It was a surprise to read of the sale of Audio Research. I didn't realize the company was in any difficulty. Surely Audio Research must be considered the American audio icon, along with Mark Levinson, Krell, Conrad Johnson, Rowland, and Pass Labs. My fear is that the company's dedication to service (they service everything they've ever made) will suffer. I still don't understand how this could happen, given the excellent Reference products of late. Oh well, as Queen would have it..'another one bites the dust'

So, I got a copy of Joe Jackson's "Rain" today on 180 gram vinyl (have not listened yet so no comments about sound or performance) but I noticed something interesting on the credits. For the first time I saw one mastering engineer/studio for the CD version (Bob Ludwig, who is usally excellent) and another for the LP version (Paul Gold, who I do not recognize).

Before I power up my new 2-channel system, it would seem prudent to have a quality surge protector. Recommendations? Thank you

Hola,

I just saw an ad for the Clearaudio Reference turntable, and saw the display panel. The speed is listed as 33.3 RPM.

What the Hell?

Now, I don't know about you, but I can hear the difference between 33.3 and 33.2 or 33.4 RPM.

For that kind of loot, we should be getting more "3's."

Even the Continuum Caluburn only goes to 33.33 RPM. I went to their website and they actually listed "33" as one of the speeds. That's only two "3's!"

Would you accept copper that was only 99% or 99.9% pure? Of course not, we want 99.9999% pure!

I am new to this forum and have an old Jolida 202 tubed amp. I have had it for 14 years without a tube change. It has perhaps 1000 hours on the EL34's.

Now my question...the system has begun to develop an intermittent crackling in the right channel. I have reversed the speakers, right to left and the problem moves with the speakers. I have also reversed the right and left on the source cables without any change in the problem channel which tells me it is in the amp. Assuming it is the amp, can failing tubes produce a crackling noise in one channel or is it another problem?

So remind me to try this sucker out when I'm in Japan: Esoteric A-100 triode tube power amp, which should have been just released. It can even be used as an integrated amp, b/c it has a volume attenuator & 3 RCA plus 1 XLR inputs. 45 watts @ 8 ohms, can operate in self-biasing or set. Retail price in Japan is 1,575,000 yen, which is, umm, $14,750. Yet another reason to go to law school! Can Stereophile review this model, please please please?

I don't even know where to begin, so I'm relying on you guys to point me in the right direction. I'm using an NAD c372 integrated amp, and an NAD C 542 CD player.

Thanks in advance.

Clicky Here

Fun!

But a miserable sounding thing. Listen to the MP3.

P.S. This month is the 50th anniversary of LEGO toys.