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What does it take to qualify as a reviewer?

Posted in this thread earlier;
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1313300093&read
some participants said they are reviewers.

One said;

"I myself was once asked if I would be interested in reviewing for one of the publications mentioned above, by its editor. I wasn't, but also declined because I didn't feel that I was qualified: not as an audiophile, nor technically, nor as a writer."

Another said:

"let us consider what might "qualify" someone as a reviewer. Would it be an EE degree, years of experience in audio, experience as a dealer in audio, knowing many manufacturers, being wealthy enough to not be bought to give a good review to get the component at a good price, being articulate, hearing well in tests, etc.?"

And he goes on to make some other interesting remarks in the same post, in my opinion anyway.

Out of respect to the OP and not to further divert the thread from its' original theme, I began this thread.

So, what qualifications, experience, education, characteristics etc., do you believe one should possess and needs to be a reviewer?

It would be interesting to hear from everyone for I myself haven't really thought about it and can't offer an answer. Perhaps others ideas could help us form an opinion.

Best,

Dave
corazon
entrope
482 posts
 
Most needed reviewer quality:

Never say anything directly bad about any gear. Rather damn it with faint praise while being able to defend the notion that the sonic pithing it delivers can be palatable in the correct room.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
You need a room, high school writing skills, lips that dont mind the taste of ass and an ego that insists your actually honest and ethical even when everyone knows you strayed from it. Then you just need to sell yourself out and support your audio habbit with quid pro coe deals.
Be it midgets, preachers, failed salesman balding or not among others Bill mentioned all in all its not a bad racket if you can sleep at night.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
According to the majority here, simply put, it takes a lack of integrity. pathetic...
corazon OP
210 posts
 
Hi everyone!

Thanks to all who've written so far. Appreciate everyones opinion.

Some strong, colorful responses!

Foster_9

Clarification please.

Pathetic because of the majorities observation of a lack of integrity, or that so many feel this way?

Speaking of which, if many have such ill feelings toward reviewers, how do you go about researching components and deciding which you'd like to audition/purchase? Not all of us have access to brick and mortar stores or word of mouth from friends. We might say forums or for sale/auction sites but aren't we still reading something written by a reviewer researching to gain some perspective?

We have to start somewhere. In that case isn't there value in their writings? Whether or not we like their style, feel they're unbiased, vague in their findings, are knowledgable or worse lack integrity?

Not all can fall into the same mold. You know, one bad apple....

Not defending either, figure if reviewers want to rebut some of the posts here let them do it!

Curious about your process. Look forward to continued discussion.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
the best, most reliable reviews come for people who have actually purchased the item and currently has it in his / her system. I look to sites like Amazon and Crutchfield etc.... Real people with real world systems. Audiogon members are not good sources of reviews, because most of them have an agenda and personal bias.
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