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6Moons.com vs. Stereo Times

I was looking for RMAF 2012 reviews today and my search led me to the Synergistic Research site. I noticed their Home Page announcement that "6 Moons.com just reviewed our Tranquility Base." When I clicked to read more I found that the review in question is of Ed Meitner's EMM Labs XDS1 SE SACD Player with the Tranquility Base being used in the context of the EMM product. Let's have a look at how 6Moons.com reviews this audio equipment.

On the first page of the review there are two page-wide views of the Tranquility Base but there is only a single brief paraqraph about the Tranquility Base, highlighted by this statement, "The Meitner was tested in tandem with an anti-vibration/noise-reduction platform." The reviewer then defers to a lengthy explanation from Synergistic Research on page two of the review, accompanied by one more page-wide view of the Tranquility Base. So far, the only "review" here consists of quotes from Synergistic Research literature and prominent photos of the Tranquility Base. I used to be in the advertising business. So far, this looks more like advertising to me than a review.

But wait. On page 3 of the review the comments about the Tranquility Base finally appear. But, as is typical of many 6Moons.com reviews, where twists and turns and tangents abound, couched in florid prose and convoluted phrasing, the review introduces a third product to compare with the Tranquility Base. This third product is a Japanese platform called the RAF-48. At this point things become muddied:

"The Meitner atop the RAF-48 platform was more austere. It was perfectly audible that the Synergistic created a golden glow which clarified but also saturated the top end. This lacked with the AR. Meanwhile the bass seemed better articulated and differentiated with the Japanese platform. The difference was not significant but repeatable and audible with each record ..."

Until we arrive at the very end of the review where we read, "This platform [the Tranquility Base] is manufactured with unique attention to detail. It is not very high and its outer edges are trimmed out with aluminum banding ...", along with more information taken from the Synergistic Research site about the physical features of the Tranquility Base.

The most important thing that the review had to say about the Tranquility Base was found on page 3 of the review smothered by the accompanying prose:

"The Synergistic Research Tranquility Base is a very interesting product. It clearly influences the sound in a good way. It is prohibitively expensive but worthy at least a listen just to be aware of what’s possible. I think it will be very versatile and improve the sound for any type of component sitting atop it."

In other words, the Tranquility Base does something good but it is way overpriced for what it does. On 6Moons.com you often have to wade through the mire to get to the point. What took them so long to get to the point?

This review confirms why I am not a fan of 6Moons.com reviews. In my opinion, their reviews are characterized by florid prose that is ostentatiously literary. And their convoluted comments are pockmarked by comparisons, digressions and tangents that twist and turn, ending by often obscuring more than they reveal.

In comparison, I find Stereo Times' reviews a breath of fresh air. 6Moons.com reviews make me feel like I am trying to unravel a puzzle wrapped in a mystery couched in an enigma. How do you feel about 6Moons.com and Stereo Times?
sabai
newbee
4,767 posts
 
I stopped reading 6moons a couple of years ago. I have long suspected a quid pro quo arrangement between advertisers, merchants and 6moons which casts doubts, for me at least, on the value of the reviews.

Examples, from my POV at least, abound, but it was capped by a review of an expensive tube pre-amp. The reviewer gave it, sort of, very high praise capped off by 'I bought it' conclusion to justify his praise. Well it was his first tubed pre-amp! His point of comparison/reference was SS which made it IMHO valueless. I was interested in the design but never bought it because no one else ever seconded his opinion and/or I can't get a pre-purchase demo. Neat looking thingie though! :-)

BTW it was common to find praise on 6moons for components sold by the dealer of this unit. He is also an advertiser on the site. Go figure.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I really enjoy the 6 Moons reviews and don`t find them difficult or confusing to read. They do have their own style no question, use of metaphors and examples abound,no problem for me. I appreciate their consistent willingness to directly compare components(a number of reviewers shy away from this).I consider them honest and open,they don`t seem to be influenced by advertisers IMO. As always horses for courses, they won`t please everyone.
Regards,
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I agree, 6 moons makes my highly tuned BS detector go off a lot.
jburidan
803 posts
 
6Moons is unreadable, IMHO.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,300 posts
 
"But, as is typical of many 6Moons.com reviews, where twists and turns and tangents abound,"
Ain't it the truth!

6moons is kinda like a lot of journalism these days, part entertainment, part factual/news.

As such it can be entertaining enough if you want to spend time wandering aimlessly along with random thoughts talking about audio stuff as is the case with many reviews there.

The opposite of "just stick to the relevant facts and get to the point".

I have read some nicely done reviews on 6moons, but recently a lot of it comes across I hate to say as mere diarrhea of the mouth towards the topic at hand. I seldom am interested enough to make it through an entire meandering "review".

Some writing lessons would be in order for many but not all of the reviewers there.

So I like the fact that it exists as a form of nerdy audiophile entertainment, but its kinda the audio equivalent of reality TV to me, sometimes entertaining, but often drawn out and a waste of time in the end. I do like that they do tend to try to think and look out of the box quite often compared to other sources, but that is often not enough for me to add any value.

I have not read enough Stereo Times to form an opinion there yet but I'll go out on a limb and say the quality control there at least might be better.

BTW the late John Potis did reviews for several sources in his day and was an excellent reviewer and writer IMHO. [url=http://6moons.com/audioreviews/walsh/micro.html]Here[/url] is one of his offerings on 6moons a few years back that hit the mark. If you want to cut to the chase with 6moons, their yearly Blue Moon Awards generally have some merit I would say.
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