E<I>ditor's Note: This is Part Four of a six-part series from reader Hervé Delétraz of Switzerland, who is chronicling the development of his DIY (do-it-yourself) audio amplifier. Part One is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10825/">here</A>, Part Two is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10832/">here</A>, and Part Three is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10839/">here</A>.</I>
With new audio formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio hitting the market, audiophiles will soon have more choices than ever for playing back music. But along with all of these options comes the hard part: choosing which path to take and hoping not to be dead-ended, as Beta video owners were years back. For consumers, the promised universal audio players (expected to play DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, CD, and SACD) will reduce the risk significantly.
Venture capital group Shared Ventures is now the legal owner of the assets of <A HREF="http://www.wadia.com/">Wadia Digital Corporation</A>. Wadia's majority shareholder, Shared Ventures, acquired the company's name, intellectual property, and physical inventory at a public auction in Minneapolis on September 12. The law firm of Siegel, Brill, Greupner, Duffy, and Foster, P/A, of Minneapolis, managed the auction. Originally scheduled for late August, the auction was postponed for two weeks after a flurry of interest following the publication of an official notice in the <A HREF="http://www.startribune.com/"><I>Minneapolis Star-Tribune</I></A>.
You've probably seen the ad in <I>Stereophile</I>: a very personal account by Avantgarde-USA president Jim Smith, describing how, during a 30-year career in high-end audio, he had become increasingly disappointed with conventional loudspeakers' ability to communicate the emotional impact of live music, and how he found the answer with the Avantgarde horn loudspeakers. It's advertising copy in the best I-liked-it-so-much-I-bought-the-company tradition—with the exception that Smith did not actually buy Avantgarde Acoustic, but <I>did</I> become their North American distributor.
So far, the audio quality of downloadable music has been almost as good as AM radio. How far does it have to go before you'll want to pay for a download?
The global market for music could reach $42.8 billion within five years—more than $7.5 billion higher than the present level, according to a recent study by <A HREF="http://www.pwcglobal.com/">PriceWaterhouseCoopers</A> and <A HREF="http://www.wilkofskygruen.com/">Wilkofsky Gruen Associates</A>. In the about-to-be-released study, <I>The Global Entertainment & Media Outlook: 2000–2004</I>, the firms make their prediction based on buying patterns and other economic factors in several regions of the world.
Audio manufacturers who know what's good for them avoid stepping on the toes of <A HREF="http://www.bose.com/">Bose, Inc.</A> The Framingham, Massachusetts–based corporation is renowned for it ruthless marketing and zealous protection of its patents.
E<I>ditor's Note: This is Part Three of a six-part series from reader Hervé Delétraz of Switzerland, who is chronicling the development of his DIY (do-it-yourself) audio amplifier. Part One is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10825/">here</A>, and Part Two is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10832/">here</A>.</I>
Jonathan Scull writes that "with its latest series of FPB (Full Power Balanced) amplifiers, Krell is taking careful aim at the <I>seam</I> between classic high-power two-channel systems and quality multichannel installations where sound is yet paramount. Nevertheless, Krell founder Dan D'Agostino was adamant: Krell's Class A components were designed for music playback. 'I'm a purist, like you, Jonathan!' he told me." In his review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/266/">Krell Full Power Balanced 350mc monoblock amplifier</A>, Scull determines whether or not Krell has struck its musical target.
The enduring audiophile dilemma about whether to optimize a home-entertainment system for music or movies may no longer be relevant, thanks to new disc players from <A HREF="http://www.sony.com/sel/">Sony Corporation</A> and <A HREF="http://www.philips.com/">Philips Electronics NV</A>. The machines were introduced at <A HREF="http://www.cedia.org/expo/">CEDIA Expo 2000</A>, the annual home-theater and custom-installation trade show held in Indianapolis.