The song ended. My friend gestured to me to remove the wads of Kleenex I had stuffed in my ears.

<B>PINK FLOYD: <I>Dark Side of the Moon</I></B><BR> Capitol CDP 582136 2 (CD/SACD), Capitol (LP). 1973/2003. Pink Floyd, prods.; Alan Parsons, eng.; James Guthrie, 5.1 remix. AAD/AAA. TT: 43:00<BR> Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR> Sonics <B>*****</B> (SACD layers) <B>*** </B>(CD layer)

Retailers accused of selling pirated compact discs are feeling legal heat from the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA). In May, the organization launched copyright infringement suits against 18 retail businesses in Texas, Florida, and New York&mdash;primarily convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and small independent music stores.

The record biz is in a world of hurt and doesn't mind broadcasting the news far and wide. But while the source of its woes will be debated in business schools for years to come, studies are starting to emerge that document the demographics of music buyers and their changing behaviors.

Art Dudley slips his DIY leash, and revels in the high-tech splendor of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/863/">Linn Klimax Kontrol preamplifier and Klimax Twin power amplifier</A>. AD admits he's feeling a little guilty about shunning his home-brew gear, but counters, "I've been having too much fun."

The Home Entertainment 2003 Show, held June 5&ndash;8, 2003, at the Westin&ndash;St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, was an event that will stand out for residents, exhibitors, and visiting press as a well-attended showcase of some of the finest products and technologies the consumer electronics industry has to offer.

Anyone who's been shopping recently won't be surprised to learn that China is now the biggest supplier of electronics to the US. Within the past three years, the massive Asian nation has surpassed Japan, Mexico, and Korea to claim the top spot. During the same period, US exports of high technology have dropped 25%, according to figures released June 19 by the American Electronics Association, now known as "AeA."

It's a simple premise: power corrupts. You can buy the finest audio components in the world, but if the foundation of your aural house is rotten, you won't get anything vaguely resembling the level of performance your gear was designed to provide. Over time, I've come to realize just how fragile the audio signal chain is, dependent as it is on electrical sources fatally compromised by all manner of aural schmutz pouring through the local grid. I've become obsessed with figuring out how to liberate my system from the line noise, reactive loads, and voltage anomalies that veil the presentation, obscure resolution, and limit dynamic range.

It's a simple premise: power corrupts. You can buy the finest audio components in the world, but if the foundation of your aural house is rotten, you won't get anything vaguely resembling the level of performance your gear was designed to provide. Over time, I've come to realize just how fragile the audio signal chain is, dependent as it is on electrical sources fatally compromised by all manner of aural schmutz pouring through the local grid. I've become obsessed with figuring out how to liberate my system from the line noise, reactive loads, and voltage anomalies that veil the presentation, obscure resolution, and limit dynamic range.