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Audio vs. Other Reviews

Compared to reviewing in other industries, it seems that audio has very very few poor reviews, and I wonder what the difference is. I read music review magazines and they have no problem giving something one star and calling it horrible. I used to read computer game review magazines and still read a copy now and then, and they, too, have no problem trashing a bad game. In both cases, there is a lot of gradation as well - things throughout the spectrum. Every review doesn't end with, "You should check this out, because it may just be what you're looking for!" as the worst it might say.

In pricier categories, car magazines tend to be a fair amount more critical than audio reviews. They also do fairly massive head-to-head comparisons, comparing, say, 10 sport coupes in single go, and rating them, something we're always asking of, but rarely receiving from, audio magazines.

So why is it that basically every audio review is positive? I realize that often, if you read between the lines, the reviews give you a lot of reasons to perhaps steer clear, but why so subtle? Is it really so much harder to do a head-to-head comparison of 10 integrated amps than the same number of luxury sedans? If audio magazines fear advertisers backlash, how do the car magazines deal with the same thing?

Or is it just that, on average, audio components are very capable, and that criticizing them would be unfair?
kthomas
sean
6,231 posts
 
While i agree with the two previous posts to a great extent, i'd also like to add that each one of the examples that you chose to list ( computer games, cars, etc... ) are all "stand-alone" products. In other words, you can judge a car or computer game on its' own merits. While the performance of each can be varied somewhat by the fuel used, speed of computer, neither of these type of products HAVE to have support from other components like a single piece of audio gear does. As such, much of an audio review will depend on how well the reviewer tryed to mate it to other components, varied cables, was able to narrow down exactly what was taking place in the system / each component in the system, etc... As such, audio reviewing is a LOT harder than simply trying out 10 different toasters, blenders, power tools, etc... and picking the "best" one. Sean
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elgordo
530 posts
 
In rating cars, I found the Lamborghini Diablo to be very poor in off-road rock climbing. It was even worse for hauling sheets of plywood home from Home Depot. In rating the Lincoln Locomotive and the Chevrolet Subdivision, I found them both very poor for road racing and drag racing. Perhaps they were not suited to my needs.
judit
217 posts
 
I agree with TOK20000 especially on the following point:

"They only review products they like." This is, of course, exactly what I do. I don't waste time listening to gear that is uncompelling.

Incidentally, it is usually possible to discern the difference between a product the reviewer is really taken with vs others. I have read many 'empty' rave reviews, but must admit that I have also enjoyed many reviews where smart savvy technical guys try to make sense out of superior performance for themselves.
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
To add to the above, I have also wondered if a reviewer tries a piece and doesn't like it, if they simply do not do a write up on it.
bigtee
803 posts
 
Who cares what reviewers say. Go out and do your own listening. Hell, everyone talks about this being so good and that blowing something away that I take everything with a VERY BIG grain of salt. I've heard differences in cable but to be honest, each one had an attribute that made it ok in some part of the frequency spectrum. I've never heard one that really gets it ALL right.
We have NO standard with which to judge equipment. Everybody hears differently. It's a hit or miss with whoever is doing the listening.
Cars and such are measured to a varifiable standard. Its easy to determine if this car is faster, quieter or whatever. We can test it. Too bad we can't test the "Perfect ear."
I'll give you an example. I had a few negative things to say about a Bryston B-60, that Stereophile reviewed so highly, in another article I wrote. I received personal e-mails at home telling me I didn't know what I was talking about. I feel after 35 years of playing around with this stuff that I am as qualified as the next to give my opinion. But that is what it was---just an opinion. I wasn't doing a survey to see if people agreed with it! A few years later other people are now "Hearing" the same things I heard(once the new was gone.)
So, go with what you like and damn the torpedoes. I'm not even going to tell someone who likes Bose their nuts! If you enjoy it so be it. Isn't that what this is all about or is it my woofer is better than yours crap!
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