Our first of three loudspeaker reviews from the April 2004 issue finds Michael Fremer listening to the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/404aerial">Aerial Model 20T loudspeaker</A>. MF explains, "Loudspeaker design is an art <I>and</I> a science. Anyone who tells you it's only one or the other is probably building or listening to some awful-sounding speakers." Fremer ponders whether Aerial has managed to achieve that perfect balance.

On April 9, the European Commission announced that it was suspending its antitrust investigation into the proposed merger between the music divisions of Sony Corporation and German media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG.

An old adage has it that one common type of fool believes that anything new must be better.

From the December 2001 issue, Robert Deutsch tries something completely different when he fires up the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/120147">47 Laboratory 4706 Gaincard power amplifier</A>. RD notes, "The pursuit of simplicity in the design of solid-state audio electronics is perhaps best exemplified by the products from 47 Laboratory." Less is often more, but with the 4706 Gaincard, is it better?

Will the decline ever end for the music business?

Music buyer beware: <A HREF="http://www.sunncomm.com">SunnComm</A&gt; announced last week the dubious milestone that it had shipped over one million restricted MediaMax audio CDs in March and expects to beat those numbers in April. The MediaMax M4 suite of "Digital Content Enhancement" technologies is built using the Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series platform.

Radio has been getting a new lease on life, with Sirius and XM satellite services, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), and Internet "stations" popping up in the tens of thousands. With the Clear Channelfication of North America's FM and AM airwaves, many would argue that the timing couldn't be better for launching new broadcast technologies.

<B>THE SUBDUDES: <I>Miracle Mule</I></B><BR>
Back Porch 70876-18410-2-2 (CD). 2004. Subdudes, Freddy Koella, prods.; Warren Dewey, eng. AAD? TT: 52:13<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>***&#189;</B>

Hilary Hahn must be a chameleon. At least, that's how it seemed at the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/010704ces">2004 Consumer Electronics Show</A>.

Usually, I review a component after it has impressed me at a show or in a store. Though this approach reduces the possibility of a bad review&mdash;I pre-select based on real experience&mdash;it does not minimize the possibility of disappointment. This makes me a sort of stand-in for the consumer who would like to take something home for a real shakeout, and only then decide to buy it or send it back.