LATEST ADDITIONS

There are many nights when being a music writer comes down to the whining about the stark question: why am I dragging my ass out on the town again? What reason do I really have to see this act? Or to see this act one more time?

Tony Perrottet tells us that Spike Jones was closer to being right than we suspected.

They're always in the last place you look.

Good news! You're going to die—want to find out when?

The classic audiophile "pose" is sitting still in a chair, probably with eyes shut, and perhaps a toe tapping. But some music demands that you leave your seat and dance. Do you often get up and move when your audio system is playing?

The <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/694krc2">Krell KRC-2</A> can be regarded as a remote-controlled successor to Krell's successful KSL preamplifier of a few years back. The outboard Krell Phono Equalizer (KPE) is a separate box powered from the KRC-2. Priced at $850, it contains a printed circuit board very similar, in fact, to the $499 unit that can be fitted within the KRC. The KPE and KRC phono stages are well-designed universal units; if someone has the need for a stand-alone phono equalizer of Krell KRC standard, a separate power supply may be purchased for the KPE. It is also an advantage to be able to locate the KPE head amplifier in a hum-free zone near the LP turntable.

There's always a certain amount of jockeying for position at the very top of the High End. Every few months, a new star burns brightly, getting all the attention. While the constant turnover at the cutting edge helps to define the state of the art, audiophiles should keep their eyes on the longer term. It's a company's track record&mdash;examined over a period of years&mdash;which defines its position in the market and the credibility of its products.