LATEST ADDITIONS

As I trundled the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/477">WATT/Puppys</A&gt; off to the <I>Stereophile</I> laboratory complex for our test procedures (see my review in the last issue), I idly wondered to myself, "Gee, what am I going to do for an encore?" Visions of exotic butterfly-like horns danced in my head (nope, J-10 Scull gets those babies). I was tantalized by the call of ambitiously designed behemoths (Major Tom gets those, he's got the room for 'em). Maybe some jewel-like, state-of-the-art minimonitors? (JA glommed 'em&mdash;editor's prerogative, y'know.) So what does that leave me?

Ever since the 1960s, when I built a pair of Altec A7 clones, I've had a preference for relatively big speakers. Yes, I was seduced by the Stax F-81 electrostatics because of their incredibly low coloration, but inevitably I felt the need to return to something that would move more air. Regardless of the type of music (I do like the big stuff) or the sound levels, unless the sound has solidity and size, I can't easily suspend disbelief.

We have lost a great artist. Mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, 52, who had previously triumphed over breast cancer, died at her home in Santa Fe on July 3. While <I>The New York Times</I> obituary did not specify the cause of death, other reports suggest she died from cancer, leading to speculation that the claims of back trouble and gall bladder inflammation that led to a string of cancellations in the past few years were related to a recurrence of the disease.

In this digital life we’re all now living does it get any better than calling AOL and canceling an account? I hate to be <I>Flashdance</I> about this but—Oh, what a feeling!

<i>We catch up with Kristina to find that she's discovered Stereophile's "first and only pornographic publishing-foul."

Chris Anderson argues that niche markets are the new blockbuster&mdash;except that we don't have blockbusters any more.

None of those histrionics for Mistress Bagheera, thank you very much&mdash;she prefers to disappear, perched on top of her favorite toy and meditation aid.