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Added to the Archives This Week

Corey Greenberg channels his heroes Beavis and Butthead to review the NHT SuperZero loudspeaker and SW2 subwoofer. As CG explains, the NHT may be the first speaker "that really kicks ass—one that offers true high-end, full-range sound, all for under $1000." Huh-huh, huh-huh.

To open his review of the Etymotic Research ER-4S Canal Phone earspeakers, Wes Phillips asks, "What's more important: clean underwear or good music?" Phillips reveals that he's more likely to remember his Etymotic earspeakers than his luggage when he hits the airport.

John Atkinson takes a stand (or two) in The…

Blue Man Group in 5.1

From its origins as an obscure off-Broadway novelty act, Blue Man Group has grown to monster proportions, with authorized spinoffs performing in major cities throughout the world. The group is a permanent attraction in Las Vegas.

On September 14, DTS Entertainment will deliver Blue Man Group to music lovers and home theater fans everywhere with a 5.1 channel surround-sound release of the group's second recording, The Complex, originally released in stereo in 2003. That recording followed Blue Man Group's Grammy-nominated gold record, Audio, which was also released on DVD-A.

The…

Anti-pirates: Vivendi, Thomson

American media companies and electronics manufacturers may be adversaries in the conflict over digital copy protection, but their French counterparts have decided to make love, not war.

On Friday, April 19, media conglomerate Vivendi Universal SA and electronics giant Thomson Multimedia announced a partnership to develop anti-piracy technology. Vivendi is the parent company of European television network and cable system Canal Plus, Universal Music Group, and Universal Pictures. Thomson Multimedia is parent of RCA Electronics. Thomson, curiously, helped develop the MP3 audio format that…

The Mystic Portal Revealed

Joe Abrams has an impressive audio resume. "I've been on the manufacturer's side of the desk since 1979," he says. That's when he started as national sales manager for Monster Cable. A few years later found Abrams as director of sales at Sumiko, and then in 1987 he started as VP of sales at Threshold. In 1991 Abrams joined cable start-up Tara Labs and quickly helped them establish a dealer network before moving on to MIT.

In 1997, Abrams realized that instead of hopping from company to company, the time was right for him to form Equus Audio and work independently as a marketing…

Charitable Audiophiles

August is shaping up as a great month for audiophiles and good causes. The Cable Company's annual "Summer Against Hunger" campaign is in full swing, and Rockford Home Group has announced that the first production unit of the 50 limited-edition FAP V1 vacuum-tube surround processors (see previous) will be auctioned via eBay with proceeds donated to charity.

The FAP V1 will be open to bidding August 22–August 31, 2003. During that period, RHG suggests that interested bidders should visit http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/fosgateaudionics/. RHG reports that all proceeds from the sale of the…

RIAA Opposes NY Artists' Bill

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has gone on record opposing the Artistic Freedom Act, introduced for consideration by the New York State Assembly on October 28 by Speaker Sheldon Silver. The bill would free artists from long-term contracts—now sometimes as long as 25 years—and would give them "free agency" status.

An RIAA spokesperson, quoted by Billboard reporter Erik Gruenwedel on November 1, said his organization doubts the AFA's chances of passage in the current economic and political climate. The spokesperson dismissed the possibility of NY lawmakers doing "…

Bang & Olufsen Gets Branded

Branding was once reserved for cowhide and breakfast cereals, but changes in the retailing landscape have fostered new approaches for everything from running shoes (Niketown) to cartoon-character merchandise (Disney and Warner Bros. stores) to clothes (Gap, etc.). In the audio market, Bose stores are now common sites in shopping malls, but few higher-ticket companies have taken the brand-store plunge.

Recently, Bang & Olufsen announced that it will now focus on developing B&O-licensed "branded stores" throughout the world; there are currently more than 250 stores worldwide. B…

RIAA to MP3.com: See You in Court

On January 17, we reported a new service by MP3.com in which it would store, on its site, digital copies of tunes purchased by music lovers for them to access from any location. Beverly Hills attorney Ken Hertz, who sometimes consults with MP3.com, said he would be "surprised if the recording industry didn't sue," despite glowing statements from MP3.com chief Michael Robertson about all the benefits and new sales the recording industry would enjoy from his venture into uncharted waters.

Mr. Hertz might have enjoyed a quick windfall by betting on his own hunch. Only a few days later, the…

Industry Update

Burmester: Burmester Audio Systems has a new distributor, Soundquest LLC, which has been distributing Audio Physic for some time. Tel: (212) 731-0729. Fax: (212) 731-0730.

Nola Speakers: Nola Speakers has named Elite Audio Video Distribution its US distributor. Inquiries should go to Scot Markwell. Tel: (323) 466-9694, extension 22. Email: scot.markwell@eliteavdist.com.

Sonics By Joachim Gerhard: Sonics By Joachim Gerhard, which, as the name implies, is a line of speakers designed by Joachim Gerhard, best known for founding Audio Physic, is distributed in the US by Immedia. Immedia'…

Higher Performance from TI, Intel

In mid-April, Texas Instruments and Intel announced developments likely to improve the experience for many music fans in the near future. TI announced the industry's highest performance four-channel audio digital–analog converter (DAC), and Intel released the final v1.0 specification for "Intel High Definition Audio."

TI's new PCM4104 is designed for professional audio applications, such as digital mixing consoles, digital effects processors, multi-track recorders, and broadcast studio equipment, as well as high-end surround sound processors and high-end A/V receivers. The 24-bit DAC from…