Reviewing the Reviewers - and the decline of HiFi


I know that Arthur Salvatore has an ongoing tirade with Michael Fremer, and whilst I don't wholly share his views so far as Fremer is concerned, I support the sentiment that reviewers themselves ought to be themselves reviewed.
I say this after having read another 6Moons review that basically says that the item they have reviewed is the best thing since sliced bread. With the exception of HiFi news - and that was about 7 years ago, and HiFi Critic (which is regrettably not distributed very widely as yet)- none of the magazines ever criticize products.
This may well explain why the industry is in such decline. Let's face it in the United States Breitling made more than the whole of the US HiFi industry put together! Think I am mad? Well think on this cars sell, and continue to sell well. New cars are by and large a luxury, because we can recycle old cars, but we convince ourselves on their necessity. Car reviewers are unfettered by the need to give wet reviews. The buying customers are therefore not forced to listen through the BS of a review to get some real and genuine information.
Manufacturers also have to wake up and not be so hypersensitive of any genuine comparative criticism - it leads to product improvement. The reviewing industry should get out of the habit of expecting 5 star reviews when they lend equipment to magazines for 'extended periods'. let's face it - most people see hifi and music as coming out of white ear buds, computers, and mobile phones.
lohanimal
Hi Loh,

Just to be clear, I've read your post twice now. You contend (first), that the fact that reviewers consistently fail to bash any meaningful number of products that they write about could be the likely cause of the demise of the high end industry's sales. For the life of me I cannot see a tie in between the two and cannot fathom how you correlate these ideas.

Second, you posit that Breitling's US sales exceed the entire volume of high end sales of audio gear in the US. Again, please help me because I have no idea what that has to do with the price of tea in China.

I think I speak for more than a few here when I say that you have made no discernible points to agree or disagreee with.
much easier to review autos etc., an automobile is a whole entity unto itself. Audio components are mingled with other components, cables and different acoustics of each room they're placed in.
The general business of car reviews is as corrupt as those of audio reviewers. I have a neighbor who is a car reviewer, she does about 60 reviews a year. Never anything negative. My talks with her confirm, be always positive or you will be put out of business, quickly. She gets about $3,000 a review. Remember, the only long established product reviews are conducted by consumer Reports, who pays their own way.
The world in general is corrupt, evidently has been this way for some time now.
Also, I belive the younger generation has it correct, if you listen to "pop" music of any genre an Ipod is sufficient.More than sufficent really.
intelligence of people often grows when funds needed to be saved or spent smart. people making less and less decisions based on professional reviews, but rather by specification, parameters and system synergy that makes the best performance for the budget.