I'd heard rumors about Peak Consult. John Marks was all a-burble, having reviewed the InCognito in "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/932/index2.html">The Fifth Element</A>" in the September 2003 <I>Stereophile</I>, but I'd never actually <I>heard</I> anything designed by PC's Per Kristoffersen. Therefore, when US distributor Chris Sommovigo proposed that I audition the $25,000/pair Empress, I was intrigued. Well, who wouldn't be?

I'd heard rumors about Peak Consult. John Marks was all a-burble, having reviewed the InCognito in "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/932/index2.html">The Fifth Element</A>" in the September 2003 <I>Stereophile</I>, but I'd never actually <I>heard</I> anything designed by PC's Per Kristoffersen. Therefore, when US distributor Chris Sommovigo proposed that I audition the $25,000/pair Empress, I was intrigued. Well, who wouldn't be?

I'd heard rumors about Peak Consult. John Marks was all a-burble, having reviewed the InCognito in "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/932/index2.html">The Fifth Element</A>" in the September 2003 <I>Stereophile</I>, but I'd never actually <I>heard</I> anything designed by PC's Per Kristoffersen. Therefore, when US distributor Chris Sommovigo proposed that I audition the $25,000/pair Empress, I was intrigued. Well, who wouldn't be?

Back in March, I wrote a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/305stph.html">reviewlet</A…; of Channel Islands Audio's VHP&bull;1 headphone amplifier for the <I>Stereophile</I> eNewsletter. (What&mdash;you aren't receiving that free download yet? Well, log on to www.stereophile.com and opt in.) The VHP&bull;1 has continued to enchant me&mdash;reason enough to examine it in greater detail, I reckoned. But the real reason I returned to the VHP&bull;1 ($349) is that CIA's Dusty Vawter recently sent me his new VAC&bull;1 ($159), a replacement power supply for the VHP&bull;1's stock wall-wart supply. Could a new power supply <I>really</I> offer a substantial improvement in performance?

Back in March, I wrote a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/305stph.html">reviewlet</A…; of Channel Islands Audio's VHP&bull;1 headphone amplifier for the <I>Stereophile</I> eNewsletter. (What&mdash;you aren't receiving that free download yet? Well, log on to www.stereophile.com and opt in.) The VHP&bull;1 has continued to enchant me&mdash;reason enough to examine it in greater detail, I reckoned. But the real reason I returned to the VHP&bull;1 ($349) is that CIA's Dusty Vawter recently sent me his new VAC&bull;1 ($159), a replacement power supply for the VHP&bull;1's stock wall-wart supply. Could a new power supply <I>really</I> offer a substantial improvement in performance?

Back in March, I wrote a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/305stph.html">reviewlet</A…; of Channel Islands Audio's VHP&bull;1 headphone amplifier for the <I>Stereophile</I> eNewsletter. (What&mdash;you aren't receiving that free download yet? Well, log on to www.stereophile.com and opt in.) The VHP&bull;1 has continued to enchant me&mdash;reason enough to examine it in greater detail, I reckoned. But the real reason I returned to the VHP&bull;1 ($349) is that CIA's Dusty Vawter recently sent me his new VAC&bull;1 ($159), a replacement power supply for the VHP&bull;1's stock wall-wart supply. Could a new power supply <I>really</I> offer a substantial improvement in performance?

Back in March, I wrote a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/305stph.html">reviewlet</A…; of Channel Islands Audio's VHP&bull;1 headphone amplifier for the <I>Stereophile</I> eNewsletter. (What&mdash;you aren't receiving that free download yet? Well, log on to www.stereophile.com and opt in.) The VHP&bull;1 has continued to enchant me&mdash;reason enough to examine it in greater detail, I reckoned. But the real reason I returned to the VHP&bull;1 ($349) is that CIA's Dusty Vawter recently sent me his new VAC&bull;1 ($159), a replacement power supply for the VHP&bull;1's stock wall-wart supply. Could a new power supply <I>really</I> offer a substantial improvement in performance?

Back in March, I wrote a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/images/newsletter/305stph.html">reviewlet</A…; of Channel Islands Audio's VHP&bull;1 headphone amplifier for the <I>Stereophile</I> eNewsletter. (What&mdash;you aren't receiving that free download yet? Well, log on to www.stereophile.com and opt in.) The VHP&bull;1 has continued to enchant me&mdash;reason enough to examine it in greater detail, I reckoned. But the real reason I returned to the VHP&bull;1 ($349) is that CIA's Dusty Vawter recently sent me his new VAC&bull;1 ($159), a replacement power supply for the VHP&bull;1's stock wall-wart supply. Could a new power supply <I>really</I> offer a substantial improvement in performance?

I recently spent a few days filling in for a local engineer, recording middle-school and high-school bands and choral ensembles. This was a requirement of the statewide music-educator adjudication process. (Don't laugh; recording high-school bands is how Telarc got its start.)

I recently spent a few days filling in for a local engineer, recording middle-school and high-school bands and choral ensembles. This was a requirement of the statewide music-educator adjudication process. (Don't laugh; recording high-school bands is how Telarc got its start.)