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Must say this is one of the most lightweight magazines ive seen...like all lite beer its tasteless crap with no substance

You're right, of course, Alan. The fact that this issue features reviews of a superbly engineered $1000/pair speaker, another for $2000/pair, a DAC with almost SOTA performance for less than $500, a Klipsch speaker that offers true high-end sound, a USB DAC that _finally_ overcomes the limitations of the USB standard, a powerhouse amplifier that manages to sound delicate, as well as a follow-up on the best-selling Wadia iPod dock, a kick-ass, thought-provoking As We See It from Stephen Mejias, a review by Kal Rubinson of a must-read audio book, and great stuff from Mikey, Art, and John Marks, is of no consequence at all. What _were_ we thinking?

Seriously, what you have liked to see in this issue?

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

I'd love to comment, especially as the stuff reviewed sounds great but, as usual, my copy has not arrived yet and won't for another week...

Going to springboard off this thread to contribute my 2 cents. I've been looking forward to the Wavelength Cosecant review since months ago, as JA will attest, if he remembers (I've been piping about it...) and I was very happy that AD reviewed it. I was very surprised that AD preferred the Numerator over the non-oversampling version of it, since AD's been tending toward minimalist, "purist" version of audio. And even before the review, I knew that there was something about Rankin's asynchronous mode that might really revolutionize how PC-fi would segue into hi-fi systems. So I had a vested interest in the issue, and it didn't disappoint. As always, I love reading JA's empirical findings in the measurements to temper AD's intuitionist take...

What I found most enlightening, though, was AD's column on Lars 1 integrated. A $100K amp that, objectively speaking, was one of THE best that AD experienced, even besting certain aspects of his reference Shindo components. Crazy. But what's surprising is that I've never read an audio review that so honestly admonishes such an equipment, DESPITE its sonic excellence. It was one of the moments when I felt that an audio review was as finely nuanced as some literary review, so variegated in tone, so full of feeling and clear-eyed conscience, yet so insistent on the writer's vision of integrity... in how many magazines would it have sufficed that an amplifier sounded like heaven and its price tag a mere Sissyphean hurdle for the mortals? From the single column alone, I got the sense of the writer's uncompromising proclivities, his bigger concerns, as well as how the particular equipment sounded. Jesus, isn't this how it's supposed to be done?!? Sorry to sound like an AD fanboy, but there's no one walking such a tightrope in such a style in audio journalism today, IMO.

I've been just buying Stereophile from bookstores & newsstands & have only just subscribed, but I'm happy that I've committed to a relationship finally.

And I've learned that JA cusses too much, at least from this issue (& SM's blog.)

Yeah, but when one is reviewing something that should look like a damn expensive but satisfying whore behind Plexiglas, and it does...then it might necessarily lead to a bit of rumination on properly sussed out polarized feelings and thoughts.

My point is that it was done with uncommon sense of grace and integrity by AD, whereas some other writers might have offered a bit more of a one-sided attack or blind praise. When's the last time you read such a damning review of one-of-the-best-sounding equipments ever, that was written with any nuance? I can't really recall, but I haven't been in this hobby for too long.

I was just having fun with the three special words, is all. No hammering of Lars intended.

It is noted that balance and fairness in a review is critical, with regards to continuance on all fronts....

Some can't see that. (readers) which depending on who is doing the not seeing, can become problematic.

As far as I can tell, AD showed what he felt where shortcomings or problematic issues, and then moved on to the sonic presentation. In audio, in the end...after the basics..the sound is the final arbiter. And, the Lars apparently did not come up short in that department.

i have enjoyed the issue so far. it is good to see an old-line maker like klipsh develop a different product that seems according to the interview to be better and not just different. i always enjoy anything in regard to analog, so the review of the carts and the nagra were appreciated. mf did a good job of telling you what you get when you spend 4x the cost of a very good cart on a very,very good cart. i think though that the rest of your system better operate at a very, very high level to get the most benefit from such a cart. that nagra sounds very good to me, functional and sounds great and not insanely priced either. i did notice the issue seemed a little thin but think that there are less ads. if you watch tv or listen to commercial radio, ads are usually a p.i.t.a. however in a specialty mag, i like to see ads, the more the better. unfortunately, i have to agree with an earlier poster that it does not bode well. saw the mss ad. talk about schlock. i am torn between admiring the guys audacity and gagging over the content, especially the part about go demo elsewhere and come to us so we can screw him. i have no problem with his selling "sex appeal" with audio, although i think i'll stick with my wife personally. john marks, i still would like to hear more about the dynamic duo.
thanks guys, i really look forward to getting the issue each month.