MartinLogan's <A HREF="http://stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/145/index7.html">Gayle Sanders</A> has almost single-handedly raised the electrostatic/dynamic hybrid loudspeaker to a position of prominence in the High End. First, there was the MartinLogan Monolith (reviewed in Vol.8 No.3 and Vol.9 No.3), followed by the much more affordable Sequel (reviewed in Vol.11 No.12, Vol.12 Nos.8, 9, and 12, and Vol.14 No.2). Then came the subject of this review, the Quest, and most recently the diminutive Aerius, <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/312">reviewed by JA</A> elsewhere in this issue.

MartinLogan's <A HREF="http://stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/145/index7.html">Gayle Sanders</A> has almost single-handedly raised the electrostatic/dynamic hybrid loudspeaker to a position of prominence in the High End. First, there was the MartinLogan Monolith (reviewed in Vol.8 No.3 and Vol.9 No.3), followed by the much more affordable Sequel (reviewed in Vol.11 No.12, Vol.12 Nos.8, 9, and 12, and Vol.14 No.2). Then came the subject of this review, the Quest, and most recently the diminutive Aerius, <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/312">reviewed by JA</A> elsewhere in this issue.

Just look at the dates and you'll see a legacy that essentially spans the entire history of electrical music reproduction. That's fitting. In his career&mdash;or more properly, many careers&mdash;Irving M. ("Bud") Fried all but embodied that era.

If you're an audiophile&mdash;and let's face it, who else would be reading this&mdash;then you know what <I>any</I> hard-core audioweenie would do when visiting a strange city. Visit the hi-fi shops, of course.

The Home Entertainment 2005 Show is coming to New York City April 28 to May 1, at the New York Hilton hotel. A ticket to the Show not only gives attendees entr&#233;e to previews of the latest in home audio, home theater, and convergence products&mdash;it also includes free educational seminars on a variety of subjects, moderated by top industry editors.

When we <A HREF="http://stereophile.com/news/011705dorian/">last left them</A>, a troubled Dorian Group had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In mid-January, the company issued a statement indicating that it would liquidate its assets and begin requesting bids for the purchase of the company in a sealed bidding process authorized by the US Bankruptcy Court, Northern New York District.

Mojo Nixon sings, "Elvis is everywhere." My version is "Darwin is everywhere." Last Thanksgiving, as my extended family was gathered around the dinner table, my 11-year-old nephew abruptly reminded us that Darwin was there, too. Out of the blue, he broadcast the $64,000 question:

They say you never forget your first time. For me, it was an Audio Research SP-6B that had been heavily modified by Analogique in NYC&mdash;which meant, among other things, that yellow capacitors shunted other yellow capacitors all the way up to the top plate. That first taste of the High End&mdash;prior to that, you might say my face had been pressed against the window&mdash;was definitely love at first listen. That SP-6B was warm yet detailed, and I ended up building a system around it that at least one friend described as a huge musical wet kiss.

They say you never forget your first time. For me, it was an Audio Research SP-6B that had been heavily modified by Analogique in NYC&mdash;which meant, among other things, that yellow capacitors shunted other yellow capacitors all the way up to the top plate. That first taste of the High End&mdash;prior to that, you might say my face had been pressed against the window&mdash;was definitely love at first listen. That SP-6B was warm yet detailed, and I ended up building a system around it that at least one friend described as a huge musical wet kiss.