The talented loudspeaker engineer is a man who is always in competition with himself. When PSB's Paul Barton put the finishing touches on his Stratus Gold model back in 1990 (footnote 1), I'm sure he had more ideas in mind that he could have used in a flagship design. Yet the Gold offered so much performance at such a competitive price&mdash;$2000/pair in 1991, rising to $2100/pair by 1997, then $2400/pair for the the Gold <I>i</I>, an evolutionary development&mdash;that it was not surprising that Barton applied his talents to developing ranges of more affordable speakers, such as the best-selling <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?580">Alpha</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?330">Image</A&gt; series.

The talented loudspeaker engineer is a man who is always in competition with himself. When PSB's Paul Barton put the finishing touches on his Stratus Gold model back in 1990 (footnote 1), I'm sure he had more ideas in mind that he could have used in a flagship design. Yet the Gold offered so much performance at such a competitive price&mdash;$2000/pair in 1991, rising to $2100/pair by 1997, then $2400/pair for the the Gold <I>i</I>, an evolutionary development&mdash;that it was not surprising that Barton applied his talents to developing ranges of more affordable speakers, such as the best-selling <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?580">Alpha</A&gt; and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?330">Image</A&gt; series.

Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group could soon be one.

A recent study by analysts Customer Growth Partners has found that department stores, specialty retailers, and other chains that fill US shopping malls accounted for just 19% of total retail sales in 2002, down from 38% in 1995. Mall-based retailers accounted for 22% of 2001's retail sales.

<A HREF="http://www.npr.org">National Public Radio</A> is in no danger of going off the air any time in the next century, thanks to a massive gift from the estate of philanthropist Joan B. Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc.

The first part of our subwoofer review trilogy finds Larry Greenhill plumbing the depths with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?955">Paradigm Reference Servo-15 powered subwoofer</A>. Greenhill says that the wide range of adjustments available on the Servo-15 can help it blend into most environments&mdash;but having all that choice can cut both ways, notes LG.

<B>VIVALDI: <I>The Four Seasons</I>; Flute Concerto in D ("Il Gardellino"), RV 428; Harpsichord Concerto in A, RV 780</B><BR> </I>Igor Kipnis, Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble<BR> Chesky CD78 (CD only). David Chesky, Jeremy Kipnis, prods.; Jeremy Kipnis, eng. DDD. TT: 62:15

"You can't <I>get</I> deep bass in your room," a reviewer from another magazine who'd never visited my room insisted recently on the phone. "Do you know how long a 20Hz bass wave <I>is</I>? It's <I>40 feet long</I>, and your room is <I>tiny</I>."

"You can't <I>get</I> deep bass in your room," a reviewer from another magazine who'd never visited my room insisted recently on the phone. "Do you know how long a 20Hz bass wave <I>is</I>? It's <I>40 feet long</I>, and your room is <I>tiny</I>."