LATEST ADDITIONS

In suite 949, Nashville, TN-based <A HREF="http://www.nearfieldacoustics.com"><B>Nearfield Acoustics</B></A> debuted an unnamed new model in its PipeDreams series of tower loudspeakers, one that sounds very promising. To sell for an estimated $10,000/pair, the speaker boasts a 98dB sensitivity rating and improved coherence over its predecessors, the result of using a horn-loading technique for the tweeters, according to company principal Craig Oxford. The new cabinet design is rounded in the back, allowing a single piece of veneer to be wrapped around it, yielding a literally seamless look. There are big bucks awaiting whoever comes up with a suitable name for the product, Oxford mentioned. "Opium" was my suggestion. Hey, it works for perfume.

<IMG SRC="/images/newsart/he2001.1.jpg" WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=119 HSPACE=6 VSPACE=4 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Although Gary Shapiro emphasized digital television in his keynote address at Home Entertainment 2001, the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org"><B>Consumer Electronics Association</B></A> president didn't ignore the importance of audio advancements. "SACD is a fantastic sensory experience," he told reporters at the May 11 press luncheon.

As part of my employer's never-ending attempts to transform me from an engineer into a manager, I am constantly being sent to seminars and courses, some of which are eminently practical&mdash;like "Managers and the Law," which taught us how to avoid getting ourselves and our company sued. Others are more esoteric, like a recent seminar on "paradigm shifts." A paradigm shift, we were told, is a fundamental change in the way we look at things, arising from a change in a belief so inherent that it's unconscious.

Out of action for more than a year, Mobile Fidelty should be returning soon. Online retailer <A HREF="http://www.amusicdirect.com">Music Direct</A> has purchased the remastering and re-release specialty company, according to an <A HREF="http://pages.prodigy.net/amicus1/end_los.htm">announcement</A&gt; made April 24.

Can pirate chasers attend to business while accusing each other of piracy? <A HREF="http://www.digimarc.com">Digimarc</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.verance.com">Verance Corporation</A>, two competitors in the digital watermarking race, have been swapping accusations over patent infringements.

Home Entertainment 2001 arrives at the Hilton Hotel & Towers in New York this week for three days, May 11-13. There will be more than 80 rooms stuffed with the latest high end audio and video gear, including dozens of brand new products. For more information about the show, go to the <A HREF="http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com">HE 2001 website</A>.

There is no denying that buying pre-owned high-end gear can easily provide the biggest bang for the audio buck. Many of us got our first glimpse of sonic nirvana after scoring some second-hand component at a fraction of its retail price. Or perhaps you've just bought a new product and need to unload that old classic hanging out in the closet. <I>Stereophile</I> wants to help.