Satellite radio services <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius</A> and <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM</A> both appear headed for a healthy future. The companies both report robust growth in new subscribers. Sweetheart deals with automakers and car rental agencies will expose ever-increasing numbers of consumers to the benefits of commercial-free music.
Major Japanese electronics manufacturers reported mixed results for the quarter ended June 30, with Mitsubishi and Sharp posting sales gains, while Hitachi and JVC did not. Most electronics firms begin their fiscal year on April 1, making June 30 the end of the first quarter.
Let's assume that we live in a future with no bandwidth limitations or storage issues: Would you still want to collect discs, or would a service or physical disc full of choices be better? If you could get high-resolution audio (format of your choice) via download, disc, broadcast, or something else, which would you prefer?
Most audiophiles buy music for the sheer pleasure of hearing it reproduced in all its glory on their systems. However, all musical or sonic attributes aside, what is the rarest or most valuable recording you have in your collection?
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is reporting that sales of DVD-Video players also capable of playing high-resolution audio formats have taken off this year, compared to 2002. According to CEA market research, manufacturers shipped 148,000 DVD-A and 100,000 SACD players to retailers through May of this year.
In his 1987 review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/892/">Celestion System 6000 loudspeaker system</A>, Martin Colloms notes, "In the audio field, the British have traditionally thought 'small,' scoring hits both with their compact loudspeakers and with medium-priced amplifiers." MC reveals why the compact but fullrange Celestions are one such hit.
Sam Phillips, the Memphis recording engineer who was acclaimed by many as one of rock and roll's inventors, died of respiratory failure July 30. He was 80.
The campaign by the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA) to litigate music downloading out of existence has drawn the attention of legislators in the nation's capital.
Once again, audiophiles can help themselves and others at the same time by participating in <A HREF="http://www.fatwyre.com">The Cable Company</A>'s eighth annual "Summer Against Hunger" campaign. The Cable Company and a wide cross-section of its vendors (listed below) have set up a program by which up to 10% of The Cable Company's August sales are donated to CARE and the International Rescue Committee, with contributions to be used to assist the worldwide disaster relief efforts of those humanitarian organizations.
The international uncertainties of 2003 have not been kind to the specialist hi-fi sector, and are probably a key factor in this week's shock announcement. In a statement that sounds depressingly valedictory, the press release (reproduced in full below) baldly states: "TAG McLaren Audio ceases development of new products and commences a full strategic review of its participation in the audio market," before signing off with, "TAG McLaren Audio would like to thank everybody for their kind support over the years."