Brian Damkroger ponders the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/878/">Classé Omega monoblock power amplifier</A>. "The Classé Omega is expensive, costing $25,000/pair," notes BD. But he also finds the amp a "drop-dead-gorgeous, massive, industrial-art chunk of aluminum and steel set off with a subtle mix of curves, contours, finishes, and textures." And then there is that Classé sound.
The owners of Spanish website Puretunes.com are the latest to feel the wrath of the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA) in its campaign to rid the world of unauthorized music. The site's parent company, Sakfield Holding, will defend itself against a lawsuit filed July 3 in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The accusation: providing illegal downloads.
Vinyl junkies who missed the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11417/">first official Vinyl Record Day</A> celebration last summer should mark their calendars for Saturday, August 16. On that date, the faithful will again converge in San Luis Obispo, CA's Mission Plaza to gawk at LPs, memorabilia, vintage gear, and to meet classic album cover notables.
Whether or not online file-trading has had an effect on compact disc purchases <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11643/">positive</A> or <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11679/">negative</A>, a new report published by the <A HREF="http://www.ifpi.com">International Federation of the Phonographic Industry</A> (IFPI) indicates that the real problem facing the music industry worldwide is that fewer and fewer of those CD purchases are of the real thing.
IPOs are jumping and the Nasdaq is up—some mid-summer economic indicators point toward a recovery, but you wouldn't know it from retail reports. Circuit City, Good Guys, and Harvey Electronics are singing the blues, while discounter Costco is whistling all the way to the bank.
Have you ever had one of those conversations with your Significant Other that begins "But I thought you said..." and goes downhill from there? The Other's tone is condescending, and the body language—hands on hips, head slightly tilted—lets you know you're in big trouble.
There's nothing groundbreaking about the technology included in Naim's new $22,400, two-box, remote-controllable, top-of-the-line NAC 552 preamplifier. Still, the inclusion of <I>two</I> sets of RCA input jacks is a departure from Naim's tradition of DIN jacks, and the NAC 552's programmability is unusual for a high-end two-channel audio product. And you can order RCA output jacks at no extra cost, which is how my review sample was configured.
<B>VIVALDI: <I>La Stravaganza</I></B><BR> 12 Violin Concertos, Op.4<BR> Rachel Podger, violin; Arte dei Suonatori<BR> Channel Classics CCS 19598 (2 CDs). 2003. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, prod.; C. Jared Sacks, eng. DDD. TT: 102:59<BR>Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>*****</B>
Transistors can be made to sound like tubes, digital can be made to sound like analog, and cables can be made to sound like no cables. You'd almost think we live in an age of miracles.