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Anthony H. Cordesman and John Atkinson tackle the classic 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."

From 1992, we have Martin Colloms' review of the Sonus Faber Extrema loudspeaker. He exclaims, "The Extrema represents one of the fullest expressions of the art of speaker design: performance rules absolutely, price only being a minor consideration."

Next, we have Wes Phillips sitting down with the Krell KRC-HR preamplifier & Audio Standard power amplifier. WP finds that a great remote control is only the icing on the audio cake with the Krell preamp, and then he goes over the top for the KAS.

Why a Preamp? Thomas J. Norton ponders one of the big audiophile issues: "Bearing in mind the high output available from many of today's line sources, CD players in particular—do you really need the added expense and complexity of a preamplifier?"

Finally, the most recent installment in our "Recording of the Month" series for the online archives: Recording of February 1994, Frank Zappa: The Yellow Shark. Richard Lehnert says the musicians on this disc "make the case, better than any other group of musicians I've heard, that Zappa's music will outlive its creator."