Earlier this year, in an <A HREF="http://cgi.stereophile.com/cgi-bin/showvote.cgi?551">online poll</A>, we asked the magazine's readers if they were ready for a music server. The response was startling: 32% of you had already set one up, and 44% were ready to. Only 7% responded "probably not" or "never." In the polls we conduct online, we rarely get this kind of positive consensus about <I>anything</I> audio.
Omar and I were enjoying breakfast at Skinner's Pub. Monica makes a great Bloody Mary. The storms hadn't arrived yet—in fact, the sun was still shining—but the Mets game had already been canceled. The forecast was bleak. We could have easily spent the entire day chatting with Monica, but decided to take a ride down to Princeton.
I always enjoy reviewing affordable loudspeakers from Polk Audio, who trumpet high value for the dollar with their philosophy of "Incredible Sound/Affordable Price." They also update their broad and deep product lines more frequently than do most manufacturers. I've always been intrigued by how much Polk has been able to deliver at the bottom of the price range. In fact, the first Polk speaker I reviewed, the RT25i (<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/417">September 2001, Vol.24 No.9</A>), is the only affordable speaker I've reviewed for <I>Stereophile</I> that I ended up buying (for my computer-based musical-composition system). So, when approached by Polk to review a speaker from their affordable RT<I>i</I> A series, I was interested in the least expensive of that line's five models: the RT<I>i</I> A1 ($349.95/pair).
<B>RANDY NEWMAN <I>Harps and Angels</I></B><BR>
Nonesuch 075597998931 (CD). 2008. Mitchell Froom, Lenny Waronker, prods.; David Boucher, eng. ADD. TT: 34:54<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>
<B>RANDY NEWMAN <I>Harps and Angels</I></B><BR>
Nonesuch 075597998931 (CD). 2008. Mitchell Froom, Lenny Waronker, prods.; David Boucher, eng. ADD. TT: 34:54<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>
One day in the early 1960s, Arnold Gingrich, <I>Esquire</I> magazine's founder and editor-in-chief, phoned his stockbroker with an unusual request: Gingrich needed a cashier's check for $12,000 right away. Would the broker please sell some of Gingrich's stocks?
We recently posted all of our coverage of two classic turntables: The <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/184rega/">Rega P3</a> and the <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/284sotastar/">Sota Sapphire</a>. And when I say "classic," I don't mean old. I mean timeless, unforgettable, enduring. Take a look at our <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/historical/709/index.html">Hot 100 list</a> of all-time most important products, and you'll see that the British Rega ranks at number 30, while the all-American Sota stands proud at number 54. Our reviews of these turntables date back to 1984, and provide information that is still very much useful and interesting today.
Reader Mike Molinaro asks: "Although not 'Audiophile Approved' or PC, what is your favorite greatest hits compilation?"
We get suggestions all the time for products you'd like us to cover, but is there a particular product that <I>Stereophile</I> should <I>not</I> review?
Well, I cannot say that I saw everything at the 2008 CEDIA Expo, nor can I say that my dreams came true. However, my major expectation for this show was to see that the major high-end manufacturers had bitten the bullet for HDMI and HD audio. I am happy to say, almost all have: some with products ready to ship; some with availabilities before the end of the year; and some with prototypes and promises for the 2009 CES in January. To list and illustrate them all would take more energy than I can conjure at this late day but here are a few.