New Stereophile recommended list

From the standpoint of a manufacturer with his product undergoing its first major magazine review, I see an entirely different picture of the process and relationships between manufacturer and magazine than the negative one that seems to be favored by most of the responders to this thread.
I do not know nor can I comment on how the other audio publications do their selection and determine their policies but my experience has been one of an immense admiration for ethical behavior on the part of Listener magazine.
It has also come at great uncertainty for myself, my product and my small company.
Last July, I received an e mail from one of the Listener review staff who was preparing a review of a competitors product.He had heard some scuttlebutt about my own product and asked if I would like to participate in an expanded comparison review.
I agreed and forwarded several samples to this reviewer and an associate of his.He arranged a single 20 minute telephone "interview" and we exchanged a single e mail correspondence over set up details for my product in his personal system in early August.At this point, all communications were halted in a total blackout and my only contact since then between either of the reviewers or the magazine was not made until several weeks ago( nearly 7 months total time).
What I was told was that the review process had been completed, the samples returned and an approx. date for publishing of the article(a late spring or early summer 2001 issue is all the more I know).
I do not have advertising with the magazine, nor have I ever been approached to do so.
I have no ties with the reviewers nor have I ever met them.
Nothing was ever asked of me nor inferred.
I will not be aware of the contents of the review until it arrives at my doorstep and is simultaneously being read by Listeners readership.
Now could someone please tell me the whereabouts of that smoking gun and evidence of conspiracy and collusion?

Best,
Ken Lyon
GreaterRanges/Neuance

If there is good writing, I'll read it. If the article is something I want to read I'll buy it. We may be putting too much importance in a list of components. Buying blindly from said list will not bring you instant nirvana. I may not always agree with it but so what? A lot of good posts here.

Magazines make a certain high percentage of their money selling advertisements. Many audio magazines charge $5K per page for those wonderful ads if bought just once. They, like all businesses, like to set up contracts for the entire year, this gives the magazines their security of continued revenue. Usually a break is given for a year long contract, let's say that they reduce the price to $3.5K per issue. Twelve times $3.5K equals $40K for a years worth of advertising, and that's just ONE magazine. No conspiracy theory Ken, just simple common sense. Hmm, how do we insure that Company A can afford to pay their contract obligation? Maybe this is why there is the "Component of the month", like so many of us consumers seem to notice in the magazines?

And speaking of Listener magazine, Ken, did you see where Artie himself mentioned that some reveiwers have recieved illegal drugs and other forms of compensation from certain manufacturers? He had mentioned it in the Intro section about a year ago. It's a must read. I'll agree that Listener has scruples, how about the big guys?

I could be completely wrong here, however it does make you think.

My issue here is this, which I will repeat, and please give me a rational, "how, after 20+ years of using a grading system, going from A to whatever, be changed?" IF "A" IS A MEASURE OF THE STATE OF THE ART THEN THAT PRODUCT IS RATED AN A. IF ANOTHER PRODUCT COMES ALONG THAT IS BETTER (than the prior) THEN THE PRIOR SHOULD BE DROPPED OR DOWN GRADED! If you don't think there is another hidden agended when "poof," a new grading system appears inorder rate the best, well.... you want to buy a bridge?

Listen, I'm not a Sterophile basher, but to me this absolutely makes no sense!

Ramstl, if this makes no sense, don't ever read Stereophile's Guide to Home Theater! I've read Stereophile for 15 years and picked up my first copy of SGHT with recommende components. Oh my God! Top class is AAA then AA then A then B !!! What the hell is this???? I really don't pay much attention to these ratings, although I do notice on the used market they carry major weight in resale value. I listen and judge for myself, and sometimes even think a Class B better than a Class A product. (gasp). It's only one person's opinion, I don't know his bias' or what his agenda is. I more read these magazines for information on what is out there and what features new interesting products have. If interested I go form my own opinion. My money always gets spent on my opinion, not someone else's.