Also just occurred to me there was stronger yea or nay opinions, lots of context. Today's professional reviewers far more reticent, don't want to offend, still, with knowledge of reviewer reading between the lines is possible at times.
Audiphile Press: Am I jaded, experienced, or has it declined?
I remember Audio, Stereophile and TAS as an older teen getting me excited about music reproduction and technology. Getting out to listen to speakers and find gear I could afford to take me to music Nirvana.
I still like the gear, still like talking about it, comparing tech, sharing experiences and advice, but I can’t remember the last time I really thought "wow, that’s good writing!"
How about you?
Has too much press devolved to covering only the most expensive gear? Do we lack better international gear coverage? Does it all look like it could be easily written by an AI chat bot?
Showing 4 responses by sns
I recall devouring Stereophile back in day, small format digest sized with very little advertising, certainly much info in that what I believe was bi-monthly publication. But then I was beginner audiophile and no web, hungry to be educated.
Seems to me I found commercial audiophile publications less valuable as my systems improved. I recall going to audio shows when it seemed every system superior to mine, ate up information provided by manufacturer reps, designers, and the listening certainly elucidating. Over time as my system started to compete and/or sound superior to what I was hearing at these shows, they became less valuable, just like the publications.
I wonder if the audiophile publications are as valuable to today's novice as they were for me back in the day. Should be mindful of the reams of great information found on web, certainly makes these publications less valuable.
So bottom line, don't know if publications have changed, or is it more about how we've changed?
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Seems audience for the rags is not audiogon posters. I wonder what their circulation numbers are these days, how it compares to other times. As for their audience, I stereotype it as wealthy novices. I do like Herb, he gets into smaller manufacturers, supplies plenty of context, also provides interesting asides, real four season individual. |
@cleeds Very good info. Everything aligns with what I expected, with one major exception. Average cost of audio system at only $18K, wow, that's really surprising to me! Seems this is aspirational read for many, I assumed readers already there. But then they only expect to spend $1600 in coming twelve months! So this seems to say this not aspirational for many, rather pure fantasy.
Guess this shouldn't be totally surprising, I've long ingested auto, motorcycle media with reviews of products I have no intention or means to purchase. Still, far more interesting when one gets to point in life where they can afford one of these products, In my case Audi RSTT, RS3, Porsche 718 Cayman GTS. Dreams can come true on rare occasion. |