stereo review magazine

jumia,

What is IAR?

Ahh,  International Audio Review.  The best audio publication I ever read.  J. Peter Moncrieff was a genius and I learned more about audio from him than anyone.  He not only reviewed equipment but explained why it sounded like it did.  He was in the forefront on polypropylene capacitors and wire, etc.   He occasionally included some writeups by Enid Lumley who was considered a nut by many, but was way ahead of most others.  He used to print his Hotlines on red paper so it could not be easily photo copied.  He stopped publishing for awhile and then went on line, but by then I had walked away from audio in frustration because I was spending my money, time and effort on things that appeared to do nothing.  I have learned since that my system was just not reveling enough.   I don't know if he is still around or not, but I still have all my IAR hotlines.  This hobby could use more people like him.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER, YOU CAN RE-VISIT!!!

 

I meant to post this two years ago, but life intervened.  If you go to the thread below it will take you to a month by month, year by year listing of Stereo Review (from beginning to end).  But that is only a scratch on this site; if you go to the banner heading Technical and then down to the section on "Audio" you will find a dozen or so of our past magazaines.  And other sections of the site (explore) contain Allied and Radio Shack and Lafayette and Heath catalogs.  Literally weeks of exploration to do if you want to reread articles, re-visit old ads, read early reviews of some now seminal recordings, etc.  I've revisited it many times over the last decade, and always find something new and interesting.  Dig in and have fun.

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/HiFI-Stereo-Review.htm

Hi,

I know this is an old thread, but had to add my two cents now that I found it. I think I have gone full circle. Down the rabbit hole, now on the other side with a new perspective.

Started out in the 70s reading all about stereos, and my Dad having a regular receiver based system. In the 80s and 90s in college and always looking to improve my system. My Dad also moved up to a Linn and Nakamichi based system. When I graduated, I built a high end system and enjoyed it for many years. I also started a small recording studio, and got into the other side of the music business. After years of other things in life taking up a lot of time, I am getting back into listening to more music just for fun.

I am finding it a little different this time. I guess part of it is the years in a recording studio, but probably it is mostly just older now. I know how easy it is to hear things that are not there. The ears are wonderful instruments, but they are connected to the brain. I have had the chance to do a level matched blind test, and it is an eye (or ear) opening experience. I encourage everyone who has not had the opportinity to participate in one. I do not believe that all components sound the same, but I do think that in many cases the differences are much smaller than what is stated. A true bouble blind level matched comparison is a simple way to keep any difference in perspective.

I also believe that measurements give valuable information. Measurements may not tell the whole story, but I have never understood why leaving out information would be a positive thing. I guess its the same with double blind listening tests. There may be faults with this, but there is information to be gotten, so why leave it out.

I guess this is all just a long way of saying that reading those old stereo review magazines now, I see how valuable they really were. Not only the equipment reviews, (which may have been kind of short), but all the other articles talking about the whole range of musical enjoyment in the home.

I do not agree that they did a disservice. I think the opposite. If one makes a comment of 'I heard this' in the spirit of widening the discussion, great, but making definitive statements based only on 'I heard it' is a disservice. I believe that a lot of equipment is overpriced and does not live up to the hype. I also think that the same level (or maybe 98%) can be had with much more modestly priced equipent.

I also think we have a great opportunity with the all the interest in vintage stereo equipment. I had demonstrated the difference between mp3s and CDs, or a good stereo compared a bluetooth speaker to my little one for years with no interest on her part. Last week, when she wanted to listen to some of her music on the 'big' system, you cannot imagine how happy I was.