More consolidation in the audio biz: <A HREF="http://www.dm-holdings.com">D&M Holdings</A>, owner of Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, ReplayTV, Rio, and Escient, took another big gulp last week and made a move to acquire <A HREF="http://www.bostonacoustics.com">Boston Acoustics</A>.

Let's face it. Despite the vinyl resurgence amongst the young and not so, the days when <I>analogus collecticus</I> could spend hours scouring record bins, holding product in hand, and reading album notes, are mostly behind us. In response to market evolution, at least three competing computer-based technologies have emerged to steer consumers toward music they will likely enjoy. Each uses a different approach, with one claiming "objectivity."

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

<I>Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.&mdash;an old SLA slogan</I>

The French-made Kora line has been in and out of American distribution over the past decade. It's currently imported by Norman AV of Aventura, Florida. With the window of opportunity open again, I decided to listen to Kora's modestly priced hybrid integrated amplifier, the Explorer 150SB ($2030).