"Even right out of the box, it's obvious that the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/540/">Wadia Digital 861 CD player</A> is something special," writes Brian Damkroger in this month's issue. "Its heft and finish are beyond the usual high-end standards." But how about the sound?
Michael Fremer gets a chorus of <I>oohs</I> and <I>ahhs</I> as he sets up the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/535/">Hovland Sapphire power amplifier</A> in his listening lair. While the Hovland is certainly a sweet-looking amp, MF rightly points out that "looks alone don't sell hi-fi equipment in the specialty audio market—especially when you're asking $7800 for a 40Wpc two-channel amplifier."
John Atkinson gets high with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/530/">HeadRoom Supreme headphone amplifier</A> and reports on the results. "The quest to make the headphone listening experience more equivalent to normal speaker listening is not new," writes JA. Has the Supreme made the cut?
Perhaps even more than the typical living room, the automobile might be considered multichannel audio's natural environment.
Michael Fremer says he has heard many phono preamps in his career as vinyl's pre-eminent advocate, but a few do stand out. MF lived with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//analogsourcereviews/525/">Conrad-Johnson Premier 15 phono preamplifier</A> for several months to see if it would be one of the medalists. Jonathan Scull also adds some thoughts on the Series 2 version.
Dave McCurdy, president of the <A HREF="http://www.eia.org/">Electronic Industries Alliance</A> (EIA), announced last week that Dr. Sidney Harman, executive chairman of <A HREF="http://www.harman.com">Harman International Industries</A>, has been selected to receive EIA's prestigious Medal of Honor for 2002.
Robert Harley analyzed the $1995 <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/520/">McCormack Power Drive DNA-1 power amplifier</A> back in 1992. His goal? To determine if this product "would be a high-end amplifier for Everyman." Reprint includes Kal Rubinson's Y2K experience with the SMc mods for the DNA-1.
<B>Introduction</B>
Jonathan Scull tackles the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/515/">Pioneer DV-AX10 SACD/DVD-A/CD player</A>, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of one of the first "universal" disc machines. Scull carefully compares the DV-AX10 to stand-alone SACD, DVD-A, and CD players to assess whether, in fact, you <I>can</I> have it all in one tidy package.
Chip Stern writes in his review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/510/">Blue Circle BC3 Galatea line-level preamplifier</A>, "From the moment I hooked these units up, the captivating turquoise glow of their matching front-panel lights (a glowing orb within a blue circle) held out the promise of something inviting and serene." Promise fulfilled? Stern spills the Blue Circle beans.