News

Although the deal was announcedhttp://www.stereophile.com/news/11038/">announced; by both companies only weeks ago, it appears that Audio">http://www.audioadvisor.com">Audio Advisor will in fact not be distributing Musical Fidelity products in the US after September 1. In AA's place, Musical Fidelity has chosen Kevro International as the exclusive US distributor for its complete line of electronic products. According to Kevro International spokesperson Kathy Ginn, "Musical Fidelity [has] chosen to market [its] products through independent specialists rather than [continue] their previous approach [of distributing the line] through mail order and the Internet. And, unfortunately, AA will no longer be a dealer."

Wes Phillips is hesitant as he takes a listen to a revised version of the first speaker he ever reviewed for Stereophile. Will the new ProAc">http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/386/">ProAc Response One SC loudspeaker vindicate his original positive assessment of its predecessor, the ProAc Response One S? Phillips admits all.

News last">http://www.stereophile.com/news/11094/">last week about SafeAudio CD copy protection indicates that while fighting pirates, the major record labels are also attempting to seal off the ability of users to place their own music from CDs onto computers. If they succeed, the only alternative for consumers who want non-pirated music on their desktops will be to buy content directly from the labels themselves, or companies set up to legally supply digital audio.

A "digital rights management" (DRM) company has been awarded a patent for its "tickets" to Internet-based entertainment. Bethesda, MD–based ContentGuard">http://www.contentguard.com">ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. announced July 27 that it has been granted a patent for its "digital ticket" system, which allows users access to digital entertainment—music, video, graphics, and e-books—from any Internet-connected device.

Larry Greenhill says he'll never forget his first encounter with the Krell">http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/382/">Krell LAT-1 loudspeaker at a meeting of the Westchester Audiophile Society. Suitably impressed, Greenhill reports, "I'd been bitten. I made arrangements to continue the audition in my own listening room." His complete analysis awaits.

The year has been a good one so far for New York's Harvey Electronics and for national electronics retailer the Tweeter">http://www.tweeter.com">Tweeter Group. The news isn't so rosy for West Coast chain the Good Guys.

While doing research for his analysis of the Totem">http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/378/">Totem Acoustic Forest loudspeaker, Larry Greenhill uncovered a legacy of great reviews for the company's previous products each ending with a final "but . . ." comment. But . . . does Greenhill discover any killer "buts" with the Forest? He explains in detail.