Now that we've scrutinized the past 20-30 audio years, a reader from Portland wants to know what you'd like to see happen in high-end audio in the <I>next</I> 20-30 years. Let's see some wild ideas.
Is the world ready for another portable music format? <A HREF="http://www.dataplay.com/">DataPlay Incorporated</A> thinks so. On March 12, the Boulder, CO–based company announced an agreement with <A HREF="http://www.bmg.com/">Bertelsmann Music Group</A> to release new titles later this year on miniature pre-recorded discs, which are about the size of a quarter.
Recorded music was a $14.3 billion business in the United States last year, according to the newly published 2000 Consumer Profile from the <A HREF="http://www.riaa.com/">Recording Industry Association of America</A> (RIAA). Released March 13, the report details who music buyers are, what they are buying, and how much they are spending.
Last week, the US Secret Service reported that, assisted by the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) New York Anti-Piracy Unit, it had executed two search and seizure warrants in Queens and Manhattan, resulting in what the agency called "the break-up of a massive counterfeit music operation." The Secret Service reported that approximately 20,000 recorded CD-Rs and 1200 masters were seized from the Queens and Manhattan locations.
There are a variety of ways to empty a large bucket of water: The entire contents can be quickly dumped in a dramatic rush, or a small hole can be punched in the bottom, allowing a smaller but continual flow over an extended period of time. Digital data can be seen as the water in the DVD "bucket," with 24/192 multi-channel sound being the equivalent of a big audio splash.
Tweaks can rear their pointy little heads in the most unexpected of places, as <I>Stereophile</I>'s inimitable Jonathan Scull discovered recently when he stubbed his toe. In <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//finetunes/325/">Fine Tunes #33</A>, J-10 reveals the floor screw tweak and many more.
Creek Audio founder/designer/co-owner Michael Creek is a quiet, friendly, unassuming man. Unlike some ego-driven electronics designers who tout their products very loudly from their pulpits, Michael Creek has been quietly designing high-quality, musical, and affordable integrated amps in black-metal boxes for nearly 20 years. His target market is the passionate music-lover who wants something a notch above an entry-level NAD or Rotel receiver, but whose bank manager would frown on splurging on electronic separates.
While walking home from the office the other day I passed a gleaming, perfectly detailed Harley-Davidson, lightly customized, as many are these days. I didn't stop and drool, but I couldn't unsnap my eyes from it. As I drew parallel to that hawg, a Ricky Martin look-alike threw his leg over the saddle and thumbed the starter. No, you don't have to be a tattooed, beer-gutted redneck anymore to rear up and <I>slam</I> down on a kick-starter of one of those beasts. These days, it's all done with the push of a button. Dude.
From the days of Les Paul's chum Mary Ford, through Amanda McBroom and Jennifer Warnes, right up to Patricia Barber, audiophiles have been fascinated, and sometimes obsessed, with female vocals. I nominate to membership in that select sorority another Patricia, in this case O'Callaghan, whose third CD has just been released worldwide by her new label, Teldec.