A.J. van den Hul calls the Black Beauty a phono cartridge "just for friends." In a way, this Black Beauty <I>was</I> made specially for me&mdash;it's been tweaked for an undamped linear-tracking arm. Says so right here on the box: "<I>Forsell Version</I>." But before you explode, know that Mr. van den Hul will be pleased to do the same for you. He'll adjust the suspension of any Black Beauty&ndash; or Grasshopper-series cartridge for your arm and 'table. Or, should you specify, for "the preamp and load impedance, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed), and other personal/sound preferences."

A.J. van den Hul calls the Black Beauty a phono cartridge "just for friends." In a way, this Black Beauty <I>was</I> made specially for me&mdash;it's been tweaked for an undamped linear-tracking arm. Says so right here on the box: "<I>Forsell Version</I>." But before you explode, know that Mr. van den Hul will be pleased to do the same for you. He'll adjust the suspension of any Black Beauty&ndash; or Grasshopper-series cartridge for your arm and 'table. Or, should you specify, for "the preamp and load impedance, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed), and other personal/sound preferences."

A.J. van den Hul calls the Black Beauty a phono cartridge "just for friends." In a way, this Black Beauty <I>was</I> made specially for me&mdash;it's been tweaked for an undamped linear-tracking arm. Says so right here on the box: "<I>Forsell Version</I>." But before you explode, know that Mr. van den Hul will be pleased to do the same for you. He'll adjust the suspension of any Black Beauty&ndash; or Grasshopper-series cartridge for your arm and 'table. Or, should you specify, for "the preamp and load impedance, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed), and other personal/sound preferences."

A.J. van den Hul calls the Black Beauty a phono cartridge "just for friends." In a way, this Black Beauty <I>was</I> made specially for me&mdash;it's been tweaked for an undamped linear-tracking arm. Says so right here on the box: "<I>Forsell Version</I>." But before you explode, know that Mr. van den Hul will be pleased to do the same for you. He'll adjust the suspension of any Black Beauty&ndash; or Grasshopper-series cartridge for your arm and 'table. Or, should you specify, for "the preamp and load impedance, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed), and other personal/sound preferences."

"Slava" has died. The great Russian cellist, known as much for his defiance of the Soviet oligarchy as for the more than 170 compositions dedicated to him, had been hospitalized in Paris at the end of January, but chose to fly to Moscow shortly thereafter to spend his last months in his beloved homeland. He is survived, not only by his two daughters and his wife and frequent collaborator, the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, but also by the huge number of recordings that attest to his eloquence.