Which is the best audio magazine?


I am getting back into high-end audio after a 20 yr hiatus and trying to educate myself on all the new technologies, sources & equipment choices.
What is currently the most objective & reliable audio publication that will support my research efforts?
Thank you.
thermals1

I've got a new publication to add to the list that is only 9 weeks old but pretty cool. 


 

 

FutureAudiophile.com is designed to reach younger and more diverse audio enthusiasts. We've got two feature reviews per week, some really good featured news stories, monthly sweepstakes. More. 

It is 100% free to read. 

@rongold, they don't. Advertisements. The low subscription price is to increase circulation, hence higher advertising rates. Feel used now? ;-)
The Absolute Sound. Consistently excellent. I don’t know how they can publish for the yearly rate!
Post removed 
Ever notice how every Stereophile review is for one single item and it’s always awesome?
Not every review is about one single item.  See the Border Patrol DAC review.  While they didn't review the Benchmark DAC3 HGC in this article, they did compare the DACs..


https://www.stereophile.com/content/borderpatrol-digital-analogue-converter-se

We need comparative reviewing. Like they do in car magazines. Ever notice how every Stereophile review is for one single item and it’s always awesome?
I’ve always liked Dick Olsher, and there’s a lot to like in the writing of Art Dudley. Both are avid music lovers with well-developed listening skills, and also technically-informed. Because of John Atkinson's bench tests, Stereophile is imo indispensable.
Hi, I am also a sound lover who has been in the business for more than 20 years. There are a number of audio journals that I regularly follow:
https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/
https://www.hificritic.com/
and  https://goo.gl/86MZHC
Hope they will be useful for you
Agree with the high value of 6moons for two reasons;
First they offer the best pictures of the insides of the gear they review, I believe this may be a requirement (that they be allowed to post pictures of the insides) in order for them to review gear.  I have a pet peeve with manufacturers who keep everything a secret (think Wizard of Oz - what are they hiding) and and I will not buy from those who "void the warranty" if the user opens the case.  
Second, Srajan does have quite a bit of experience with a wide-variety of gear and is a pretty good writer, even though some don't care for his color commentary.  I like how he usually provides direct comparisons with similar gear, and gives his opinion, without necessarily promoting everything new as being better.
When I purchased print magazines, I liked HiFi+ for the great pictures.

Wow thermals1

That actually scared me a little when I read the OP cause I don't think the magazines are at the top of the listening food chain any more. That sounds horrible doesn't it?

It's really hard to come from the golden era of HEA and feel that same vibe today through the HEA magazines, forums and trade shows. I would recommend joining a couple of audiophile forums that stay clear of internet trolling. Also consider getting some input from listeners from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and that part of the world as they seem to be ahead of the listening curve over US listeners.

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

cd318
Peter Aczel was a man of strong views but he had an enormous amount of experience in audio. He could be described as the James Randi (supernatural sceptic/ buster) of the audio world. His views were never refuted and its unlikely they ever will be.

>>>>Whoa! What?! You’re saying Peter Aczel was like James Randi? James Randi was a fraud. He was a Las Vegas showman and accomplished pseudo skeptic. And I only mean that in the nicest way. He also tried to con a few audiophiles when he ran out of spoon benders to go after. Actually that’s a pretty good analogy, now that I think about it.

cd318
"
Peter Aczel was a man of strong views but he had an enormous amount of experience in audio. He could be described as the James Randi (supernatural sceptic/ buster) of the audio world. His views were never refuted and its unlikely they ever will be."

His views were often refuted and his experiments which he presented as science were shown to be substantially flawed, erroneous and deceptive he was not a skeptic buster but an evangelist, cultist and self-proclaimed visionary who's goal was to sell magazines under the guise of science when in fact he was faith-based "fundamentalist" proselytizer and it is sad to say that he is not missed by anyone in the world of audio with the sole exception of those he duped so you might want to explore the facts that surround the myth he promoted and that you now seek to continue.
Peter Aczel was a man of strong views but he had an enormous amount of experience in audio. He could be described as the James Randi (supernatural sceptic/ buster) of the audio world. His views were never refuted and its unlikely they ever will be.

I'm sure most people involved in Hi-Fi journalism/entertainment (?) would rather he was quietly forgotten. It's difficult to refute evidence of blind tests where the sound of a straightened coat hanger is indistinguishable from a pair of $2000 interconnects.

Thank you for your work Peter. 

roberjerman
"
The two Peters (Aczel and Moncrieff) remain the best objectivest reviewers in print to this day! And hated by the "golden ears" crowd!"

