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A Spotify advertisement interrupts my listening. The ad is invisible, embedded in between the lines of my play queue. As it begins, a modern crooner soars over a twinkling piano. This is not the 311 I was just listening to. A voice very politely interrupts: “Hi, this is Bruno Mars.”

I need my riffage! Not ads!

Seconds later, a reminder pops up in my Microsoft Outlook program: “Rdio”

What the heck is Rdio? Rdio is a sound salvation. Rdio is cleaning up the nation. Rdio? Rdio? Well for starters, its pronounced “ar-dee-oh,” not ray-dee-oh, and it is a totally ad-…

Classé CT-M600 & CA-M600 monoblock amplifiers ($13,000/pair, CT-M600; $14,000/pair, CA-M600; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 3 & 9 Review)
Note: The CT-M600 and CA-M600 are essentially the same amplifier, the latter housed in Classé's traditional Delta-series enclosure, with its brushed-aluminum front panel curved around to form the side panels.)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics K-5xeMP line preamplifier ($3500; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 No.6 Review)
Musical Fidelity…

Ultimate Ears 18 Pro Custom Monitor in-ear headphones ($1350; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.33 No.12 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Antelope Audio Zodiac Gold D/A headphone amplifier ($4495 in configuration reviewed by John Marks, Vol.34 No.10 Review) JH Audio JH16 Pro in-ear headphones ($1149; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 No.8 Review)
Smyth SVS Realiser A8 system ($3670 in configuration reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.33 No.11 Review)

Here's how John Atkinson opened his December 2010…

Amarra music playback software ($695; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.34 No.7 Review)

2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Decibel music playback software ($33; reviewed by Art Dudley & John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 7 & 9 Review)
Linn Majik DS-I networked integrated amplifier ($4200; reviewed by Art Dudley & Robert J. Reina, Vol.34 Nos. 3, 4 & 6 Review)
Micromega AirStream AS-400 integrated amplifier ($4594; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.34 No.7 Review)

In his July "Listening" column, Art…

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room-correction software (Reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.34 Nos. 7 & 9 Review)
Nitty Gritty 2.5Fi-XP LP-cleaning machine ($1025; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.5)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Q Feet ($135/4; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, Vol.34 No.9 Review)
Ayre Acoustics Irrational, But Efficacious! System Enhancement Disc, Version 1.2 ($19.99; reviewed by Art Dudley & John Marks, Vol.33 No.12 & Vol.34 No.2 Review)
Nordost Silver Shadow S/PDIF digital…

Oppo BDP-95 universal Blu-ray player
Peachtree iDecco D/A integrated amplifier ($999; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.12 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Decibel music-playback software Direct Acoustics Silent Speaker II ($748/pair; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 6 & 7 Review)
HRT Music Streamer II & II+ USB D/A processors
Peachtree iDac D/A processor
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR loudspeaker ($149/pair; reviewed by Robert J. Reina & Stephen Mejias, Vol.34 Nos.…

Voxativ Ampeggio loudspeaker

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Blu-ray player
Ayre Acoustics K-5xeMP line preamplifier
Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond loudspeaker
Classé CT-M600 & CA-M600 monoblock power amplifiers
dCS Debussy D/A processor
Kuzma 4Point tonearm
Magico Q5 loudspeaker
Musical Fidelity AMS100 power amplifier
Sony SS-AR1 loudspeaker
Vivid Audio B1 loudspeaker
VPI Classic 3 turntable
Wilson Audio Specialties Sophia 3 loudspeaker

This is…

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve heard from Javelin, but, in this case, the process is perhaps even more interesting than the product.

For more on how the song was created, check out the behind-the-scenes videos here. Cool stuff.

The first track from Sinkane’s upcoming album, Mars, is called “Jeeper Creeper.”

Gallab recorded the track himself, on his laptop, using Ableton Live. Though he usually plays and records all instruments himself, for “Jeeper Creeper,” Gallab enlisted the help of some friends: Ira Wolf Tuton…

“Big loud blue sedan” is the text message I receive as our Metro-North commuter train eases into the sleepy Milford, Connecticut station. I pull on my coat, grab my bag of CDs, step out of the train and onto the clean platform. It’s precisely 11:39am on Sunday, November 20, and there’s not a cloud in the sky.

The text message is considerate, but unnecessary: Even from the platform, my view compromised by the station’s waiting room, I can hear the handsome, steady purr of the engine, see the polished chrome of the bumper scattering sunlight in a…