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Recommendations to "Professional" Reviewers?

What would recommend to the reviewers at Stereophile, TAs and the likes? Not in terms of equip to review, but what they need to include in their review write up more consistently? Also not about ind discounts etc....what should they do more to make the reviews more helpful to us consumers? Lets start this thread as quite a few reviewers are Audiogon members and hopefully take this feedback.

From my perspective,
Need to consistently contrast & compare against equipment in similiar price range: frequently done but not consistently...comparing to the mfr's old model is not helpful enough without the added info on competitors. Not asking to name what is "best" but what are the rel individual strengths and weakness within the group?
Try to link technology used to listening results: a lot of times, we see write ups dealing with this as separate issues: though at times it would be pure conjecture, but at least make an attempt
Don't tweak excessively: the review is about the equip, not what tweaks u can do to your system
Try to suggest other equip in the chain that would seem a good match
When reviewing Hi-rez digital, always always first comment on redbook CD capability (I have seen quite a few exceptions to this obvious rule!)
henryhk
rja's avatar
rja
2,371 posts
 
They could skip "this is the best I've ever heard!" or "this is the best" statements!. I've read this so many times that it has become annoying. Besides, making such a statement usually invites a severe backlash from readers. The statement implies that reviewer has heard everything out there. This is close to impossible!
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
if the restaurant critic for the detroit free-press accepts an accomodation from a restaurant they are fired. by definition it requires two 'willing' parties to engage in this. they should spell this out prominently.....like a store policy. the notion that audio journalists are qualified to professionally recommend something for a consumer to invest in is just fine. if 'accomodation' goes with the territory, then a prominent warning to never buy the items reviewed. now its entertainment like reading one's horoscope.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
I would like to see qualification from the reviewer as to why, before he or she even begins, that in the context of his or her SYSTEM, the component being evaluated can yield ANY useful information. I remember a spate of Thiel reviews where it was completely clear that the amplifier being used to evaluate the speakers had no capability whatsoever to drive the damn things and then the reviewer called them bright. Well, yeah duh. So system context in my mind is 95% of the perceived outcome of any component review and I will harp on this point till I die.
brainwater
520 posts
 
Another thing . Reviewers should shoulder some responsiblity and conduct their reviews in adequate room enviroments. Case in point is Stereophiles Michael Fremer . In the review of the Aerial 20 t he comments that the speaker had a lack of bass output but quailfies the remark by stating the room has a suckout which inhibits the speakers from performing in his room . He then praises the speaker but will not give it a full range class A rating . He is over ruled in a future issue of Recommended Components and the speaker is given top honors. To his credit , he claimed it was capable of full range response as he heard it at Ces if i am not mistaken but his room in which he reviews has serious problems and i must admit , i am constantly reminded of this when i read his evaluations .
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
I have shared respect for Michael Fremer in the past but I think I am changing my view; recently I just received the latest catalog from Music Direct...go look at the phono pre section alone. All those accolades from Mikey make me shudder when I see phono pre after phono pre where he attests, to paraphrase, "that it is among the best I've heard." I wonder if the folks at MD are aware of the blunder they have created. Yes it is possible folks, there are some components where EVERY MODEL CAN BE BEST!
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