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Disappointing audition after great review

Ok, so I read the hi fi mags, in print and on line. I recently read a glowing review of speakers retailing in excess of $10,000. Then I found a dealer with the speakers on display. After listening I came away thinking what wa stat reviewer thinking? Also recently I tried a pair of headphones. Read a glowing review which touted its sonic quality and noted although they were heavy, they were comfortable to wear, even for hours. So I tried those headphones. After 5 minutes I could not wait to get them off.

Makes me wonder- are the reviews little more than shill ads? Sometime I think so.

On the other hand, there is one long time reviewer who seems to hear pretty much what I do. What he likes I like.

What's been your experience?
128x128zavato
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 

Lifted from a recent Legacy speaker ad: "Room resonances and reflections make up the majority of what reaches your ears".

IF this is TRUE then most speaker reviews, at least, would have little value considering that listening environments are so different.

So the only way a speaker review would be somewhat valid is if one possesses a very similar listening room and system. This doesn't even take into account variations in hearing acuity.

The reviewer may not be a SHILL at all, although perhaps some are, and the speaker may actually have sounded excellent under their particular circumstances. Whereas the same speaker may sound only mediocre under totally different circumstances.
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,403 posts
 
Kr4- I understand your point and you're correct- you as a reviewer have consistency on your side and hopefully a well sorted room. But again, a speaker that excels in your environment may not in mine. However, my experience is that very good speakers seldom sound poor even with led than optimal setup.

And BTW, still enjoy my F30's
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
Having worked in audio stores and had the opportunity to compare a lot of gear, it is true that exposure to a lot of different gear is an asset but most likely two differnt people will still likely draw two different conclusions when it comes to these things, even if perfectly honest and unbiased. So there you go. Salt anyone?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
An audiophile takes twenty years to get a system to sound right. What chance does a dealer have?
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
Reviews work just like mass media and media broadcasts what's written on paper. Facts don't matter at all. Naive those who did not get it yet.
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