LATEST ADDITIONS

For any good battle, it helps to have several key ingredients. First, there has to be an underlying conflict that cannot be settled with diplomatic ease---it is especially important that both combatants covet the same property. Second, each side has to set a propaganda machine in motion to create the appearance of a noble struggle for the good of "the people" that transcends the simple fight for turf control. Third, the outcome of such a battle should have implications stretching far into the future. And finally, these days it helps if the press notices.

Internet traffic doubles every 100 days, according to some statistics. This growth has been accompanied by an increase in the amount of online shopping---a phenomenon that has had a significant impact on retailers. Independent bookstores, for example, have been squeezed not only by the expansion of large-scale operations like <A HREF="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">Barnes & Noble</A>, but also by the popularity of Internet discounters like <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.borders.com/">Borders.com</A&gt;. Online sales of recorded music by both record clubs and start-up resellers have put a dent in the bottom lines of many mass-market music stores---although not a huge one yet. The trend will certainly continue.

Convergence has come to the automotive market. <A HREF="http://www.autopc.com/">Clarion Corporation of America</A> announced December 4 that it has developed the the world's first product that integrates car audio, computing functions, navigation, and wireless communications through hands-free voice activation. The Clarion AutoPC is a DIN unit that fits in the dash of an automobile, and is powered by the Microsoft Windows CE operating system.

The first time I encountered Dunlavy's Signature Collection loudspeakers was at the 1993 Chicago Summer CES. I was familiar with, and had a lot of respect for, the speakers John Dunlavy had designed for the Australian Duntech brand, but I thought this new line clearly transcended his previous efforts&mdash;and at significantly lower prices. The model that I ended up reviewing&mdash;and, after the review (Vol.17 No.4), buying&mdash;was the SC-IV, subsequently honored as Stereophile's 1994 Loudspeaker of the Year and Product of the Year. In 1995, the SC-IV underwent changes, including a new woofer and a modified tweeter, resulting in some sonic improvements (see my Follow-Up review in Vol.18 No.3).

Many audiophiles have substantially improved the sound of their systems by experimenting with vibration control. How about you?

Among loudspeaker designers, Franco Serblin enjoys an enviable reputation for beautiful creations and meticulous craftsmanship. Until recently, Sonus Faber's resident genius had confined himself to minimonitors with simple crossover networks, such as the Concerto, a <I>Stereophile</I> Class B Recommended Component.

Over three quarters of a million readers served! With several million "page views" and dozens of millions of "hits" in the past 365 days, the <I>Stereophile</I> website has continued to grow steadily, with a record number of folks visiting practically every week. We've also dished out over <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showoldnews.cgi">300 news articles</A>---practically an article each day---covering everything audio, from important new-technology announcements to the demise and then rebirth of several legendary brands.