Added to the Archives This Week

For the tenth consecutive year, Stereophile writers and editors ferret out those components that have proved capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period and have wrapped them all up as The 2001 Products of the Year. The envelope please.

John Atkinson spent months hearing voices as he helped put together the latest CD to exhibit his engineering acumen: Cantus. Both JA and Wes Phillips document the genesis of the sessions and subsequent release of choral music featuring traditional material from around the world arranged for unaccompanied male voice. Destined to become another audiophile classic.

Also from Wes Phillips, we have his revealing review of the Aerial Acoustics 10T loudspeaker. As WP writes: "Its transient speed, unbelievable power-handling ability, and total lack of cabinet colorations really brought out the kid in me." But what about the audiophile? Phillips fills in the details.

In tandem with the 10T review, we also present Home-Grown: Michael Kelly of Aerial Acoustics, wherein Wes Phillips grills the fabled designer and uncovers the truth about Novalith.

Finally, the latest installment in our "Recording of the Month" series for the online archives: Recordings of December 2001: Timeless, a tribute to Hank Williams, and Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt. Robert Baird rates these two recordings intended to pay tribute to a pair of America's greatest songwriters.

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