LATEST ADDITIONS

<I>Audica MPS-1:</I> <A HREF="http://www.audica.co.uk/">Audica</A&gt;, the Cambridge, UK&ndash;based manufacturer founded by Kieron Dunk (formerly of Mission, Denon, Cyrus, Infinity, and Klipsch, to name but a few) is finally shipping its stylish MPS-1 desktop audio system ($400). The MPS-1 consists of two diminutive extruded aluminum loudspeakers and a 25Wpc amplifier/control center with three 3.5mm inputs (one high sensitivity for portables and other low-output sources; the others with lower sensitivity and higher input impedence). The MPS-1 control center also has USB and FireWire connections to facilitate recharging portable players' batteries.

<I>As anyone who reads this website is all too aware, these days legislative matters increasingly encroach upon audiophiles' ability to experience uncompromised high fidelity. Like it or not, political decisions </I>can<I> and </I>do<I> have an impact on what we listen to and how we are able to manipulate our music after we have purchased it.

Wilson Audio Specialties' David Wilson likes to say that you should build a stereo system from the speakers down. Of course he does&mdash;he sells speakers. But that doesn't mean he's wrong. So recently, when offered an inexpensive new product for review, I decided it would be a good test of Wilson's theory. I tried driving Wilson's $45,000/pair <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/805wilson">MAXX2</A&gt; speakers with Outlaw Audio's RR2150, a $599 stereo receiver.

The debates may be old, but they're not tired. They rage on with a virulence that suggests there's plenty of life in these old dogs yet. Online forums and Letters to the Editor are filled with them: objectivist <I>vs</I> subjectivist, engineer <I>vs</I> audiophile, double-bind <I>vs</I> doubly blind. The divisions may be artificial or downright specious&mdash;false dichotomies perfectly set up for cheap shots&mdash;but that doesn't dissuade people from drawing sides, driving stakes into the ground, and firing off volley after volley of accusation and retaliation.

<B>VERDI: <I>La Traviata</I></B>
Anna Netrebko, Violetta; Rolando Villaz&#243;n, Alfredo; Thomas Hampson, Germont; others; Vienna Philharmonic, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Carlo Rizzi<BR>
Deutsche Grammophon B0005529-02 (2 CDs). 2005. Rainard Maillard, prod.; Jurgen Bulgrin, eng. DDD. TT: 2:04:13<BR>
Performance <B>****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>

I know that I can hear differences between... I mean: I know that music sounds different when...

But Mark Ronson's "Just High" video put such a huge grin on my face, I just had to share it.