Latest Absolute Sound

Audiogon, and the High End in general, would not be where it is today, if not for magazines such as TAS and Stereophile. Let us not forget those fortunate enough (I am not one) to afford these pieces of high priced gear. Don't like it, don't read it. Same could be said about the many forums out there, including this one. Happy holidays to all. MrD.

People should read more books.

Good reviews can be found online. It's so easy to narrow down reviewers nowadays that have tastes close to your own. That, and it's easy to contact them for further elucidation.

Every once in a while I'll skim a review at one of the bigger sites but always end up content with what I have. Going to audio shows and hearing the stuff that passes for great audio, praised in the reviews, makes me even more content. All excuses aside for bad rooms at audio shows, a good system will overcome the limitations of a bad room enough for one to make a valid and informed opinion of the gear.

As nice as the gear seems in rags like TAS, they really don't bowl me over at the shows. Quite the opposite, in fact.

All the best,
Nonoise

No noise,

i feel the same way. When I go to the shows and hear the really expensive gear I read about in TAS I am usually disappointed. On the other hand when I hear some of the budget systems I am blown away how good they sound. I remember a setup I heard at the Newport Beach show a couple of years ago that retailed for 500k. I thought it was just so-so. Then I wandered into a room with a pair of small monitors and a sub and it blew me away. It was just so musical where as the 500k system just made over the top sound with no musicality.

I would rather read a review about a minivan.  Even if I had the money and inclination to buy a mega performance vehicle it would be a waste.  I'm an average driver and I could spend the rest of my life on a race track and still not approach the performance limits of that class of auto.  I don't have to crash 2 or 3 of them to know that.  Kind of like what Clint said in "Magnum Force".  Now a minivan - how many cup holders, number of electric outlets, third row seating, cubic feet with the seats folded, etc. - that's really interesting.

BTW, after decades of reading TAS I let my subscription lapse and I don't miss it at all.

I find the mags sometimes entertaining, sometimes informative, sometimes not...does help me keep up on what's new. Don't read the reviews of the ultra expensive stuff, but it doesn't bother me that they review. Taken in context the mags are ok and cheap enough...