Vivid Audio Introduces Giya Cu Loudspeakers
KEF Debuts New Finishes for Blade One Meta and Blade Two Meta
Sennheiser Drops HDB 630 Wireless Headphones
Sponsored: Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 | Technology Introduction
PSB BP7 Subwoofer Unveiled
Apple AirPods Pro 3: First Impressions
Sponsored: Pulsar 121
Sonus faber Announces Amati Supreme Speaker
Sponsored: Symphonia
CH Precision and Audiovector with TechDAS at High End Munich 2025
Sponsored: Symphonia Colors

LATEST ADDITIONS

Mirage M-1si loudspeaker

I only found out <I>after</I> beginning my auditioning of Mirage's M-1si loudspeakers that the film <I>2001, A Space Odyssey</I> was, at practically the same instant, undergoing a brief theatrical revival in major cities around the US. I might have known. Perhaps it was the persistent Strauss melodies that rattled around in my head as I set them up. Perhaps it was the <I>two</I> 5'-tall monoliths that subsequently stared at me as I sat in my listening chair. For whatever reason, the M-1sis were an imposing sight, and the association with out-of-this-world events was not a difficult one to make.

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DRM Death Knell?

A new year-long download promotion may spell the death knell for digital rights management (DRM). The Pepsi promotion, which will be formally announced during the Super Bowl on February 3, will advertise a possible one billion downloadable MP3 files, which will be available through Amazon.com's download service, which does not feature DRM. We have not been able to obtain a list of participating labels to date, but since EMI, UMG, and Hollywood Records already participate at Amazon's MP3 store, they're probably involved. Less certain are Sony BMG and Warner Music Group (WMG), who seem to be sticking as much at the 40&#162; per song (compared to 65&ndash;70&#162; from Amazon or 70&#162; from iTunes) offered by Pepsi as at the lack of DRM&mdash;although neither label has yet offered unprotected digital files.

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iTunes Fixes

Last week, we passed along some observations from Benchmark Media Systems' John Siau about iTunes forcing an unnecessary <A HREF="http://stereophile.com/news/120307samplerateconversion/">sample-rate conversion</A> in its 7.5 incarnation. We received a lot of mail on the subject during the week, including some helpful suggestions from Wavelength Audio's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/196rankin">Gordon Rankin</A>, who has much experience designing <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/905listen">USB audio devices</A>.

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Boston Acoustics Lynnfield 500L loudspeaker

To many audiophiles, the name Boston Acoustics is synonymous with mass-market budget loudspeakers. Although many of its products have offered good value for the money, Boston Acoustics has never been known for driving the envelope of high-priced loudspeaker design (footnote 1). The company has been content to churn out well-designed, affordable boxes and let others attempt state-of-the-art loudspeakers. Until now.

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Phantom Acoustics Shadow active low-frequency acoustic control

The acoustic environment for music reproduction is easily the most overlooked source of sonic degradation. Many fine playback systems are compromised by room-induced anomalies that severely color the reproduced sound. When we live in a world of directional wire, high-end AC power cords, and $4000 CD transports, paying attention to the listening room's contribution to the musical experience takes on greater urgency.

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Fashions, Fads, & Single-Ended Amplifiers

As in any community bound tightly together by shared enthusiasms, the High End is regularly swept by tides of fashion. Some of the fads prove to be based on something of value, and outlast the initial burst: loudspeaker spikes and Tiptoes, for example, or the resurgence of tube designs, or making use of high-quality passive components. Other fads, particularly if not based on good engineering, fall by the wayside. (Does anyone still use a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/miscellaneous/784/index4.html">Tice Clock</A> in their system? Or suspend their cables and interconnects on little acrylic bridges?)

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