LATEST ADDITIONS

Recently, I assessed four disparate room-correction systems based on digital signal processing (DSP): Copland DRC205, Lyngdorf Audio RoomPerfect, <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/1105mitr">Velodyne SMS-1</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/706mitr">Meridian DRC</A>. I concluded that Meridian's approach&mdash;which applies IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) "anti-resonance" filters to suppress room resonant modes, if only partially&mdash;was, in many respects, the best. What I particularly like about Meridian DRC is that, unlike the Copland and Lyngdorf processors, its approach to system tonal balance is largely hands-off. Yes, it lightens up the extreme bass a little, as you'd expect, but it doesn't recast the system balance in any way that might prove undesirable. If you like your system's tonal character as it is, Meridian DRC behaves just as you'd want a room-correction system to behave: it quells room resonance effects while leaving the system's essential sound well alone.

<B>P.D.Q. BACH: <I>WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio</I></B><BR>
Prof. Peter Schickele and the Usual Cast of Clowns; many instruments, some of which you'll recognize<BR>
Telarc CD-80295 (CD only, as if we had to tell you that). Robert Woods, Elaine Martone, prods.; Jack Renner, Michael Bishop, engs. DDD (as if we had to tell you that, too). TT: 61:39

Omar and I left my apartment and stepped into the chilly night air, on our way to Binny's Liquors.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7PbuUdjrkc&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7PbuUdjrkc&rel=1&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

The internets have brought audiophiles a wealth of information never before available. Sure you are reading Stereophile.com right now, but what are some other fun audio websites?

When I arranged to review the Bryston 28B-SST monoblock power amplifier, I wanted to be certain that the 1kW amplifier wouldn't be starved for current. Bryston advised me that Plitron, who manufacture the 28B-SST's toroidal transformer, also make Power Isolation Units (PIUs), under the brand name Torus Power. Torus explained that its PIUs combine surge suppression with massive toroidal transformers to provide AC power conditioning and protection from voltage surges.

I had planned to feature a few intriguing new products I saw at CEDIA's Expo 2007 held last September in Denver, but I did that on the <I>Stereophile</I> <A HREF="http://blog.stereophile.com/cedia2007">website</A&gt;. Instead, I'll just tell you about the only big audio trend I saw there: HDMI.

Jaki Byard’s <I>Sunshine of My Soul</I> (High Note) has come to my attention a bit late, otherwise it would have made my Top 10 list at the end of last year. Yet another long-lost concert-tape dug out of the vaults, it takes us to San Francisco’s Keystone Korner in June 1978, where Byard is flying barrel-rolls solo. Byard—who died in 1999 at 77, gunned down on his doorstep for still-unknown reasons—was a pianist both virtuosic and rowdy. His left hand is rock-solid, his right hand fleet with fury. Imagine Willie “The Lion” Smith pressure-cooked by Mingus (Byard played in Mingus’ band through most of the ‘60s), and you get some idea. He was a teacher to Jason Moran and Fred Hersch, two of today’s most versatile jazz pianists, and you can hear much of his influence in their work as well, especially Moran when he cruises through stride licks.

You thought the only new articles about CDs you'd be reading would be about further declines in sales? Well, it turns out that <A HREF="http://www.arkivmusic.com">ArkivMusic</A&gt;, the country's leading website for new and formerly out-of-print classical recordings, posted, um, record sales last year.

Longtime <I>Stereophile</I> reader (and EFF senior staff attorney) Fred von Lohmann sent us a message pointing us to rumors that iPod Classics running v1.1 firmware were outputting DC through both their dock connection and headphone jack. He included a <A REF="http://ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-classic-11-line-out-vol…; to iLounge.com, which bills itself as "an independent provider of information about Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod and iPhone digital media players, accessories, and related software."