LISTENER Magazine...What Do You Think?

Well.........6 issues a year? I even forget I have a subscription. And they don't seem to review anything I'm interested in, which is pretty much "mainstream high-end gear"-- is that an oxymoron? So, just for lack of interest in the esoteric stuff they do review, I'm letting my subscription lapse. I like TAS the best, Stereophile is slipping fast, but I still get it, and I like "Bound for Sound". Cheers? Craig

Upon first subscribing, i found much of it childish and aimed at a very small segment of the market. Upon further examination a few issues down the road, i find it childish and aimed at a very small segment of the market : )

None the less, i do get a kick out of some of the articles. Most are pretty lacking in terms of usable info, but i "think" that these guys are at least enjoying themselves. Every once in a while, i do get some useful info out of it and will probably renew when my subscription lapses. I do wish that they would cut down on the snide remarks and at least make comments that are actually FUNNY.

Speaking of funny, who could ever follow what spewed forth out of Harvey Rosenberg's column ??? Genius or idiot, i couldn't really tell. If i had to pass judgment, i think he aimed for the former but he leaned more towards the latter in reality. Obviously, some folks found him both entertaining and informative. I found most of his columns rather inane.

I will say that i liked the work that i saw come out of AA Inmate Phil Sieg. I wonder if he'll be doing more writing for them ? I don't have much of a hankering for "mini" amps, but his stuff drips enthusiasm and i DO think that he is having fun.

Since we're travelling off the beaten path of book store glossies, i too like Bound For Sound. Needs a technical crew and a little refining, but i like Martin's style. They tend to cover gear that i think is well chosen and varies in price range. Nothing is off limits. Too bad so many manufacturers are afraid to loan him gear for review. I guess that they are not used to having to deal with someone that will offer an honest point of view ( good AND bad )and doesn't accept "advertising revenue". Don't have to worry about renewing for this one as i'm good for about another 4+ years. Sean
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I think that Listener is the best audio magazine on the planet. The writers poke fun at this obsessive, often elitist hobby (the picture of a Wilson X-1 used as a boat anchor in one issue is on my wall). It brings a much needed degree of levity to this insane hobby of ours. They actually dish out poor reviews, too! I subscribed to stereophile for 5 years, and I only read one real negative review, but that was after a GLOWING review of the same product! (Cary Monoblocks) Listener rarely quibbles with inane tweaks that cost megabucks, but instead deal with great sounding, reliable, reasonably priced components. Best of all, most of it is British (which to me, sounds the best, along with French gear). And they review gear that genuinely sounds good too, but that no one has heard of much (Audiomat comes to mind...some of the best tube stuff I've ever heard, period). Cheers!

I have read Listener since the first issue, it is becoming the MAD magazine of audio. Too much wasted ink on trying to be cute and witty. I respect Art Dudley's opinions but his reply to letter writers are sometime quite vicious. In his defense it is HIS magazine and he can do what he wants. I find too many of the reviews entry level and have no interest at all. It is also very tiring reading all the slams against the other audio magazines. They are never directly mentioned but anyone who is a regular reader knows who they are talking about. I think there is great potential there and I hope they spend less time on sarcasm and more time reviewing audio.

I think the Mag is mostly lame w/reviews that are not very well fleshed out on lame equipment.