On June 7, <A HREF="http://www.cdnow.com"> CDnow</A>, the world's top online music retailer, announced that it had acquired <A HREF="http://www.supersonicboom.com">superSonicBOOM</A>, an Internet custom-compilation disc business. The acquisition gives CDnow the ability to offer its customers custom discs as well as catalog product, said Jason Olim, CDnow President and CEO.
Engineering facilities and a finished-goods warehouse at <A HREF="http://www.altecmm.com">Altec Lansing Technologies</A>' Milford, Pennsylvania, headquarters were damaged by fire late Sunday, May 31. The blaze was said to have been exacerbated by severe weather. No injuries were reported.
Audiophiles with budget restrictions (most of us, I imagine) could be forgiven for feeling we're afterthoughts to most manufacturers. Even though we probably keep most companies in business by buying their "entry-" or mid-level products, we're always hearing about products designed "without compromise." <I>Waiter, could you bring the reality check, please?</I>
James Dunning, Jr., Chairman and CEO of <A HREF="http://www.petersenco.com">The Petersen Companies, Inc.</A>, announced June 4th the completion of the acquisition of <I>Stereophile</I> and <I>Stereophile Guide to Home Theater</I> (two of this country's leading high-end audio and home theater publications), as well as HI-FI '98, The Home Theater & Specialty Audio Show.
Mellow jazz and small-combo instrumental music is frequently the material of choice in audio stores and at hi-fi shows. But audiophiles enjoy a wide variety of music. Reader Richard Horan wonders: what's your favorite?
The practice of "Transshipping"---selling a product outside one's designated territory---is widespread in the audio industry. It's commonplace for dealers to sell not only to walk-in customers, but also over the telephone or Internet to customers in other dealers' territories, usually at discounted prices. While not problematic on a small scale, the practice favors large-volume dealers over smaller ones, and is almost always a violation of a dealer's agreement with a manufacturer.
Hundreds of manufacturers will be demonstrating state-of-the-art audio products at <A HREF="http://www.hifishow.com">HI-FI '98</A>---some of which have never before been seen by the public. We're running several announcements each week leading up to the Show to give you a taste of what to expect. Here's the fourth assortment:
Software giant <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com">Microsoft Corporation</A> has entered the audio market with a satellite-and-subwoofer speaker system for use with personal computers. The Digital Sound System 80 made its debut at this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3), held May 28-30 in Atlanta's World Congress Center. The system was designed in conjunction with <A HREF="http://www.philips.com">Philips Electronics NV of the Netherlands</A>, one of the world's largest electronics companies.
Did they capture the sound of her violin? Did the nuance of a 9' Steinway grand piano translate onto the disc with all of its dynamic range intact? Hear for yourself when Ida Levin and Delores Stevens mark the debut of <I>Stereophile</I>'s latest recording, <I>Duet</I>, with two live performances at HI-FI '98.
On May 26, <A HREF="http://www.N2K.com"> N2K</A>'s <A HREF="http://www.JazzCentralStation.com"> JazzCentralStation </A> launched the first officially sanctioned Miles Davis StarSite, <A HREF="http://www.MilesDavis.com"> MilesDavis.com</A>. An all-star musical and multimedia tribute was held that evening at New York City's Birdland, hosted by Dr. Billy Taylor and recorded by Phil Ramone and Michael Cuscuna for a September release on N2K Encoded Music. May 26 would have been Davis' 72nd birthday.