Same-I seem to receive a weekly plea to renew my subscription. Not gonna.A truly pathetic swipe. Stereophile should be ashamed. But I don't think I'll hold my breath waiting for that. This sort of nonsense and attitudes are why I dropped my subscription ages ago. A pox on their house.
The website is more than the reviews. There are topics about the science, which are beyond the technical work of the reviews. So Audio Science Review.I’d be happier with “Audio Engineering Review”, because that’s exactly what it is, but ASR is now a household name and not easily abandoned.
I never bought anything recommended by Julian Hirsch, Bert Whyte, Corey Greenburg, J. Gordon Holt, A.H. Cordesman, Sam Tellig, Harry Pearson, John Atkinson...the list goes on and on...I'm a 70 year old audio hound, who's been one from about 5 years old.
Been through so many phases, so much different equipment and speakers.
Had a lengthy spell of high income, the kind that let me get whatever Stereophile and Absolute Sound, etc, listed as highly recommended .
Wasted shit tons of money....never really getting better sound....all lateral moves so to speak.
One of my major steps in achieving genuinely better audio was ditching Stereophile and all similar publications ...totally, and without looking back.
I took to trying to learn basic audio science, and how to apply it. Knowledge proved more valuable than equipment.
f you're still reading those rags, and truly love audio ...I guess it's just something you will eventually learn to grow out of....like i had to...
Just a way to get even then!I agree with the previous poster about how this site mercilessly trashes the audio press and then gets their panties all in a bunch from a little snide aside. A bit of a double standard.
I subscribe to both US “perfectionist audio” magazines, and “Sound & Vision”. I am not a true believer in the “high end”. Much of it is BS. I still like to keep up with what’s new in equipment and music. I don’t think that the measurements done on amplifiers here full characterize their performance driving loudspeakers. I agree with the previous poster about how this site mercilessly trashes the audio press and then gets their panties all in a bunch from a little snide aside. A bit of a double standard.
True... but I don't see this as a tribe thing personally, as this article is by one person there, although published too as Stereophile. I wonder do @John Atkinson and @Kal Rubinson agree with Jim's comments, being members here?Tribes gonna tribe.
The "audiophile press" (what a stupid identity to start with) can provide something on the objective side hopefully rather than the generally useless subjective side.....You have a point there. This place regularly trashes the audiophile press, so it's human nature that people will want to snark back. People gonna people.
Tribes gonna tribe.
(And I contribute to some of the trashing of high end audio subjectivist stuff too, so I'm not exempting myself).
I wonder do @John Atkinson and @Kal Rubinson agree with Jim's comments, being members here?
I know mate... that's why I had a go at him specifically in my prior post.They are Jim Austin's comments.
I didn't suggest (or intend to imply) they should... genuinely interested in their opinion on Jim's article.Since when do ASR members have to agree with one another? Or reviewers for that matter?
Yeah I don't agree there... in fact the comments in the article are rather disingenuous IMO.I see absolutely nothing wrong with the linked Stereophile article by Jim Austin.
The "audiophile press" (what a stupid identity to start with) can provide something on the objective side hopefully rather than the generally useless subjective side.....
Thoughts after Munich
I'm writing this column on the long flight back to New York City following High End Munich, the big hi-fi show that in regular times takes place each May. Because these are not regular times, this was the first Munich show since 2019. This show was smaller than other recent Munich shows: COVID...www.stereophile.com
I am pretty sure this is a direct comment on the ASR community.
But Stereophile is not a forum. Not anyone can just post an article. Articles are curated and have to adhere to certain standards, be advertiser friendly and in line with Stereophile philosophy. The only excuse JA and KR have is that they are not in charge (anymore). I doubt they will post here on this matter, but are welcome to prove me wrong. It’s Jim’s show and he can basically do what he likes on his site.They are Jim Austin's comments. Since when do ASR members have to agree with one another? Or reviewers for that matter?
We cover and "review" a ton of science as well. It is just that the reviews are not about science.This wasn’t as much directed at you as to the ASR followership in general. And I totally agree with the above. I’d be happier with “Audio Engineering Review”, because that’s exactly what it is, but ASR is now a household name and not easily abandoned.
There is a spark of truth in it, though. ASR needs to be careful to avoid the cargo cult trap. Not everybody donning a lab coat and wielding expensive equipment is a scientist.
The article is not an attack on ASR member’s manhood or tribal affiliation, unless one desires it to be so.