SunByrne
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
- Posts
- 899
- Likes
- 106
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That's why I think it's important for reviewers to be clear about what they the pros AND cons are for anything they review. For example, I really like the Senn HD595s, but in my recent review, I talked almost as much about things that I don't think they don't do well as I did things they do well. I think, for some people, the HD595s are not a good choice, and for some people they are. Same goes for Grados or other Senns--they aren't my choice, but I see why people like them. I think what good reviews do is allow you to match your preferences to the equipment.
There are, of course, lots of bad, one-sided reviews. While in an ideal world there wouldn't be, I also don't think it's appropriate to give anyone the authority to pick and choose which reviews make it and which don't. I think it is, to some extent, the responsibility of readers to sort out how to interpret reviews. I know I take more seriously the opinions of people who tend to like the same equipment I like and who i have seen be more balanced.
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I have to disagree with the notion that magazine reviewers have no vested interest. I've never seen any stereo magazine seriously pan any product which heavily advertises in that magazine, and I don't think that's a coincidence.
Second, the "reference" systems possessed by many magazine reviewers are so far beyond the pale of what I would spend on audio equipment that I don't find them useful, because what might be a reasonable point along the diminishing returns curve for them is so far out of whack with what it is for me that I don't find their opinions all that meaningful. (Example: The Wadia CD player Tyll is lugging around to the meets is indeed fantastic, but a review in an audio magazine of it in comparison to other players in its price range would be utterly meaningless to me--I can barely imagine justifying spending four figures, much less five, on a CDP.)
That's one of the key values of a forum like this one: many of the people here are more or less normal people (at least in terms of budget
).
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Which also means they have extremely limited accountability. Remember, their job is to sell magazines and keep the advertising dollars rolling in.
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I've seen those in magazines as well, or at least reviews with extremely limited "live in."
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Maybe this isn't what you meant to say, but you seem to be implying "newbie=stupid." You know, when I first got here I didn't know that much about the options available, but I certainly understood people well enough to recognize this kind of behavior when I saw it. Even newbies can think for themselves.
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Now here I think you're on to something.
Though I have noticed that on many "for sale" threads they explain why they're selling, which around here seems as often as not to be upgrades--they're selling X because they bought Y which cost twice as much.
OK, now off-topic:
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[rant]
What is it about Head-Fi that such a large percentage of the people here are so down on marriage? I hate to break it to you, but some of us are indeed mature enough to get along with our spouses without these issues, and without sneaking around behind our spouse's back or other such nonsense. (In fact, I've been considering what I think is a pretty substantial purchase and I've been balking at the price tag--and my wife is encouraging me to go ahead and do it "because I know you'll enjoy having it.") So can we please knock off the marriage-bashing?
[/rant]
| Originally Posted by adhoc plus, imo, when you reach a certain level, wouldnt it all boil down to individual taste? i can say for certain that, all things constant, if amp A lets me hear more detail than amp B, amp A is better. but what if both amps let hear one the same amount of detail with amp A having a slant towards a 'luscious' sound and amp B having a more 'clean' sound? not so easy now is it? just as one man's 'shouty' is another's 'rich', one man's 'clean' can be another's 'sterile'. |
That's why I think it's important for reviewers to be clear about what they the pros AND cons are for anything they review. For example, I really like the Senn HD595s, but in my recent review, I talked almost as much about things that I don't think they don't do well as I did things they do well. I think, for some people, the HD595s are not a good choice, and for some people they are. Same goes for Grados or other Senns--they aren't my choice, but I see why people like them. I think what good reviews do is allow you to match your preferences to the equipment.
There are, of course, lots of bad, one-sided reviews. While in an ideal world there wouldn't be, I also don't think it's appropriate to give anyone the authority to pick and choose which reviews make it and which don't. I think it is, to some extent, the responsibility of readers to sort out how to interpret reviews. I know I take more seriously the opinions of people who tend to like the same equipment I like and who i have seen be more balanced.
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| writer in magazines (ideally) have a 'reference' rig and as mentioned above 'long-term' experience with equipment PLUS no vested interest in the equipment. |
I have to disagree with the notion that magazine reviewers have no vested interest. I've never seen any stereo magazine seriously pan any product which heavily advertises in that magazine, and I don't think that's a coincidence.
Second, the "reference" systems possessed by many magazine reviewers are so far beyond the pale of what I would spend on audio equipment that I don't find them useful, because what might be a reasonable point along the diminishing returns curve for them is so far out of whack with what it is for me that I don't find their opinions all that meaningful. (Example: The Wadia CD player Tyll is lugging around to the meets is indeed fantastic, but a review in an audio magazine of it in comparison to other players in its price range would be utterly meaningless to me--I can barely imagine justifying spending four figures, much less five, on a CDP.)
That's one of the key values of a forum like this one: many of the people here are more or less normal people (at least in terms of budget
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| in other words, a magazine is a 'fixed' format. an author can disseminate his views without fear of (much) direct reprisal/rebuttal. |
Which also means they have extremely limited accountability. Remember, their job is to sell magazines and keep the advertising dollars rolling in.
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| in addition, what i see often around here are 'snap' judgements of equipment - not impressions after 'live-in'. |
I've seen those in magazines as well, or at least reviews with extremely limited "live in."
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| a newbie here can and will get confused if a review with a strong opinion is followed up by 50+ posts by offended fanboys who may be articulate enough to sound deceptively reasonable. |
Maybe this isn't what you meant to say, but you seem to be implying "newbie=stupid." You know, when I first got here I didn't know that much about the options available, but I certainly understood people well enough to recognize this kind of behavior when I saw it. Even newbies can think for themselves.
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| finally, members are very unlikely to pan equipment, especially if they wish to sell it later on. a simple, but very powerful point imo. |
Now here I think you're on to something.
Though I have noticed that on many "for sale" threads they explain why they're selling, which around here seems as often as not to be upgrades--they're selling X because they bought Y which cost twice as much.
OK, now off-topic:
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| imo like marriages, amps have a honeymoon period too where everything is hunky-dory and the milk and honey flow fast and thick, but give it 6 months and we all know what happens. |
[rant]
What is it about Head-Fi that such a large percentage of the people here are so down on marriage? I hate to break it to you, but some of us are indeed mature enough to get along with our spouses without these issues, and without sneaking around behind our spouse's back or other such nonsense. (In fact, I've been considering what I think is a pretty substantial purchase and I've been balking at the price tag--and my wife is encouraging me to go ahead and do it "because I know you'll enjoy having it.") So can we please knock off the marriage-bashing?
[/rant]
