In general, it's still true that you get what you pay for. But sometimes you don't . . . you get more. What audio product has surprised you with its return on investment?
Italian audio journal <I>Fedelta' del Suono</I> (Sound Fidelity) has honored American startup <A HREF="http://www.redrosemusic.com/">Red Rose Music</A> with "Product of the Year" awards for the company's Model 3 preamplifier and Model 2 power amp. The award is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that the monthly publication, based in Terni, Italy, does not normally fête products from new companies.
An unusual tropical rain welcomed the <A HREF="http://www.aes.org/">Audio Engineering Society</A> to its 109th gathering, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center September 22–25. Audiophiles may breathe a collective sigh of relief to learn that the Super Audio Compact Disc is getting a big push, not only from corporate parents Sony/Philips but from studio-equipment makers, consumer-electronics companies, and—perhaps most important—music labels.
Software giant <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft Corporation</A> has acquired <A HREF="http://www.hdcd.com/">Pacific Microsonics, Inc.</A> (PMI), developer of High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) technology. The deal was announced in a joint press release issued September 18. Financial details were not disclosed.
E<I>ditor's Note: This is Part Five of a six-part series from reader Hervé Delétraz of Switzerland, who is chronicling the development of his DIY (do-it-yourself) audio amplifier. Part One of the series is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10825/">here</A>, Part Two is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10832/">here</A>, Part Three is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10839/">here</A>, and Part Four is <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10844/">here</A>.</I>
Choice is good, or so would go the common wisdom. But as John Atkinson points out in "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//asweseeit/270/">The Crazy You Get from So Much Choice</A>," when applied to diapers and DVD-Audio, choice can quickly develop into a nightmare in which comsumers simply walk away from the shelves, unable to make a decision. Will DVD-Audio suffer such a fate?
We <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10339/">reported last year</A> about the new direction that <A HREF="http://www.bang-olufsen.com/">Bang & Olufsen America</A> has taken in distributing its products: the company has recently opened a series of branded BOA stores around the US. The strategy seems to have paid off. The company reports increased sales of more than 60% in the first quarter of its current fiscal year, and claims that individual shops reported an average sales increase of 20%.
At last, a SACD machine from someone other than Sony! This time, it's a Marantz—the Reference Series SA-1, described as a no-compromise "ultimate-quality" player.
<B>CHARLES LLOYD: <I>The Water is Wide</I></B><BR> Charles Lloyd, tenor saxophone; Brad Mehldau, piano; John Abercrombie, guitar; Larry Grenadier, Derek Oleszkiewicz (one track), bass; Billy Higgins, drums<BR> ECM 1734 (CD). 2000. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Michael C. Ross, eng. AAD. TT: 68:29<BR> Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>*****</B>
Convergence. There, I've said it. I swore I wasn't going to use the "C" word, but when you're faced with writing about a product that smashes the boundaries between component categories as completely as the CardDeluxe does, you have little choice.