Would you trust ConsumerReports?

[majid]

Their audio testing methodology is questionable. Not being biased by commercial advertising doesn't necessarily mean they have the technical competence to properly test and assess gear, i.e. their reviews might be well-meaning but wrong, as opposed to deceitfully wrong.

That said, I'll take their reviews any day over completely unscientific sites like 6moons that rave about the latest snake oil like power cables sprinkled with Tibetan lama dust.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xakepa /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, but not much. If it's a substantial purchase, I'd scour boards like these first, goggle "*the item* problems/issues/ broken", check how many are on sale on ebay...things like that

This is a lot like what I do. I Google the brand, model and the word "sucks." You'll find out very quickly whether or not real people have problems with it. Here's an example we can relate to here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

No, I don't trust CR. I've seen them recommend a number of things I thought were garbage.

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is a lot like what I do. I Google the brand, model and the word "sucks." You'll find out very quickly whether or not real people have problems with it. Here's an example we can relate to here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search No, I don't trust CR. I've seen them recommend a number of things I thought were garbage.

Can we make that link sticky?.... so we don't have to repeat .... every time someones ask about ****

 

[3x331m]

CR lead me to SR60 and my own search lead me to Head-Fi..... and you know how sorry....

 

[splaz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire /img/forum/go_quote.gif What? So you don't like CR because they rated the Samauri unacceptable 18 years ago? The ridiculous part is with fault with Suzuki: why did they bring the case back to court eight years later? You should be annoyed with Suzuki in that they can't let a decade old issue die.... That's just hot air and an empty claim. CR was actually the first periodical I followed. Although I don't normally agree with their computer accessments, I have no reason to believe they have strong, if any, bias against certain products or companies. It's usually the American car fanboys who unjustly hate CR.

Have you seen the footage that they had to submit to the court ?

I can't find it right now but read this while I'm looking.

http://www.aim.org/aim_report/A3726_0_4_0_C/

I own a Samurai and amazingly enough I am yet to roll it, on or off-road. Given it's narrow wheelbase, weight, height and stiff suspension yes it is more likely to roll than other cars, that's not an excuse for bias and an extreme exageration of this tendency.

Suzuki sued later because they continued to drag it's name through the dust even though they'd already killed it. Suzuki obviously had enough and as the above article states, they now had evidence.

As I said, I would not trust them at all.

edit: Here it is:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/298629...sumer_reports/

Now I do understand that both sources are biased against CR, the video only contains segment of submitted material by CU, even taking that in mind. It does stink what they did.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3x331m /img/forum/go_quote.gif CR lead me to SR60 and my own search lead me to Head-Fi..... and you know how sorry....

That's the other side of the coin. I had no idea that Head-Fi existed when I bought the HD-650. I listened and got to thinking, 'these sound fantastic! I wonder if anyone else likes them, too?'

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Actually appliances and kitchen gadgets are about the only thing I'd read CR for. Certainly not consumer electronics....

*As was already mentioned the 'who cares?' gimmicks of a product count as-much or more than the primary function of the product: a camera getting a higher score than its better performing competitor because the free software was nicer; the worse looking TV that gets the nod because it's speakers boast more power on the box.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will75 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hard to say. In my experience I have disagreed with many items they recommend. I prefer scouring forums such as this one for product information. Wish CR reviewed headphones. Would be interesting to see what they recommend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampersand /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not really. If it resembled their stereo reviews it would look something like this: headphones reviewed = sony, koss, apple-buds, and bose. And then they'd say Bose was the best and give it a 'Recommended' for all audiophiles.

They certainly did review headphones in the December 2006 issue (which was in newsstands last month). I was certainly surprised that they included two Grado headphones in their list.

Here is the complete list, rated in order of decreasing overall score:

CORDED
Over-the-ear
Bose QuietComfort 2 (ANC): 96
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5
Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size]
Grado SR-80 (Open): 93
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Bose Triport TP-1 (Closed): 77
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size]
JVC HA-NC100 (ANC): 52
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
Philips HN110 (ANC): 51
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
Creative HN-700 (ANC): 33
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
Panasonic RP-HC300 (ANC): 33
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
JVC HA-G11 (Closed): 27
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]

On-ear
Grado SR-60 (Open): 94 CR Best Buy
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Sennheiser HD 435 (Open): 77
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size]
Sennheiser PX 100 (Open): 76
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Sennheiser PXC 250 (ANC): 76
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Philips HN050 (ANC): 66
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Sony MDR-NC6 (ANC): 55
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Koss KSC75 Titanium (Open): 49
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
RadioShack 33-1218 (ANC): 32
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]

