I don't know why Michael Fermer doesn't like me. At the last Stereophile show he snubbed me. We write for the same magazine, Listener, and I have known him for years.

Is it possible that he doesn't like what I write?

Is this an opportunity for clarification and elevation? I think so, so I am offering Michael a challenge. It is a typical "real guy" challenge like the ones we experience at car or motorcycle shows.

It is a classic tool challenge, like "who has the coolest tool"?.

So here is my challenge to Michael:

MICHAEL CAN YOU TOP THIS, MY FAVORITE, ANALOG PLAYBACK SYSTEM IN ITS PRICE CATEGORY?