"We saw this as a great opportunity to pursue," Santiago told Stereophile by phone. "We realized that Klipsch had another focus, core loudspeaker development, while Ted and I are pretty much straight audio and…
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After four years of virtual inactivity, new and updated Aragon and Acurus high-end amplifiers, preamplifiers, and processors are slated to return to the marketplace. The long-established brands, which have been the property of Klipsch since 2001, are now in the hands of two enthusiastic veteran Klipsch electronics engineers, Rick Santiago and Ted Moore of Indy Audio Labs, LLC.
With good news to share about new downloads, let's dispense with the downer first. As reported by Twice.com, HDGiants, aka MusicGiants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in US Bankruptcy Court on May 18. Although the site, often praised by Stereophile as a leader in CD-quality and high-resolution music and video downloads, still appears to be operating, the layoff of its sales and marketing staff raises serious questions about its future.
Given that no one was answering the company phone or fielding emails at press time—three of the four email addresses listed on the website's contact page…
The most comprehensive seminars ever devoted to high quality computer-based playback in the home will take place at the fabled headquarters of Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA the last weekend of June. Entitled Computer Audiophile Symposium: From Performance to Playback, the two "identical" seminars are scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 3–7pm, and Sunday, June 28, from noon–4pm. Admission to each seminar is $279.00.
Hosted by Chris Connaker, who founded and writes most of the content for computeraudiophile.com, the seminar is the brainchild of Emeryville-based, veteran dealer and audio…
On June 2, Stereophile reported that HDGiants.com, formerly known as MusicGiants.com, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The future of the high-quality music and video download site that had most recently begun offering "Super HD" 24-bit surround-sound downloads was unclear.
Close to two weeks later, we were finally able to connect with HDGiants CEO Scott Bahnemann and get a clearer picture of HDGiants current situation and future plans.
"We were in the midst of an internal recapitalization," Bahnemann explained by phone. "HDGiants needed to restructure between debt and equity,…
Released in July, Live at Otto's Shrunken Head (STPH020-2) is the latest Stereophile CD from reviewer Bob Reina's jazz quartet, Attention Screen. Unlike the group's first CD, Live at Merkin Hall (STPH018-2, released in 2007), which was recorded with multiple microphones, I captured the eight improvisations on Live at Otto's using a single pair of mikes.
Otto's Shrunken Head, of course, is nothing like Merkin Hall. Near Lincoln Center, Merkin is a proper concert hall with plush seating for about 450 people. It features a stage large enough for an entire orchestra, and is known for…
NHT is back. Less than five months after the veteran speaker company, aka Now Hear This, declared that it would sell off remaining inventory, pay its bills, and spend time rethinking its future, it has regrouped and returned with a new marketing approach.
In response to the rise in internet sales, decline of retail dealerships in this country and abroad, and changes in the audiophile consumer base, company co-founder Chris Byrne and his partner John Johnsen have adopted a new marketing strategy. Consumers can now purchase NHT's pared-down product line from either independent dealers,…
Blue Circle Audio, the Ontario-based company that has championed the use of "no frills" packaging and solar powered devices, recently issued the latest addition to its line of minimal cosmetics audiophile products. The BC301FY preamplifier, which looks nothing like other companies' products, dispenses with the standard aluminum or steel box, engraved logo, designer controls, and other cosmetic frills. Housed in nine ABS cans—a type of heavy-duty plastic commonly encountered in drainage and sewer piping—its packaging is said to reduce consumer cost by over 40%.
According to Gilbert Yeung,…
It is with immense sadness that I heard of Gordon's passing, in an announcement from his long-time friend, Bob O'Neill: "A few minutes after 12 noon mtn time, July 20, 2009, J. Gordon Holt passed away in his home in Boulder, Colorado. A memorial service will be held in a week or two. There will be, of course, martinis and the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams." According to his son Charles, Gordon had suffered a long fight with COPD/Emphysema and he died in his home with his family around him.
It was in 1962 that Gordon decided to start a magazine devoted to the then-revolutionary concept…
For 14 years, The Cable Company has been running its annual Summer Against Hunger campaign to raise money for those in need. As was the case last year, The Cable Company says they "are again able to guaranty that 100% of purchases of sponsored products in August will benefit CARE!"
When you purchase products from one of the participating sponsors during August, The Cable Company, it's sponsoring vendors, and other CARE donors will send an amount equal to your purchase to CARE. If you purchase non-sponsoring vendor products from The Cable Company (and UsedCable.com) and an amount equal to…
Tell the truth, now: When you're traveling on vacation, and supposedly engaged only in the normal tourist activities of seeing the sights, visiting museums, etc., aren't you also on the lookout for interesting audio stores?
I know I am, and my wife has learned to accept this as something that comes with being married to an audiophile. The most recent occurrence of this sort was a few weeks ago, as we were driving from Bangor, Maine, to Bar Harbor. While passing through Ellsworth (pop. 6456), I spotted what looked like an honest-to-goodness audio store. I just had to stop…