Kalman Rubinson says he "anticipated the installation of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/437/">TacT Audio RCS 2.0 digital equalizer/preamplifier</A> with mixed emotions." Would his hard work at setting up the perfect listening environment be rendered irrelevant in the face of digital signal processing? Or would the future of audio unfold at his feet?
With SACD and DVD-Audio rumbling off in the distance, is the high-end CD player dead? Michael Fremer takes a listen to the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/433/">Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player</A> and reports that the company decided it was "better to concentrate efforts on trying to optimize the sound of the two billion CDs already in play than divert company resources into developing technology and products aimed at an uncertain digital future and an unsettled customer base."
Many audiophiles agree that dedicated AC circuits can make notable improvements in the performance of hi-fi equipment. If you are planning to run a dedicated AC line, <A HREF="http://www.jpslabs.com">JPS Labs</A> has a product for you.
It's a Mac attack! First up is Jonathan Scull's take on the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/428/">McIntosh MC1201 monoblock power amplifier</A>. Festooning his listening loft with a pair of the "Great American Icons," J-10 is ready to rumble with "the biggest power meters you ever saw this side-a Milwaukee."
Napster may be down for the count, but audio file-sharing is more popular than ever, according to a study released October 10 by research firm <A HREF="http://www.jmm.com">Jupiter Media Metrix Inc</A>.
Napster may be down for the count, but its millions of former members are happily swapping audio files elsewhere, according to an October 10 report from technology research firm <A HREF="http://www.jmm.com">Jupiter Media Metrix Inc</A>.
As the results from last week's Vote prove, having the right tool for the audiophile job makes all of the difference. And a lot of you selected the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//features/424/"><I>Stereophile</I> Test CD 3</A> as your weapon of choice for uncovering the good, the bad, and the ugly of a component under consideration. Here's the complete story on the most recent test disc from <I>Stereophile</I> and company.
John Atkinson wrestles with the fabled <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/420/">YBA 2 HC power amplifier</A> to uncover its very essence. Can this meticulous design, engineered (some might say over-engineered) by Yves-Bernard André deliver the audio goods?
A comprehensive set of reviews awaits those interested in learning everything there is to know about the legendary <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/416/">Quad ESL-63 loudspeaker</A>. Writers checking in with analysis, background, and opinion include J. Gordon Holt, Anthony H. Cordesman, Sam Tellig, Martin Colloms, Larry Greenhill, and John Atkinson.
There is an overwhelming amount of pop music available on the Internet, but where does the serious music fan go in search of jazz, classical, or opera?