The Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware list has been overhauled. Version 2.0 of the C.A.S.H. List contains expanded hardware and software recommendations geared even more toward the computer audiophile. There is no specific checklist or criteria a product must meet to be on the C.A.S.H. List. Great specs don't equal great sound or performance. However, it's clearly in everyone's best interest that these products are 100% worthy of recommendation. Like all articles here on Computer Audiophile the comments section is wide open to every reader in the world to leave an opinion. The list is continuously updated with additions and deletions to make it a great resource for CA readers to research products. The C.A.S.H. List a single data point from one of many sources of information about these and many more products.

A little over one week ago the Peachtree Audio Nova review was published here on Computer Audiophile. Since that time many CA readers read the review and left honest comments. I've also read and re-read the review and spent quite a while reading every single comment several times. I was initially surprised by the criticism. After a few days I came to the realization that the CA readers were right. The review was in fact rushed and didn't contain much information to make it useful. It clearly did not live up to the CA trademark All The Bits Fit To Print™. Thus, I'm taking full responsibility for a half-assed review and making it up to all the supportive CA readers. Over the last five days I've dedicated time to using the Nova in almost every configuration imaginable. What follows are my impressions from "The Nova Sessions."

The Peachtree Audio Nova is a ton of fun and has a bright future as everyman's high end integrated amplifier, DAC, or preamp. Hence the title of this review, Champagne Supernova. Champagne always involves fun and Supernovae are incredibly luminous. Champagne Supernova is also a reference to the Oasis song of the same name. A seven minute anthem that hit number one on the modern rock charts in the U.S. and has been played at every Oasis concert since it was written. The song has been spinning my NAS hard drives quite a bit lately. Sure the Peachtree integrated amp is called the Nova, but the musicality, enjoyment, and versatility of this piece may warrant the name Supernova.

I'm on Flight 310 to Minneapolis on New Year's Eve as the clock ticks toward 2010. A pair of Ultimate Ears UE11 Pro earphones are sealing my ears from the overbearing ambient noise of the airplane and a little Thelonious Monk coursing through the cables. I spent the last couple days in the San Francisco Bay Area at loudspeaker manufacturer Magico's and CA Symposium sponsor Tim Marutani's facilities. I have so much exciting information to share from this trip that I must begin telling the story from seat 17F aboard a Boeing 737-800 at 30,000 feet. At the Magico facility in Berkeley, less than a block from legendary Fantasy Studios, I spent many hours listening to the new Q5 loudspeakers. There is honestly nothing like the Q available today. At the Marutani Consulting facility I delivered a freshly built Zalman TNN300 highly tweaked silent music server. The server will house what I consider the best digital interface available right now. A Merging Technologies Mykerinos audio card with AES and word clock in and out. In addition to hearing the Q5 and Mykerinos card I visited with Matan Arazi. Matan showed me his finished music server. It's an all-out-assault on state of the art computer based playback that's been in the making for over one year. All three of these products raise the bar to new heights. They contribute to what I consider a new sonic reference.

Here is a quick update about what's happening at Computer Audiophile. My endless effort to find the best sound quality currently available and to write about it here on Computer Audiophile continues this week with a trip across the country. Next week the search for "that" sound moves to Las Vegas and the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. Somewhere in between these two trips I'll publish my full review of the Peachtree Audio Nova. A very nice integrated amp with a plethora of digital inputs including USB.

Computer Audiophile is proud to celebrate its second birthday! I want to thank all the readers from around the world. The loyal and very bright readers have made Computer Audiophile more than enjoyable for me. The site is now my full time career. Many people didn't know I also worked at Ameriprise Financial headquarters in Minneapolis until very recently. Near the end of October I transitioned from working 40-50 hours in an office plus 40-50 hours on the site to putting all my time and energy into Computer Audiophile. This site is my passion and I have big plans for it in the future. Read on for some interesting site stats and a new feature just launched here at CA.

I'm sure all the Computer Audiophile readers remember Kent Poon of Design w Sound and Audiophile Jazz Prologue III fame. Kent and I met at CES in 2009 and I've been a fan of his ever since. Now Kent is jointly organizing a digital audio seminar in Hong Kong, his home turf, with Music Powerhouse Production. The seminar will take place November 14 and 15 2009 at Cyberport 3 in HK. I really wish I could make it to the seminar to hear what the presenters have to say about software and hardware interfaces effecting the sound and to hear the great demonstrations that are planned. But, Hong Kong is not right around the corner from Minneapolis, MN. Hopefully some of the Computer Audiophile readers will be in attendance and will report back to everyone about the event. Read more for a registration link and additional information.

Got Symposium Tickets? We do and we'll be giving one winner two tickets to the Computer Audiophile Symposium on Sunday June 28th, 2009 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. When was the last time this hobby allowed you to do something without explaining the price to your significant other? Now is your chance to get into the event free of charge! Read more for details.

Just a quick note about an event coming up this Tuesday May 19th, 2009. I'll be speaking at the Audio Society of Minnesota about high resolution playback and music servers. I hope everyone in the area can make it to the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting. Read more for the time and address.

Sure the name of this site is Computer Audiophile and that name seems diametrically opposed to anything that Michael Fremer says, does, or supports. Fortunately nothing could be further from the truth. Michael is a music lover first and foremost just like the readers of Computer Audiophile. One quote by Fremer that I think we can all identify with is from an article posted this week on BoingBoing, "Music got me into audio, not vice-versa." A couple weeks ago Michael was interviewed by Gizmodo for a piece that ended up with the title Why We Need Audiophiles. Those of you who read the very interesting article may not have read the follow-up comments on Gizmodo that resemble comments on every audio forum we've all visited from time to time. In response to the Audiophiles article, another writer blasted and possibly mischaracterized much of what was said in the original article. I was very happy to read Michael Fremer's response to the response and to read his thoughts on some of the comments written about him and audiophiles in general.