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Zektor to the Rescue

One of the most common complaints about multichannel audio has nothing to do with sound quality. It's the lack of multichannel switching on most preamps and receivers that irks most audiophiles.

On July 15, Zektor, LLC stepped into the breach with the introduction of its new three-input multichannel audio switch, the MAS3, for use with Super Audio CD (SACD), DVD-Audio, and multichannel PC audio sources. "The MAS3 will enable owners of multiple disc players to enjoy both formats with the convenience of IR remote control and high bandwidth switching," states a company press release.

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Electronics Retailing Slow in July

Summer is traditionally the slowest time of the year for electronics retailers. July 2001 confirmed the pattern, with sales figures down significantly from previous months.

RadioShack, one of the biggest national electronics retailers, reported total sales of $320.3 million in July, a 5% drop from the previous month. Sales at comparable stores decreased by 6% in the same period. The biggest loser for the Shack was the personal computer category, which declined by 40%. The PC category is expected to regain momentum during the back-to-school season.

The Fort Worth, TX–based retailer…

Rhapsody in Green?

With Apple Computer's iTunes music service not even one month old, the price wars have already begun.

On May 28, exactly 26 days after the launch of Apple's downloadable music service, Seattle-based RealNetworks, Inc. announced its own new music service—one that undercuts Apple's 99¢/track price by 20%. RealOne Rhapsody, an outgrowth of RealNetwork's recent acquisition of San Francisco's Listen.com, offers a huge library—more than 330,000 tracks available for on-demand listening, and more than 200,000 available for permanent download and "burning" onto CD.

The fee? Only 79¢ per track…

Internet to the Rescue?

It will probably be years before we can determine the actual effects that Napster and other online file-trading networks have had on the music business. Conflicting evidence suggests that swapping music either increases or reduces CD sales.

But one conclusion seems clear: Consumers are less likely to buy what they don't first have a chance to hear. And as radio's listener base is shrinking, more folks turn to the Internet to find new music. New research from Arbitron and Edison Media Research indicates that "streamies"—defined in the report as people who have watched or listened to…

Digital Choice and Freedom Act

Not all Washington lawmakers are on the Hollywood payroll. Some even risk offending Big Entertainment by upholding their sworn duty to protect their constituents' interests. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) is such a legislator.

On October 2, the Silicon Valley congresswoman introduced the "Digital Choice and Freedom Act," a bill intended as a countermeasure to draconian copy-protection legislation being promoted by South Carolina senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-SC) and congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and Howard Coble (R-NC). Ms. Lofgren's bill would protect consumers' rights to…

USA Digital Radio Coalition Makes Technical Progress

Progress toward a working digital radio technology took a big step forward in April with the addition of Lowpass Prototype Inc. to the development team. According to an April 27 press release, USA Digital Radio, Inc., a privately held digital radio technology company owned by the nation's largest radio broadcasters, has added the manufacturer of radio-frequency systems for radio and television transmission to its coalition to develop and commercialize digital AM and FM radio.

Lowpass Prototype will design and test digital injectors—devices used to combine digital signals with existing FM…

Internet Distribution Threatens Music Retailers

"Adapt or die" is the first law of economic Darwinism. It's a choice that many music retailers are beginning to face with the rising tide of alternative distribution channels. According to market research organization Jupiter Research, online music services will account for approximately 9% of all CDs sold this year, a 50% increase from 2000. Retailers, once the music industry's only sales interface with the buying public, are looking at what might be an increasingly marginalized future. Those who wish to stay in the game may become "affiliates" rather than independent distributors.

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Industry Update

Rocky Mountain Audio High: The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will be held at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel (4900 South Syracuse; Denver, CO) from September 30 through October 2. In addition to over 70 demo rooms, there will be seminars and musical entertainment. Details and pre-registration can be found here.

Aperion's charitable contribution: Aperion Audio has established a program that will contribute $50 to hurricane relief efforts for every home-theater system it sells between now and October 31, 2005. The company has also pledged to send representatives to the area to help with…

DVD Forum Holds US DVD Conference

Frequently a hot topic in the hallowed pages of Stereophile, DVD-Audio will be among the agenda items at the third US DVD Conference on October 1-2, 1998, in San Francisco. Presented by the DVD Forum, the international association working to develop universal DVD formats, the event will take place at the Grand Peninsula Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency SF Airport.

According to a Forum statement, "The two-day conference provides an excellent opportunity to explore the fast-extending scope of DVD and latest format developments. Among key items on the agenda will be the recent standardization…

Added to the Archives This Week

Tempted to just cut'n'paste his earlier Arcam integrated amplifier review into his rundown of the Arcam FMJ CD23 CD player, Lonnie Brownell explains that, "after all, it's the same story: British manufacturer gives highly praised product a slick new case to entice those who find their Alpha line too downscale in appearance, adds a few internal tweaks to make it a bit more interesting, and kicks the price up by $400." Instead, he does the right thing in a complete review that even answers the vital question: Should this Arcam be your last CD player?

In his review of the Paradigm Reference…