LATEST ADDITIONS

Undercurrents #1

In debates about audio, philosophy, literature, fine art, or whatever, people often adhere to either <I>absolutism</I> or <I>relativism</I>. Absolutism supposes, for example, that <I>either</I> analog or digital is superior and that whichever is better holds for <I>all</I> parties concerned. Michael Fremer, for instance, is not just advertising his opinion about the superiority of analog; he believes that <I>everyone</I> would acknowledge it if they paid attention to the evidence. Relativism, on the other hand, teaches that no such absolute and univocal consensus can be reached. In the end, we all have our own subjective preferences, and that, quite simply, is that. If we disagree about whether tube amps are better than solid-state, or single-ended is better than push-pull, <I>c'est la vie</I>.

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Siegfried Linkwitz

Siegfried Linkwitz was born in Germany in 1935. He received his electrical engineering degree from Darmstadt Technical University prior to moving to California in 1961 to work for Hewlett-Packard. During his early years in the USA, he did postgraduate work at Stanford University. For over 30 years Mr. Linkwitz has developed electronic test equipment ranging from signal generators, to network and spectrum analyzers, to microwave sweepers and instrumentation for evaluating electromagnetic compatibility.

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Recordings of March 1996: Copland & Menotti Piano Concertos; Breaking Silence

<B>COPLAND: Piano Concerto</B><BR> <B>MENOTTI: Piano Concerto in F</B><BR> Earl Wild, piano; Jorge Mester (Menotti), Aaron Copland (Copland), Symphony of the Air<BR>Analogue Productions APC 029 (LP). Seymour Solomon, prod.; Jack Bryant, Ed Fiedner, engs.; Doug Sax, Gavin Lurssen, Ron Lewter. remastering engs. AAA. TT: 49:23<BR> <I>Also available on a spectacular CD transfer: Vanguard SVC-3.</I>

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KEF Reference Series Model Four loudspeaker

The Model Four is the largest model in KEF's current Reference series of loudspeakers, discounting the R107/2 Raymond Cooke Special-Edition (reviewed in a follow-up in October '95). It's also the largest KEF model that uses their Uni-Q&#174; loudspeaker configuration. When I visited the KEF factory last October with a group of audio journalists from the US, KEF emphasized the importance of Uni-Q technology to their future plans. They consider it proprietary, and intend to enforce the worldwide patents they hold on the design. One look at KEF's current line will be enough to tell you why they're so serious. Uni-Q drivers may be found not only in most of the Reference series, but in most of their other models as well. The most significant exceptions: the Raymond Cooke series, a few inexpensive models, and their THX-certified loudspeaker system.

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