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CD Prices Drop

While Universal's heavily publicized attempt at CD price reduction didn't pan out as hoped last year, there is evidence to suggest that CD prices may be slowly moving downward.

The NPD Group is reporting that the average price of CDs in the US has now reached a low of $13.29, versus $13.79 in 2003. The researchers say that a similar pattern was observed for the top 50 sellers in the early part of 2004, when the average price was $13.36 nationwide, a drop of 3.1% versus a year earlier.

NPD says it is also finding that the decline in overall average price for physical full-length CDs…

XM Radio debuts <I>Classical Confidential</I>

This week, XM Satellite Radio launches Classical Confidential, a series of hour-long artist profiles. Modeled after XM's Artist Confidential series, in which listeners can get to know high-profile artists "up close and personal," per XM, the new show's first installment features an hour with Sony BMG's favorite male violinist, the sweet-toned, extremely gifted Joshua Bell. Subsequent shows will feature the magnificent mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and conductor Leonard Slatkin.

Classical Confidential is hosted by XM's knowledgeable classical music program director, Martin Goldsmith, former…

iPod Mania Causes Shortage

Once upon a time, holiday shoppers fought over Cabbage Patch Dolls and Beanie Babies.

This year, they're going to the mat over iPods. The world's most popular portable music player is in short supply, leaving many potential gift buyers disappointed. Apple Computer has been unable to keep up with demand for the sleek little player, a Stereophile "Recommended Component." Most models are on back-order, and most retailers are completely out of stock, according to retailing reports that appeared in mid-December.

Among sources where you are unlikely to find an iPod in time for Christmas…

New Products For Spring 2005

Stick it in your wall: Polk Audio has introduced three new subwoofers aimed at the custom installation market. The $600 CSW88 is a sealed in-wall model featuring dual 8" long-throw, shallow-basket woofers mounted behind a metal pressure plate. Its enclosure is constructed from MDF with 1/8" aluminum panels. It is designed to fit within standard stud-wall construction, measuring 60" (H) by 13.5" (W) by 3.5" (D). Rather than a grille, the CSW utilizes a vent, which, not at all coincidentally, measures the same as a standard 10" by 4" heating vent. Inputs on the top and bottom of the enclosure…

Music Critics Discuss Hi-Rez Audio

The first National Critics Conference in US history took place May 25–29 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Subtitled "Critical Unity in Critical Times," the gathering brought together US and Canadian members of organizations devoted to visual arts, dance, jazz, classical music, and theater criticism.

The conference began with a keynote address, "Seeing the Critic as Critical," delivered by producer, director, and social activist Norman Lear, whose credits range from All in the Family’s infamous Archie Bunker to the recent purchase of Concord Jazz/Fantasy Records. The more than 450…

AstroJams Back in Action with Grateful Dead MP3s

Houston, Texas-based AstroJams is back online with Grateful Dead MP3s. The site shut down its offerings of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band downloads after receiving a cease-and-desist order from attorneys for Grateful Dead Productions in April. At issue was the site's use of advertising to generate revenue. GDP claims the sole legal right to commercial benefits stemming from the use of the band's music and logos, but had "never objected" to the free sharing of music in the Dead tradition, according to Dennis McNally of GDP's publicity department.

AstroJams' founding partner and…

High End "in a Funk," Claims <I>NY Times</I>

The High End has reached a new low, one characterized by "existential angst." That's how Lawrence M. Fisher of the New York Times describes the industry's ongoing malaise. In a well-researched and well-written piece that appeared last Thursday, July 9, Fisher cites "demographic and economic issues beyond its control and technological trends that threaten its very relevance." He mentions the economic crisis in Asia---destination for a large proportion of American high-end audio products---as a major contributing factor to the stagnation in which much of the industry is mired.

He also…

Added to the Archives This Week

We kick off three speaker reviews from the September issue with Brian Damkroger's assessment of the Audio Physic Virgo III loudspeaker. A perfect meld of minimonitor and full-range bass extension? BD reveals all.

Michael Fremer tackles the "best-selling over-$10,000 loudspeaker in history," the Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 7 loudspeaker. While MF can't verify how many pairs of WATT/Puppies have actually sold, he can verify why.

Next, we have Paul Messenger squeezing the new "superspeaker" Focal-JMlab Grande Utopia Be loudspeaker into his listening space. PM wonders, "Is the…

Added to the Archives This Week

With multichannel DVD-Audio just around the corner, the surround-sound debate among audiophiles is starting anew. But how far have we come with surround sound in 30 years? J. Gordon Holt wrote "Bye Bye, Quadrifi?" back in 1971, in which he explored the same dilemmas faced by today's audiophile.

"One thing you have to understand: If you don't have ground, ya gotta get it!" exclaims Jonathan Scull in "Fine Tunes" #23. Scull offers sage advice involving RadioShack wire and water pipes for those living in renovated buildings.

When reviewing the EgglestonWorks Andra loudspeaker back in…

Added to the Archives This Week

After a frustrating late-night duel with evil recording gremlins, JA called it a day. But the next morning he was back at the controls to record Canadian pianist Robert Silverman for what would subsequently become one of Stereophile's popular audiophile recordings: Intermezzo: Works for Piano by Brahms. In Intermezzo: The Santa Barbara Sessions, writer Thomas Norton runs down the key events that finally resulted in a completed analog master tape, with engineering from Water Lily Acoustics' Kavichandran Alexander.

With almost eight years of hindsight, it's now easy to observe that the…