LATEST ADDITIONS

<I>Oooohh! Aaaahh! Coochy-coo!</I> are not the usual spontaneous reactions from hard-boiled audio journalists to the unveiling of a hi-fi component. Nor is the Silverstone Circuit, the self-proclaimed Home of British Motor Racing, the usual venue for such a launch. But the news that UK audio manufacturer <A HREF="http://www.meridian.co.uk">Meridian</A&gt; and Ferrari were cuddling up together on a joint project was enough to drag yours truly halfway across the country to deep Northamptonshire on a miserably wet February morning.

Audiophiles of a certain age may very well have first tasted high-end sound by way of Linn's 1972 <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/1103linn/">Sondek LP12 turntable</A> and/or Naim's 1982 <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/660/">Nait integrated amplifier</A>. There aren't many audio manufacturers that have managed to keep components in production for 25 years (35 for the Linn), but the two venerable British designs have been continuously upgraded over their lives, keeping them competitive.

John Atkinson forwarded a message to me on February 26 from reader Peter Clissold: "The Miller and Kreisel website is indicating that operations there are closed."

Among the more intriguing audio-related announcements this year was that Koetsu phono cartridges were once again available in the States. In fact, they're being handmade in limited quantities by the sons of founder Yoshiaki Sugano.

<I>Flip flip flip</I>]...Where the heck is it?...[<I>flip flip flip</I>]...Got it!" What am I looking for? There, in black and white, on p.634 of J. Gordon Holt's <I>Really Reliable Rules for Rookie Reviewers</I> (footnote 1), is the Prime Directive On Loudspeaker Setup: "Never, ever, choose a loudspeaker that has too much bass extension for your room!"

Steve Jones on the "paradox of enrichment."

For now, at least. First, a nice summation from <A HREF="http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article2316883.ece"><… Independent</I></A>. Then, follow the external link to Denis Dutton's conclusion that Barrington-Coupe's "I did it for love" defense just doesn't wash. His conclusion: "Based of a reading of her letters to critics and her radio interviews, it is my considered opinion that Joyce Hatto, in addition of being a lively, chirpy, witty, bright and positive person, was also a pathological liar."