We were walking back from lunch the other day with a fellow audiophile who announced that he was selling his audio-component–quality hard-disk–based recorder without ever having used it.

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>