Audiphile Press: Am I jaded, experienced, or has it declined?
I remember Audio, Stereophile and TAS as an older teen getting me excited about music reproduction and technology. Getting out to listen to speakers and find gear I could afford to take me to music Nirvana.
I still like the gear, still like talking about it, comparing tech, sharing experiences and advice, but I can’t remember the last time I really thought "wow, that’s good writing!"
How about you?
Has too much press devolved to covering only the most expensive gear? Do we lack better international gear coverage? Does it all look like it could be easily written by an AI chat bot?
The "press" has evolved from monoliths supported by advertisers to online websites and blogs supported by page hits, subscribers and likes. You have "more" specialty writers that focus on niches. If you want a particular niche it is out there. Start with youtube and this site does a pretty good job aggregating news links from the "Hifi world":
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@petg60 - I'm always shocked to see pictures from the Munich Hifi show and how very radically different the speakers available there seem to be than here in the US. |
I recall devouring Stereophile back in day, small format digest sized with very little advertising, certainly much info in that what I believe was bi-monthly publication. But then I was beginner audiophile and no web, hungry to be educated.
Seems to me I found commercial audiophile publications less valuable as my systems improved. I recall going to audio shows when it seemed every system superior to mine, ate up information provided by manufacturer reps, designers, and the listening certainly elucidating. Over time as my system started to compete and/or sound superior to what I was hearing at these shows, they became less valuable, just like the publications.
I wonder if the audiophile publications are as valuable to today's novice as they were for me back in the day. Should be mindful of the reams of great information found on web, certainly makes these publications less valuable.
So bottom line, don't know if publications have changed, or is it more about how we've changed?
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@erik_squires , I have not been in the US or any of your great shows but i have attended once the Munich show and was shocked as well. So many ideas from many small unknown brands make you dizzy. Hope to visit again some time. Same feeling happened on my many visits in Tokyo, but not at any show, just stores (apart from the Tannoy cult).
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I was looking at my barely read TAS's and Stereophile's last night...I was thinking if you've been reading articles for decades, aren't looking for new gear, and trust your own judgement...the mags are just less relevant, not sure they've declined but my need for them has...I use them more just to see what's new and music reviews...no longer interested in long reviews of gear I will never buy, though 40 years ago it was interesting to read JGH and HP... |
