All high-end audio companies turn over their product lines periodically. Even those amplifiers I have depended on as references go out of production. Although my reference amplifier can remain a part of the reviewing sequence, readers won't be able to purchase a discontinued model and get the results I describe. Thus I am compelled to get a review sample of a new amplifier or speaker, and hope for the best.

If you've been hunting for loudspeakers that sound fantastic, look gorgeous, and don't require a second mortgage, <A HREF="http://www.linn.co.uk">Linn Products, Ltd.</A> may have the solution.

August is shaping up as a great month for audiophiles and good causes. The Cable Company's annual "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11704/">Summer Against Hunger</A>" campaign is in full swing, and <A HREF="http://www.rockfordcorp.com">Rockford Home Group</A> has announced that the first production unit of the 50 limited-edition FAP V1 vacuum-tube surround processors (see <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11711/">previous</A&gt;) will be auctioned via eBay with proceeds donated to charity.

From the August issue, Robert Deutsch gives the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/901/">Audio Research VS110 power amplifier and SP16L line preamplifier</A> the full treatment. RD reveals how he finds products to review, and more importantly, what he found appealing in the ARC amp and preamp.

Internet service providers (ISPs) have begun fighting back against the blitzkrieg of lawsuits launched by the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA) in its struggle to contain the file-sharing phenomenon.

Vinyl junkies again converged on San Luis Obispo, California on Saturday, August 16 for the second annual <A HREF="http://www.vinylrecordday.org">Vinyl Record Day</A> celebration. Vinyl is clearly red hot among audiophiles and music collectors, and VRD organizer Gary Freiberg commented that momentum for the event continues to grow, with this year's turnout easily bigger than <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11417/">last year's</A>.

An archive of articles that the late Michael Gerzon wrote for <I>Hi-Fi News</I> and <I>Studio Sound</I> magazines has been established at the <A HREF="http://www.audiosignal.co.uk">website</A&gt; of <I>Hi-Fi News</I> consultant technical editor Keith Howard.

Perhaps it's the air in San Francisco, or more likely the fact that exhibitors and attendees were equally upbeat, but I came back from <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11672/">Home Entertainment 2003</A>, held at the grand old Westin-St. Francis Hotel days before I write this month's column, <I>jazzed</I>. I was one of 15,123 consumer, international press, and trade attendees, according to the official stats, and we were treated to more than 100 exhibit rooms showing and demonstrating 225 brands of audio and home-theater gear. <I>Stereophile</I>'s full report on what we saw and heard at the Show will appear in our September and October issues, while our web coverage can be found starting <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11662/">here</A&gt;(footnote 1).

<I>Hurt not the earth, neither the sea nor trees...</I>&mdash;Revelation 7:3