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BMG Reorganizes Management with New US and European Directors

Barry Willis Jan 21, 2001 First Published: Jan 21, 2001

On January 19, Bertelsmann">http://www.bmgentertainment.com/">Bertelsmann Music Group Entertainment announced changes in senior management that include a new chief financial officer and new directors for its American and European divisions. A major division of the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann">http://www.bertelsmann.de/">Bertelsmann AG, BMG suffered the loss of music industry veteran Rudi">http://www.stereophile.com/news/10930/">Rudi Gassner shortly before Christmas. Gassner, who had been slated to become CEO of BMG, died of a heart attack while vacationing in Bavaria.

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Krell, Conrad-Johnson, McIntosh, and Parasound For Sale Online?

Jon Iverson Jan 21, 2001 First Published: Jan 21, 2001

Treading the fine line between authorized retailers and the used equipment market, New Jersey online retailer WorldExchange.comhttp://www.world-exchange.com">WorldExchange.com; announced last week that it has launched a consumer electronics shopping Web site that offers "deep discounts" on a broad array of mid to high-end audio/video components whose manufacturers, the company says, normally adhere to "restricted distribution and price-maintenance policies."

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Digital Radio Still Waiting To Take Off

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

One of the hottest audio technologies at the recent CES, as far as the general public was concerned, wasn't SACD, or DVD-Audio, or even new MP3 players. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, digital satellite radio jumped into the limelight by announcing its impending rollout this year. Two companies are poised to compete for the top spot, lining up car manufacturers and CE companies in a classic format battle that is sure to heat up by summer.

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Freebies Fading as Napster Goes Commercial?

Barry Willis Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

Money and legal pressure can make even the fiercest tiger change its stripes. Nearing the end of prolonged litigation with the music industry, Napsterhttp://www.napster.com/">Napster; has begun to go commercial.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

Writer Chip Stern has regarded the form-over-function products from "lifestyle" companies, such as Bose and B&O, for years now with great amusement. But can audiophiles find a product that looks as good as it sounds? Stern calls the Linn">http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/307/">Linn Classik CD receiver a "sleek, unobtrusive, uncomplicated design that does double duty as a lifestyle system and—for those who don't want the hassle of separate components—a true high-end performer." Too good to be true? Stern expounds.

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Be, Inc.'s HARP: "Reference Platform" for Internet Audio?

Stereophile Staff Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

At massive gatherings like the Consumer Electronics Show, some truly newsworthy developments by small companies go unnoticed, overshadowed by splashy launches put on by bigger firms. One such is Be">http://www.be.com/">Be, Inc.'s "Home Audio Reference Platform" (BeIA HARP), an all-purpose computer audio system. HARP will let computers access and broadcast Internet-based audio and services, and will also let them play CDs, tapes, and LPs.

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Philips' Online Strategy: Link Customers, Dealers

Barry Willis Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

The Internet has become an integral part of Philips">http://www.philips.com/">Philips Electronics' global sales strategy. The Dutch technology conglomerate has announced a plan for online marketing that will link customers to more than 60,000 Philips dealers worldwide.

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CEA Inducts Seven New Members Into Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2001 First Published: Jan 14, 2001

Hundreds, if not thousands, of new products are unveiled to the consumer electronics industry each year at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But there would be no new products without the efforts of the scientists, engineers, journalists, inventors, company founders, and retailers who bring a product from concept to market.

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Added to the Archives This Week

Stereophile Staff Jan 07, 2001 First Published: Jan 07, 2001

Writer Brian Damkroger had always wanted "a really good, big solid-state amp" to match his Magnepan loudspeakers. So when the Class&#233">http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/304/">Classé CAM 350 monoblock power amplifiers arrived, it seemed like at least one of his dreams had finally come true. But was it a match made in heaven? Damkroger lays out the details in his January, 2001 review.

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More High End Audio From CES

Jon Iverson Jan 07, 2001 First Published: Jan 07, 2001

Several rooms at the Alexis Park featured SACD front ends, but as we moved around the floor of the main LV Convention Center, we heard and saw a lot more about DVD-Audio than SACD. Denon showed their DVD-3300 DVD-A/V player, which began shipping a few months back for $1199. No new models were on the floor, but the Denon rep suggested that something new will be appearing later this year. Pioneer was promising a universal DVD-A/V/SACD/CD machine in the future, and Yamaha was also showing a new DVD-Audio machine, the DVDS1200, in their booth.