I subscribe to Stereophile, but generally find it useless in making buying or even auditioning decisions. Most issues go to the recycle bin the same day that they are received; however, without fail, the first thing that actually and always gets read is MF's Vinyl Corner, followed by any reviews that he writes. You might ask why. The answer is probably not what you might think.
I do not think that MF always gets it right, nor do I always agree with his assessment of a particular product; however, I do believe that he loves analog with a true passion and that he gets exposed to more analog equipment and records than I will ever get the chance to hear, much less have in my home.
Based on owning and then trading a Goldmund Reference for a Rockport Sirius after hearing the Sirius in my home, I know how important it is to compare equipment side by side in the same environment and how hard it can be to admit that your preconceptions may be flawed until someone demonstrates something better. For whatever flaws MF may have, he is entertaining and does open a window for the rest of us into the big buck analog arena. Like any other reviewer, he has his own set of prejudices/musical priorities which color his judgments, but I belive that he tells it the way he hears it. Perhaps I am naive (lawyers like me generally are not), but I believe that for MF the Continuum represents the pinnacle of analog reproduction and maybe in his system it does. I have only heard it at shows, so reserve any final judgement.
A distant acquaintance who owns a company that makes a very expensive phonostage took one to MF's house to compare against the Boulder. Said phonostage is in the same price range as the Boulder and for many of us represents a more truthful choice. The acquaintance after a night of comparing the two admitted that in MF's system with his equipment, the Boulder was audibly better. He was at a loss to understand why as he had previously run the same comparison at a dealer's store. Again, this supports the notion that MF is a straight shooter and tells it the way he sees it.
I do not think that MF always gets it right, nor do I always agree with his assessment of a particular product; however, I do believe that he loves analog with a true passion and that he gets exposed to more analog equipment and records than I will ever get the chance to hear, much less have in my home.
Based on owning and then trading a Goldmund Reference for a Rockport Sirius after hearing the Sirius in my home, I know how important it is to compare equipment side by side in the same environment and how hard it can be to admit that your preconceptions may be flawed until someone demonstrates something better. For whatever flaws MF may have, he is entertaining and does open a window for the rest of us into the big buck analog arena. Like any other reviewer, he has his own set of prejudices/musical priorities which color his judgments, but I belive that he tells it the way he hears it. Perhaps I am naive (lawyers like me generally are not), but I believe that for MF the Continuum represents the pinnacle of analog reproduction and maybe in his system it does. I have only heard it at shows, so reserve any final judgement.
A distant acquaintance who owns a company that makes a very expensive phonostage took one to MF's house to compare against the Boulder. Said phonostage is in the same price range as the Boulder and for many of us represents a more truthful choice. The acquaintance after a night of comparing the two admitted that in MF's system with his equipment, the Boulder was audibly better. He was at a loss to understand why as he had previously run the same comparison at a dealer's store. Again, this supports the notion that MF is a straight shooter and tells it the way he sees it.