I really like What HiFi. Their hearing must be like mine because their descriptions match what I hear in stores. Unlike Stereophile which leaves me confused and feeling like I need to spend more money. For example, the latest buzz on M-F upsampling DAC which, thankfully, people on this site have pretty much exposed it for being a scam.
So why do I like What HiFI:
1) Direct comparison reviews eg. B&W 602's, Triangle Titus, KEF, Acoustic Energy, etc. Whereas Stereophile won't do comparison reviews and when they do compare will compare to older stuff like Mission (can't recall the model) or $1,000 Alon Circe. Not the latest and greatest.
2) Actually build systems like "The best L500 system".
3) They regularly bash stuff.
4) Recommended components in every issue.
5) People write in with their system and What Hifi suggest what to improve.
I do think they have some unfair biases towards Mission speakers and they play games like giving Marantz ST-17 five stars but conveniently ignore how good the ST-6000 is for 1/4 the price or less.
Also they only review relatively cheap stuff and U.S. mags review expensive stuff but maybe because people in US spend more. Should I say maybe Brit's are more savvy and aren't conned into wasting their money on imagined improvements?
So find a mag that matches your taste in music. Bottom line for me is What HiFi helps cure my audio nervosa while Stereophile gives me the disease.
So why do I like What HiFI:
1) Direct comparison reviews eg. B&W 602's, Triangle Titus, KEF, Acoustic Energy, etc. Whereas Stereophile won't do comparison reviews and when they do compare will compare to older stuff like Mission (can't recall the model) or $1,000 Alon Circe. Not the latest and greatest.
2) Actually build systems like "The best L500 system".
3) They regularly bash stuff.
4) Recommended components in every issue.
5) People write in with their system and What Hifi suggest what to improve.
I do think they have some unfair biases towards Mission speakers and they play games like giving Marantz ST-17 five stars but conveniently ignore how good the ST-6000 is for 1/4 the price or less.
Also they only review relatively cheap stuff and U.S. mags review expensive stuff but maybe because people in US spend more. Should I say maybe Brit's are more savvy and aren't conned into wasting their money on imagined improvements?
So find a mag that matches your taste in music. Bottom line for me is What HiFi helps cure my audio nervosa while Stereophile gives me the disease.