California manufacturer Channel Islands Audio brought two new products to the show: the $895 PLC•1 passive preamp with remote and the $4,500/pr D•400 class-D power amps. Also in the room were the Von Schweikert Audio VR-5SE speakers ($18-22k depending on finish). Sound in the modest hotel room was surprisingly spacious and well-balanced. Left to right in the photo: Albert Von Schweikert, CIA's Dusty Vawter and Greg Schug.

Lipinski Sound's Scott Levitin (left) and Lukas Lipinski

Speaker manufacturer Lipinski Sound was on hand with their surround demo and a new product: The 3601 Powered Stand. Each 3601 sports a two channel amp that can be bridged to be used as a 600 watt monoblock, or set to biamp either a 505 or 707 speaker. Lukas Lipinski says that the powered stands can also be used with other speakers, and have been referenced against other well-known amps. Price is $2,595 each. A quick demo with several types of music proved impressive, even in the confines of a hotel room.

Posted to <I>FlickR</I>, reported at a nanotech firm. Gosh I hope they take it seriously.

Wonko the Sane sends along this fascinating link to <I>New Music Box</I> on Philip Glass. Yes, I know the knock-knock joke, but actually experiencing <I>Einstein on the Beach</I> was a life altering experience for this good ol' country boy. As WTS said, it is the <I>soul</I> of minimalism&mdash;and <I>EOTB</I> definitely has got <I>soul</I>, if you've got big ears.

<I>McSweeney</I>'s again&mdash;and with perfect pitch.

We've known that oil dependence was a bad thing for 50 years, so how come I can't go out and buy an electric car as easily as an 8mpg Hummer?