Earbuds
Sony MDR-ED21LP: 66 CR Best Buy
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Sony MDR-E829V: 48
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Sennheiser MX 400: 30
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]
Koss P15: 29
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]

Inserts
Sennheiser CX 300: 66
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Panasonic RP-HNJ50: 27
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Shure E3c: 27
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Sony MDR-NC11A (ANC): 27
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Etymotic ER 6i Isolator: 26
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Panasonic RP-HJE70-S: 26
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size]
Koss Spark Plug: 23
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size]
Philips HN060: 23
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size]

CORDLESS
Sennheiser RS 130 (Over-the-ear, open): 57
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size]
Logitech Wireless headphos F-0361A (on-ear, closed): 43
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5
Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size]
Creative CB2530 (On-ear, closed): 32
[size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5
Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size]

Although Consumer Reports rated both of the Grados highly, they gave the Shure and Etymotic canalphones surprisingly low marks, while giving the Koss KSC75 only middling marks. And as usual they gave relatively high marks to Bose headphones.

 

[will75]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle_Driver /img/forum/go_quote.gif They certainly did review headphones in the December 2006 issue (which was in newsstands last month). I was certainly surprised that they included two Grado headphones in their list. Here is the complete list, rated in order of decreasing overall score: CORDED Over-the-ear Bose QuietComfort 2 (ANC): 96 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5 Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size] Grado SR-80 (Open): 93 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Bose Triport TP-1 (Closed): 77 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size] JVC HA-NC100 (ANC): 52 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Philips HN110 (ANC): 51 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Creative HN-700 (ANC): 33 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Panasonic RP-HC300 (ANC): 33 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] JVC HA-G11 (Closed): 27 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] On-ear Grado SR-60 (Open): 94 CR Best Buy [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 5/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Sennheiser HD 435 (Open): 77 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 5/5[/size] Sennheiser PX 100 (Open): 76 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Sennheiser PXC 250 (ANC): 76 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Philips HN050 (ANC): 66 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Sony MDR-NC6 (ANC): 55 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Koss KSC75 Titanium (Open): 49 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] RadioShack 33-1218 (ANC): 32 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Earbuds Sony MDR-ED21LP: 66 CR Best Buy [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Sony MDR-E829V: 48 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Sennheiser MX 400: 30 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Koss P15: 29 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Inserts Sennheiser CX 300: 66 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 4/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Panasonic RP-HNJ50: 27 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Shure E3c: 27 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Sony MDR-NC11A (ANC): 27 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Etymotic ER 6i Isolator: 26 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Panasonic RP-HJE70-S: 26 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 2/5[/size] Koss Spark Plug: 23 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size] Philips HN060: 23 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size] CORDLESS Sennheiser RS 130 (Over-the-ear, open): 57 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 4/5[/size] Logitech Wireless headphos F-0361A (on-ear, closed): 43 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 3/5 Ease of use (comfort): 1/5[/size] Creative CB2530 (On-ear, closed): 32 [size=xx-small]Sound quality: 2/5 Ease of use (comfort): 3/5[/size] Although Consumer Reports rated both of the Grados highly, they gave the Shure and Etymotic canalphones surprisingly low marks, while giving the Koss KSC75 only middling marks. And as usual they gave relatively high marks to Bose headphones.

Great example of why I don't put any validity in their reports.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will75 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Great example of why I don't put any validity in their reports.

Actually, I can relate to some of their findings. After all, they made no "modifications" at all whatsoever to any of the headphones (this means stock pads on the Grado headphones -- bowls on the SR-80, comfies on the SR-60). In addition, of those headphones on that list that I had experience with, I agree with some, but not all, of them: I like those Grados more than most of the other sub-$100 headphones that I've listened to -- but I certainly feel that the Sennheiser PX 100 and the Koss KSC75 Titanium deserve a higher score than they've received. And I certainly could not get over the Shure E3C's sharply rolled-off treble response, and always agreed that the lower-end Sony MDR-E8## series earbuds are downright mediocre. The Sennheiser MX 400, though not very good overall to my ears, deserves a somewhat higher score than they've received, as well.

On the other hand, I've only heard one headphone on that list that scored significantly higher than they deserved: The B*** you-know-whats.