Wes Phillips

Perhaps there is no subject more vigorously debated among audiophiles than the primacy of the loudspeaker. Many 'philes believe there is no more important element in a hi-fi system—after all, they reason, it doesn't matter how good the components ahead of the speakers are; if the transducers can't reproduce the signal, you can't hear it. On the other hand, the source adherents maintain, speakers can't reproduce information that hasn't been retrieved from the recording. Loudspeakers can limit the amount of information you hear, but they can't increase it. This is one of those irresolvable paradoxes similar to the question of which came first, the roast chicken or the omelet.

Tom Swift is a talented young loudspeaker designer. Tom believes that he has never been able to prove exactly how talented he is, because the company he works for refuses to build the cost-no-object loudspeaker he's been doodling designs for (on company time).

<B>TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony 6, Serenade for Strings</B><BR>
Daniele Gatti, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra<BR>
Harmonia Mundi HMU 907394 (SACD). 2006. Brad Michel, prod.; Chris Barrett, Craig Silvry, engs. DSD. TT: 77:09<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>*****</B>

Here's something counter-intuitive, despite the fact that cooking shows seem to be ubiquitous on the higher numbered channels, Americans' cooking skill have atrophied to the point that recipes now avoid once common terms like "dredge," "fold," and "cream." God forbid you should use my old fudge-making nemesis, "Cook until the soft-ball stage."

Bawkward ran the physics until reeled the mind! I nod and say <I>un hunh</I>, but that's not comprehension you see dawning on my face.

Huckleberry looks pensive&mdash;which is definitely not in his nature.

Bagheera looking uncharacteristically silly&mdash;although maybe she's just blinded by my new flash.