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You’ve heard this before from us, but only because it’s true and remains an important point: A great part of the fun (and, therefore, <i>value</i>) in attending hi-fi shows comes from the chance encounters that inevitably take place in the show halls. We’re all trying to get somewhere fast, and these encounters invariably slow us down, but almost always for the better. We get to see the people who work so hard to bring great music into our homes. Here, for instance, I had the pleasure of bumping into Ayre Acoustics’ Steve Silberman (left) and Magico’s Irv Gross (far right).

Today is Press Day at the <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/news/montreal_audio_show_starts_friday/">2010 Salon Son & Image</a>, located at the extraordinary Hilton Bonadventure, a penthouse hotel perched above the Place Bonadventure exhibition center, built for the 1967 World’s Fair. At the moment, exhibitors and members of the press are just getting acquainted with the unusual hotel, which has an extremely tempting heated outdoor pool and garden views at every turn. Lines are just beginning to form at the registration desk, where I couldn’t help but say hello to the charming staff.

The <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/news/montreal_audio_show_starts_friday/">Sal… Son & Image</a> hi-fi show opens on Friday, March 26, in Montreal, one of the world’s friendliest and most colorful cities. Tomorrow morning, John Atkinson will arrive at my front door, and we’ll drive the 376 miles from Jersey City to Montreal’s Hilton Bonaventure, where its rooftop garden and two floors of music await us.

In an industry whose newest products are often as discouragingly unaffordable as they are short of the sonic mark, the Naim Audio Uniti ($3795) stands out. In a single reasonably sized box, the Uniti combines the guts of Naim's Nait 5i integrated amplifier and CD5i CD player with various additional sources: an FM/DAB tuner, and interfaces for an iPod, a USB memory stick, an iRadio, and a UPnP-compatible connected computer or server&#151;all for the price of a very good television set.

Years ago, when I taught high school choirs, I had many types of kids in my ensembles. Though none exclusively fit the overly stereotypical lineup of kids on Fox TV's <I>Glee</I>, I always managed to have a nice assortment of jocks, preps, goths, motorheads, geeks, wastoids, and dweebs. One of the things that always fascinated me was how the big, tough jocks would turn out to be the most sensitive, emotional singers. It was always a touching moment when an otherwise stoic football star or wrestler would get all misty while singing the final song of the year-end concert. It showed me that the toughest exteriors often hide the creamiest creampuffs.

Baja marimba player, violin or piano virtuoso, slack key guitarist, or turntablist? Name the one instrumentalist you most admire.

The 23rd <A HREF="http://www.salonsonimage.com">Salon Son & Image</A> high-fidelity show, cosponsored by <I>Stereophile</I>, takes place in Montreal's Hilton Bonaventure March 26&#150;28. (An additional day, March 25, is reserved for the trade and press.) With 10,000 to 12,000 attendees expected, including a sizable American contingent and several thousand Canadians from outside Quebec province, who will take advantage of bilingual presentations and literature and the anticipated absence of snow, SSI remains the largest North America audio show that is open to the public.