LATEST ADDITIONS

March 9, <A HREF="http://www.akm.com">AKM Semiconductor, Inc.</A> introduced the AK5392, a 24-bit stereo analog-to-digital (A/D) converter based on its proprietary dual-bit delta-sigma technology. The AK5392 reportedly achieves a dynamic range of 116dB, said to be a 15dB improvement over other single-chip alternatives.

In an announcement that could stun the neophyte custom CD compilation business and concurrently impact future prospects for the $12 billion music recording industry, <A HREF="http://www.supersonicboom.com/">superSonic BOOM</A> has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Ergon Technology for a patented manufacturing process covering customized audio products. Like <A HREF="http://www.openmarket.com">Open Market</A>'s announcement last week that it had received patents from the US government for its e-commerce technology, superSonic's announcement raises more questions than it answers.

Coming soon on the <A HREF="http://www.madrigal.com">Madrigal Audio Laboratories</A> website is <i>La Folia</i>, a music webzine. Edited by Mike Silverton, <i>La Folia</i> sets out to supplement the audiophile press by directing its emphasis at recordings elsewhere neglected: present-day art music (aka "classical"), free and improvisational jazz, category-defying hybrids, and whatever else strikes their "clutch of sweet-spot stuckees as rare and well done."

A reviewer's life is not all fame and fortune. There are downsides, too, one of which is that, while many great-sounding components pass through your listening room, only a few get to stay there on anything like a permanent basis. (And that involves money changing hands, as in [gasp!] "purchase.") Before I bought my long-term reference loudspeakers—a pair of B&W John Bowers Silver Signatures—back in 1994, the speakers that had spent the most time in my 2900-cubic foot listening room were a pair of Thiel CS2 2s. I reviewed the '2 2 in the January 1993 issue of Stereophile (Vol.16 No.1), and although it was relatively affordable ($2250/pair at the time of the review), it did most of what I wanted a speaker to do. Other than a limited dynamic range in the bottom audio octave and a slightly exaggerated top octave, the CS2 2 sounded effortlessly smooth and free from coloration throughout the midrange and treble. It was also a real imaging champ.

Although standalone music systems will always be part of the audio hobby, it appears that computers are becoming increasingly important. Improvements in data transmission and storage are reported almost daily, and several services now offer downloads of music. When will a computer become part of <i>your</i> music system?

In cooperation with the International Intellectual Property Alliance, the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> filed a <A HREF="mailto:lpelliccia@riaa.com">report</A&gt; in February with the United States Trade Representative outlining the problems that US record companies face conducting business in foreign marketplaces. The report highlights inadequacies in copyright protection with respect to standards and enforcement, and identifies major impediments to market access.

Move over, <A HREF="http://www.cdnow.com">CDNow</A&gt;, <A HREF="http://www.n2k.com">N2K</A&gt;, and <A HREF="http://www.musicblvd.com">Music Boulevard</A>---<A HREF="http://www.Amazon.com">Amazon.com</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.bestbuy.com">Best Buy</A> want to play.