Most of us have at least some taste for gear that <I>jumps out</I>&mdash;for audio components whose sonic and musical distinctions are easy to hear from the start. In audio, unlike in the art of music itself, there's nothing wrong with being obvious.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

My last visit to Planet Halcro transformed my audio life. All but the newest readers will recall that the Australian <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 power amplifier was <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of the Year</A> and overall <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index8.html">Component of the Year</A> for 2002. To this day, I have yet to hear any amplifier that equals the dm58's combination of complete neutrality, harmonic generosity, lightning reflexes, and a sense of boundless power that is difficult to describe. Though some others have come close, the dm58 shines as a singular beacon of excellence among power amplifiers.

In mid-April, Texas Instruments and Intel announced developments likely to improve the experience for many music fans in the near future. TI announced the industry's highest performance four-channel audio digital&ndash;analog converter (DAC), and Intel released the final v1.0 specification for "Intel High Definition Audio."

Once upon a time, business competitors relied on the quality of their products and services to hang onto their shares of the market. That's the myth, at least. Increasingly, it seems they rely on regulatory and judicial intervention to stay afloat.

The iPod is making sweet music for Apple Computer, Inc.