I just had the most exceptional experience with an audio manufacturer of entry-level Hi-Fi gear -- Infinity Systems of Northridge, CA. I just thought I should share the experience and ask others if they've had similar "above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty" experiences with other hi-fi companies.

My vintage NAD 7225PE receiver (25W/channel) won't be powerful enough to fill my new living room when I move in two months, so I'm looking to upgrade my system. I'm going from a 13 feet x 15 feet living room to a 28 feet x 17 feet living room with 10 foot ceilings.

So I need to buy a new integrated amp & speakers for the new place with a modest budget ($2000). For amps, I'm interested in the new NAD C355bee (80W) or the Cambridge Audio 640A V2, Roksan Kandy (if I can find used).

This won't be an in-depth review, for how can one do an in-depth review of Wagner's Ring in a forum post? But here's the gist: for many years, people have thought Solti's Ring was the 1st ever stereo recording of Wagner's Ring. Turns out that wasn't the case: this recording - finely captured by Testament - of Keilberth's live 1955 performance in Bayreuth is the first. If you want the audiophile recording of The Ring to wow you with hi-fi effects & bombast, stay away from this one, although this version surely electrifies.

It was quite exciting to read the press announcement from Olive this morning. Olive has replaced all their previous products with the Opus No.4 and Symphony No.2. The Opus is a CD-ripper, music server and music rendering device while the Symphony has identical functionality with the exception of CD-ripping. Both are DLNA/UPnP compliant devices. Both have a very nice user interface that is genre-dependent in that the fields displayed are dependent upong the genre selected.

News Release

Read more at http://www.olive.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olive unveils new whole home audio solution for the rest of us.
The world's easiest way to enjoy music in every room of the house.

I just bought a new computer and am in the process of setting it up.

As it does not have a soundcard with a digital out (yet), I connected my Grace M902 DAC/headphone amp to a USB port and put in a CD. It sounded quite good.

However, now the sound is very garbled. This is not a jitter issue. It sounds as if the digital input is overdriven (you know that horrible, ripping sound that an overly hot digital signal can create).

Any ideas for a solution? Any idea what changed?

The Steely Dan thread got me thinking about all those bands that I had a chance to see but never got around to it, thinking that I'd always have another opportunity. Then, of course, the lead singer died or something.

First on my list is Nirvana. Never got to see them. Sadness.

Next is Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club. He played several nights just a few blocks away from where I was living in Newark, and I missed him. Soon after, he passed away.

So, what about you guys? Any performers you wish you had seen?