LATEST ADDITIONS

Close up of the PLC•1 preamp (top) and one of the D•400 monoblocks.

California manufacturer Channel Islands Audio brought two new products to the show: the $895 PLC•1 passive preamp with remote and the $4,500/pr D•400 class-D power amps. Also in the room were the Von Schweikert Audio VR-5SE speakers ($18-22k depending on finish). Sound in the modest hotel room was surprisingly spacious and well-balanced. Left to right in the photo: Albert Von Schweikert, CIA's Dusty Vawter and Greg Schug.

Lipinski Sound's Scott Levitin (left) and Lukas Lipinski

Speaker manufacturer Lipinski Sound was on hand with their surround demo and a new product: The 3601 Powered Stand. Each 3601 sports a two channel amp that can be bridged to be used as a 600 watt monoblock, or set to biamp either a 505 or 707 speaker. Lukas Lipinski says that the powered stands can also be used with other speakers, and have been referenced against other well-known amps. Price is $2,595 each. A quick demo with several types of music proved impressive, even in the confines of a hotel room.

Posted to <I>FlickR</I>, reported at a nanotech firm. Gosh I hope they take it seriously.

Wonko the Sane sends along this fascinating link to <I>New Music Box</I> on Philip Glass. Yes, I know the knock-knock joke, but actually experiencing <I>Einstein on the Beach</I> was a life altering experience for this good ol' country boy. As WTS said, it is the <I>soul</I> of minimalism&mdash;and <I>EOTB</I> definitely has got <I>soul</I>, if you've got big ears.

<I>McSweeney</I>'s again&mdash;and with perfect pitch.

We've known that oil dependence was a bad thing for 50 years, so how come I can't go out and buy an electric car as easily as an 8mpg Hummer?

Here's a shot of the registration booth which will greet visitors as they enter the hotel. Registration is available at the show, and attendees can buy tickets for the special events here as well.

The day before the show and the vendors are busy setting up. Here's a shot of Music Direct's Michael Grantham and Mobile Fidelity's Coleman Brice unpacking boxes full of discs both analog and digital.