What happened to subjectivity?
Thin Line Between Critique and Courtrooms: A Dialogue on the Recent Audiophile Drama
Hey Audiogonians,
In the vast, vibrant universe of audio reviews, where the line between subjective opinion and objective analysis often blurs, a new saga unfolds. It involves a Youtuber, well-known within our community for their take on speaker designs – designs that, while innovative, haven't shied away from criticism. The plot thickens with another Youtuber's revelation: the speaker's designer and manufacturer has filed a lawsuit against a reviewer over their less-than-glowing feedback.
The core of the debate? Whether it's acceptable to push back against reviewers when their findings diverge from what manufacturers desire. It's not a new drama; history is littered with tales of reviewers facing legal threats for daring to express their truth. Yet, each story brings a fresh perspective on the delicate dance between free speech and brand reputation.
This particular episode raises several intriguing questions:
- Where do we draw the line between constructive criticism and damaging feedback?
- Is the courtroom really the arena for settling disputes over reviews, or should dialogue prevail?
- And crucially, what does this mean for the future of honest, independent audio reviews?
This isn't just about the nitty-gritty of legal battles, many of which remain cloaked in confidentiality and technical jargon. It's about the principle: the right to voice one's opinion in a space that thrives on diversity of thought.
So, fellow audiophiles, what's your take? Have you ever felt swayed by a review, only to discover a different truth upon listening? Have you faced the ire of those who didn't appreciate your candid feedback?
📢Let's make this a discussion to remember – not just for the controversy, but for the unity and respect we can foster, even in disagreement.
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- 265 posts total
@nonoise :) |
@jl35 "I can no longer find the Tekton YouTube video where Eric states " I didn’t sue anyone" ...it was the beginning of a long response..." The video has been reposted on ASR in the thread where this whole debacle started (page 81.) We'll see if it stays up there, but I could see "someone" objecting and complaining about copyright infringement or such.
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Speaker owner (Erik, Tekton) posted his response saying he's not "suing", but mentioned "litigation" multiple times ... you make up your own mind. Erin - the reviewer - actually gave a decent review of the Tekton speaker lent to him by a viewer. For those who don't know, Erin does a two-pronged approach. 1 - he uses objective measurements in his pseudo-anechoic chamber and Klippel machine. 2 - he follows that up with his own subjective opinions about how the speakers sound and perform. I like this approach. The viewer didn't provide the feet. Erin has since done a second video with the feet which you all can look up. Many others have also mentioned how Tekton basically has these holes for the feet drilled up into the cabinet which leaves holes in the cabinets. Anyway, lots of stuff still going on, but this could have easily been handled with a discussion between the two instead of Erik jumping to "litigation". As others have mentioned in this thread, Erik has done this before to Amir at ASR and maybe to others (not sure) ... seems to be a pattern. Erik historically hasn't provided measurements, but says going forward he will. Ok, one way to address it, but why couldn't he have just talked it over with Erin and then they could publicly show results of re-testing and discussion. Would have worked out for both, but now many, including myself, want nothing to do with Tekton. |
- 265 posts total