Musical Fidelity's Tri-Vista kWP, introduced in 2003, was an impressive, high-tech, "statement" audiophile preamplifier. Its outboard power supply weighed almost 56 lbs&#151;more than most <I>power</I> amplifiers&#151;and its hybrid circuitry included miniature military-grade vacuum tubes. As I said in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/104mf">my review of it</A> in the January 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, the kWP's chassis and innards were overbuilt, the measured performance impressive, and any sonic signature imposed on the signal was subtle and, essentially, inconsequential.

Musical Fidelity's Tri-Vista kWP, introduced in 2003, was an impressive, high-tech, "statement" audiophile preamplifier. Its outboard power supply weighed almost 56 lbs&#151;more than most <I>power</I> amplifiers&#151;and its hybrid circuitry included miniature military-grade vacuum tubes. As I said in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/104mf">my review of it</A> in the January 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, the kWP's chassis and innards were overbuilt, the measured performance impressive, and any sonic signature imposed on the signal was subtle and, essentially, inconsequential.

Musical Fidelity's Tri-Vista kWP, introduced in 2003, was an impressive, high-tech, "statement" audiophile preamplifier. Its outboard power supply weighed almost 56 lbs&#151;more than most <I>power</I> amplifiers&#151;and its hybrid circuitry included miniature military-grade vacuum tubes. As I said in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/104mf">my review of it</A> in the January 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, the kWP's chassis and innards were overbuilt, the measured performance impressive, and any sonic signature imposed on the signal was subtle and, essentially, inconsequential.

In an e-mail exchange with Stephen Mejias about why the mere mention of cassette decks on www.stereophile.com can so easily inflame our readers (and John Atkinson), I began to develop the idea that the brains of audiophiles and music lovers are governed by three complementary needs, or desires, that define who we are. I joked to SM that these desires, which apparently shift over time, constitute the Holy Trinity of Audiophiledom. They are, respectively, the love, desire, and need for:

<B>Johnny Cash: </I>American VI: Ain't No Grave</I></B><BR>
Lost Highways/American Recordings B0013954-02 (CD). 2010. Rick Rubin, prod.; David Ferguson, eng.; Greg Fidelman, Jimmy Tittle, Paul Fig, Dan Leffler, asst. engs. AAD.? TT: 32:23<BR>
Performance ****&#189;<BR>
Sonics ***&#189;

The Super Deluxe Mega Awesome Edition of the Rolling Stones’ classic <i>Exile On Main Street</i>, considered by some to be the greatest rock and roll album of all time&#151complete with two CDs, including ten previously unreleased tracks, two LPs, a DVD, and a 50-page book&#151is now available. Damn.