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"It costs as much as a car&mdash;and not a used jalopy, either," remarks Michael Fremer. "That's what goes through your head as you contemplate this magnificent $20,190 piece of audio jewelry." The jewelry in question is the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/1298jadis">Jadis RC JP80 MC Mk.II preamplifier</A>, which MF compliments for "breathtaking" workmanship and parts quality. He also listens to the thing and reveals what some might consider the most important part: how it sounds.

There are several easy ways to start arguments among music fans: ask for a list of the most significant albums of all time, or who the greatest songwriters are, or the best bands, or ask which albums sported the all-time greatest covers.

The Vinyl Record Day website recently ran a poll to determine the top ten album covers of all time. What is your pick for the single greatest cover, whether it be for an LP, CD, or high-rez audio disc?

One of the highlights of any Consumer Electronics Show, I have found, is Nordost Corporation's demonstration of their cables. Using a relatively modest system and non-audiophile source material, they run through a simple, straightforward sequence, climbing up through their product line, culminating with their new, just-introduced model. At each step, the system sounds distinctly better&mdash;clearer, cleaner, with more body and tonal purity&mdash;than with the previous model. There's no hype, artifice, or magic, just a clear demonstration of the progress that Nordost is making as they refine their designs.

My wife and I have this ongoing riff: We try to make each other laugh by sharing examples of words we've looked at too quickly and misread&mdash;mistaking <I>offered</I> for <I>overfed</I>, <I>bagel</I> for <I>kegel</I>, that sort of thing. All very subtle and dry and Garrison Keillor. You can hear the belly laughs from there, can't you?

"Size does matter," John Atkinson discovers, as he fits the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/accessoryreviews/504shure">Shure E3c in-ear headphones</A> into his ears. Once fitted, JA hooks the mini "cans" up to his iPod and PowerBook to discover how much audiophile sound a little set of ear buds can produce.

Reader Jason Safire contends that audiophiles can find great bargains by buying B-stock equipment. He wonders how many of you do so.