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New 10-Disc Beethoven Piano Sonata Boxed Set Available for Sale On the Web Site

Stereophile Staff Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

We've just posted something new for sale on Stereophile's Recordingshttps://secure.stereophile.com/stereophile/record.html">Recordings; page. But this is not just any new CD release—it's a comprehensive 10-CD boxed set of Robert Silverman performing the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas, recorded by our very own John Atkinson. Cheapskates rejoice: the complete 10-disc set retails for a very reasonable $65, bringing the price of each CD in the box to a mere $6.50.

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After Long Absence, Threshold Will Return to CES

Barry Willis Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

After three years in limbo, Threshold will make an official return to the audio market at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. The new company's initial emphasis will be on professional equipment with crossover appeal for audiophiles, according to Threshold's former national sales manager Chris English, a principal in the new venture. A name for the new company has yet to be decided.

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Pioneering Record Company Director Teresa Sterne Dies

Wes Phillips Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

Teresa Sterne, a pioneer in the production of classical music recordings and a visionary marketer of classical and ethnomusicological recordings, died December 10, 2000 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gerhrig's disease). She was 73.

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Digital Audio Amplification Reaching Critical Mass?

Jon Iverson Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

Although it first appeared as an infant technology more than 20 years ago, digital audio amplification may finally be coming of age. Recent months have seen announcements from several companies, including news of Apogee's DDX technology (see previous">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10893/">previous report) and Cirrus Logic who recently purchased their Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) digital amplification technology from B&W Loudspeakers (see previous">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10866/">previous report).

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

Record 10 CDs worth of music in one weekend? John Atkinson writes: "I blanched. This was an enormous task: 32 sonatas; 103 individual movements; more than 11 hours of music—11 hours, 26 minutes, and 25 seconds, as it turned out." How to record Canadian pianist Robert Silverman performing Ludwig">http://www.stereophile.com//musicrecordings/298/">Ludwig van Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas in such a short time? JA explains the revolutionary process in detail.

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Fate of Hales Loudspeakers Still Unknown

Barry Willis Dec 17, 2000 First Published: Dec 17, 2000

Many audiophiles—especially owners of Hales loudspeakers—have wondered whether or not the brand will be revived, in view of a recent">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10918/">recent announcement by Audio Video Research of Ann Arbor, Michigan that it has acquired the assets of Wadia Digital and plans to resume production and product development of the revered name. Wadia acquired Hales (two of whose products were still Stereophile "Recommended Components" as of October 2000) last year, just a few months before financial difficulties put Wadia into a nosedive from which it could not recover.

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Avalon Acoustics Settles Dispute with Silverline Audio

Barry Willis Dec 10, 2000 First Published: Dec 10, 2000

One of the industry's nastier legal disputes is over. Boulder, CO-based Avalon">http://www.avalonacoustics.com/">Avalon Acoustics, Inc. has withdrawn a threatened "trade dress infringement" lawsuit against competitor Silverline">http://www.silverlineaudio.com/">Silverline Audio Technology, Inc. of Concord, CA, according to an Avalon press release circulated December 7. "Trade dress infringement" is a legalism referring to a competitor's use of a design that has become so closely associated in the public mind with a particular brand that it amounts to a virtual trademark.

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DVD-Audio Poised To Cut Into CD Sales?

Jon Iverson Dec 10, 2000 First Published: Dec 10, 2000

According to a recent report released by the International">http://www.recordingmedia.org">International Recording Media Association (IRMA), with the gradual introduction of players for the developing DVD-Audio format finally taking place, the software replication industry can expect an "accelerated growth rate" for DVD-A titles around the world in the next two years.

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Wadia Returns as Division of Audio Video Research

Barry Willis Dec 10, 2000 First Published: Dec 10, 2000

Briefly gonehttp://www.stereophile.com/news/10843/">gone; but not forgotten, Wadia Digital will return as a division of Audio Video Research, Inc. (AVR) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a new company formed in December, 2000 by combining the assets of Wadia and Digital Imaging Corporation. Wadia products, including the 861 and 831 CD players and 27ix processor, will be shown at CES in January, 2001.

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Best Buy Expands Empire with Musicland, Magnolia Buyouts

Stereophile Staff Dec 10, 2000 First Published: Dec 10, 2000

The economy may be slowing down in some parts of the country, but not, apparently, in Minneapolis, where national electronics retailer Best">http://www.bestbuy.com/">Best Buy Co., Inc. announced December 7 its acquisition of both Musicland">http://www.musicland.com/">Musicland Stores Corporation (also of Minneapolis) and Seattle-based Magnolia">http://www.magnoliahifi.com/">Magnolia Hi-Fi, Inc. The buyouts will give Best Buy increased exposure in rural malls and in the Pacific Northwest. The company also announced a plan to open several stores in Canada over the next three years, beginning with eight locations for which leases have already been signed.