Audiophiles know <A HREF="http://www.linn.co.uk">Linn</A> as a high-end consumer electronics company, creator of such products as the legendary LP12 turntable, compact amps, preamps, and speakers, and the innovative <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/497/">Kivor</A> hard-disk music server.
Record labels have found that CDs with built-in restriction technologies have not worked in all CD players, have been <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11341/">incompatible</A> with some computers, and have engendered considerable backlash from irate consumers. But why should that stop them?
Kalman Rubinson reviews the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/799/">MSB Platinum Link Plus D/A processor</A>, revealing, "I have a warm spot in my heart for MSB's approach to product development." With this latest product, will Rubinson's heart continue to glow?
The music industry is again under legislative assault on both coasts.
The listing for the Rogue Audio M-120 monoblock power amplifier in the current issue's "Recommended Components" includes the comment, "Specified output power is 120W; JA measured just 100W into 8 ohms at clipping," which seems to suggest that Rogue Audio is overstating the amplifier's output power. This is not the case. The M-120 can be operated in both ultralinear pentode mode, in which it delivers the specified 120W, and in triode mode, in which it is specified at 60W. Our measurements were performed in triode mode; thus the 100W clipping power does, in fact, exceed the M-120's claimed output power of 60 watts in triode mode. Our apologies to Rogue Audio and to anyone confused by our lack of clarity.
<I>The lease said about my and my fathers trip from the Bureau of Manhattan to our new home the soonest mended. In some way ether I or he got balled up on the grand concorpse and next thing you know we was thretning to swoop down on Pittsfield.</I>
Back in 1984, when I still had all my hair and began listening to digital audio (<I>wait</I> a minute...), I was disappointed with the compact disc. Most of that disappointment came from the format's musical performance, which was poor, but a portion of my dismay came from realizing that my days as a hands-on hobbyist were numbered: I was used to selecting and setting up my own turntable, tonearm, and cartridge, but a CD player defied such involvement. Plugging it in and playing it were all that I or most anyone else could do.
If I wrote a column for a car magazine and I learned that the magazine's readers were using their cars to run over kittens, I would be deeply troubled. I would beg them to stop. Failing that, I would find another line of work.
I have a warm spot in my heart for MSB's approach to product development. They come from a tweaker heritage and still practice the art: MSB will happily install a 24-bit/192kHz upsampler in your CD player, a 5.1-channel input in your DPL amp or receiver, and true 24/96 outputs in your DVD player. Their standalone products, starting with the original Link DAC, are designed from the start to include space for later additions and enhancements.
Mergers and acquisitions are among the oldest tactics for commercial ventures that want to increase their power and presence. They are also increasingly popular in the non-commercial sector, according to a March 14 Associated Press report.