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Making good on a promisehttp://www.stereophile.com/news/11382/">promise; made several months back, Avantgarde">http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.com/">Avantgarde Acoustic is moving into the retail realm. The company's German-made horn loudspeakers are the featured products at Avantgarde">http://www.avantgardemusic.biz">Avantgarde Music & Cinema, a new showroom at 27 West 24th Street, Suite 502 in Manhattan. The store is privately owned and operated by Bob">mailto:TheHornStore@aol.com">Bob Visintainer, who emphasized that his business is "definitely Avantgarde focused" but also carries other brands of electronics and accessories.

Bertelsmannhttp://www.bertelsmann.de">Bertelsmann; may escape the legal wrath of its music industry peers, thanks to a decision rendered by Germany's top court on July 25. The Federal Constitutional Court in Berlin ruled to block delivery of a $17 billion lawsuit brought by other members of the recording industry over Bertelsmann's financial support of Napster. The block is good for at least six months and could be permanently renewed upon full examination of the lawsuit. Bertelsmann has already filed in US federal court in New York to have the suit dismissed.

Yet another Bay Area audio retailer has defied industry trends by moving from home-based business to a storefront and simultaneously revamping its product line. Audio Video Integration (aka AVI Marin) celebrated the Grand Opening of its new San Rafael 6000ft² retail store and 3000ft² warehouse on April 2, 2015 via a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by San Rafael Vice Mayor Andrew McCullough. Even before the ceremony got underway, and for several hours thereafter, a host of loyal customers, friends, and well-wishers began to ogle the store's capacious layout and multiple audio and AV installations, enjoy food and drink, and discover anew the glories of high-end sound.

Though a wild goose chase on the hottest day of Munich High End led me to AVM's across-the-street press conference just in time to discover that my only option was to stand in the doorway and sweat buckets or visit their MOC display later in the day, I eventually managed to photograph the innards of the new high-performance AVM CS 8.3 All-in-One (above). This baby offers Wi-Fi and network streaming with a CD player, DAC, class-A headphone amp, and a 250Wpc stereo amplifier.

AVTech Media Ltd (UK) has purchased the Home Tech Network from TEN: The Enthusiast Network, it was announced today. The Home Tech Network's six brands including Stereophile, Sound & Vision, Shutterbug, AnalogPlanet, Audiostream, and Innerfidelity will join with AVTech Media's Hi-Fi News, Hi-Fi Choice, Home Cinema Choice and the Hi-Fi Show Live. The new company creates a global powerhouse delivering the largest single specialized AV group on the planet, reaching more than three million enthusiasts/CE consumers through print, digital, social, video and events.

On July 2, major US audio distributor AXISS Audio filed a federal lawsuit against Michael Bovaird and his businesses (Suncoast Audio, Luxury Hi-Fi Distribution, and Clarisys Audio), Michael Gefteas, aka The Greek Audio Geek, and his business (Bespoke Audio), and Florian Wiegand, part owner of Clarisys Audio. In separate Facebook posts, The Greek Audio Geek and the other defendants have pushed back.

Ken Micallef speaks with Axiss Audio VP of Sales and Dealer Relations TJ Goldsby about all the gear in the company's Imagination room at AXPONA 2026, which included a Transrotor Rondino Nero turntable, Koetsu Onyx cartridge, and Gauder Akustik DARC-240 speakers.

Ken Micallef speaks with chief audiophile and President of AXISS Audio USA Cliff Duffey and Soulotion owner Cyrill Hammer about the gear in one of the AXISS Audio USA rooms at AXPONA 2026, which includes a Soulution 350 phono stage, Soulution 312 amplifier, and Gauder Akustik Elargo 200 speakers.

At AXPONA 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Axiss Audio's Steve Huntley and Bel Canto Design's President Michael McCormick about the gear shown in another one of the Axiss rooms at the show, including a Transrotor Dark Star turntable, Bel Canto Design Black system—which includes the ESC2 system controller and MPS2 monoblock amplifiers—and Franco Serblin Accordo Unica speakers.

Ken Micallef speaks with Axiss Audio Owner, CEO, and Chief Audiophile Cliff Duffey about all the gear in the company's Aster room at AXPONA 2026, which included a Reed Muse 1C turntable, Soulution 717 amplifiers, and Rockport Technologies Lyra speakers.