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I reviewed JMlab's Mezzo Utopia loudspeaker in the July 1999 <I>Stereophile</I> (Vol.22 No.7). By chance, the Mezzos had followed a pair of <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/207/">B&W Nautilus 801</A>s into my listening room, and the substitution had proved rather interesting. For all their many fine qualities, the 801, with its 15" bass driver, was distinctly bass-heavy in my room, whereas the 11" drivers of the Mezzos seemed just right in this regard.

<B>FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A<BR>RACHMANINOFF: Cello Sonata in g</B><BR> Renaud Capu&#231;on, violin; Gautier Capu&#231;on, cello; Alexandre Gurning, Lilya Zilberstein, piano<BR>EMI Classics 5 57505 2 (CD). 2003. Carlo Piccardi, prod.; Ulrich Ruscher, eng. DDD. TT: 65:33<BR>Performance <B>****</B><BR>Sonics <B>****</B>

There is one date I dread every year: my wife's birthday. After nearly 16 years of marriage, I have exhausted every last iota of my spousal resources in trying to think of a suitable present. Nothing too ordinary, nothing too <I>out</I> of the ordinary, nothing that will trigger those dreaded words, "You <I>did</I> keep the receipt, right?"

Anthony H. Cordesman and John Atkinson tackle the classic <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/914/">Vandersteen 2C loudspeaker</A> in a review from 1986. "Whenever I think of cone speaker systems, I think of three brand names: Snell, Thiel, and Vandersteen," says Cordesman, prompting JA to add, "I must say that I just don't understand how Richard Vandersteen can sell the 2Ci at a hair under $1200/pair and expect to make any money."

Embattled audio brand <A HREF="http://www.tagmclarenaudio.com">TAG McLaren Audio</A> is showing more signs of life since <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11701/">hitting the ropes</A> earlier this summer. After completing "a full strategic review of its participation in the audio market," the company had <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11718/">announced</A&gt; a re-focused effort to continue.

The <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA) may issue a general amnesty to the music fans who have amassed libraries of favorite tunes by downloading them over the Internet, according to information leaked to <I>Billboard</I>, the <I>Hollywood Reporter</I>, and other publications the first week of September.

If the new satellite radio products are any indication, the format has a bright future. During the first week of September, Kenwood and Antex Electronics announced new <A HREF="http://www.sirius.com">Sirius</A&gt; satellite receivers, and XM Radio has already dropped the price on its recently introduced "XM PCR," a controller that lets you listen to XM via your computer.