What should be mandatory in every professional published review-

I have been in the Music  and Audio Industry for over 25 years and I myself would love to read some reviews written by member soix.

cheers !

@sts Just google Tim Shea and Soundstage a stuff should pop up. I reviewed for them from like 2002 to 2017. Ayre, Eggleston, Thiel, Bryston, Bel Canto, Acoustic Zen, Liberty (aka PBN) Audio, McCormack and a buncha other things. I recommend some caffeine if ur gonna actually read any of this stuff. Just sayin’.

Thanks -  This gives us a perspective on your taste and impressions.

soix,

You may have misunderstood me. The issue I have is with publications who don’t pay what I would consider a proper rate for reviews, and instead take advantage of the willingness of reviewers to do the work for a low pay scale with some promise of discounts on gear. If the writers agree to do so, it is their choice. I still think that if they are actually trying to earn a living they may be getting taken advantage of.

I’ll use an analogy, from my former profession—editorial photography. Publications (some/too many) offer assignments with low pay by telling the photog they’ll be getting great "exposure" and building their portfolios. That doesn’t pay the bills. I can’t eat photo credits. Sadly, many photographers starting out have taken the bait, therefore making it harder for established photogs to command/demand higher rates (even though they were paid it at one point). It’s a race to the bottom, with some photogs undercutting others and ultimately, themselves.

I don’t know how it all works in the audio reviewing business. In sports photography, there are more than a few weekend warriors, doctors or the like, who can afford $50,000 in camera gear and will give their photos away for free in exchange for the sideline photo credential. It’s done real harm to pros trying to make a living. Maybe there are rich trustafarians or well-heeled people doing the same in audio, enjoying getting a byline and a discount on gear. You might know.

Cheers

You may have misunderstood me. The issue I have is with publications who don’t pay what I would consider a proper rate for reviews, and instead take advantage of the willingness of reviewers to do the work for a low pay scale with some promise of discounts on gear. If the writers agree to do so, it is their choice.

@patrickdowns You are correct. Unless you write for the glossy mags you’re not gonna make money writing reviews. I did it because I love audio gear and writing, and the prospect of getting to listen to a lot of equipment in my room/system along with getting dealer pricing was something that was very attractive to me. But, after a while I got tired of humping equipment in and out of my system and spending tons of hours reviewing equipment to make someone else rich so I stopped but still very glad I did it. AFAIK the audio review industry doesn’t have any wealthy warriors undermining professional reviewers who do it as a career as in sports photography, but that totally sucks.