Has something gone wrong @ Stereophile?

You can read Stereophile, as well as Sound and Vision, if you have an apple news subscription. 

@herbreichert 

 readers shouldn’t have to read between the lines to figure out what you really mean.  Your comments indicate that you aren’t allowed to say what you feel for fear of irritating advertisers.  As a reader I shouldn’t have to thinking like a listener to Shostakovich Fifth Symphony (Is he endorsing or criticizing Communism?).  A negative review won’t land a Stereophile reviewer in the Gulag.  Stereophile is the top magazine in it’s field; it ought to be able to survive an occasional upset manufacturer 

go to amazon magazines- 1yr subscription $5.00. tas @9.00

For me these reviews are no foundation for a buying decision as direct comparisons are mostly missing and there is no common baseline. Further they are written overly complicated and leave room for interpretation. 
 

For me a quick response from a forum member is more valuable as you get a straight answer. I.e. too bright, bass not defined as…

However I do like the show reports from Stereophile as I can compare their opinions to my own ears. 

Grabbing an opportunity to acknowledge and thank herbreichert.   Herb, you are certainly rolled into my top 5-7 audio writers that include dearly missed Art, HP & JGH.  There is an authenticity gleaming from your hand's-on history and passion in our hobby.  Your writing feels like visiting a pal for a pot of tea and a tube listen.  Trust comes hard-earned in our hobby, and you certainly have mine.  In the hinterlands of Maine, reading the journals in search of music and the ongoing journey of improving my sweet spot has been invaluable, over decades.  Ours is a tight, intimate society...diverse, often delightfully rascally...driven towards our truths, as only we can define them.  Thanks, Herb, for sharing many a cold winter's night, curled up with a read and a warm beverage, followed by a snuggle with the Sweetspot-Siren. 

Pin (Tim)          More Peace    (useage of bold print is simply to help old eyes)