Onkyo universal changer: Many audio purists still cling to the notion that…
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XM on a roll: Recent marketing efforts appear to be paying off for XM Satellite Radio. On July 2, the satellite radio startup announced that it had exceeded the 2.1-million subscriber mark during the second quarter. More than 418,000 new subscribers signed up during that period—over twice the number recruited in the same quarter last year. XM-compatible products are appearing at an ever-increasing number of retail outlets, leading some observers to believe that the company may have a fighting chance in the long run.
Want to start an argument on one of the audio newsgroups? Just mention ABX. Doesn't matter if you're for it, against it, or just curious about what it is---you'll start a fire that might take weeks to burn out. But before audio newsgroups even existed, J. Gordon Holt was probing the usefulness of the ABX Comparator in an "As We See It" column from 1982, "The Truth Should Out." His thoughts might surprise you.
Our second Archive addition this week is less controversial, but perhaps more important to the music-loving audiophile. In "What Makes a Good Recording?," J. Gordon Holt lays out…
Are audiophiles and recording engineers natural adversaries? From the many slings and arrows hurled back and forth between the camps, it would certainly seem so. Robert Harley asks, "But are recording engineers less concerned about sound quality than are audiophiles? If so, why? Isn't someone who has devoted his life to recording music more caring than the hobbyist audiophile? If not, why not?" Read his analysis of the issues in "A Clash of Values?" Also included is a lively volley of readers' letters.
While returning from the recent HI-FI '99 in Chicago, Stereophile editor John Atkinson…
It's been a long wait, but we're finally starting to see high-bandwidth IEEE 1394 digital audio connections on the back of DVD-A/SACD players (see related story), as first hinted at by Yamaha five years ago. A key ingredient for getting the beleaguered 1394 (or FireWire or iLink) format moving was the inclusion of copy-protection protocols that restrict unfettered consumer use of the digital audio content.
Next step: lose those pesky wires. The 1394 Trade Association announced last week that its Wireless Working Group (WWG) has resolved the issue of commercial entertainment content…
Brian Damkroger listens long and hard to the Primare D30.2 CD player noting, "Primare is reluctant to provide much technical detail about their designs, preferring to let their products do the talking." So after a little chatting, BD files his report.
For vinyl fans, Art Dudley auditions the Audio Note M2 Balanced Phono preamplifier. AD writes, "The M2 has come up for redesign, resulting in a product that not only nips at the M3's heels but comes close to tying the race."
Next, we have Brian Damkroger's concise review of the concise Placette Audio Remote Volume Control passive…
One of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers is making a move into digital audio. Texas Instruments announced March 16 that it has acquired Toccata Technology ApS, a small, privately held company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Toccata is "one of the leading developers of digital audio amplifier technology and board solutions," according to a TI press release, and will become part of TI's Digital Speakers Business Unit, continuing to operate from Denmark.
With the acquisition, Texas Instruments will push into the market for "all types of audio equipment, including personal…
MP3, the popular and controversial Internet music format, took a big step toward legitimacy last week. Z Company, which operates San Diego-based MP3.com, announced that it had attracted $11 million in venture capital from idealab! and Sequoia Capital. Z Company will change its name to MP3.com Inc. to reflect the company's core business interests, said president Michael Robertson.
An initial public offering is likely, observers noted. Robertson remarked that "Sequoia Capital likes to back companies that go public. We'll grow it in a way that makes sense." He didn't mention a projected…
The Home Entertainment 2004 East Show, held in New York City, May 20–23, at the New York Hilton & Towers, gave Show attendees a memorable weekend filled with live music, educational seminars, a special movie night, and a grand concert—all included with the price of admission to the Show.
Over the four days of the Show, the New York Hilton & Towers was filled with almost 15,000 home entertainment enthusiasts, 2500 members of the trade, and 450 journalists from all over the world, who came to demo the finest home audio, video, computer, and digital photography technology, as well as…
Arizona-based Rockford Corporation announced last week that it has acquired loudspeaker designer Now Hear This (NHT) from Recoton Corporation. Previous Rockford acquisitions include Fosgate, Hafler, Acoustat, and MB Quart. The company says that specific terms of the new agreement are confidential.
NHT, which markets home theater, stereo, custom installation, and professional audio products under the brand names NHT, Now Hear This, and NHTPro, was established in 1986 by Chris Byrne and Ken Kantor and quickly established itself as an audiophile favorite. Robert J. Reina recently favorably…
They have become the companies music fans around the world love to hate. But to their stockholders, the businesses developing CD-restriction technologies are a promising new technology niche for investing. SunnComm is one of these new companies dedicated to finding means to restrict the ways consumers can use compact discs, and last week they used their annual stockholder meeting as an opportunity to announce their latest copy-protection product.
At the presentation, which took place at SunnComm's corporate offices, the company explained that its new "revolutionary technology" had been…