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News
Music Playback via PC is Increasing
Stereophile Staff  |  Apr 26, 1998  |  0 comments
Is it merely the tip of the iceberg, or a temporary diversion? Hard to say just yet, but a recent report from the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) suggests that increasing numbers of folks are using their PCs in place of, or in addition to, regular audio systems.
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News
More Audio Statistics Indicate Growing Markets
Barry Willis  |  Apr 26, 1998  |  0 comments
Specialty audio manufacturers did better than expected in 1997, with factory sales as high as $1.4 billion, as reported last week. More figures from the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association indicate that the High End's good fortune is part of a bigger trend.
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News
Music Business Targeted by California Assemblyman
Barry Willis  |  Apr 25, 1998  |  0 comments
Do offensive lyrics in pop music contribute to violent behavior and teen suicide? Some lawmakers believe so, and think public investment in the entertainment business is immoral.
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Vote
Assuming you have good speakers of average sensitivity, how much amplifier power is necessary for good imaging and dynamics?
Stereophile Staff  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments

Audio amplifiers are now available in power ratings of as low as a few watts. At the other end of the scale are gigawatt amps of 1000W or more. Most fall somewhere in the middle. How much power does a good system really need?

Assuming you have good speakers of average sensitivity, how much amplifier power is necessary for good imaging and dynamics?
10 watts or less
3% (10 votes)
20-30 watts
2% (7 votes)
30-50 watts
10% (36 votes)
50-100 watts
20% (70 votes)
100-200 watts
36% (124 votes)
200-500 watts
13% (46 votes)
500-1000 watts
2% (8 votes)
Other (explain)
14% (47 votes)
Total votes: 348
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News
New Audio Standard for Personal Computers and the Internet Slated for MPEG-4
Jon Iverson  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments
Everyone claims "CD-quality" sound over the Internet these days, but the reality always seems far short of that promise. As a result, work continues to develop an encoding scheme worthy of the CD-quality title. Recently we reported on developments at AT&T regarding the a2b format, and both Liquid Audio and RealNetworks compete on a weekly basis to grab headlines for their audio technology announcements.
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News
High End Exceeded $1 Billion in 1997, CEMA Says
Barry Willis  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments
One billion dollars in 1997---thatÆs the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association's first-ever estimate of the high-end industry's factory-sales volume. The number could be as high as $1.4 billion, according to a CEMA projection for the entire industry based on sales data of a representative sample of 32 companies. The results of the survey were published March 23 on CEMA's website.
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News
PARA Conference to Emphasize Upscale Retailing
Barry Willis  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments
PARA, the Professional Audio-Video Retailers Association, is bringing its annual management conference to the Hyatt Regency in Hilton Head, South Carolina, this week. The five-day event, running April 22-27, will focus on improving retail strategies. Representatives from more than 600 retailers, suppliers, and industry publications are expected.
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News
CEMA Sets First Audio Summit for May 29-31, 1998
Stereophile Staff  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments
Responding to continued softness in the audio market, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) has finalized plans to hold its first annual Audio Industry Summit at the Westin Hotel O'Hare in Chicago, Illinois, May 29-31. CEMA audio company members will congregate in an effort to formulate strategies they believe will lead the category back to long-term prosperity and growth.
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News
ASCAP and Liquid Audio announce Strategic Alliance
Stereophile Staff  |  Apr 19, 1998  |  0 comments
On April 15, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), the music performing-rights organization, and Liquid Audio, a developer of secure online music delivery systems, announced a strategic alliance to protect ownership of music on the Internet. According to a Liquid Audio press release, the initiative encourages, streamlines, and simplifies music-rights licensing and reporting, and will benefit website creators as well as music writers, publishers, and composers.
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Vote
Do we need to settle on one format, or should there be many?
Stereophile  |  Apr 13, 1998  |  0 comments

WIth DVD-Audio on the horizon, the standards wars have led to a dizzying number of new format variations. Not only do we have different data-rate proposals, we're not even sure how many channels we need. Which do you prefer: a universal audio standard, or a niche-market approach?

Do we need to settle on one format, or should there be many?
One standard
74% (164 votes)
Just a couple
20% (45 votes)
Wide variety
6% (13 votes)
Total votes: 222
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