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CES 2004: Before the Flood

Jon Iverson Jan 07, 2004 First Published: Jan 07, 2004

Although the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) officially runs from Thursday, January 8 through Sunday, January 11, the day before the show has traditionally been reserved for press conferences by the major electronics companies. In recent years, audio news has been overshadowed by home-theater and video announcements, since that is where the big boys have decided the mass market has gone. This year was no different, but that's not to say there was no audio news.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Jan 05, 2004 First Published: Jan 05, 2004

As Paul Messenger states in his 2000 review of the Linn">http://www.stereophile.com/analogsourcereviews/200linn">Linn Arkiv B phono cartridge, "This Stereophile review is long overdue. Furthermore, this review addresses a complaint often directed against reviews and reviewers: that we rarely spend enough time with a component to gain a properly balanced, long-term perspective."

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US Music Industry Holding Steady

Barry Willis Jan 05, 2004 First Published: Jan 05, 2004

Is the music industry in the early stages of a turnaround? Sales of recorded music in the US declined by less than 1% in 2003, according to figures released December 31 by Nielsen SoundScan.

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Mission to the US

Jon Iverson Jan 05, 2004 First Published: Jan 05, 2004

British loudspeaker manufacturer Missionhttp://www.mission.co.uk">Mission; has announced a major marketing push into North America with the launch of its new distribution arm, Mission">http://www.mission-usa.com">Mission U.S.A. The company, founded in 1977 and noted for using one of the first polypropylene-cone drivers in 1978, had been distributing its products in the US through Denon Canada.

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Shocking Audio News

Jon Iverson Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

We all know that audiophile products are dangerous to the pocketbook, but one high-end audio manufacturer is notifying its customers that one of its subwoofers may be dangerous to the listener's health as well.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

J. Gordon Holt and various other Stereophile writers are brought together to create the definitive review archive of the Audio">http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/739/">Audio Research SP9 preamplifier. The SP9 review was controversial in its day, and the complete review archives include manufacturer and reader comments.

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NHT Makes Another Move

Jon Iverson Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

Arizona-based Rockford">http://www.rockfordcorp.com">Rockford Corporation announced last week that it has acquired loudspeaker designer Now">http://www.nhthifi.com">Now Hear This (NHT) from Recoton Corporation. Previous Rockford acquisitions include Fosgate, Hafler, Acoustat, and MB Quart. The company says that specific terms of the new agreement are confidential.

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New Financing Boosts XM Radio

Barry Willis Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

Satellite startup XM">http://www.xmradio.com">XM Radio got a nice Christmas gift on December 24—an infusion of $450 million in new financing that should sustain it well into 2004.

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Retailing: Mixed Results

Barry Willis Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

The last months of 2002 were uneven ones for electronics retailers. American consumers, apparently trying to stretch their home entertainment dollars as far as possible, patronized discount stores while bypassing more upscale competitors.

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Industry Roundup

Barry Willis Dec 29, 2003 First Published: Dec 29, 2003

Price fixing rumors squashed: On Tuesday, December 23, the US Department of Justice officially ended a two-year investigation of price fixing by major record labels, with a report that it had found no evidence to support any of the allegations. The investigation began in summer 2001 and concentrated primarily on online music service MusicNet, a joint venture by Warner Music Group, EMI Group, BMG Entertainment, and RealNetworks; and Pressplay, a joint venture by Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The majors had been accused of conspiring to keep startups out of the online music distribution business.