Absolute Sound's "Reviews"

They’re not reviews.  They’re marketing material.

designsfx

348 posts

01-27-2023 at 02:02pm 

I subscribed for years- it was nice to have around for exposure to really nice gear. The more I learned from reading about the experience of actual users (various forums) the more I began to see through the mags reviews and commentary.

One day while reading the latest issue I came across an article called “You complete Me”. It was a review of an electrical outlet with magical audio properties. The verbiage used to describe the audible improvements was unbelievable and made me realize that if these writers think that I’m that stupid I shouldn’t be supporting them. I haven’t purchased (or read) an issue since.

Yes. There's plenty of that kind of nonsense here for free.

The same company who owns TAS also own Hi-Fi + on the other side of the pond.

Hi-Fi + is one of the best magazines in the industry, with a high calibre of writing and very good reviews. TAS has really gone downhill the last few years. If you subscribe digitally like I do in recent years both magazines have been a dogs breakfast when it coves to accessing your online paid content. 

I still get good old paper for Stereophile (which seems to be dwindling down) and TAS and you'd better 'know' the frame of reference for their reviewers, that is the sound they prefer. It helps.

I think it may well make sense to take on Hi-Fi+ as well, even if in digital format. Some days I like reading TAS or Ster. and listening to Pat Metheny in my chair...