Listener is kind of fun to read in an "amusing" way. I think that it would be way better if they lost the self proclaimed "Gizmo" for both "political" and "personal" reasons.
As to Stereophile, as much as we knock them, they still have the most in-depth technical reports out of ALL of the audio based mags. As much as you "musical" folks piss and moan about "specs mean nothing", i KNOW that you still read them and take note of them. I just wish TAS did testing like Stereophile so that we could get twice the coverage and even sometimes be able to do a direct comparison between two different test labs.
As such, i find that ALL of the major "glossies" kind of take for granted that we read every audio based rag out there. I find that Stereophile, TAS, etc.. and even sometimes Listener and the "internet mag's" refer to reviews of the same product in their competitors pages. The funny part is that they assume that we know exactly what was said in those reviews and work off of them. Many times we just don't have them at our disposal as points of reference, so the meaning of what they are trying to say is completely lost.
Since they do refer to each other and appear to be "buddy-buddy" with the competition, it is more like a "brotherhood" with nobody worried about upsetting anybody else's apple cart. It's kind of like "Fred said it was good in Audioschlep, Barney from Audiosnooze liked it too and i'm telling you the same thing here. Buy this product." As such, WHERE are the guys and gals that "tell it like it is" anymore ??? While i understand that the overall level of electronics is much higher (as a general rule) than what it was 20+ years ago, come on folks. I have run across WAY too much "crapola" that has been "highly touted" to know that something funny is going on in some of these reviews.
This is not to mention that some manufacturers and audio supply houses get mentioned in every other issue or article by some of these writers. I especially like it when a writer says "Curley from Audio Absolute insisted that i check out the latest from Crapco". Nothing like a blatant plug, huh ??? And then there's that "I liked it so much i bought it and will be using it for my reference" line. You BOUGHT it ??? With what, the 25 plugs that you've given them in the last year ??? And using it as a "reference" ??? For how long ??? Probably until the next time ( 2 months or so ) Audio Absolute sends something else over for you to rave about ???
Don't you find it "interesting" that some brands get reviewed and "place" in the rankings on an extremely regular basis ? Just count how many Adcom, Musical Fidelity, Madrigal, etc... products are listed in the last several years worth of Stereophile's recommended components lists and you'll see EXACTLY what i'm talking about. Out of the HUNDREDS of audio companies out there, do you think that there are only a dozen or so companies out that would like to get their products reviewed or are good value / excellent performers ???
There is NO conspiracy or "secret agenda" here. It is out in the open and they are rubbing our noses in it. The only problem is that ALL of the mags are in on it. The only difference is how they display the pictures and what words they use to rave about this months "doo-doo". After all, it isn't "crap", it's "art" if you look at it in the "right context".... Sean
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As to Stereophile, as much as we knock them, they still have the most in-depth technical reports out of ALL of the audio based mags. As much as you "musical" folks piss and moan about "specs mean nothing", i KNOW that you still read them and take note of them. I just wish TAS did testing like Stereophile so that we could get twice the coverage and even sometimes be able to do a direct comparison between two different test labs.
As such, i find that ALL of the major "glossies" kind of take for granted that we read every audio based rag out there. I find that Stereophile, TAS, etc.. and even sometimes Listener and the "internet mag's" refer to reviews of the same product in their competitors pages. The funny part is that they assume that we know exactly what was said in those reviews and work off of them. Many times we just don't have them at our disposal as points of reference, so the meaning of what they are trying to say is completely lost.
Since they do refer to each other and appear to be "buddy-buddy" with the competition, it is more like a "brotherhood" with nobody worried about upsetting anybody else's apple cart. It's kind of like "Fred said it was good in Audioschlep, Barney from Audiosnooze liked it too and i'm telling you the same thing here. Buy this product." As such, WHERE are the guys and gals that "tell it like it is" anymore ??? While i understand that the overall level of electronics is much higher (as a general rule) than what it was 20+ years ago, come on folks. I have run across WAY too much "crapola" that has been "highly touted" to know that something funny is going on in some of these reviews.
This is not to mention that some manufacturers and audio supply houses get mentioned in every other issue or article by some of these writers. I especially like it when a writer says "Curley from Audio Absolute insisted that i check out the latest from Crapco". Nothing like a blatant plug, huh ??? And then there's that "I liked it so much i bought it and will be using it for my reference" line. You BOUGHT it ??? With what, the 25 plugs that you've given them in the last year ??? And using it as a "reference" ??? For how long ??? Probably until the next time ( 2 months or so ) Audio Absolute sends something else over for you to rave about ???
Don't you find it "interesting" that some brands get reviewed and "place" in the rankings on an extremely regular basis ? Just count how many Adcom, Musical Fidelity, Madrigal, etc... products are listed in the last several years worth of Stereophile's recommended components lists and you'll see EXACTLY what i'm talking about. Out of the HUNDREDS of audio companies out there, do you think that there are only a dozen or so companies out that would like to get their products reviewed or are good value / excellent performers ???
There is NO conspiracy or "secret agenda" here. It is out in the open and they are rubbing our noses in it. The only problem is that ALL of the mags are in on it. The only difference is how they display the pictures and what words they use to rave about this months "doo-doo". After all, it isn't "crap", it's "art" if you look at it in the "right context".... Sean
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