For me, the iconic Adcom power amplifier was the GFA-555. As an aspiring audiophile, I was deeply impressed with <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/678">Tony Cordesman's review</A> in <I>Stereophile</I> in 1985 (Vol.8 No.4). That did it! After years of kit-building and doing it myself, the '555 was the first factory-built amp that I wanted and could afford. Over the years, I changed speakers several times, and even added a fully regulated power supply to the '555, but it never balked. At the end of its tenure at my house, it had been demoted to my third-string backup; today it's making someone else tap his toes.

The <A HREF="http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com">Home Entertainment Show</A> (HE2004), the largest and most comprehensive showcase of consumer electronics and imaging products in America, returns to New York City May 20&ndash;23, 2004 at the Hilton New York Hotel&mdash;the site of two popular HE Shows held in 2001 and 2002. Over 15,000 attendees are expected to visit the NY Hilton, optimized for the ultimate user experience. Unlike typical trade shows, HE2004 provides visitors with the opportunity of seeing and hearing the finest products in upscale hotel rooms, creating the best-sounding environments for demonstrating high-performance gear.

Financially, the winter months have been all over the map. Some electronics companies have reported <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/030804retailing/">upswings</A&gt; in revenue, but others are experiencing a decrease.

From the March 2004 issue, Michael Fremer goes a couple rounds with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/304theta">Theta Digital Enterprise monoblock power amplifier</A>, exclaiming, "Monoblock power amplifiers seem to be moving in and out of my listening room faster than green-onion salsa from Chi-Chi's." So how does the Theta stand up to the competition? MF lays it out.

Launched with a bang last April, <A HREF="http://apple.com">Apple Computer</A>'s iTunes Music Store has steadily gained popularity with music fans, but it won't reach its projected goal of selling 100 million songs online within its first year.

While Apple's iTunes and RealNetworks Rhapsody are battling it out in the music download ring (see <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/032204itunes">related story</A>), and Microsoft is rumored to be eyeing a corner, Sony has now decided to join the fray with a new music service announced last week in Europe.

Some months back, a poll at the Naxos of America <A HREF="http://www.naxos.com">website</A&gt; asked visitors about their preferences among high-resolution and multichannel formats. At that time, Naxos had been releasing DVD-As (and DVDs) in the US, but only released SACDs elsewhere.

One of the nicest things about communicating online is the potential for immediacy. One person can offer up a statement, another can respond within seconds, and voilà: instant town hall.

One of the nicest things about communicating online is the potential for immediacy. One person can offer up a statement, another can respond within seconds, and voil&#224;: instant town hall.