what really happened to j. skul

Satisfied now Capeguy?

By the way, I don't attack girly-sue types, so you must be imagining things.

> Has anyone read an issue of Stereophile and actually missed Jonathan Scull(not Skull)???

Thank you.

> I was one of the more vocal opponents to the power J10 was wielding at Stereophile.

I'm sure you give me too much credit. Stereophile went where JA wanted it to go, not me.

> I found Fine Tunes enjoyable, and was a worthwhile column without question(moreso in its early days).

Thank you.

> However, his reviews were subpar.

Sorry you feel that way. I put a lot of myself in them, a lot of passion, that's what makes me tick.

> Barring lower priced components, every review came off the same way to me.<

Really? I'm sure Richard Gray Power Company feel differently. Anyway, my niche was the exotic stuff, why review what wasn't good when there was so much great stuff out there? Let's see... the Pioneer PR Person is still pretty pissed at me. But I always delivered what I heard, and that's it.

> However, praise was so lavish when it got to the sonics that I found it hard to ever finish a review and have a serious grip on what a component sounded like.

Sorry, some people did, some didn't. You can't be everything to everybody.

> It would have been preferable to me to really have a handle on the differences between a BAT, Jadis, Krell, Mark Levinson, etc. Which systems they would work well in, and where they would falter.<

Well, I always tried to give that information. Many people wrote and "said" they did, in fact.

> Instead, it was almost as if what many accuse Stereophile was at work; reviews bought via advertising revenue.<

This has been covered many times, your innuendo stinks, your facts are askew, you should just shut it. If you don't know of a specific instance of corruption, don't smear another's reputation. My integrity is the most important part of me, and it's staying that way. I don't know who you are or what you think you are, but in this, you are simply and grossly ignorant.

> My biggest problem with Scull was whenever someone had the temerity to have him review something at a non-stratospheric price point. Then, a bad review would be written.<

You're crazy. I'm not going to sit here and ennurmate what the magazine as a whole covered, how balanced I tried to influence the reviewing for expensive and cost-effective gear, how good I tried to be for the industry while not bowing to commerical pressure, but my area was the exotic, and that's where I traveled. And no one "threw" me a review, either. The process has also been ennumerated in the pages of Stereophile. RGPC was expensive ---bzzzt! I *arranged* many a review of modestly-priced gear, so I did my bit. If you don't wanna know that, too bad for you.

> As if to say, "Hey, you asked for it..." Was he christened to live a life of only multikilobuck equipment? <

Ah, don't get your bowels in an uproar, as my father used to say. I only played one on tv, okay, relax. I covered the bleeding edge, I arranged cost-effective reviews, I encouraged manufacturers, was always fair as I knew had to be, and devoted myself to my job 1000%

> I don't understand why Stereophile sometimes has a reviewer only handle certain things. All reviewers should write about the entire audio spectrum. Scull, and now Paul Bolin, were akin to audio royalty. A component could not come to them unless they were the finest in the kingdom.<

Please address your comments to the edtior of Stereophile.

> However, I have been a loyal Stereophile subscriber for a long time. And, I am paid up until perhaps 2005. My opinions are not a result of a blind rant, but stem from my absolute love of this hobby. Stereophile is the most important journal of high - end audio. They must be held to the highest standard. Otherwise, we all(listeners, enthusiasts, dealers, manufacturers, and the reviewers) suffer the effects of not trying to be the best - mediocrity.<

What can I say... I always did my best. Some feel I did a great job. You don't. Mozeltof.

> If I sound dour

And insulting?

> maybe that's in the past. The magazine seems to be on the upswing over the past months. Maybe I am mistaken, but I sense a definite improvement. Despite the economy, there is more energy and life in the magazine. <

I'm sure we're all happy to note...

> Personally, I have found that the inclusion of Art Dudley has been a breath of fresh air.

I wish him personally the best in his new spot.

> As to Sam Tellig, there are now two people who can write entertainingly, maybe Sam will have to throw in some detail to his reviews.<

Once again, please address your points of view to the editor at Stereophile.

JS
www.monstercable.com/ScullReport

> hey dekay, lighten up man,

Amen!

> i was curious about the sudden departure of a major player in the industry who wrote in a magazine that i have read for a long time. regardless of what you thought of scull, and my opinion lines up more or less with trelija, you cannot deny his impact on all things audio.<

Thanks, I always did it with a good heart. Ask Mark of Rogue Audio, ask Blue Circle, ask any number of manufacturers who were encouraged by my efforts to keep the hobby alive and happy. Within, always, what was proper to do.

> and dekay even if i had j10 address which i do not

jscull@monstercable.com

> i wouldn't call him and ask him about something that may be painful for him to discuss with anyone lest of all a stranger.<

No, that's fine, I love what I did, I love what I'm doing now, happy to discuss it with anyone who wants to. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't been there. Take the best...

> of all the responses to my question, yours was the only one to flame my motive, and since you don't know me,im suprised by the response.this is a hobby, not life or death.

Yea mon! It's music! It's life! ENJOY IT!
JS
www.monstercable.com/ScullReport

> Without mentioning any names I heard the gentleman was some what of a problem for Stereophile.

Sigh. Please mention names and don't dribble innuendo you can't back up. Who's your source? In what way? Are you making it up? Was the person involved in an incident with SP with another motive? Did you believe what you wanted to believe? Sheesh.

> He did not get along with manufacturers and did not like to return equipment loaned for review.<

Total crap. Total. You don't know what you're talking about, and you're an insulting, low-minded creep for making unsubstantiated accusations you can't possibly back up. I'd be happy to give anyone who asks a list of manufacturers for "testamonials", as if needed. I'd like to know what you do for a living so I could give you a dose of what you're leaking from your snotnose right now and see how you'd like it. You are a misinformed. Got it? I won't call you a liar. I could never say that.

> The 'budget cuts' doesn't withstand scrutiny with the hiring of Art Dudley so hot on Scull's heels.

What exactly are you dripping now? Why don't ya wipe your nose, your ruining the parquet.

> Art Dudley is an improvement though.

You're right to feel that way.

> Fine Tunes was helpful initially but ceased it's usefulness before it ran it course.

I tried my best to come up with something new each month. You try it.

> Or maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, maybe you're wrong.
JS
www.monstercable.com/ScullReport

> So, your hobby is gossiping about individuals and their personal/professional lives in public forums?<

Ah, thanks, the voice of reason and civil behavior.
Shoot first, ask the corpse afterwards if it's true.

"even if i had j10 address which i do not, i wouldn't call him and ask him about something that may be painful for him to discuss with anyone lest of all a stranger."

and... instead, you decided to discuss the incident in a public forum (JS has posted @ AA and I assume reads these forums as well). Whether I lighten up, or not, I still find this thread to be of poor taste/judgement.

Part of the territory, I guess, but now that I'm on the other side, learning so much about what I was so insulated from, I'm still open to anyone who wants to talk. Even if it don't come as part of the territory anymore, he said, dance like a butterly, sting like a bee...

> Granted that certain people in the industry have cried out (by their actions) for public scrutiny, I do not consider JS to be in this group.

Thank you. Sincerely. That means a lot to me. Everyone I touched with my writing was a reward.

JS
www.monstercable.com/ScullReport