Choice is generally considered a plus, but as many of our readers note, when it comes to audio, a format war is the last thing consumers need. While the DVD-A/SACD conflict takes the center audio stage, other technology battles are being fought off in the wings, including the satellite radio format tussle 'twixt XM and Sirius.
It's been over a year since we last asked this one, so we're very interested in what trends might have emerged. DVD-Audio and SACD have seen new titles and machines hit the market, but we're wondering how many of you are buying in.
Like most of the record business, classical music is having a tough time finding a new audience in the digital download world. And in line with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11391/">recent moves</A> by record labels to market popular music online, classical music fans in the UK will soon have another bona fide incentive for locating and legally purchasing works via the Internet.
The war over digital copyright protection intensified in late July, when the <A HREF="http://www.aclu.org">American Civil Liberties Union</A> launched a legal attack against the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Almost simultaneously, a congressman from Southern California introduced a bill that would give copyright holders the right to hack computers owned by suspected copyright violators.
Once again, audiophiles can help themselves and others at the same time by participating in The Cable Company's seventh annual "Summer Against Hunger" campaign. <A HREF="http://www.fatwyre.com">The Cable Company</A>, and several suppliers (listed below) have set up a program by which up to 10% of the Cable Company's August sales are donated to <A HREF="http://www.care.org">CARE</A> and the <A HREF="http://www.intrescom.org">International Rescue Committee</A>, with contributions to be used to assist the worldwide disaster relief efforts of those humanitarian organizations.
We start our survey of small speakers with Robert J. Reina's review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/628/">Paradigm Reference Studio/20 loudspeaker</A>. "Impressive right out of the box" is how Reina charaterizes the two-way design, which gets an in-depth review and also a May 2002 followup from Robert Deutsch.
Satellite radio is poised to become a dominant force in the 21st century. Both <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Radio</A> and <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Radio</A> are now in full operation, with subscriptions booming and compatible electronics available at dealers nationwide.
Many audiophiles eager to try their new high-resolution disc players have been disappointed to discover skimpy offerings of Super Audio CDs and DVD-A recordings at their local music marts. Fortunately, several online sources stock such discs, and are constantly updating their inventories.
Some folks have to hear the sound of the plastic wrap snapping off every time they get a new disc, while others just want to save some dough. Do used CDs find their way into your collection?
US Senator Joseph Biden has introduced a bill that would give law-enforcement agencies stronger tools to pursue copyright violators, and would give copyright holders stronger grounds for suing pirates.