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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?
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mapman's avatar
mapman
22,464 posts
 
The reviewers whose opinions I trust are the ones who base their reviews on a solid foundation of facts. They will point out why one thing works well with another and not another. These kind of reviewers are admittedly in the minority perhaps, but they do exist. No doubt some have vested financial interests in particular products. Fine, as long as the facts support the conclusions. Some are just flat out ignorant of the key facts that goes into making good sound. Some good ones may just have an off day from time to time.

So I would be apprehensive about discounting all reviewers categorically or taking everything they say to heart. Like most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It takes an educated reader to find where that is.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Mapman and fellow members, I repeat what I just wrote. The real point goes way beyond the value of reading audio reviews. As I just wrote:

"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.

. . .

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."

I strongly advise my fellow members. Read Ralph's White Paper. Try to understand the relationships between watts, voltage, amps and impedance. If you understand what this means, you'll start to appreciate why I, Raul and others have harped about making sure Speaker X was designed and VOICED to be driven by a tube amp or a SS amp, or the best of all worlds, both.

Then read your favorite reviewer's article and see if he touches on the very simple issue of electrical compatibility, before or after he declares the speaker or amp the best piece of gear he ever heard.

Oh, when you go to audition an amp or speaker at a B&M store, keep in mind how the dealer matched the speaker and amp before making a purchase decision. It may save you a lot of aggravation after you bring your new whatever home.

BIF
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
I'm on the Manitunc bus. I've tried to keep up with other Raul threads, but keep falling asleep. It must be tough knowing 'absolutely' so much. Mapman is also a hero of mine. I read about half of the 5-6 audio mags I get because I, also, have no interest in digital. Columnists are always entertaining even if I disagree. I put little stock into recommendations as reviewers have nothing I use in my system to make their perceptions. It's all recreational reading, often as I am listening to vinyl. What's informative for me is, if I have an album being used for the review, to listen for what they claim to hear on their billion dollar rig. Often, I hear the same stuff for a lot less money. Just sayin'.
manitunc
795 posts
 
Raul,
Some other thread.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
BIF- W the knowledge you got from Ralph's white paper, some of the basic equipment specs and the technical measurements that JA posts in those little sidebars, you can get pretty far down the road of figuring out if a speaker and an amp are clearly mis-matched. JA will frequently even point that out. Of course, every once in a while, there is a product that "breaks the rules" but if you mesh that approach w lots of reading and research, you should be able to get in the right ballpark.

I also think that some of the disagreement w Raul's approach may be based on differing goals. Raul says (I'm paraphrasing, so feel free to correct me, Raul) that his goal is to reproduce exactly what's on the recording. Nothing more, nothing less. My goal is to have an emotionally enriching experience listening to an artist's work. In my mind, if the hardware can deliver exactly what is on the software, but the music does not move me, then so what? It's kind of like living in Manhattan and owning an exotic car. The traffic, stop lights, potholes and pedestrians would not make driving it pleasurable? Taking this analogy further, if Raul is happier/more satisfied knowing that the car he is driving in NYC can go 0-60 in 3.2 sec and push 0.98 gs on the skid pad, more power to him.
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