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dCS Purcell Promises Hi-Rez Playback from 16/44 CDs

Barry Willis Aug 22, 1999 First Published: Aug 22, 1999

Ultra-high-resolution audio formats like the Super Audio Compact Disc and DVD-Audio are just around the corner, but music lovers' CD collections will never be obsolete if companies like dCS have anything to do with it. The British electronics company, noted for its high-quality D/A converters, has introduced a 24-bit/192Hz upconverter that is claimed to elevate the performance of ordinary 16/44.1 CD to near DVD-Audio level.

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"Our best CD yet!" says JA of Stereophile's Latest CD, Bravo!

Jon Iverson Aug 22, 1999 First Published: Aug 22, 1999

Editor's Note: Stereophile's new release, Bravo!, is available for order through the Recordings">https://secure.stereophile.com/stereophile/record.html">Recordings page of this website.

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One More Audio-Compression Scheme Hits the Net

Jon Iverson Aug 22, 1999 First Published: Aug 22, 1999

Last week Microsofthttp://www.microsoft.com">Microsoft; entered the Internet audio fray by announcing the release of their Windows">http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia">Windows Media Technologies 4 platform, which the company claims introduces a "new standard for CD-quality audio" on the Internet. Windows Media includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools, and Windows Media Audio SDK.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Aug 22, 1999 First Published: Aug 22, 1999

It's no secret that audio publications around the world have been shrinking or disappearing of late. John Atkinson writes in his September 1999 "As We See It" that although the trend has certainly affected Stereophile's girth, steps have been taken to fatten the audiophile content of every issue. Read his analysis of the situation in "Closer">http://www.stereophile.com//asweseeit/135/">"Closer Together Covers?"

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Diamond Multimedia, RIAA, and AARC Settle Lawsuit

Jon Iverson Aug 15, 1999 First Published: Aug 15, 1999

While all of the attention was on SDMI and watermarking earlier this month, Diamond">http://www.diamondmm.com">Diamond Multimedia, the http://www.riaa.com/"> Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC) quietly announced the settlement of all pending litigation related to Diamond's Rio portable Internet music player. (See previous">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10324/">previous story.) All three parties say they have dismissed their legal actions, and have announced the mutually satisfactory resolution of outstanding legal issues.

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Fiddling Around with Classical Music Online

Stereophile Staff Aug 15, 1999 First Published: Aug 15, 1999

Last week, GlobalNet Systems announced that violinist Itzhak Perlman has joined its subsidiary On-Line">http://www.OEN.com">On-Line Entertainment Network as consultant and advisory boardmember. The company says that Mr. Perlman will consult on its acquisition and production of live classical-music events and the licensing of master catalogs of recorded classical music. He also joins an advisory board that will advise on future trends and opportunities for the company. The company intends to add other major artists to its advisory board in coming months.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Aug 15, 1999 First Published: Aug 15, 1999

Wes Phillips explains that Adcom is one of those companies that is easy to take for granted. "To break through our complacency, Adcom would have to produce an outright unlistenable turkey—or a product that raised the bar so high that any audio manufacturer would get a hernia just thinking about raising it again."

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Harman Group Embraces E-Commerce

Barry Willis Aug 15, 1999 First Published: Aug 15, 1999

The Internet offers unprecedented opportunity for manufacturers to bring their products directly to their markets, but many companies have been reluctant to embrace it for fear of upsetting their established dealer networks. This has been especially true of mid-to-high-end audio companies, who have traditionally sold their wares through specialty shops.

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MP3 Player Claims "PC-Free" Downloads

Barry Willis Aug 15, 1999 First Published: Aug 15, 1999

Ithaca, New York-based Netdriveshttp://www.netdrives.com/">Netdrives; says it has introduced the world's first MP3 player capable of playing MP3 audio files without using a personal computer. Called the Brujo (Spanish for "wizard" or "sorcerer"), the machine has a built-in CD player that can play more than 11 hours of MP3 music. The device can be connected directly to any home stereo system, and also works as a normal CD player.

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GetPlugged.com Joins E-commerce Stampede

Barry Willis Aug 08, 1999 First Published: Aug 08, 1999

Westlake Village, California-based KnowledgeLINK has announced a mid-September debut for GetPlugged.comhttp://www.getplugged.com">GetPlugged.com;, its e-commerce website. KnowledgeLINK says that the site, presently under construction, will offer a wide variety of mid- to high-end home entertainment products, and "in-depth guidance" for consumers interested in buying them. The company also states that its site's network of affiliated dealers and custom installers will work with customers to ensure that they get the best use of their purchases.