What's the point of reviewing?

@roxy54

stay on em rox

somebody has to push for a proper quality standard for the discourse around here, i am glad you are helping do this! 😁👍

From some reviewers I learned how to be a better listener. In my early audiophile years that was J. Gordon Holt and Dick Olsher, later Art Dudley. Harry Pearson’s writings expanded the language and vocabulary of hi-fi reviews, a subjective-review vocabulary initially created by JGH in his revolutionary Stereophile reviews of the early-1960’s. You youngin’s missed all the action ;-) .

Moot...man...Statements of the Obvious warning: Good reviewers make good reading regardless of what you might think about what's being reviewed, and can lead you to trying something yourself maybe. Or not. I get most of my reading from book reviews, bought plenty of gear (and sporty cars) that had good reviews, and continue to try not to be a luddite living in a cave.

Just another ways ’n means to get to hang with your therapist...

...beats chatting ’bout it at the end of any day... ;)

Go visit...

If you like quality stereo equipment, reviews are a good way to help separate the wheat from the chaff if you’re a consumer, and not an expert. You can look at product reviews online, comments by readers on Audiogon and other forums, and "best of the year" ratings by the major audio magazines etc. and find by consensus what components are among the best out there in your price range. Then you have a reasonable guide to know what’s worth seeking out for a demo. Some of the folks writing above are excellent sources of information.

Unless you live near a major metropolitan area, that’s about as good as it will get for you, short of when you’re able to return equipment that doesn’t quite work in your listening room or with components you might already have. You can often research compatibility too to preclude those type issues. If you’ve got more or better ways to make equipment purchases that would be good info to share here.

Mike