Media conglomerates have long hedged their bets by consulting demographics experts and marketing gurus. Now, music executives have real science to bolster their sometimes unreliable instincts about what will succeed and what will fail. It's an audio analysis program called Hit Song Science (HSS).

Xd on its way: <A HREF="http://www.nht-hifi.com">NHT</A&gt; has begun shipping its Xd DEQX Calibrated DSP speaker systems to dealers, according to an announcement made January 24 by parent company the Rockford Home Group. A high-tech twist on the old satellite-and-subwoofer scheme, the Xd consists of a pair of two-way acoustic satellite speakers; an XdW bass module with two opposing 10" drivers powered by an internal PowerPhysics 500W amplifier; and an XdA outboard processor/amplifier that includes a DEQX-calibrated DSP engine and four PowerPhysics One-Cycle Sound amps.

The record industry's favorite nonconformist, DualDisc, is getting a modest boost in February and March. Despite hand-wringing and compatibility warnings from scores of manufacturers, all of the major record labels say they plan to release some of the two-faced discs in coming weeks.

<I>What has happened will happen again, and what has been done will be done again, and there is nothing new under the sun.</I>&mdash;Ecclesiastes 1:9

<I>What has happened will happen again, and what has been done will be done again, and there is nothing new under the sun.</I>&mdash;Ecclesiastes 1:9

First Watt isn't a real company, and the F1 power amplifier isn't a real product. Consequently, this isn't a real review.

First Watt isn't a real company, and the F1 power amplifier isn't a real product. Consequently, this isn't a real review.

Pick an expletive&mdash;one you would normally use to express deep intellectual frustration&mdash;but don't vocalize it. Hold it in reserve for a few minutes, letting it simmer to concentrate its intensity. I'll tell you when to let rip.

Pick an expletive&mdash;one you would normally use to express deep intellectual frustration&mdash;but don't vocalize it. Hold it in reserve for a few minutes, letting it simmer to concentrate its intensity. I'll tell you when to let rip.