high-end hostility toward the new format, apparently decided to bide their time. (With regards to tube players, they're still biding it, though C-J has had a prototype player up and running for some time.)

<B><I>YSA&#159;E KREISLER BACH</I></B><BR>
J.S. Bach: Partita No.2, BWV 1004, Kreisler: Recitativo &amp; Scherzo, Op.6, Ysa&#255;e: Sonata, Op.27 No.2<BR>
Arturo Delmoni, violin<BR>
Water Lily Acoustics WLA-WS-07 (LP), WLA-WS-07-CD (CD). Kavichandran Alexander, eng., prod. AAA/AAD. Subsequently released on CD as John Marks Records CD JMR 14G (footnote 1). TT: 48:03

Remember <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/the_world_is_crazy/">this rad video</a>?

Marantz has introduced four new, relatively affordable products: two integrated amplifiers and two disc players. All carry on the sleek, attractive design of the company’s reference components, featuring the classic Marantz star logo (cool), sculpted faceplates, and solid-looking build.

Phiaton, maker of sexy headphones for sexy people, has <a href="http://www.phiaton.com/">a nice new website</a> filled with pictures of attractive young adults, set in clean, chic surroundings, looking very deeply engaged with what they’re doing, whether at work or at play or getting ready for a big date, while wearing Phiaton headphones. Check it out.

The August 2010 issue of <i>Stereophile</i> is now on newsstands. The cover, with its mellow tones, is one of my favorites. To a greater degree than any other cover we’ve released, this one got a buzz going around the office. People would walk by and say nice things. I hope the cover works the same magic for people browsing the newsstands.