Audiophiles with budget restrictions (most of us, I imagine) could be forgiven for feeling we're afterthoughts to most manufacturers. Even though we probably keep many companies in business by buying their "entry-" or mid-level products, we're always hearing about products designed "without compromise." <I>Waiter, could you bring the reality check, please?</I>

Audiophiles with budget restrictions (most of us, I imagine) could be forgiven for feeling we're afterthoughts to most manufacturers. Even though we probably keep many companies in business by buying their "entry-" or mid-level products, we're always hearing about products designed "without compromise." <I>Waiter, could you bring the reality check, please?</I>

On Wednesday evening, June 10, <A HREF="http://www.avacademy.com">The Academy Advancing High Performance Audio & Video</A> held its 1998 Golden Note Awards at the Marina Del Rey Ritz-Carlton. Following an address by John Hoskins of the Advantage Performance Group, a sales consulting firm, the amiable awards ceremony was MC'd by Paradigm's own stand-up comedian, Rob Sample. AAHPAV's ceaselessly energetic Chairperson Sue Regan assisted in the presentations, as did Academy President Joe Picirilli. And the hard-working winners (drum roll, please) are . . .

Both <A HREF="http://www.sonicfrontiers.com/">Sonic Frontiers Inc.</A> and The Lenbrook Group of Ontario, Canada stated June 5th that they will not be proceeding with a deal announced <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10129/">earlier</A&gt;.

Hundreds of manufacturers will be demonstrating state-of-the-art audio products at <A HREF="http://www.hifishow.com">HI-FI '98</A>---some of which have never before been seen by the public. Here is the last installment of announcements:

Engineering facilities and a finished-goods warehouse at <A HREF="http://www.altecmm.com">Altec Lansing Technologies</A>' Milford, Pennsylvania, headquarters were damaged by fire late Sunday, May 31. The blaze was said to have been exacerbated by severe weather. No injuries were reported.

On June 7, <A HREF="http://www.cdnow.com"&gt; CDnow</A>, the world's top online music retailer, announced that it had acquired <A HREF="http://www.supersonicboom.com">superSonicBOOM</A&gt;, an Internet custom-compilation disc business. The acquisition gives CDnow the ability to offer its customers custom discs as well as catalog product, said Jason Olim, CDnow President and CEO.

Audiophiles with budget restrictions (most of us, I imagine) could be forgiven for feeling we're afterthoughts to most manufacturers. Even though we probably keep most companies in business by buying their "entry-" or mid-level products, we're always hearing about products designed "without compromise." <I>Waiter, could you bring the reality check, please?</I>

Audiophiles with budget restrictions (most of us, I imagine) could be forgiven for feeling we're afterthoughts to most manufacturers. Even though we probably keep most companies in business by buying their "entry-" or mid-level products, we're always hearing about products designed "without compromise." <I>Waiter, could you bring the reality check, please?</I>