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Anthony H. Cordesman and John Atkinson tackle the classic Vandersteen">http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/914/">Vandersteen 2C loudspeaker in a review from 1986. "Whenever I think of cone speaker systems, I think of three brand names: Snell, Thiel, and Vandersteen," says Cordesman, prompting JA to add, "I must say that I just don't understand how Richard Vandersteen can sell the 2Ci at a hair under $1200/pair and expect to make any money."

Embattled audio brand TAG">http://www.tagmclarenaudio.com">TAG McLaren Audio is showing more signs of life since hitting">http://www.stereophile.com/news/11701/">hitting the ropes earlier this summer. After completing "a full strategic review of its participation in the audio market," the company had announcedhttp://www.stereophile.com/news/11718/">announced; a re-focused effort to continue.

What can save the music industry? We've asked the">http://www.stereophile.com/showvote.cgi?241">the question on this website a dozen times in several different ways and your responses are pretty much always the same: lower CD prices—closely followed by better music.

If the new satellite radio products are any indication, the format has a bright future. During the first week of September, Kenwood and Antex Electronics announced new Siriushttp://www.sirius.com">Sirius; satellite receivers, and XM Radio has already dropped the price on its recently introduced "XM PCR," a controller that lets you listen to XM via your computer.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) may spend the rest of its associated life in litigation—as either as the initiator or the recipient of actions intended to determine who can use its products, under which circumstances they can do so, and how much they should pay, assuming they are allowed to use them.

"At a mere $65,000," Martin Colloms states, the Wilson">http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/909/">Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM loudspeaker system "could be regarded as something of a bargain." MC then goes on to explain himself in great detail. The "longest, most thorough speaker review we have ever published!" notes John Atkinson, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Although the CD was successfully released into the music industry gene pool 20 years ago, several companies are still tinkering with its DNA in order to assist record labels in restricting how consumers use their discs.