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When a Reviewer "likes" something

... what does that mean in your opinion. I read in one of the last Stereophile mags a comment from Mr. Atkinson where he wrote about the differences in "opinions" in forums or in printed mags. After all he ended with the argument, a component is good when a reviewer likes it.
Isn't is more helpful, when a reviewer knows something about a real tone reproduction? Or is it ok, when he used every month another CD or LP he got for free, a kind of music nearly no one wants to listen to?
Harry Pearson used in the 90's always the same records for his reviews but that was an exception I think.
What is it worth for you when - for example - Mr. Dudley/Fremer/Valin/HP .... "likes" something? Do you have the same "taste" they have?
I know it is possible to like a Turntable even when that unit can't hold the proper speed, or is extremely sensitive to any influences, there are endless recommendations written about such units...what is it worth for you?
Atkinson for example measures units, some have top datas but they can sound very boring, far away from the real thing, some have no top datas, some "tests" are shortened because a unit can reach a area which can be pretty dangerous (see one of the latest Agostino units, just as an example) but they are rated Class A in recommendations anyway....
When someone "knows" what is right or not, then his "liking" is only a personal opinion which is more or less uninteresting or?
Most customers (not all of course) would prefer to know what a unit is really able to do sonically, or not? Would knowledge destroy the joy of Hardware rolling? Or is there a reason why reviewers use low efficiency speakers when they have a tube amp for review (for example Lamm ML2.1/ML2.2 with Magico Speakers)? Is the matching "expensive + expensive" the proper way to show competence?
128x128syntax
syntax's avatar
syntax OP
2,193 posts
 
I'm sure my post will generate a lot of negative push back, but this is where I am holding now until someone cogently explains otherwise.

Cheers.
Bifwynne

Don't worry. You are right and what you wrote is normal common sense. But did you never ask yourself, why Reviewers ignore those basics? Or why they are able to write enthusiastically about a tube amp they "reviewed" with a multi-chassis, low efficient speaker design which needs the first 30W for wake up? And the amp has only 10 ... :-)
But that is only 1 example. Atkinson wrote in that Issue, that in most forums is mainly nonsense written, from time wasters who have absolutely no idea from anything and a professional reviewer who writes in a magazine, is a much more serious source...
kiddman
341 posts
 
As an insider I can tell you it more often means nothing at all when a product is raved. But sometimes some reviewers are right on target. The problem is that you have absolutely no way of knowing which of the above is true for any given review. Listening for yourself is the only way!

manitunc
795 posts
 
Well, Wolf, he has at least ruined this thread.
Kiddman, your comment goes back to my last comment that it is nearly impossible to listen to any equipment these days before buying, and comparing is even more unlikely. so, if you have the liquid cash flow to buy and try, and then sell what you dont like, I suppose you dont need anyone elses input. But I would at least like to narrow my choices before I pays my moneys.
So, I do my internet search, and if I find universal praise or condemnation for a product that caught my interest, I can either add or delete that product from my short list. I also find that it takes time to learn about a component, so its not a matter of trying for a week and sending it back. changing out components in my set up is not a 5 minute job, except for maybe the speakers. It would be nice if I could just go to my local stereo emporium, like I used to do, and sit for an afternoon listening to my two or three finalists. but those days are over for anyone who lives outside a major metropolitan area.
So for me, reviews, both professional and on forums, have use.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
"You are a wise persons and IMHO there are no true real facts where you can argue that tube technology is better than SS to work with real speakers"

Some say some tubes provide more linear gain at various frequencies than transistors. IF so, that would be one benefit of tubes.

Of course no single aspect of either technology tells the whole story.

I would say that as long as amp and speakers are well matched "electronically", good things can happen.

SS amps will tend to perform best with different speaker designs than tube amps. Tube amps will be more challenged to match SS performance with speakers designed for SS use. SS amps may be less challenged "electronically" to drive speakers that work best with tubes, but sound will be different and not like the one the speaker designer probably intended.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Mapman, that's the whole point. Unless the reviewer points out this critical fact, his article is meaningless. It's like trying to buy top grade mountain bike tires for a $5000 road bike. Yeah, they'll work, but the match is wrong.

Unless the speaker/amp manufacturers and the professional reviewers come clean and explain this issue, the consumer is blind. And btw, I called a local Paradigm dealer to find out if I could borrow a SS amp to try out at home. The answer was no. Further, the dealer didn't even have the S8s on the floor. So why bother.

Folks, you can read reviews all day long. Even if every reviewer says speaker X is the next best innovation since the invention of sliced white bread, it's a waste of time if the speaker was voiced to be driven by a SS amp and you hook it up to the finest $50,000 tube amp. The match is just wrong. It's just about as dumb as trying to put a high compliance cartridge on a tone arm that should only be fitted with a low compliance cartridge.

I repeat what I said above. As I have learned, before buying an new amp to go with your darling speakers, or new speakers to go with your darling amp, make sure you have solid data that tells you the two are good electrical matches.
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