In his review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/253/">Sharp SM-SX100 digital integrated amplifier</A>, Michael Fremer asks: "why would a sharp mind offer a $15,000 integrated <I>digital</I> amplifier to a reviewer who has been characterized in the audio press as the 'self-proclaimed Analog Messiah' and a 'hyper-Luddite'?" Would Fremer actually cotton to a digitized vinyl recording? Read Fremer's report for the startling conclusion.
The good news keeps coming. According to the lastest figures from the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA), the month of May echoed <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10773/">previous months</A>' continuous increase in audio product sales, with monthly revenues up 11% and year-to-date revenues up 12%, to $3.1 billion.
Tempted to just cut'n'paste his earlier Arcam integrated amplifier review into his rundown of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/251/">Arcam FMJ CD23 CD player</A>, Lonnie Brownell explains that, "after all, it's the same story: British manufacturer gives highly praised product a slick new case to entice those who find their Alpha line too downscale in appearance, adds a few internal tweaks to make it a bit more interesting, and kicks the price up by $400." Instead, he does the right thing in a complete review that even answers the vital question: Should this Arcam be your last CD player?
Sometimes a product can take a while to reach its potential. As Jonathan Scull writes, "First, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/249/">Accuphase DP-75V CD player</A> took a full two weeks to warm up and pull its act together. If anything, it was <I>too</I> polite, warm, and over-the-top bloomy when I first lit it up. The '75 requires a <I>long</I> warm-up period. But wait . . . just wait for it." When the wait was over, J-10 filed his observations in detail.
The <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com/">Recording Industry Association of America</A>'s lawsuit against <A HREF="http://www.napster.com/">Napster</A> may be an attack on one of its best friends, if results of a recent study by research organization <A HREF="http://www.jupiter.com/">Jupiter Communications</A> can be believed.
Chip Stern notes that, "as often as not, it ain't the heat—it's the stupidity. When confronted by the smattering of self-referential dilettantes, acrimonious Internut wannabes, and obsessive-compulsive types who suck the air out of our aural fun-house, I find myself overcome with the desire to program my phaser for Clip." And fire away he does in "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//asweseeit/246/">Snobs, Slobs, & Marley's Ghost</A>," added to the Archives this week.
Kalman Rubinson had tried to get his hands on the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/244/">Revel Performa F30 loudspeakers</A> back in January 1999, but was thwarted until later in the year, when J-10 decided to send them his way. Kal was clearly excited about these speakers, and explains in detail exactly why.
The bad news for the music industry: Teenagers bought less music last year, according to a recently released survey commissioned by the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com/">Recording Industry Association of America</A>. The good news: Middle-aged folks bought more, according to the same survey.
While Thiel Audio is primarily known for highly refined floorstanding speakers, John Atkinson thought it might be a good idea to give the stand-mounted <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/243/">Thiel PCS loudspeaker</A> a spin. In doing so, he confirmed, once again, that wire is not wire when it comes to speaker cables. But what of the speaker? JA's conclusions may surprise a few audiophiles.
The demise of Apogee Acousitics three years ago was one of high-end audio's biggest losses. The company's ribbon loudspeakers were among the best-sounding and best-looking high-fidelity products ever made. What remained of Apogee was picked up by a/d/s/, which at the time made a commitment to supply parts and service for the thousands of speakers in use, but that plan appears to have been abandoned shortly after it was announced. Apogee owners have since had to fend for themselves.