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Tyler and Acoustic Zen reviews in TAS

Current issue of TAS has Sallie R(?) reviewing Tyler Linbrook II and Acoustic Zen Adagios. Both get glowing reviews. What I found really odd is that while the speakers are priced similarly and the reviews are by the same person in the the same issue, there is not a single sentence of comparison in either review. I find that baffling. Frankly, this diminishes my trust in the reviewer as well as the editor who should not have let this pass.

In the Tyler review she makes a few comparative remarks against her reference Spendor S8e. The gist is something like this: If you divide up the sound spectrum into parts (lower mid range, mid bass, etc) then Spendor gets more of these right. However, in toto, she finds the Tylers more magical or special or whatever the adjective is. Still, she does seem to prefer the Spendors. Make of it whatever you will.

Everyone is entitled to personal taste without being able to rationally explain it all. So I don't mind that. But I thought a serious reviewer should have compared Adagios to the other two.

I am curious what others thought of this in case you saw the reviews, and how you think the three speakers (Tyler Linbrook II, AZ Adagio, Spendor S8e) compare.
aktchi
aktchi OP
274 posts
 
Joeabrams: Your question assumes that Sallie had both the Tyler and Acoustic Zen speakers in her listening room at the same time, which may or may not be the case. Even though the two reviews appear in the same issue, they may have been written months apart. If that's the case, then it's a reasonable choice not to compare speaker "A" to your _memory_ of speaker "B."
Fair enough re Tylers, although many reviewers do include a comment or two from memory (after all, it is not meant to be a full blown A/B comparison, it is mainly a review of one speaker). Spendors are her reference speakers, she might be expected to have a good memory of their sound. Anyway, I can't imagine a reviewer would have nothing else to compare Adagios with. But as I said, I did read the review in hurry. Not a big deal, just struck me as odd and a spoor a reflection othe editor as the reviewer herself.

Tvad: Is anyone going to make a purchase decision based solely on a review in TAS? Not likely. It seems to me readers routinely over-analyze reviews and reviewers' agendas.
I don't know if anyone purchases based solely on one review, but it is one source of information and opinions.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Mitch2 , not sure what you maen about the last line, "people no longer....their purchase of tyler soeakers". I gather what you are saying is that the System2's the 3 way, W22/W18/T25 is abit over priced at $3600/direct from Ty price.(Ty has no retail outlet price, so as you say the list price means nothing, and not sure why list is mentione don any audio product)
Then I gather you feel his SIG System, a MTM with bass module priced at $4800 is more bang for your buck and is the better deal/the way to go. Am I redaing you correctlY/
But even so, i'm not interested in the much larger MTM+ dual 8's. Its way too much for my tube amp and how i like my music imaged. I don't care for big sound. The SYSTEM 2's (W22/W18/T25 is very competitive in price for that midsize speaker.
Look at Thiels 3 ways, at like $3500, and Spendor 8ce 2 way at $3100. 2 drivers at $3100. Both can be had used on the cheap. try to find a tyler used on the cheap. You are in for a very long wait :-)
btw I see the Spendor is british. Sorry I don't care for brit sound. But I'll give them a fair and unbias hearing tomorrow.
aktchi OP
274 posts
 
Bartokfan: ...btw I see the Spendor is british. Sorry I don't care for brit sound. But I'll give them a fair and unbias hearing tomorrow.

How funny that in the same sentence you first state your bias and then promise to be unbiased. :)

Anyway, I shall look forward to your review of Spendor S8e. If you are going to a dealership and see this message in time, also try to listen to Spendor SP1/2e, that is the similarly priced model in the "classic" line that some like better.
aktchi OP
274 posts
 
FWIW, the Adagio review is available online at :

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/updates/tasadagio.pdf

www.upscaleaudio.com/updates/tasadagio.pdf

I have not been able to locate the Tyler review online.
millenium
62 posts
 
i have talked to TY many times and told him he needs a speaker in the $8000.00 price. this would fill in the void between the floor standing linbrook signature and the woodmere. i suggested a smaller version of the woodmere that would have the same balance look in a smaller cabinet with two 8 in. seas woofers. there is to much price difference between the linbrook signature and the woodmere. the $8000.00 price is attractive especially for someone in the $10,000.00 price range but does not have room for the size of the woodmere. i suggested that he use the cabinet design of the woodmere. any input from anyone??
i currently own woodmere's and linbrook sig. monitors on ty stands. i think that it would have been better to see a d'apolitto design speaker from ty reviewed. they seem to integrate well in rooms and sound great when properly set up.
its interesting that ROBERT E. GREENE is a fan of TY'S speakers especially the woodmere's when he heard them at the 2005 THE SHOW. it was good at least to see ty's speakers reviewed without having a "advertising connection"

regards

BILL L.
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