Time for an equipment update along with some fun with music during a blizzard .......

Yesterday was a complete listen of "The Wall" with the Yamaha CD-2100 SACD player, and it was AWESOME! The kick drum centers at 35 Hz, and it was hitting me in the chest. The actives are again making music fun.

Emotiva XMC-1...should be shipping by the end of the month.

A new pre amp that claims to play with the big boys - the Akitika PR-102 ... is a pre amp that is only $459 in kit form (thus the name of the company - Akitika is a palindrome).

It is a straight forward design with high quality parts, and made in USA. I Will compare it to the $1700 PS Audio Stellar Gain and the Emotiva XMC-1.

Their GT-102 power amp is a Class "B" in Stereophile for amps, and is a 50 WPC kit for $314 - we have two of those on the way.

This may open high end sound to those who thought they couldn't afford it. Under $1000 for a pre-amp and power amp - with a pair of M5's, M-3's or even the towers. Look for a complete write up with the M-100's.