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Reviewing the Reviewers - and the decline of HiFi

I know that Arthur Salvatore has an ongoing tirade with Michael Fremer, and whilst I don't wholly share his views so far as Fremer is concerned, I support the sentiment that reviewers themselves ought to be themselves reviewed.
I say this after having read another 6Moons review that basically says that the item they have reviewed is the best thing since sliced bread. With the exception of HiFi news - and that was about 7 years ago, and HiFi Critic (which is regrettably not distributed very widely as yet)- none of the magazines ever criticize products.
This may well explain why the industry is in such decline. Let's face it in the United States Breitling made more than the whole of the US HiFi industry put together! Think I am mad? Well think on this cars sell, and continue to sell well. New cars are by and large a luxury, because we can recycle old cars, but we convince ourselves on their necessity. Car reviewers are unfettered by the need to give wet reviews. The buying customers are therefore not forced to listen through the BS of a review to get some real and genuine information.
Manufacturers also have to wake up and not be so hypersensitive of any genuine comparative criticism - it leads to product improvement. The reviewing industry should get out of the habit of expecting 5 star reviews when they lend equipment to magazines for 'extended periods'. let's face it - most people see hifi and music as coming out of white ear buds, computers, and mobile phones.
lohanimal

Showing 3 responses by david12

david12
1,454 posts
 
The HiFi industry is in decline and HiFi reviewers are always positive. I would'nt argue with either statement, it does'nt mean the one follows the other.

I read some of the magazines, particularly HiFi+, because it is at least literate and an interesting. I agree with Charyo though, anyone buying kit on the basis of a magazine review, needs there heads examining and by the way, I have a great investment opportunity, building a railway through the Amazon jungle, just send me a PM. I read some of the magazines because I am interested in HiFi and it keeps me abreast of what new kit and technologies are becoming available, nothing more. I think that is true of 99.9% of other Stereophile/ Absolute sounds, etc, readers. I do'nt feel I need protecting from my own gullibility.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Mrtennis responded that if HiFi is in decline, then the product should be declining too. Not true I would say, because of the rise of small, specialist manufacturers. In the 19070's with a true mass market for HiFi, I suspect the one man and his dog outfits would have been crushed by the majors, Pioneer, Linn etc. Now these large companies have left the stage, so to speak. The little guy has come to the fore and I think we are as well or better served by manufacturers now as in the 70's. It's ironic, that as Vinyl and even more so, CD are becoming legacy formats, we are seeing such a range of fantastic and fantasticly expensive kit to play them on.

HiFi+, which is the only magazine I read, had it's 100th issue this month and the editor tried to speculate where the hobby/industry, would be at issue 200. The answer was, he had absolutely no idea, technology is moving that fast.

Courant's contribution was of great interest, but told us what most of us expected. Magazines run on advertising copy, not magazine sales, so are beholden to the manufacturers. I personally don't think most magazines would give 5 stars to a rubbish product, they would quietly send it back to the manufacturer and not do a review. There is sense to this too. Why spend 5 pages advising readers not to buy a product. The magazines are finding it just as tough as the manufacturers. I found out that HiFi News one of the biggest UK magazines, has a monthly circulation of about 8000 copies. I find that astonishing and just wonder how it can survive.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Psag, I think you are correct in what you say about the magazines. This may seem a daft comment, but does it matter that they are in thrall to the manufacturers? It only matters if you do'nt know this is the case. I suspect every seasoned "Audiophile" does, or should know that.

Who is at risk then? Well I suppose the newcomers. Those who have heard a great system and think they would like some of that. Well where do you start? For me in 1977, I started buying the magazines, in good faith. To be honest, I did'nt go wrong following their advice.

Now I use magazines as a, hopefully, interesting read, making me aware of new products I might want to research or audition
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