LATEST ADDITIONS

Tube Preamp Reviews
Sonic Frontiers Line 2 line preamplifier
Kalman Rubinson  |  Dec 09, 1997
In just a few years, Sonic Frontiers has evolved from a parts and kit vendor to a full-line audio manufacturer (footnote 1). Their initial offerings were well received, but their kit origins were apparent in the layout and cosmetics of their products. While SF still offers kits (like their high-value Assemblage DAC-2), the new line of vacuum-tube electronics has world-class construction, design, and packaging. This generation of SF equipment is evidence of their advanced evolution, even though their constructor genome can be detected in the use of audiophile-preferred, as opposed of OEM, components.
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Vote
Which would you prefer: purchasing hard copies of new recordings, or paying for a download onto your CD or DVD recorder?
Stereophile Staff  |  Dec 07, 1997

Bits <I>vs</I> atoms! The new frontier of audio distribution is said to include downloading recordings over the internet onto a CD or DVD recorder for a modest fee. We'll assume for the moment that bandwidth has improved to the point where this is not a painful process, and data compression is not needed. But the question remains: Are you a collector who wants the original disc, or do you just want the music fast and cheap?

Which would you prefer: purchasing hard copies of new recordings, or paying for a download onto your CD or DVD recorder?
Purchase the actual disc
76% (210 votes)
Download and record
6% (17 votes)
Depends on the music/artist
6% (18 votes)
Depends on the cost to download
12% (33 votes)
Total votes: 278
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News
Low-level Powerline Radiation Disturbs the Effect of Hormones
John Atkinson  |  Dec 07, 1997
We have followed at a distance the discussion over whether 60Hz/50Hz electromagnetic radiation from powerlines affects the health of people in close proximity, and in the November 1997 Stereophile (Vol.20 No.11, p.51), an "Industry Update" story by Barry Willis reported a connection with Alzheimer's Disease.
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News
High-end Audio Predictions for 1998
Stereophile Staff  |  Dec 06, 1997
Who wouldn't want to know what's in store for the extreme audio devotee? So we rolled a special set of aluminum Tiptoes, read the auspicious signs (you've got to understand how the tips point), and divined our first set of predictions. We'll have more next week, if the Mpingo dots line up just right.
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News
PBS forms classical-music record label
Stereophile Staff  |  Dec 06, 1997
It only makes sense. PBS, the most visible national broadcaster of classical-music-related programs, has decided to launch its own classical-music label. According to a recent story in Variety, several major record labels are competing for the rights to distribute the new label. It's common in the music business for larger labels to distribute smaller ones, and an association with the new PBS label is seen as a feather in the cap of whoever makes the deal.
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News
High-end audio-industry veterans have new jobs
John Atkinson  |  Dec 04, 1997
As of October, Meridian America's new VP/Sales, replacing the late Ross Keim, was industry veteran Andy Regan, who started his high-end career at Manhattan retailer Sound by Singer. Most recently, Regan was VP/Sales at cable manufacturer AudioQuest. Not uncoincidentally, Joe Abrams has moved from cable manufacturer MIT to AudioQuest.
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Tube Power Amp Reviews
VTL MB750 monoblock power amplifier
Brian Damkroger  |  Dec 03, 1997
How much power do you really need? What does it do for you, anyway? Even before the single-ended renaissance, the prevailing wisdom was that you really didn't need that much power. When I had a pair of Met 7 speakers, even the "1 watt" indicator LED was hardly ever lit. Ditto for my time with a Threshold Stasis Two—all those cool power-indicator LEDs just sat there dark. Besides, everyone knows that power can be had only at tremendous cost, both monetary and in terms of other performance attributes.
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Interviews
Making Tubes User-Friendly: Luke Manley of VTL
Brian Damkroger  |  Dec 03, 1997
Brilliant designs, spectacular initial success, rave reviews, explosive growth that stretches resources way beyond limits, too much attention to technology and too little to manufacturing and business practices, long hours, quality problems, conflicts between partners, and finally...
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News
Yamaha displays FireWire-endowed audio/video components at Comdex '97
Jon Iverson  |  Nov 30, 1997
Digital audio took another lurch forward at Comdex '97 with the display of Yamaha's FireWire-to-PCM converter technology.
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News
Microsoft, IBM, Phone companies make digital leap
Barry Willis  |  Nov 30, 1997
It won't be long before the Net-connected music lover will be able to sample and hold the tunes of his choice without having to visit Tower Records. High-speed transmission, high-density storage, and CD-quality music online---the three parts of the downloading puzzle---all fell into place the week of November 10.
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