The number of two-channel Super Audio Compact Discs seems to grow by the week. There are now several hundred titles to choose from—and hundreds on the way, with the recent endorsement of the format by major record labels. Even so, there are still very few SACDs that exploit the multichannel capabilities of Direct Stream Digital.
Citing increasing competition from stronger companies and online music ventures about to debut from major record labels, an investment group has taken the drastic step of calling for the sale of <A HREF="http://www.liquidaudio.com">Liquid Audio</A>.
In the wake of last week's disasters in New York, Washington, DC, and Pittsburgh, <A HREF="http://www.audioasylum.com">Audio Asylum</A> and <A HREF="http://www.audiogon.com">Audiogon</A> have banded together to co-sponsor a charity auction of audio equipment to benefit the NY Firefighters' Fund and other related charities.
Wes Phillips pries a hard-to-acquire <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/412/">Ayre Acoustics V-3 power amplifier</A> out of company hands and puts it to the sonic test. Does the amp live up to its legendary "Best of Show" status? Phillips has the answer.
<B><I>AVALON BLUES: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt</I></B><BR> Dave Alvin, Beck, Peter Case, Bruce Cockburn, Justin Earle, Steve Earle, Richard Greene, Ben Harper, Alvin Youngblood Hart, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Bill Morrissey, Clare Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Jenni Muldaur, David Rawlings, Mark Selby, Chris Smither, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Victoria Williams<BR> Vanguard 79582-2 (CD). 2001. Peter Case, prod.; Francisco Lugo, Dawn Hopkins, Ray Kennedy, Mark Raines, Mark Wilkins, Jeff Landrock, Matt Andrews, David Rawlings, engs. AAD.? TT: 51:29<BR> Performance <B>****</B><BR> Sonics <B>***?</B>
Every once in a while, a piece of super-esoteric gear crosses my path that, on the face of it, makes no sense whatsoever. Eventually, however, the component is revealed as being "merely" simple and elegant, begging the question: Must it <I>always</I> be done the way it's always been done?
Reader Robert Gantz wonders, now that the major record labels have committed to adding copy protection processing to at least some of their CDs, are you ready to reduce or stop buying new music until they stop?
For the last several months, the major record labels have been ramping up what some have viewed as a stealth assault on their customers by increasingly deploying technology that restricts the use of audio CDs (see <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11113/">previous</A>). While an increasing number of music fans have been crying foul, one consumer has decided to fight back in court.
In his review of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/407/">Toshiba SD-9200 DVD-Audio player</A>, Chip Stern asks the question "In a rollout of new technologies more or less driven by the expectations of the home-theater crowd, what's in it for us music-lovers?" Stern uncovers the answer and then some, while Kal Rubinson explores the player's surround-music performance.
Most aspiring musicians dream of the day they will sign a contract with a major record label. Too often, the dreams become nightmares from which they can escape only much later in life.