To remain down-to-earth and real, this brings us now to the self-congratulatory braggard's portion of this anniversary address. To wit: In 12-month's time, we've already exceeded the legally imposed speed limit of 55 - hardware reviews that is, with a goodly number of product premieres representing a fair mix of the affordable and expensive. There's 70 music reviews in the can, signifying a wickedly unfair focus on a single genre. 17 industry features. 15 Auroville columns for fellow 'philes Positive Feedback On-Line (kudos to Dave Clark for letting us ride their far bigger coat tails with his generous return links to our site). And two show reports, with a third one in the wing (fitting since we're flying with one only, preferring acrobatic improv to corporate stagnation). Say, not half bad for a venture that, this year past, was predominated by a single fella's keyboard. Still, mostly isn't synonymous with exclusive by a long shot. Hence, give it up for fellow deep space travelers Stephaen, Edward, Mike and Chip. Purely for the glory of it, these maniacs have contributed witty and insightful articles and reviews pro bono. Yep, that's right - for nothing, not even a dinky dime. Perhaps they're hoping to reap the spoils of success at a later time while enjoying our freedom of speech right now? We encourage them to flaunt rather than flail their penmen's personalities. It's the only payback we could think of and simultaneously afford: Have fun, let it rip. Cheap, eh? Still, this solitary benefit of Editorial perspective proved of enough short-term value to have them invest a certain sweat equity on the front end. Are they waiting for more-or-less fullrange response on the back end in the future? I certainly hope so. Good work shouldn't go without recompense. Let the stylus drop for some sound then. Truly, I'm only too cognizant of the fact that sooner or later, I owe these gents some monetary compensation, never mind putting food on my own table. What's more, I'd like to go after specific foreign correspondents -- Japan, Singapore, France, Italy and Germany -- who'd tap into their respective audio underground cultures and share with us the exotic goings-on of products and designers that our US colonialist myopia overlooks. To facilitate this direction of growth while maintaining the focus and quality we've demonstrated thus far? Dare I bring it up? That takes money. Loot. What a concept. Say what? No trust fund babies, stockholders, inheritance chasers at 6moons who could hold the bag? Afraid not. To tackle this perennial dance between creativity and commerce, dream and reality, you've noted the select and much appreciated support, from manufacturing and dealer sponsors, that 6moons has managed to generate since our lift-off in June of 2002. Without it, we wouldn't have made it this far despite our at least one wing. Simple as that. Another hand then for all of our ad sponsors. Thank you, sincerely and from our hearts! But, is this scheme of ad-sponsored publishing truly the best and most elegant solution? Certain of our readers don't seem to think so. Instead, they've suggested we turn subscription. |
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May 2003 - Avantgarde Acoustic TRIO/BASSHORN
May 2003 - Orthospectrum Musicalizer May 2003 - Analysis Plus Power Oval 10 May 2003 - VBT Magellan VIII May 2003 - Bel Canto Design DAC2 May 2003 - Hadcock 242SE tonearm May 2003 - Sophia Electric S.E.T. 300B MkII April 2003 - Shanling T-100 tube CD player April 2003 - Music Hall MMF-25 Follow-Up April 2003 - Cairn Fog v.2 24/192 April 2003 - Diva Audio Tian Zhu April 2003 - Artistic Audio Vacuum Reference IC April 2003 - Shunyata Guardian & Diamondback March 2003 - Zanden Audio Model 5000 MkII March 2003 - Musse Audio MiniMax & PureMagic March 2003 - AUDIOPAX Model 88 March 2003 - Walker Audio Velocitor March 2003 - BVaudio PA300 March 2003 - Audiomeca Mephisto II March 2003 - Audio Magic Mini Stealth March 2003 - Edward Barker - From London February 2003 - Music Hall CD-25 February 2003 - 47Lab Shigaraki /Konus system February 2003 - Konus Audio Essence February 2003 - Mike Healey's Audio Journey February 2003 - Grand Prix Audio Apex Part 2 February 2003 - 47Lab Shigaraki Amplifier February 2003 - 47Lab Shigaraki DAC & Transport January 2003 - Coincident Victory January 2003 - Cain & Cain Studio BEN January 2003 - Grand Prix Audio Apex December 2002 - Unison Research Unico December 2002 - Audio Magic Stealth Kukama DAC December 2002 - HMS Gran Finale / Energia December 2002 - Jolida JD-100 November 2002 - Toslink vs. Coax November 2002 - Grand Prix Audio Monaco November 2002 - Reviewing the Reviewer November 2002 - Harmonix RFA-78i October 2002 - DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Eight October 2002 - Meadowlark Audio Swift September 2002 - nOrh/IRD Le Amp/MB-100 September 2002 - Analysis Plus Oval 8/Solo Crystal August 2002 - Furutech Follow-Up, I August 2002 - AKG / nOrh / Stefan AudioArt August 2002 - Furutech RTP-6 power strip August 2002 - Furutech RD-2 CD/DVD degausser August 2002 - HeadRoom Maxed-Out Home August 2000 - Bel Canto Design eVo 2i August 2000 - Birdland Audio Odeon-Ag July 2000 - AKG K-1000 dynamic headphones July 2000 - Audio Magic Digital Stealth July 2002 - Aria Audio Ltd. WT100 LS XL amplifier July 2002 - Furutech RD-1 CD/DVD degausser June 2002 - nOrh SM 6.9 |
