HI-FI '98 Product Previews, Part Two
Hundreds of manufacturers will be demonstrating state-of-the-art audio products at <A HREF="http://www.hifishow.com">HI-FI '98</A>---some of which have never before been seen by the public.
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Wherehouse Bids for Blockbuster Music
Media conglomerate <A HREF="http://www.viacom.com">Viacom</A>, parent company of <A HREF="http://blockbuster.com"> Blockbuster Music</A>, has reportedly put the ailing chain on the auction block. Most likely buyer is Torrance, California-based music retailer <A HREF="http://wherehouse.com">Wherehouse Entertainment, Inc.</A>, which has 220 stores of its own, primarily on the West Coast. On Wednesday, May 13, Reuters news service reported that Wherehouse had tendered an offer of $200 million for Blockbuster. Wherehouse has been in intermittent discussions for several months with Viacom.
Blumenthal's First Two Listener's Guides Now Available
Author and television producer Howard J. Blumenthal has completed his Jazz and World Music <I>CD Listener's Guides</I>, the first two volumes in a four-volume series. The publications include brief biographies of the top artists in each genre, arranged alphabetically, and hundreds of short reviews of the discs the author considers essential.
Sonus Faber Concerto Grand Piano loudspeaker
I've never heard a pair of the Italian Sonus Faber speakers I didn't like. What I've never liked was the US price: too high. And then you have to put them on costly stands. Plus, you're paying a premium for the magnificent woodworking and exquisite design—something I wasn't into, since I live with my stereo in a basement office/workshop/listening room some (who shall remain nameless) refer to as the "habitat for inhumanity."
Conrad-Johnson ART Preamplifier
Almost two years ago, Conrad-Johnson's Lew Johnson came to Santa Fe while visiting his western dealers. We were chatting about acquaintances in the industry as I showed him the new house I'd barely moved into when he spread a blueprint across a stack of record boxes and showed me a design for a new product.
How many CDs and LPs are in your collection?
Maybe it doesn't really matter how much music you have if you've got those three great albums that do it for you every time, but some folks just can't stop collecting. How about you?
First DVD-Audio Single to be Released Soon
The worldÆs first DVD-Audio single will soon be out from the rock group Full on the Mouth. "People Mover" is a track from the groupÆs forthcoming album, <I>Collide</I>. "We felt a 5.1 surround-sound mix would be a great medium to showcase the capabilities and technology of DVD and the electronic elements of Full on the Mouth,'' said Charlie Lico, chief executive officer of the bandÆs label, Pioneer Music Group, which is a subsidiary of <A HREF="http://www.pioneerusa.com"> Pioneer Electronic Corporation.</A>
New Distribution for AES Standards
On May 5, <A HREF="http://global.ihs.com">Global Engineering Documents</A> (Global) signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with the <A HREF="http://www.aes.org">Audio Engineering Society</A> (AES) to reproduce, market, distribute, and sell AES industry standards worldwide.
HI-FI '98 Product Previews
Several manufacturers will be demonstrating state-of-the-art audio products at <A HREF="http://www.hifishow.com">HI-FI '98</A>---some of which have never been seen by the public before.
Ailing Carver Gets Transfusion, Will Try Direct Sales
On Tuesday, May 5, beleaguered <A HREF="http://www.carver.com">Carver</A> announced that it had received a financial transfusion of almost $400,000 and that it would make a move into direct marketing in an attempt to bolster flagging sales. The Woodinville, Washingon-based company announced in a press release that it "had closed a sale of 3,000,000 shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company to one of its preferred shareholders, Renwick Special Situations Fund, L.P., for $375,000, or $0.125 per share."