2. misc-audio
  3. 981654951

Reviewing the Reviewers

Check out http://www.high-endaudio.com/index_ac.html and follow go to the "Audio Critique" page, and then to "Reviewing the Reviewers" page.

This site is run by a man named Arthur Salvatore. He has written much about all aspects of audio on his site...his recommended components, his recommended recordings, his store, etc. He writes like a lawyer, but it seems like he actually has integrity...he must not be a lawyer. :-) Seriously...anyone interested in a point by point analysis of modern audio reviews should check out this site. He's analyzed many reviews and developed his own list of "rules" that most reviews tend to follow (and he's dead-on)...usually because the writer doesn't want to say anything negative about any particular sponsor's (or buddy's) product.

He received an angry letter from Michael Fremer. The letter and his analysis are included on the site. It makes for a long read, but it can be fascinating. Besides...it's information than every audio joe (or jane) should be aware of when they read any review...especially when they're planning on pruchasing a product highlighted by a particular review.

If you want to see textbook examples of his "rules" put into practice, just check out any Soundstage review written by Marc Mickelson.

Enjoy...
phild
rbischoff
80 posts
 
Still on topic, I think. What reviewer's judgment do you trust? I like Fremer's writings, especially on music, even if I do not like his business ethics.

I trust Rob Reina, Kal, Jack English, for a long reach backward Kent Birdsong of the Hi Fi Heretic, never trusted j-10 or Gindi.

Just curious.
kublakhan
717 posts
 
phild, if you're still around: thanks for that post. i've just spent hours going through that site. amazing!
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Well Rbischoff, trust is not the word I would use, however I liked Cordesman, Martin Colloms,John Nork and the HP of yore, alas,not the one employed by Dell Computers.
And hi Kubla, nice to find you here, don't cease to be amazed, (-;, it keeps one young. Cheers,
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Greg, thanks for having read my long diatribe. You are right about the importance of disputes. They help to clarify where and how we stand. Why don't you start a thread about "shaping preferences" ? I myself, like you need dynamics, I need "those sudden bursts of intensity", like you have in live music, I go crazy if the highs are missing or grainy and I need a solid bass foundation to the music. Subtle timing cues should be rendered as lifelike as possible. Listening to music as an interactive experience...that was an eye-opener for me, because, not unlike you I "correspond" with the musicians as a natural matter of course, but was never really conscious of my doing so...never thought about it, but it was there..so be thanked! Cheers
sqjudge
96 posts
 
Thanks Kubla for introducing me to this thread. I believe that most audiophiles are very passionate. It is this passion that drives use to spend dollars and hours in pursuit of the magical illusion of a live concert. It is easy for me to see Trelja's passion in his writing. I can agree that he can cut very deep with his words. I have a technical background and have often fallen short with supporting arguments for my opinions. I just state the facts (as I see them) and the listener is expected to understand why I formed the opinion. I try to remember that this is a very wide audience and attempt to modify my usual blunt style. We are all human and fully capable of making errors. I forgive Trelja for his direct nature. I truly hope that he continues to share his ideas with all of us. I will sorely miss his "this is how I heard it" commentary. He sort of reminds me of Howard Cosell.
More to discover