New Collaboration with Ascilab!

[kyuu]

Disclaimers are nice to see and show a level of transparency. But it is impossible for humans to not be biased without extreme vigilance to remove any possibility for said bias, else it always creeps in.

Sure, but like I said if this is really an issue then you already couldn't trust anything Amir said. Him having a business with a relationship to a manufacturer of audio products is not new.

 

[Tell]

Bringing cheap and really well buily speakers to the masses is a good thing! Kepp it up @amirm and @AsciLab !

 

[Timcognito]

Disclaimers are nice to see and show a level of transparency. But it is impossible for humans to not be biased without extreme vigilance to remove any possibility for said bias, else it always creeps in.

Like Amir being a real PITA and making them fix flaws to get it right.

 

[MKR]

Sure, but like I said if this is really an issue then you already couldn't trust anything Amir said. Him having a business with a relationship to a manufacturer of audio products is not new.

Well aware not new, but now it’s worse. And I have always been suspect of all the reviews, especially those for Harman products. Skepticism is healthy, especially in the world of HEA, regardless of the source. The disclaimer means little as again you cannot control your own bias, it always creeps in, even if subtle. If Amir would recuse himself from reviewing all Harman and Asci products going forward that would certainly go a long way to removing any suspicion of bias.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

Bringing cheap and really well buily speakers to the masses is a good thing! Kepp it up @amirm and @AsciLab !

Let's make a distinction between "cheap" and (relatively) inexpensive.

 

[heraldo_jones]

Congrats on this new adventure! Will buy a pair of them from Audiophonic for sure

 

[Timcognito]

If Amir would recuse himself from reviewing all Harman and Asci products going forward that would certainly go a long way to removing any suspicion of bias.

And if he is on the engineering end and the company publishes his data would that not be same. Disclosure is all that is needed, the data speaks for itself. There have been more than a few critics of ASR measurements, and big losers in the Harman reviews.

 

[Davey]

Disclosure is all that is needed, the data speaks for itself. There have been more than a few critics of ASR measurements, and big losers in the Harman reviews.

Yep.
An audio reviewer becoming involved with an audio product is not unusual. (Numerous examples of this through the years.)
If the disclosure is made in good faith and (potential) bias understood, it should be fine.

 

[MKR]

And if he is on the engineering end and the company publishes his data would that not be same. Disclosure is all that is needed, the data speaks for itself. There have been more than a few critics of ASR measurements, and big losers in the Harman reviews.

A disclosure does not preclude bias. In fact, a disclosure acknowledges there may be bias, that is the point. The only way to address this issue would again be for Amir to not review any products with which he has a vested financial interest. Simple.

 

[voodooless]

The only way to address this issue would again be for Amir to not review any products with which he has a vested financial interest. Simple.

The data is not biased. It is what it is. You can just ignore the subjective stuff, and be done with it.

 

[Timcognito]

A disclosure does not preclude bias. In fact, a disclosure acknowledges there may be bias, that is the point. The only way to address this issue would again be for Amir to not review any products with which he has a vested financial interest. Simple.

When Audioholics, EAC, Soundstage and Stereophile also test and find a difference then we have issue, otherwise it is purchasers issue not ASR.

 

[MKR]

The data is not biased. It is what it is. You can just ignore the subjective stuff, and be done with it.

How do you know the data isn’t biased? Data can be manipulated (this is not an insinuation, don’t take it that way, just making a point!). I do not understand why folks are pushing back for Amir to not review products where he has financial interest. I would think others would be requesting same given the situation. You must admit for an outsider looking in on ASR, this does not look good. Perception is reality.

 

[mi-fu]

Congrats, Amir!!

It takes real audacity to launch something new—especially in today’s climate of economic shifts and tariff noise.

But then again, no one throws real money behind a bad product.

Looking forward to seeing (and hearing) these speakers when they are available in US / Canada.

 

[voodooless]

How do you know the data isn’t biased? Data can be manipulated (this is not an insinuation, don’t take it that way, just making a point!).

It can also be validated. If it were to come out that Amir’s data was manipulated by him in any way, it would mean the end of ASRs credibility.

You must admit for an outsider looking in on ASR, this does not look good. Perception is reality.

I already mentioned this. Perception in audio is already skewed, reality is broken. This changes nothing.

 

[Timcognito]

How do you know the data isn’t biased? Data can be manipulated (this is not an insinuation, don’t take it that way, just making a point!). I do not understand why folks are pushing back for Amir to not review products where he has financial interest. I would think others would be requesting same given the situation. You must admit for an outsider looking in on ASR, this does not look good. Perception is reality.

Name any source of enthusiast audio product test data outside of mass marketed product testing by Consumer Reports or Rtings that is free from remunerations. I think a bigger problem would be companies that are competitors keeping their new products away from ASR to keep their trade secrets away from disclosure, which already exists with snakeoil guys for opposite reasons.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Measurements aren’t biased.
Keith

Indeed. But subjective impressions can be.

 

[kyuu]

How do you know the data isn’t biased? Data can be manipulated (this is not an insinuation, don’t take it that way, just making a point!). I do not understand why folks are pushing back for Amir to not review products where he has financial interest. I would think others would be requesting same given the situation. You must admit for an outsider looking in on ASR, this does not look good. Perception is reality.

You keep ignoring the point that this is nothing new. If you don't want to trust any of Amir's reviews for not just Ascilab products, but any of the products from the Harman umbrella of companies (many of which have not received glowing reviews), that's your prerogative. I certainly do not want Amir to stop reviewing any particular brands as I think your PoV is a gross overreaction. If Amir is fudging data, that will come out when it inevitably doesn't match the data from another source.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Indeed. But subjective impressions can be.

The relative importance of different measurements can be a subjective call, e.g., one speaker might have a flatter FR but higher distortion than another but which is preferred?

 

[Matt_Holland]

The relative importance of different measurements can be a subjective call, e.g., one speaker might have a flatter FR but higher distortion than another but which is preferred?

I actually don’t think ASR reviews of Ascilab speakers will do any harm because the audience here know there is integrity. And others will probably never visit ASR. The key to the brands success will no doubt, ironically, be the breadth of positive coverage by the subjective reviewers.

 

[sq225917]

Magazine reviews are 100% subjective and totally open to bias, mates rates, accommodations, stuffed envelopes etc.

An importer providing standardised test results, on standardised gear that will be duplicated by third parties is a totally different kettle of fish.

Does anyone actually read the opinion bit in ASR reviews? I only notice them when they highlight a negative, anything else I have no interest in, I don't have the same ears, same preferences or the same room, it's next to meaningless.

I'm amazed people are even raising the point.