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Now that we know how often you attend classical music events, how often in the past year have you attended live jazz concerts?

<B>HAYDN: Symphonies 99 & 102</B><BR>
Frans Br&#252;ggen, Orchestra of the 18th Century<BR>
Philips 434 077-2 (CD only). Sieuwer Verster, prod.; Jaap Bogaart, eng. DDD. TT: 48:57<BR>
<B>HAYDN: Symphonies 100 & 104</B><BR>
Frans Br&#252;ggen, Orchestra of the 18th Century<BR>Philips 434 096-2 (CD only). DDD. TT: 53:35

Mirage is a good name for a speaker manufacturer; it suggests that their products produce realistic illusions. A 1934 dictionary I've got supplies a definition for "mirage" that might also be apt: "An optical atmospheric illusion by which the image of a distant object is seen as if inverted." I don't mean that the Mirage OM stands Harry Belafonte on his head, or make him sing "O-Day"&mdash;instead, certain tenets of cones-in-a-box loudspeaker design and usage are turned turvy-topsy by Mirage's Omnipolar concept.

The plumber's here, and he says we need a new hot-water heater because the one we have now isn't maintaining the correct water temperature, and because it's been in use for nine years. "And the thing is, this is a five-year heater." I responded by repeating his last six words, only louder, and with decorations. And I couldn't help thinking: <I>I've had phono cartridges that lasted longer than that.</I> And none of them have attacked me in the shower when my wife flushed the toilet, either.

This month, <I>Stereophile</I> brings you the Internet's largest community of qualified audio and video buyers and sellers, powered by industry leader Audiogon. Visitors to Stereophile.com will find a new "<A HREF="http://marketplace.stereophile.com">AV Marketplace</A>" link that connects directly to the most robust venue for buying and selling used and new audio and video equipment on the Web. Services also include an online Bluebook for quick evaluation of used equipment prices, online used equipment forums, member product reviews, information on manufacturers, and a member feedback system.

Over the past year, the Recording Industry Association of America (<A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">RIAA</A&gt;) has made significant headway in its multi-front war against commercial piracy, according to a detailed report issued by the trade group October 21.

New York's ailing Bottom Line music club has attracted some heavyweight help. Rock icon Bruce Springsteen and Viacom president Mel Karmazin have joined a campaign begun by New York&ndash;based satellite radio service <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Radio</A> to save the legendary venue.