LATEST ADDITIONS

Since 1992, Stereophile has recognized components that have proved capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period by naming its "Products of the Year." These are the components that can be recommended without any ifs or buts, that will grace any system in which they used.

At what point does a high price become exorbitant? When do you start doing double takes, to make sure you haven't mentally moved a decimal point? When do you look at something and think, "No matter how good it may be, it's just not worth that much money"?

It's only a CD-R with a self-adhesive label and computer-generated inserts, but it's what the major record labels are <I>really</I> scared of.

I am saddened to report that Peter James Walker, the founder of quintessential English audio company Quad, passed away on December 10, after a long illness. He was 87. Peter Walker had been married twice; both his wives had died before him. He is survived by a daughter, Victoria, and a son, Ross, the latter having played a major role in managing Quad through the 1970s and '80s.

Some folks prefer a dry recording technique that emphasizes clarity and a sense of the musicians in their listening rooms. Others like the idea of being transported to the concert hall so that their own listening room walls drop away. Which is your preferred recording technique?

Retail may be bouncing back. Best Buy, North America's number one electronics chain, reported an 18% gain in total sales for its third quarter ended November 29. The Richfield, MN&ndash;based operation posted $6.03 billion in total sales, with same-store sales up 8.6%.

Bronfmans bid Vivendi <I>adieu</I>: On Wednesday, December 3, Edgar M. Bronfman and his son Edgar Bronfman, Jr. officially resigned from Vivendi Universal's board of directors. The move followed an announcement by Time Warner that it would accept a $2.6 billion offer for its Warner Music Group (WMG) from an investment group led by the younger Bronfman.