Vivendi Universal Will Buy MP3.com
It's sometimes amazing how courtroom adversaries can become bosom buddies. This week's example: on May 21, Vivendi">http://www.vivendiuniversal.com">Vivendi Universal SA agreed to acquire Internet music portal MP3.com">http://www.mp3.com">MP3.com Inc. for $372 million (423 million euros) in cash and stock—or $5.00/share for MP3.com stockholders. The announcement followed Vivendi's April 5 acquisitionhttp://www.stereophile.com/news/11015/">acquisition; of Emusic.com for $24 million. The targeted companies' boards of directors unanimously approved both deals. MP3.com will continue to offer music from non-Universal labels, according to a company press release.
Vivid Audio introduces Giya Cu loudspeakers featuring technology from Moya M1
Vivid Audio has announced the Giya Cu (Copper), a third-generation update to its iconic Giya loudspeaker series featuring copper-capped midrange drivers and updated enclosures.
Vivid, Gryphon, Shunyata Event in Florida Saturday
Saturday December 9, from 12pm to 4pm, Suncoast Audio (7353 International Place, Unit 309, Sarasota, FL, 34240) says they are sending 2017 out with a bang! They are hosting a year-ending event with Vivid loudspeakers, Gryphon electronics, and Shunyata cabling.
Vivid/dCS/Wilson Event in Berkeley, Saturday Afternoon
Multiple product premieres take place at Berkeley, CA store Music Lovers Audio (2116 Blake Street), Saturday December 5, from 1pm6pm. Philip O’Hanlon of On A Higher Note is presenting the North American premiere of the Vivid B1 Decade, 10th Anniversary, limited-edition loudspeaker (above). John Quick of dCS will show the new dCS Rossini D/A processor, and Peter McGrath of Wilson Audio Specialties will present the Wilson Sabrina loudspeakers in a system featuring the Spectral DMC-30SV Super Veloce preamplifier.
von Lohmann Gives Us the Low-Down
Last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) Fred">http://www.stereophile.com/news/031306eff/">Fred von Lohmann talked with us about how fair use created unexpected riches for Hollywood, created the iPod boom, and how dismantling it could prove disastrous for consumers. This week, we resume that conversation with a discussion about digital rights management (DRM) and why the computer industry is willing to support it, even though its consumers never asked for it.
Von Schweikert Back from the Flood
As reported last March, loudspeaker manufacturer Von Schweikert Research closed its doors after a disastrous flood hit the factory (see previous">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10413/">previous report). Many thought this was the end of the story, but last week, Dr. Edward Gonzaga, of the Gonzaga Investment Group, announced the formation of a new version of the company, to be named Von">mailto:albertvonn@aol.com">Von Schweikert Audio.
Von Schweikert Saga Continues
Accidents and disasters have no sense of good timing, and when they strike have a way of fouling even the most promising love affairs. Case in point: loudspeaker manufacturer Von">http://www.vonschweikert.com/">Von Schweikert Research and the small town of Watertown (pop. 30,000) in northern New York, about three hours' drive from Toronto.
VPI Open House in New Jersey Saturday
Saturday, November 14, 16pm: VPI Industries (10 Riverside Lane, Holmdel) will host an Open House/Listening Party. Guests will be able to enjoy four rooms, each furnished with a system that has been carefully optimized for the specific listening environment. The event will highlight two new pieces of electronics: the Luminous Audio Arion Phonostage (above) and the Fern & Roby Integrated Amplifier, both engineered by Mike Bettinger of Bettinger Audio. Manufacturer representatives from all three companies will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the products.
VPI–AudioQuest Event in New Jersey Friday
Friday May 20, from 2-10pm, Hi-Fi Sales (1732 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003) is hosting an event in which audiophiles can get their first look at VPI's brand new ADS (Analog Drive System) speed controller
VQF Digital Audio Format Enjoying Renewed Interest
Fans of Macintosh computers and Betamax videotape are fond of pointing out that in the free market, the best technologies don't necessarily win. That scenario may be playing out again in the case of VQFhttp://www.vqf.com/">VQF;, a digital audio transfer and storage technology originally developed several years ago by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone.