Rules on Review...

Ttrhp, In that most of us have written reviews of our present systems, I think it will be hard to find any bad. If the reviewer has listed equipment they owned before so for comparision, you might be able to read into it a bit. I hope as this review formatt roles out we will see some less flattering reviews. I am keeping a list of comments to discuss with Audiogon about this very topic, thanks for starting another thread on reviews, I know your comments are worthwhile.

Natalie is dead on. It's very hard to believe any reviewing magazine, dependant on advertising, to turn a profit, who will slam potential clients. Also, many of the audio industry's reviewing giants, if you will, are wined, dined, courted and gently loved to death. Do you think they will slam a product by one of these companies? I don't. Infact, you never see a bad review. I'm willing to bet, the only thing they do about a negative review, is to tell them before publication, giving the option to pull it. How come there are certain companies that never get reviewed? Never. Companies that are known to have killer electronics and the like? Very honest, don't you think? Is something rotten here? Consumer Reports is the only one out there that does any type of reviewing right. You read Sam Tellig's outstanding review of MF's new DAC and the next month they have the back cover ad. Very expensive and hard to get. Coincidence? They give the PS Audio 300 and 600 reviews that this product is the next coming. There are more of these babies, for sale, on Audiogon then anything. The power of the press, planting audio greatness seeds, has been going on forever. I read everything anyway, and then I go to my two, most trusted, bright, critical companions for first hand advice: MY TWO EARS. They haven't steered me wrong yet. (and if they ever do. I will forgive them, because I know they didn't do it maliciously or with a hidden agenda.) I have all the confidence in the world, in them, and so should you. Your ears that is. I love mine , and we'll hopefully, be together in good working order, for a long time to come.

Natalie,
I've auditioned Joseph RM33i sigs(about 40min trying to find the music they can play or volumes they're good at but sorry couldn't) in the dealer's room and fairly saying I realy "pooed" on this product and said it only worth some DJ JBL speakers but not more. I can with no doubdt say that Vandys 1C(I can say that I sometimes miss them) which 10x cheaper sound much more pleasant i bet with any suitable electronics.
The same thing I would say(or at least would refuse to say something at all) even to MFG because even if the will ofer me 10k I will not stand saying lies and publishing them; I'd better go to the manufacturer that I realy belive and hear this product is great. In this case before the speaker is realy shown with its price and looks it has to be auditioned ONLY WITH EARS i.e. with eyes tied and with no knowlege about the price. That could be done by contacting an audiofiles to visit the dealer's listening room to audition whatever speaker that costs whatever price with tied eyes and than say honest things about it.

I've even heard more junk such as AudioNote CDT Zero with MSB Link III, OCM amp that my 2 ears(and I'd add a head) did not appreciate. Becides my 2 ears I want to listen to the music as long as possible with no fatigue whatsoever and certainly I would not buy neither CDT Zero nor MSB Link III with all its high-tech 21st century features.

Whatever conserns personal home electronics everyone i believe in all logical sence the equipment that suits the system and overall sounds nice to the owner.

I'll exchange my views freely in a thread especially if someone has posted a question. I've posted reviews on AudioReview.com in the past, but I've stopped because overall I feel I don't have enough experience with different gear. The only review I think that was helpful to others was the one I posted for Boltz racks when there wasn't a single one on AudioReview. When I first got bit by "the bug" I was excited to share my impressions of my toys, but now I realize that those reviews may not have been the most helpful to other people.

I think an objective mind and being able to list a lot of gear in the "similar products used" catagory goes a long way. Kind of tough sometimes in this very unobjective hobby.

I must add that I did enjoy Twl's review of the David Berning Co MicroZOTL Tube amp and the follow up discussion. Very good!

Thats for sure,there are no bad reviews ,just various degrees of good reviews.
Occasionally you can read between the lines and pick up little bits of info..good or bad ..about a particular product.I continue to read reviews on anything that I buy and still find them very valuable.

How can you rely on your 2 ears when everything now has the
frequently mentioned and also used by dealers/manufacturers as an excuse."BURN IN PERIOD"
I have auditioned many pieces of equipment,in my own home,only to bring it back stating my dislike for it.
The excuse I get..but there is a " BURN IN PERIOD" it will only get better.My answer is and what if it doesn't?
So thats one scenerio that your 2 ears would let you down.
Thats when discussions,like this one, and reviews help.
Also I want to know about,reliability,service,compatibility,
etc before I make any decision.
One piece of equipment I have auditioned ,sounded absolutely fabulous..when it worked.
Because I am very isolated,I depend on reviews and discussions ,for direction as to what equipment is worth auditioning.
Don't get me wrong,your 2 ears are very important in making a decision but whats between those ears is just as important.