This is completely false as anyone with any actual experience reading they're magazines knows while it is true that they called themselves objectivists they were both extremely subjective reviewers they dismissed all kinds of verifiable repeatable observable evidence because it did not fit with their belief system which was very much "faith based" and anyone who did not embrace promote and support they're faith was ridiculed and ostracized they portrayed themselves as exceptional tellers of the truth but in fact had very much Jim Jones like qualitys. They were cultists and hifi is full of people who want you to follow them blindly wherever they may lead.
roberjerman
The two Peters (Aczel and Moncrieff) remain the best objectivest reviewers in print to this day! And hated by the "golden ears" crowd!

>>>>Well, I’m not sure I’d say they were hated. Ridiculed maybe. Laughed out of town? Used as examples of how wrong things can go with pseudo skepticism? 
The two Peters (Aczel and Moncrieff) remain the best objectivest reviewers in print to this day! And hated by the "golden ears" crowd!
For photo content and overall print quality it’s hard to beat the Japanese high end audio mags, assuming they’re still around.
@roberjerman, yes you're right. It's difficult to get past the feeling that audio journalism is still nothing more than a way to pay the bills. 

Most of it should be seen in a similar context to pornography, glossy images that are fun and easy on the eye but ultimately bear little relation to reality. In fact some people do refer to it as audio porn! 
What passes for audio reviews these days is the equivalent of pornography - and is nowhere as much fun!
+1 cd318! The rising tide of b*ll s*** of today’s audio scene is appalling! "I am an audiophile and am looking for a power cord to take my system to the next.level" LOL! "My new AC receptacles sound better after they have been burned-in". LOL!!!
Peter Aczel? OMG! Whoa! You have got to be kidding!

What ever happened to Positive Feedback? 
I agree with the poster who said none.

The best ever was probably Peter Aczel's The Audio Critic 
http://www.biline.ca/audio_critic/audio_critic_down.htm
Hugely controversial unsurprisingly, much vilified but never refuted. It took me ages to accept what I was reading and even now I want to resist. However it's the only one that has stood the test of time for me. All the others I have read were mere entertainment, nothing more.

However there is one UK magazine Hi-Fi Critic which purports to be free from bias (I doubt it) and advertising (which can only be good). It's still not hard hitting enough for my taste but you can a flavour of it here, https://www.hificritic.

Or you might prefer one of the broadcast publications if you're happier with a more accurate and factual but drier presentation.
Like David said, dailyaudiophile.com is the best source. The page compiles all the information from magazines, webpages and blogs dedicated to audio. 
I also like to read STEREO, a German magazine that is distributed for free, in English, via email. You just have to subscribe. 
TAS and Stereophile are classics that I follow and I personally hate the British magazines - some love them. 
The magazines from Hong Kong are simply fantastic (maybe the best) in terms of contents, but you would need to read in Chinese. 
Go to Daily Audiophile.com
The latest posts are there from multiple sources and also an extensive list of other sites to follow.
I personally like Audio Bacon.com.   Great coverage of the recent T.H.E. SHOW. A good read.

David Pritchard
Used to be a toss-up between Stereophile and TAS. Now, IMO, TAS has pull away into the lead. In general, both have adopted "Review lite" compared to the old days. Stereophile's claim-to-fame was the measurements done by Mr. Atkinson but I read that these will soon be history. All thing must pass.
Thank you for the recommendations.  
I do subscribe to both Stereophile & Absolute Sound but sometimes question their objectivity. Hence my original question.
I will head to Barnes & Noble (yes we still have one) and seek out some of the other suggestions.
Thank you again.

Human hearing is quite individualized, we are not clear on what all of it means and the measurements don't correlate to what people say they hear.

Thus, personal opinion rules. Audio has no capacity for a photo finish, and even when we do know how it works in ultra fine detail, it will probably remain so.

Audio leaves the literal of mind (in part or in total) in desire and type, who search frantically for black and white answers - hanging by their thumbs.

They tend to find that a painful situation, so they strike out at it.

Since the real issues are not all that clear, people tend to go back and push the same button over and over again, hoping for a different result.

Not going to happen.
Semi-ignorant ?

I guess, he means those who use a certain area between the right and left ear while reading...

probably a rare species in this business model ....


And you can't go wrong with the US mags Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. Contrary to what semi-ignorant posters on these online audio sites will say!
The venerable British mag Hi FI News And Record Review gets my recommendation! Still going strong since 1956!