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Linn's early decision to develop hard-disk audio systems first got our attention when the Kivor project <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/10645/">was announced</A> back at the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show. The Linn Kivor has now spent almost two years on the market, garnering a positive <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/497/">review</A&gt; from John Atkinson and a special "Editor's Choice" mention in this month's 2002 Products of the Year.

How much fun can you have with an audio component? Fun for me is having a Nakamichi BX-300 analog cassette deck running into Musical Fidelity's evolutionary, revolutionary CD-Pre<SUP>24</SUP> preamplifier, with the unit's <I>digital</I> output feeding the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/605/">Alesis Masterlink</A> hard-drive-based digital recorder, and being able to monitor the <I>digital</I> loop through the preamp once again in the analog domain.

Over the course of several months, during which time I auditioned the Vacuum Tube Logic TL-5.5 tubed line-stage preamp with a variety of power amps and loudspeakers, I began to reassess many long-held notions about the "characters" of solid-state and tube components. Sometimes the TL-5.5 revealed its musical pedigree with all the midrange juiciness and sublime textural detail that one traditionally associates with a triode front-end, while at others it evinced a level of focus, transparency, and frequency extension I more readily associate with solid-state purity&mdash;all in a stylish package featuring a remote volume control and a full range of performance enhancements that belied its affordable price.

Some of us find ourselves turning into music lending libraries; the rest of us keep our discs under lock and key. Can your pals borrow your discs?

Imitation, as the old saw would have it, is the sincerest form of flattery. It might also offer a way for DVD-Audio to establish credibility and build a customer base.

Promising technology, interesting programming, and good business plans may not be enough to keep satellite radio services <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Radio</A> and <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Radio</A> aloft. Both companies are struggling with massive financial problems as they scramble to gain subscribers.

At present, the recording industry is based on a variety of analog and PCM digital audio formats, putting proponents of Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD, which is based on the Direct Stream Digital, or DSD, format) in a tough place when it comes to creating pure DSD works for showing off the format. To date, labels have had a limited number of options for creating, mixing, and mastering pure DSD projects.