John Ötvös, the father of Waveform Research Inc. and The Waveform Loudspeaker, hesitates not at inviting ultracritical examination: "The Waveform is the most accurate, the best, forward-firing loudspeaker in the world." Period. Reviewers, of course, welcome such statements, and I'll be examining that one, but I'll also try to answer the inherent reviewing question of whether the Waveform is a good place for you to park $9800 on your way to "the highest of high-end sound" (that was our slogan for the first Santa Monica High End Hi-Fi Show).

It seemed a bit like the game of Telephone: Someone at the head of a long line of people whispers a sentence or two into the ear of the next in line, who in turn passes it along. By the time the last person in line repeats aloud what they think they've heard, the message is often barely recognizable to the first person.

<B>GRAM PARSONS: <I>The Complete Reprise Sessions</I></B><BR>
Rhino/Reprise RS 74669 (3 CDs). 1972&ndash;73/2006. Emmylou Harris, James Austin, reissue prods.; Hugh Davies, Ed Barton, orig. engs.; Dan Hersch, Bill Inglot, remastering engs. AAD? TT: 2:01:26<BR>
Performance *****<BR>
Sonics **1/2 to ****1/2

Things are quiet now. Kristina's iPod has gone to sleep. Aside from some street noise &#151; a passing siren or a honking horn &#151; the only music in our office comes from the printer. Soon these coarse black and whites will be colorful glossies. These proofs will grow to be the pages you turn.

Fred, Brooklyn's "honorary detective" undercover kitty, is dead at the age of one.