Last week, in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//reference/101/">Book Review: <I>High Fidelity Audio/Video Systems: A Critical Guide for Owners</I></A>, we ran Corey Greenberg's scathing review of an audio book that misses the mark by a wide margin. This week, in <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//reference/102/">Book Review: <I>The Complete Guide to High-End Audio</I></A>, we examine a book written by erstwhile <I>Stereophile</I> consulting technical editor Robert Harley. He does not emerge unscathed!

Accidents and disasters have no sense of good timing, and when they strike have a way of fouling even the most promising love affairs. Case in point: loudspeaker manufacturer <A HREF="http://www.vonschweikert.com/">Von Schweikert Research</A> and the small town of Watertown (pop. 30,000) in northern New York, about three hours' drive from Toronto.

Holding his thumb and forefinger together to reveal barely a sliver of light, <A HREF="mailto:calish@ix.netcom.com">Chris English</A> said, "This close. We're this close." He wasn't talking about how far apart we were sitting, but about how close <A HREF="http://www.threshold.com/">Threshold</A&gt; is to being back in business after an <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10096/">attempted restructuring</A> last year did not work out.

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>

What fascinates me about the High End are the electric personalities behind it. Manufacturers typically invest so <I>much</I> of themselves in the products they make. It's a divine madness&mdash;they do it because they have to. They're <I>driven</I> to it with a real sense of mission and excellence. But God forbid you <I>criticize</I> any of their offspring...<I>ooo-la-la!</I>