Is there a computer in your audio future? <A HREF="http://www.meridian-audio.com/">Meridian</A&gt; thinks so. An expensive new flagship disc player hints at things to come at more affordable prices. Working at the far edge of the digital playback frontier, the UK company has just announced its <A HREF="http://www.meridian-audio.com/p_800s.htm">800 Reference</A>, a new combination CD/DVD player, built like a computer, that takes digital audio and video playback to a new level. The player "sets the bar for DVD and CD reproduction," according to a June 16 press release.

Last week it was revealed that David Manley has resigned as president of <A HREF="http://www.manleylabs.com">Manley Laboratories</A> and has assigned his total shares in the company to EveAnna Manley as part of an agreement signed June 10, 1999. EveAnna Manley has officially assumed the duties of president, CEO, and sole owner of Manley Laboratories, Inc. A press release states that David Manley is no longer associated or affiliated with Manley Laboratories, Inc., and that EveAnna Manley has been de facto operating CEO of the company since David Manley's departure in 1996.

The MP3 audio format has been rapidly gaining a solid reputation in the last several months. Portable products such as <A HREF="http://www.diamondmm.com/">Diamond Multimedia</A>'s Rio have hit the market, and websites (typified by MP3.com) have gained financial success. (See <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10358/">related story</A>.) But one area that has so far lagged is MP3-based playback and recording equipment for using the files at home without moving a computer next to the stereo.

Almost every audiophile, whether hobbyist or professional, has taken a stab at building loudspeakers. Combine the fundamentals of cabinetmaking with some basic electronic theory, connect a few good drivers to a well-designed crossover network, and you're on your way to pretty good sound. And now, with widely available resources like crossover design software and high-quality prefabricated cabinets, the task is easier than it's ever been.

Earlier this month, <A HREF="http://www.directv.com">DirecTV</A&gt; announced that it is investing $50 million in <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Satellite Radio</A> in an effort to capitalize on direct satellite-to-receiver broadcasting technology, which is intended to provide listeners in the car and at home with up to 100 channels of music, news, and entertainment available in North America. Additional XM investors include General Motors, Clear Channel Communications, and a private investment group.

Now that we've gained a basic understanding of speaker setup, cable dressing and hygiene, and electrical theory, it's time to consider where and how to site your equipment. I've seen all sorts of weird, jerry-rigged shelves and poor component placement, some of the worst in pricey systems whose owners really should have known better. But you can achieve a stunning level of improvement from a haphazardly set-up system---even an entry-level one---when it's rearranged so as to let the components breathe.

Danish audio-video manufacturer <A HREF="http://www.bang-olufsen.com/">Bang & Olufsen</A> has long been known for its unusual product designs. Eschewing the normal tendency of consumer electronics manufacturers to design their circuits and transports into stackable black boxes, the company's current home-audio line includes colorful vertical CD stacks with sliding clear-glass doors and brushed-aluminum cylindrical speakers.

The world's third largest music company has thrown its massive weight behind Internet audio. On June 10, EMI Recorded Music, a division of <A HREF="http://www.emigroup.com/">EMI Group Plc</A>, announced a five-year licensing agreement with Reston, Virginia-based <A HREF="http://www.musicmaker.com/">Musicmaker.com</A&gt;, a major custom CD compilation service and digital download site. EMI has not simply made its enormous catalog available to the service---it has also bought into Musicmaker.com with a 50% equity stake.