My current system consists of:
Apple iBook G4
klipsch 2.1 promedia sub
2 MK S85 bookshelf speakers

In discussions with other audiophiles regarding CD vs. high resolution digital formats, one thing that comes up repeatedly is the fact that most folks have no means of making a valid comparison. Often, a high resolution version of a record is mastered at a different session, sometimes by a different engineer. At many format shootouts I've attended, I hear level differences, EQ differences, etc. that make a true comparison of the formats impossible. Astute listeners realize we are comparing different masterings.

Like so many of us, I am a Stereophile on a tight budget. Most of the tube amps that I've found online are way out of my budget of lack any third party reviews. None are previewable. Does anyone have any suggestions/remarks on stereo tube amplifiers in the $100-$300 range? Old or new (preferably new). I've even seen some build-it-yourself kits that I wouldn't opposed to trying. I realize this is very specific and most people won't have much to offer me, but for those that do I greatly appreciate your help.

For anyone who has resisted buying an iPod because of capacity concerns, today is your lucky day:

Apple has released a new iPod, this one with a 160GB hard drive. That's a whole lot of lossless files, my friends. Also, the case is made entirely of metal, so there is no scratch-prone plastic to worry about.

I suspect that Red Wine will be all over this one.

Ok guys, please bear with me as I am new to all of this and trying to take it all in. I recently recieved a Sony PS-X70 turntable that is in excellent condition. Though not top of the line, this is a pretty significant upgrade from the POS I was using before.

Here are my questions -

I read the mention of the wikipedia listing for audiophile a couple months back in this magazine. Recently i found a spare hour to read through the talk page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Audiophile
which provides some perspective on the community input shaping this entry.

I was initially astonished that there are those who seem to make a career (objectivist magazine editors) out of denying the nuances of sound production, as well as those that have a hate on for "subjectivists".