The <A HREF="http://www.sdmi.org/">Secure Digital Music Initiative</A>'s move to establish a copy-prevention technology for commercial recordings has rankled audio engineers, who claim that the audible watermarking technique chosen by the organization could mar high-resolution recordings. Of particular concern are SDMI's testing methods and its rush to get a standard in place without commentary from engineers or the music-buying public.

Last year, <I>Stereophile</I>'s Barry Willis took a trip to Ogden, Utah, to <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10416/">report</A&gt; on what was then a secret speaker project being conducted by <A HREF="http://www.kimberkable.com/">Kimber Kable</A>'s Ray Kimber and designer Eric Alexander. After informal listening, Willis noted that, while not being able to completely nail down what the "under development" DiAural crossover circuitry was doing, something new was certainly in the air.

<B>DR. JOHN: Duke Elegant</B><BR> Blue Note 5 23220 2 (CD). 2000. Mac Rebennack, prod.; Suz Dyer, eng.; Steve Revitte, Tovi Rodriguez, asst. engs. AAD? TT: 66:40<BR> Performance <B>****?</B><BR> Sonics <B>****?</B>

"But I want to buy Thiel loudspeakers over the Internet!" cried an insistent music lover from the back of the room.

"But I want to buy Thiel loudspeakers over the Internet!" cried an insistent music lover from the back of the room.

"But I want to buy Thiel loudspeakers over the Internet!" cried an insistent music lover from the back of the room.

"I don't believe it!"

"I don't believe it!"

"I don't believe it!"