Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Has been a great help to me over the years.
I first became exposed to high fidelity back in 1962 when I arrived at college from the "boonies" and started having my horizons expanded by other freshmen who grew up in more sophisticated metropolitan areas. Although laughably primitive in retrospect, their pre-evolutionary stereo systems seemed incredibly better than anything else I had heard in my life to that point. I began by reading "Stereo Review" and and "High Fidelity," two magazines that went with the dinosaurs, and still searching for great sound at affordable costs, I took a chance on subscribing to "Stereophile" in the early 1990's. It has expanded my horizons considerable, and with its help I have been able to put together a good system over the past decade. "Sterophile" has been a great help in three ways. It has helped steer me towards good equipment (not the greatest, since my income doesn't allow me a "cream-of-the-crop" system), it has helped me identify dealers that sell the better equipment, and it has taught me one of the most important buying lessons: listen before purchasing. Although I will probably be able to buy a "Stereophile" dream system, this magazine has done a great job of helping me stay abreast of what is going on in the industry, and it's reviews have helped keep me from wasting a lot of money. I am a happy "Sterophile" subscriber; and I expect to remain one for many years to come. I also subscribe to "The Absolute Sound." Although there seems to be some warfare between these two publications, I find them quite complementary; and when they both agree on the same equipment, then I know I'm on to some good information.
Rating:  - No Blind Test Makes Blind Ears.
I use to subscribe to this magazine, but I do not anymore as they refuse to do blind tests. What are they afraid of if they claim to be audiophiles and experts? They should have no trouble with blind tests when reading their didactic reviews which is often written in an annoyingly casual and nonchalant manner. (I suppose they write like that because they might be snobs).
Often times something won't sound up to par and they will send it back to the manufacturer who (it seems to me, wiggles a lug or a spade and then grins ear to ear) and sends it back, and automatically the reviewer can instantly detect the change in sound! What ears!! Why no blind test then?? I was also disturbed at the way they describe sound like the way they describe fine wines. Well, I don't drink sound. (BTW, it is interesting to note that they do blind test to rate wines). I could get my old Stereophile and quote you many verses describing sound and their ability to detect change, that to me, are utterly ridiculous and laughable! The slightest, most dimunitive change in equipment will be detected (the odd think is they want to know what was done to it) and out will pour a plethora of wistful adjectives describing this horrendous change in sound. Makes you wonder if they are really listening or just imagining. To top off their abilities, these people also claim speaker wires all sound different. Well, that finally blew MY top off! Blind test would prove to me if they indeed have golden ears, or just golden voices.
Rating: - GREAT reviews of mid and hi fi equip and recordings
*Have discovered a lot of great music from their reviews
*Love reading the equipment reports
*They take too long to rvw newly released equip, but then again, rvws are usually VERY thorough
|
