Audiphile Press: Am I jaded, experienced, or has it declined?

@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?

@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).

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...

The game changed. Old publications were more active in a consumer reports sort of style. That has changed to a full on equipment promotion supplement.