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I recently emailed John Atkinson of Stereophile

I was concerned lately by the lack of Class "D" preamps in latest Stereophile Recommended Components listings and e-mailed John Atkinson the editor, who implied that because many newer preamps exceed the Class D limitations and newer preamps simply outperform their older bretheren, this class was currently empty. Which got me thinking: one can purchase a used Conrad Johnson PV10a or a Conrad Johnson PF-2 on this site for around six hundred dollars. Does this mean that Newer preamps in the same basic price range, like the new Parasound Halo which goes for $799 at Audio Advisor "sound better" than vintage gear? Any thoughts?
triumph
artmaltman
769 posts
 
I have pretty good experience with the Stereophile reviews except that I find them to be somewhat quality inflated, as some of you suggest. Still, the comments in the reviews are useful and also the rankings are useful, IMO. Sometimes they are flat out wrong, as in the case of Thiel 1.6. They rated it C, whereas other magazines find, as I personally have found, that they are awesome.
sorlowski
236 posts
 
Thsalmon it would be difficult to subscribe unless you are eager to pay S&H from Poland and of course know Polish
you can try : http://www.hi-fi.com.pl/ :)
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,484 posts
 
Maybe some Audiogoners ought to hook up and consider implementing a new section in Audiogon dedicated to component/sounds, comparison, system matching, from our own point of views and listening sessions, I know, sounds a little far fetched, but keeps the mags on the racks and the reviewers could read our stuff !!
herman
2,259 posts
 
Sorlowski, I don't have to speak Polish to look at the pictures do I :>)

Bbenn, very insightful on the lack of any educational content. As for Fremmer, I used to learn a lot from his column but lately all we get is news from the latest stereo show and unrelated crap like his experience driving a sports car. I only subscribe to get exposure to new music. About all I get from the reviews is info about the music the reviewer is currently using to evaluate his system. I think it is worth the $1 an issue for that.
kek23
48 posts
 
Take a look at the back cover of Stereophile and you will see that Musical Fidelity has bought that advertising space for well over a year. Musical Fidelity has been featured many times within that same period with various reviews.

Stereophile needs both subscription(newstand)and ad revenue to survive, but the higher $$ ads seem to arouse a review, and we are to believe that this review is unbiased?

Not to take anything away from Musical Fidelity, but why would Stereophile go to great lengths with a review for a component that is being produced in a limited supply(500 units)?

Just a thought.

Kek
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