David Wilson remarked that he debuted the original Wilson WATT (Wilson Audio Tiny Transducer) almost 20 years ago to the day. Today, he showed us the WATT/Puppy 8 ($27,900/pair). Wilson, as always, a polished presenter, also noted that it was appropriate for him to give the new speaker its premier in a city noted for producing sequels, although he promised that, unlike Hollywood sequels, the WATT/Puppies have gotten better with each new chapter.

Onkyo held a press conference that really made us smile. It was all about stereo.

Onkyo teamed up with guitar manufacturer Takemine to produce a loudspeaker that sings like a musical instrument. Takemine's acoustic voicing technology, combined with Onkyo's innovation in driver design, made our LAGQ <I>Spin</I> sound vibrantly alive.

No, that's not a hearing aid growing out of Michael Fremer's pinna&mdash;he's the official HE2006 spokesperson, so he has to keep his phone on 24/7. HE says he hasn't heard any truly balanced stereo soundstaging yet, for some reason.

<I>Stereophile</I>'s music editor Robert Baird, caught in the middle of his Garrison Keillor impersonation.

John Atkinson and Jonathan Scull handicap this year's F1 season. You didn't think they were this animated about <I>audio</I>, did you?

Wasn't she just in the background of John and Stephen's picture? We posed her next to the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet's <I>Spin</I> and she really lit up. It's an impressive sounding SACD&mdash;and the group is playing at HE2006 tomorrow. Did I mention the concert was free?

Stephen Mejias and John Atkinson take a few minutes in the hall to catch up on the day's events. That's Telarc's Amanda Sweet in the background.

Close up of the PLC•1 preamp (top) and one of the D•400 monoblocks.

California manufacturer Channel Islands Audio brought two new products to the show: the $895 PLC•1 passive preamp with remote and the $4,500/pr D•400 class-D power amps. Also in the room were the Von Schweikert Audio VR-5SE speakers ($18-22k depending on finish). Sound in the modest hotel room was surprisingly spacious and well-balanced. Left to right in the photo: Albert Von Schweikert, CIA's Dusty Vawter and Greg Schug.