Snap, Crackle, Pop Stars
Back in my day, rock bands had integrity—they didn't sell their image to shill just any old product.
LATEST ADDITIONS
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Bogus Science
A spotter's guide.
Have you ever tried a tubed component in your system?
Back in the day, tubes were the <I>only</I> choice. Today, some audiophiles still consider them the only choice. Have you ever tried a tubed component in your system?
Industry Update
<I>Web-surf's up:</I> Cable manufacturer Stereovox has a new, improved, easy to navigate <A HREF="http://www.stereovox.com/">website</A>. We're just sayin', is all.
RoHS Chills Electronics Companies
Removal of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/805Bstph.html">directive by the European Union</A> (EU) that goes into effect on July 1, 2006, sounds like apple pie or motherhood—something that would be hard to argue against. And its expressed purpose of removing hazardous substances—lead and mercury, for example—from consumer products is assuredly a noble one.
The Sound of Transistors
Editor's Note: Those of us who cut our engineering teeth on tubes still remember the advent of the solid-state amplifier with mixed feelings. Yes, they were lighter and cheaper per watt than the thermionic hulks we loved so much, but they broke all the time (thanks to the germanium transistor) and sounded like—well, let J. Gordon Holt tell us what they sounded like in an "As We See It" article from Vol.1 No.10, first published in May 1965. We also develop the theme with a JGH review of an early transistorized amp, as well as a selection of readers' letters from the early days of Stereophile. Enjoy.—John Atkinson
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Bryston 10B electronic crossover
"Crossovers? We don't need no stinkin' crossovers!" Most <I>Stereophile</I> readers probably feel this way when it comes to third-party electronic crossovers. In this day of proprietary "soup-to-nuts" speaker systems, nearly all manufacturers supply complete systems. Nevertheless, some brave (or foolish) souls still choose to sail in uncharted crossover waters. Most do so because they're insanely in love with their current speakers, and have an irrational desire for that last bottom octave. Others have "orphaned" speakers that are not readily upgradeable to the next level of performance. I fall into the second category.
PSB Alpha loudspeaker
As I said during the 1991 <I>Stereophile</I> writers' conference (<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/109">Vol.14 No.12</A>): "There's immense satisfaction in finding that next Audible Illusions or Vandersteen or Rotel." My oh my, am I satisfied! But before you start writing checks, hold onto those pens for a few moments. The PSB Alphas are not ProAc, Hales, Quad, or even Vandersteen killers. Goodness, what do you expect for $200?
Digital Recordings Audio-CD
I had been with <I>Stereophile</I> only six months and feared my tenure was over—I thought I was losing my hearing. There was pain, ringing, and stuffiness. I couldn't listen to anything.
iPods & Hearing Loss
Apple Computer, faced with research, complaints, and litigation claiming that the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/mediaservers/934">iPod</A> can cause hearing loss, issued a new software update on March 29 that limits the personal maximum volume level of the iPod Nano and iPod models with video-playback capabilities. The free download, available at <A HREF="http://www.apple.com/ipod/download">www.apple.com/ipod/download</A>, prevents the player from outputting its potentially damaging maximum volume of 115dB. Parents can also use the feature to set volume limits on their child's iPod, and lock settings with coded combinations.