A "CD processor," is how I distinctly heard Cary Audio's Dennis Had describe it. The venue was <I>Stereophile</I>'s High End Hi-Fi Show in New York last April. Nothing really unusual in today's digital marketplace, I thought to myself, though a bit out of character for a company dedicated to vacuum-tube technology. But wait a minute. Dennis had described it as an <I>analog</I> CD processor. Analog!? Well, yes, the unit processes the analog signal from a CD player.

A "CD processor," is how I distinctly heard Cary Audio's Dennis Had describe it. The venue was <I>Stereophile</I>'s High End Hi-Fi Show in New York last April. Nothing really unusual in today's digital marketplace, I thought to myself, though a bit out of character for a company dedicated to vacuum-tube technology. But wait a minute. Dennis had described it as an <I>analog</I> CD processor. Analog!? Well, yes, the unit processes the analog signal from a CD player.

A "CD processor," is how I distinctly heard Cary Audio's Dennis Had describe it. The venue was <I>Stereophile</I>'s High End Hi-Fi Show in New York last April. Nothing really unusual in today's digital marketplace, I thought to myself, though a bit out of character for a company dedicated to vacuum-tube technology. But wait a minute. Dennis had described it as an <I>analog</I> CD processor. Analog!? Well, yes, the unit processes the analog signal from a CD player.

David Chesky, whose company has been making superior recordings for nearly 20 years now, isn't from the engineering side of the business. He's talent&mdash;a pianist who sometimes performs on his label, a composer of classical and jazz selections integral to its catalog, and an arranger as well.

David Chesky, whose company has been making superior recordings for nearly 20 years now, isn't from the engineering side of the business. He's talent&mdash;a pianist who sometimes performs on his label, a composer of classical and jazz selections integral to its catalog, and an arranger as well.

<I>What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.</I>&mdash;Gustav Mahler

<I>What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.</I>&mdash;Gustav Mahler

This week, XM Satellite Radio launches <I>Classical Confidential</I>, a series of hour-long artist profiles. Modeled after XM's <I>Artist Confidential</I> series, in which listeners can get to know high-profile artists "up close and personal," per XM, the new show's first installment features an hour with Sony BMG's favorite male violinist, the sweet-toned, extremely gifted Joshua Bell. Subsequent shows will feature the magnificent mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and conductor Leonard Slatkin.