Dan D 'Agostino, Mark Levinson, Jim Thiel,

Levinson (the person) has designed some new-ish stuff from Daniel Hertz and lives in Venice (on a boat maybe?). He seems to come up with interesting things from time to time, as does his old company owned by Harmon (I think). Same with Krell in the sense that they keep at it with some well regarded integrateds and such...D'Agostino must have found some VERY deep pockets to finance his line of extreme toys, or he got rich from Krell, but the designs he's out there with are pretty cool and other's could take a que from this stuff as most audio gear looks stale or more Bauhaus than Art Deco.

Audiolabyrinth...unless you're joking or working for Carver...that add has run before and I think it's ridiculous, and although those with 5,000 sq ft listening rooms might like the speakers, that add does little to dispel Carver's reputation as somewhat of a clown. I also have to wonder what Carver is thinking with the 700 watt mono tube amps that look like tube testing equipment...just strange. I think he recently designed some nice little tube amps but his tacky demeanor just takes away from credibility, such as it is.

Surprised that I think Carver is an annoying freak? I might be the only one who feels this way, but he seems insane.

In the year since my "annoying freak" comment I've realized something…Carver is still an annoying freak. His designs might be fine, although also freaky…except his smaller tube amps…I like those.