2. misc-audio
  3. 1066764141

Feedback/Ideas for New Magazine?

Hi Guys,

In perusing the forums here at A-gon it is very apparent to me that many of you do not trust commercial magazines and reviewers. Obviously, with any magazine the derives its income mainly from commercial advertising, questions always arise regarding reviewer bias and the mag's political slant. I constantly see the question, "Why are there no negative reviews?"

Having been a reviewer for 4 magazines, I know the insider's perspective of why there are very few negative reviews published. In life, it is true that you get what you pay for, and since many of the e-zines are free and the print mags are very inexpensive because they pack in lots of advertising dollars to cover their costs, this maxim holds true.

More and more lately, I've been leaning toward starting my own audio magazine, which would allow me the freedom to be unusually candid and truthful about the topics and review gear the magazine covers.

My question, is: "Would you be willing support a magazine that is mainly funded by subscriptions if you had to pay a minimal yearly fee for it?" Please be honest, because as much as I'd love to start a venture like this, there's no point in doing it if there won't be a market for it. I'm speaking of an online publication to begin with; print would come much later, if at all.

Let me know what you think, and feel free to e-mail me privately if you prefer.

Thank You!
plato
bigkidz
3,403 posts
 
Bound for Sound is a mag that I read that I feel is somewhat true to the point and no advertising. Your idea is OK but you will not make a living at it and getting in equipment is difficult unless you have connections. I personally know many of the well known reviewers. Do not beleive for a second that the on-line mags do not have their favorites. Post a bad review and you may be out of business from getting more products to review for any manufacturer. IMHO, there are too many reasons why things sound the way they do so even an unbiased review can basically mean nothing, just your opinion.

It all comes back to you hae to hear it for yourself in your system in your home.

Anyway, I wish you well and Happy Listening.
steelhead
318 posts
 
I would like more of the "then" and "now" type comparisons. It seems a product comes out, is "hot" and then goes to the "was" while the next hot product is out. I really liked Art Dudley/Listener when it did current reviews of classic gear such as older snells, turntables, and even "extinct" stuff such as fidelity research moving coil cartridges. I think most of the classic gear can more than hold it's own in comparison.

I wish you luck in your venture.
plato OP
1,543 posts
 
Marco, you had me ROFL! Thank you for your support and words of encouragement.

Bigkidz I appreciate your kind wishes. I have some clever ideas for getting review gear going right down to paying for it myself if I have to. You say I won't make a living at it and I appreciate your honesty. Naturally I feel otherwise, and I'm ready to make the requisite effort and committment. My mantra is that I will succeed no matter what! Once I start the wheels in motion, I am going at it full-bore. Time will tell, as it always does.

Frank :)
plato OP
1,543 posts
 
Steelhead, as a veteran audiophile of 30+ years, it's been my experience that bonefide improvements are much more incremental/subtle than the magazines portray. I can assemble a system with 30 year old classic gear that will not be too far off from what is possible with today's technology. Certainly there have been advances in parts/manufacturing and large strides (especially recently) in commercially available digital technology; but the whole "breakthrough-a-minute" syndrome so common in the magazines definitely begs credibility.
slappy
903 posts
 
Marco you rock!

BigKids, there is an idea right there.

Plato, why not have a part of the magazine dedicated to small mom-&-Pops audio companys? the ones who cannot afford advertising?

As marco said, getting gear sent to you for review from the known high-end companys requires connections.

Why not contact the mom & pops audio companys and ask for a demo of thier gear? you could set a section of the magazine aside for that purpose, and im sure that some of these people trying to get what could be very excellent products into the market would jump at the opportunity to have thier gear reviewed for all to see.

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