What should be mandatory in every professional published review-


When testing a company's newest amp, preamp, etc, and it is a refinement of a prior product that was on the market, ie, a Mark II, an SE version, a .2 etc, it should be mandatory that the review includes a direct comparison with the immediate predecessor. IMHO, it's not enough to know ion the product is good; it's also important to know if there is a meaningful difference with the immediate predecessor.

I'm  fan of Pass Labs, and I just looked at a review of an XP22 preamp. I find it very disturbing that there was no direct comparison between the XP22 and the XP20. And this lack of direct comparison is ubiquitous in hi-end published reviews, across all brands of gear tested. I don't blame the gear manufacturers, but rather the publications as I view this as an abdication of journalistic integrity.

 

Opinions welcome- 

128x128zavato

Precise criticism and a skeptical approach is what I prefer.

@noske Just as I wouldn’t say something sounds good when it doesn’t, nor would I ever say something sounds bad when it doesn’t just to be “critical.” That’s the main reason why the product comparison sections are so critical as it’s possible to communicate what aspects of a review component’s sound was different, better, or worse compared to a similar product. To me, this is the most informative and useful part of any review and why I can’t stand TAS reviews because they rarely bother to do any product comparisons and I find their reviews to be “dull, boring, and hand waving” reviews I find next to useless. Again, just my take FWIW.

 

Certified results of a recent hearing test as performed by a certified audiologist.

A full-disclosure statement by the reviewer of said reviewer’s preferences in "how reproduced music SHOULD sound" as well as her/his taste IN genres of music.

And finally, a statement by the reviewer that addresses the nature of relativity and subjectivity.

 

@soix

Just as I wouldn’t say something sounds good when it doesn’t, nor would I ever say something sounds bad when it doesn’t just to be “critical.”

My bad.  I meant (in hindsight)  to convey the word critique,  Not criticism.

Must be a tough gig.

@millercarbon 

How long can it float? 

About a day until the funeral directors come in to collect.

After that it is the duty of the plumbers.

Room size, flooring (concrete, wooden...), windows (my room the front wal has a very large glass window, back wall is 3 sided floor to ceiling glass windows, walls: concrete, lath, sheet rock wood studs or metal studs...,  treatments, carpeting,window shades, curtains heavy duty or..., dedicated line or not,