2. analog
  3. 189181-96

Example of a piece o’ crap, useless review

I’ve harped on how crappy and useless many “professional” reviews are because they lack rigor and omit critical information.  This one is from TAS that is a main offender of pumping out shallow/unsupported reviews, but most of the Euro mags among others are guilty of this too IME.  One key giveaway that a review is crap is that after reading it you still have little/no real understanding of what the piece under review actually sounds like or if it’s something you’d like to consider further.  I mean, if a review can’t accomplish those basic elements what use is it?  This review is so shallow it reads like it could’ve been written by someone who never even listened to the review sample and just made it up outta thin air.  In addition to failing on this broad level, here are some other major problems with the review:

- There is no info regarding any shortcomings of this “budget” turntable — everything is positive.  Sounds like it was perfect, ehem.

- There are no comparisons to another product in the same general price category or anything else.

- The reviewer doesn’t even share what equipment is in his reference system so we can at least infer what he may have based his impressions on.

In short, in addition to this review being so bad/useless for all the reasons stated it actually reads more like advertisement for the product than an actual unbiased review.  I can think of nothing worse to say about a review, and sadly many reviews out there are similarly awful for the same reasons.  Sorry for the rant, but especially as a former reviewer this piece of garbage pushed all my buttons and really ticked me off.  What say you?

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/sota-quasar-turntable-and-pyxi-phonostage/

soix
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,707 posts
 

It may be surprizing to read some article from the past :

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

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,464 posts
 

Yes, the Condor motor is plenty strong...  he was just putting too much pressure.  A lot of tables will slow down....  I hope anyone interested in Sota dismisses that.

My Escape is a great table and I probably would go up the line rather than to another brand after owning it.

 

limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,190 posts
 

I have a Cayin 50T for a few years now,never any problems. I would recommend it ,differently 

desktopguy
337 posts
 

I subscribed to TAS, STEREOPHILE, and any other audio mags I could get starting >40 years ago. And of course, I've read a ton of 1/2-baked reviews in that time.

Rather than trash this or that reviewer, I'd rather talk about one who is far above the others IMO: STEREOPHILE's Herb Reichert. First, he's an excellent, engaging writer--always thinking how his lead will tie to his conclusion and what should go between the two. Second, though he's a boomer like me, Herb spends little time in reveries about his own audio past; when he does mention his audio past, it's to make a point that lands very much in the present day. And finally, he's better at the impossible task of describing sound itself than any review I can think of.

Writing is hard. Hearing well and describing what you hear is also hard. Reviewing is very hard.

panerai557's avatar
panerai557
65 posts
 

I just read the last paragraph of reviews and try to interpret what the reviewers convey. The more dramatic parting message is more bullshit it sounds to me. If the reviewer liked the product then conclusion is short n sweet by saying he bought the review sample. That's the one I take note on. 

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