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Tweeter Drops Monster Cable

Here's one you don't see every day: competing press releases over a store dropping a product line—or vice versa.

First, Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc. announced that it was dropping Monster Cable products and was replacing them with four new vendors offering greater "quality, value, profitability, margin, and customer satisfaction."

Not true, said Monster in a June 26 press release. According to it, "In recent months Monster had become increasingly concerned over Tweeter's financial condition, and the exposure of its four million dollar credit line. After doing an in-depth…

Added to the Archives This Week

It's no secret that audio publications around the world have been shrinking or disappearing of late. John Atkinson writes in his September 1999 "As We See It" that although the trend has certainly affected Stereophile's girth, steps have been taken to fatten the audiophile content of every issue. Read his analysis of the situation in "Closer Together Covers?"

Two articles this week focus on loudspeaker manufacturer M&K. The first, "Audio Odyssey: Ken Kreisel of M&K," is an interview conducted by Wes Phillips in the spring of 1997. Next we present WP's review of M&K's S-150…

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Robert Deutsch asks, "How can you tell an audiophile from a normal person?" RD's answer involves the name of the Vienna Acoustics Mahler loudspeaker, which Deutsch reviewed for the April 2000 issue of Stereophile. Deutsch writes, "I find Gustav Mahler's music to be on the ponderous side, but when I heard the Vienna Acoustics Mahlers at HI-FI '99, I was sufficiently impressed that I began the process of getting a pair for review." The results of his careful listening are not ponderous at all.

ProAc's speakers have consistently found favor with Stereophile's writers, prompting Wes Phillips…

CEA Reports a Sluggish Month For Audio Components

It would be easy to blame the popularity of home computers for a recent slowdown in audio component sales, except for the fact that PCs are having a tough season themselves. Maybe all of those audio dollars are being spent to cover losses in the stock market or to buy new PlayStation 2s. Regardless, sales of audio products suffered a bit of a slump this past October compared to last year.

According to the latest statistics released by the Consumer Electronics Association, sales to dealers of separate audio components dipped 10% in the month of October compared to the same month in 1999.…

HE2003, June 5–8 in SF

The Home Entertainment Show highlights the best of the best in home entertainment. With over 250 exhibitors, 80 demonstration rooms, an exciting live music program, and in-depth seminars, it is the largest and most comprehensive event of its kind! Learn the latest about HDTV, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVD, surround sound, two-channel audio, and more. Click here for a list of exhibitors.

Enter To Win
Enter to win a deluxe home-theater system valued at over $15,000! The Home Entertainment Show and Primedia invite you to enter to win this fabulous home-theater system package while at the show. Be…

Internet Radio Listening Doubled in Past Year, Study Claims

The computer continues to insert itself into every aspect of daily life. Now it is a source for music from one's hometown—whether that town is across the state or across the ocean.

More people than ever are listening to radio stations over the Internet, according to a study released March 17 by eBrain Market Research, a service of the Consumer Electronics Association. The fourth Annual Multimedia PC and Internet Audio study compares the listening habits of 1375 multimedia owners during January 2000 to a similar sample from the same period during the previous year. Conclusion: Internet…

Chapter 11 for Tower

UPDATE: On Monday, February 9, Tower Records, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the US Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. Industry observers had predicted the move in the weeks leading up to the filing. MTS, Inc., as the company is officially known, listed "more than $100 million of assets and more than $100 million of debts in its filing," according to a report from Reuters news service. "MTS expects to emerge from Chapter 11 within 45 to 60 days. It plans to swap $110 million of senior debt for $30 million of new senior notes and an 85% equity stake. Existing equity…

1998 Products of the Year Announced

For the seventh consecutive year, Stereophile has named a select few audio components the "Products of the Year." In doing so, we recognize those components that have proved capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period.

There are five individual categories: Loudspeakers (including subwoofers), Amplification Components (preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.), Digital Sources (CD players, transports, processors), Analog Sources (phono cartridges, turntables, tonearms, FM tuners, etc.), and Accessories (everything else).

The two most important categories, however,…

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Jonathan Scull has seen the future of audiophile proselytizing and aches to spread the word. In "Fine Tunes" #18, J-10 shares the new tweak-audio mantra, and more.

John Atkinson explains that, contrary to public perception, "a reviewer's life is not all fame and fortune. There are downsides, too, one of which is that, while many great-sounding components pass through your listening room, only a few get to stay there on anything like a permanent basis." Is the Thiel CS6 loudspeaker one of those great components that is mourned and lamented as it is wrested from the reviewer's grasp? John…

Industry Update

Peter Madnick, alchemist: Designer Peter Madnick is bringing new life to a classic audio marque with his new Alchemy2 line of components. The reference, for audiophiles with short memories, is to the now defunct Audio Alchemy line, for which he designed so many products. Alchemy2 employs Madnick's original engineering staff and has established a goal to "address the enthusiast market with cool little boxes designed to solve problems and enhance system enjoyment." That sounds familiar.

Alchemy2's first product will be the D2L Digital Delay Line ($399), which is inserted between a…