How much fun can you have with an audio component? Fun for me is having a Nakamichi BX-300 analog cassette deck running into Musical Fidelity's evolutionary, revolutionary CD-Pre<SUP>24</SUP> preamplifier, with the unit's <I>digital</I> output feeding the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/605/">Alesis Masterlink</A> hard-drive-based digital recorder, and being able to monitor the <I>digital</I> loop through the preamp once again in the analog domain.

How much fun can you have with an audio component? Fun for me is having a Nakamichi BX-300 analog cassette deck running into Musical Fidelity's evolutionary, revolutionary CD-Pre<SUP>24</SUP> preamplifier, with the unit's <I>digital</I> output feeding the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/605/">Alesis Masterlink</A> hard-drive-based digital recorder, and being able to monitor the <I>digital</I> loop through the preamp once again in the analog domain.

Earlier this month, an unambiguous and simple message went up on the Dunlavy Audio Labs <A HREF="http://www.dunlavyaudio.com/">web site</A>: "As of November 7, 2002, Dunlavy Audio Labs, LLC has ceased operations." A phone call to the company confirms that it is indeed out of business, although Dunlavy president Keny Whitright did not return calls seeking comment.

US lawmakers have honored their promise to address a languishing small-webcaster royalty bill that was <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11468/">put on hold</A> prior to the fall elections.

At present, the recording industry is based on a variety of analog and PCM digital audio formats, putting proponents of Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD, which is based on the Direct Stream Digital, or DSD, format) in a tough place when it comes to creating pure DSD works for showing off the format. To date, labels have had a limited number of options for creating, mixing, and mastering pure DSD projects.

Promising technology, interesting programming, and good business plans may not be enough to keep satellite radio services <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Radio</A> and <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Radio</A> aloft. Both companies are struggling with massive financial problems as they scramble to gain subscribers.

We kick off our anniversary collection with <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//features/708/">40 Years of <I>Stereophile</I>: What Happened When</A>. Editor John Atkinson recounts the complete history of <I>Stereophile</I>, starting in 1930 when J. Gordon Holt heard his first sound in North Carolina.

Imitation, as the old saw would have it, is the sincerest form of flattery. It might also offer a way for DVD-Audio to establish credibility and build a customer base.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/40thlogo.jpg" WIDTH=150 HEIGHT=150 HSPACE=6 VSPACE=4 BORDER=0 ALIGN=LEFT><B><I>Stereophile</I>: The Time Line</B>