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BMG Plans to Have It Both Ways

The most common complaint about record companies: CD prices are too high. In fact, many blame Napster's runaway success on the insistence of "greedy labels" on pricing discs at $15 or higher. Apparently BMG Direct, a division of BMG Entertainment, has put two and two together and found it equals $9.99.

Last week, the company announced that it has launched OnePriceCDs, a new website that BMG claims offers more than 12,000 CD titles from a variety of music genres for a single price of $9.99 each, and multi-unit CD sets at $8.99 per CD. All prices include shipping and handling.

But is…

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Robert Deutsch warms up the Audiopax Model Eighty Eight monoblock power amplifier to hear what famed Brazilian designer Eduardo de Lima has to offer. Deutsch notes, "The Audiopax Model Eighty Eight represents the latest refinement of de Lima's thinking about power amplifiers."

Next, J. Gordon Holt gets his hands on the Audio Research SDP1 multichannel music processor. Holt exclaims, "For those of us who have succumbed to the enticements of surround sound for music, Audio Research's SDP1 is both vindication and cause for rejoicing."

Starting in 1968, JGH began his relationship with…

Sirius Stock Deal Erases Debt

In August, the future looked cloudy for Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. Despite the eventual commercial promise of satellite radio, the startup suffered from massive debt accrued during its development and from a slow initial subscription rate. Company officials had discussed a possible bankruptcy filing if additional financing couldn't be found.

The clouds parted for the company on Thursday, October 17, with a stock move that raised approximately $200 million in cash–enough to keep it operating through the second quarter of 2004.

A "recapitalization" agreement orchestrated by Sirius…

Sometimes Shorter is Better

In a move that it says is designed to position it for "continued growth and leadership in the consumer electronics field," the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) unveiled last week its new incarnation: the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The announcement comes on the heels of a decision, made earlier this week by the Board of Governors of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), to allow separate incorporation for its sector associations.

CEA president Gary Shapiro proclaimed "Goodbye CEMA. Hello CEA. CEMA has served us well, but CEA better reflects the…

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From the March 2004 issue, Kalman Rubinson files his report on the Adcom GFA-7805 five-channel power amplifier. KR notes, "It was easy for me to decide on their top-of-the-line five-channel powerhouse, the GFA-7805, because it embodies the same spirit that the GFA-555 did in its time: lots of power, no frills, good value."

Then Rubinson files the latest installment in his multichannel series, "Music in the Round #4." "For audiophiles who love multichannel music, the center-channel speaker is a problem second only, perhaps, to that of bass management," observes KR, who also assesses the…

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From the March 2001 issue, Michael Fremer finds that, although homely in appearance, the Herron Audio M150 monoblock power amplifier has several endearing qualities. As Fremer explains, "Herron approaches the marketplace in a cautious, stealthy manner, working from the ground up to grab the ears of audiophiles." MF tells us where this amp grabbed him.

Also from the March issue, Kalman Rubinson drops the unique Bel Canto eVo 200.2 power amplifier into his system and analyzes the results. Based on "Class-T" digital amplifier technology from Tripath, the eVo was, Rubinson found, "…

Sony, IBM in Online Music Partnership

There's gold in them digital music hills. This obvious reality---supported by the music industry's near-panic in the face of the phenomenal growth of MP3 in the past year---was reinforced last week, when Sony Corporation and International Business Machines announced a digital music mutual-aid pact at a press conference in Los Angeles.

The two technology giants are teaming up to make Sony's copyright-protection technology compatible with IBM's electronic music-management system. The combined and finished product will be used for the distribution and downloading of music via the Internet.…

Harman Will Appeal Judgment on Bose Patent Infringement

Audio manufacturers who know what's good for them avoid stepping on the toes of Bose, Inc. The Framingham, Massachusetts–based corporation is renowned for it ruthless marketing and zealous protection of its patents.

Harman International Industries is learning this lesson the hard way. On September 1, the Northridge, California electronics conglomerate was slapped with a $5.7 million judgment in a patent-infringement suit. Bose launched the litigation against two of Harman's loudspeaker subsidiaries, JBL, Inc. and Infinity Systems Corporation, over the use of an elliptical plastic port in…

HD Radio Makes Progress

We've been hearing about it for years, but high-definition radio may finally be on its way. Feeling competitive pressure from satellite operations XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, US broadcasters are making what appear to be sincere efforts to upgrade their service by moving from analog to digital.

On August 12, Atlanta-based Cox Radio announced a plan to upgrade most of its 78 AM and FM stations to "HD Radio" over the next four years. The company currently delivers HD only in Atlanta and Miami. Targeted for upgrade next are Cox stations in Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, and Tampa. €…

Delos International Emphasizing SACD, But Not Dropping DVD-A

Contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet, audiophile recording label Delos International is not abandoning the DVD-Audio format. A quick call to the Hollywood, CA–based company cleared up some confusion created when a few people noticed that "DVD-A" doesn't appear anywhere on the Delos homepage.

"Although it's true that we are emphasizing SACD for the immediate future, we have not given up on DVD-Audio," said a spokesperson who requested anonymity. "Our strength is in sound recording, and we feel that SACD, being a sound-only format, is where we should concentrate our efforts at the…