From the September 2004 issue, John Atkinson revs up the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/904simaudio">Simaudio Moon Equinox CD player</A>, explaining, "When Simaudio's Lionel Goodfield offered me their $2000 Moon Equinox player for inclusion in my irregular series of CD-player reviews, I didn't need to be asked twice."
Retail has changed a lot over the years, and many high-end audio lines are now represented by dealers working out of their homes. Does this work for you?
<B>MOZART: <I>Requiem</I></B><BR>
Christine Schafer, soprano; Bernarda Fink, alto; Kurt Streit, tenor; Gerald Finley, bass; Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt<BR>
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 82876 58705 2 (SACD/CD). 2004. Friedemann Engelbrecht, prod.; Michael Brammann, Josef Schutz, engs. DDD. TT: 50:23<BR>Performance <B>****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>*****</B>
Conventional wisdom has it that you should listen to an audio component, preferably in your own system, before you decide to buy it. But who, these days, has the opportunity to do this consistently? Even an audition in the store isn't guaranteed; I have to drive two hours to get to the nearest dealer with decent customer service and a good inventory of interesting gear. And though he generally stocks a fairly wide range of components, like any dealer, he carries only a small sample of all the hi-fi gear that's currently, in principle, available.
"How could there be a bad song called 'Iron Man,' or 'War Pigs,' or—my cup runneth over—'Rat Salad'?"—<I>Nick Hornby, explaining his youthful fondness for Black Sabbath</I>
Simaudio has been doing well in the middle of the high-end market, providing products such as their Moon i-5 integrated amplifier (<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/620">reviewed by Chip Stern</A> in July 2002), which offers a glimpse of high-quality sound at an affordable price. That's not to say that the Canadian manufacturer neglects the cost-no-object market: the two-box, $5700, Simaudio Moon Eclipse CD player impressed the heck out of Brian Damkroger when <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/343">he reviewed it</A> for <I>Stereophile</I> in April 2001 (with a Follow-Up in April 2003). So when Simaudio's Lionel Goodfield offered me their Moon Equinox player ($2000) for inclusion in my irregular series of CD-player reviews (footnote 1), I didn't need to be asked twice.
Twenty years ago, the introduction of the compact disc put the music world on a new path. Not long after its debut, <A HREF="http://www.meridian-audio.com">Meridian Audio Ltd.</A> launched the world's first audiophile CD player, the MCD. That player and others that followed drew audiophiles into the digital age.
From the September 1992 issue, Corey Greenberg checks in with a review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/992dynaco">Dynaco Stereo 70 II power amplifier</A>. According to CG, "Panor's Stereo 70 II reissue looks similar to a vintage Dyna, but contains several circuit additions claimed to improve the original design's performance."
"Whole-house entertainment systems" and "ease of use" may be anathema for many audiophiles, but they bring joy to the lives of many music lovers—as they seem to do for manufacturers with a keen eye on the bottom line.
Last week we asked about your favorite review. As promised, this week we'd like to know what your <I>least</I> favorite equipment review in <I>Stereophile</I> has been.