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Hola, Sir John, now hold it there for a moment. Your site's been Robin Hood free all along. Why the heck would we pay now? Is this an evil trick? Well, don't you pay to go to the movies, to read books, newspapers, other (print) magazines? Why would a small fee for equivalent content be objectionable just because it were delivered in a far more convenient electronic format? The work involved, I assure you, is no less real or time-consuming. |
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But there's more. If 6moons were like any of the big dog magazines, we'd have a separate ad department, with professional bill chasers and telemarketing solicitors. Presumably, these mercenaries and our writers would remain off each other's radars to uphold that iron-clad separation between Church and State, Editorial and Business. Right. We'd fly our own Air Scooter II twin-rotor personal helicopter to and from work. [Click image to learn more on how to order yours.] However, since we're one of the small dog rags, we walk to work. Also, yours truly gets to be judge, jury and executioner all at once. Perhaps you can appreciate how shifting one's personality from the smooth overdrive of creative inspiration in one moment, into full-throttle reverse the very next -- to deal with overdue ad contracts, to solicit same in the first place while the end of the month is looming and the coffers are squeaking -- is a very jarring business? My poor transmission is primed for the creative, barely fit for crass commerce. |
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It's why so many artists of yore, prior to business and marketing managers, were starving artists. It's why many of us still continue in that vein to this day. It's why some of the best, most focused and concentrated art arises when concerns over financial viability and inspiration are truly separated. Could you dig a larger stable of excellent writers; more trade show coverage (which thus far groups under the header "personal expenses"); international correspondents; factory tours? After a year's worth of free content, would you agree to pay a modest annual subscription fee now? If you've read our short report on the recent relocation, you'll concur that we're not flaming capitalists, just a bunch of guys -- and hopefully gals in the future -- trying to provide a service while keeping our own dinghies afloat. To help us gauge your response to this proposal, take a second and click on one of the two following e-mail links. Your reply is pre-formatted as the subject header. Unless you want to add specific commentary (which we'd welcome very much indeed), we'll receive your yeah or nay to count our votes if you simply click "send" in your e-mail program. Should the auto-launch not work properly for you, paste sebaen@taosnet.com into your e-mail program and put the words "yes subscription" or "no subscription" in the subject header.
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PS: Since our outré community is truly international in scope, here are toasts in a few more languages we managed to scare up - Genatzt (Armenian); Op uw gezondheid (Belgian); Saude (Brazilian); Nien Nien nu e (Chinese); Na Zdravi (Czech); Skal (Danish); Fee sihetak (Egyptian); Je zia sano (Esperanto); Kippis (Finnish); |
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Which begs the question. If it tastes good, who cares about the language or label on the bottle? Ditto for music. If it speaks to you, who cares two wits about the gear? That makes us writing about it endlessly - well, what exactly? Redundant? Superfluous? An unnecessary luxury? A welcome entertainment? A diversion and distraction? As always, you be the judge. Incidentally, what's a bossa nova? Your foreman's wheels. A diminished fifth? An empty bottle of Jack Daniels. A high C? The only drink you can afford when food stamps are low. Perfect pitch? The smooth coating on a freshly paved road. A whole note? What's due after failing to pay the mortgage for a year. A Bach Chorale? The place behind the barn where you keep the horses. (This reality feedback from my friend Brian Kurtz of Austin's Sound Mind Audio. Way to go, Brian!) |
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