6 Reasons Why I’m Breaking Up With Vinyl and Going Back to CDs

[Mr Peabody]

In case you haven't noticed, audiophiles only like reviewers when they give a positive review to something they just bought or are about to buy.

Funny but actually overly general if true at all.

I was intending on buying a certain streamer, read a review and the writer said he couldn't tell any difference between the one I was going to buy and another very expensive name brand. That gave me a bit more confidence. No way to try it out. So I pulled the trigger. It checked all of my boxes except I was not satisfied with the sound. This unit cost $4k. I ended up selling it and buying my ACS10 which I did get an in home audition.

I can't say whether the reviewer was honest and he really couldn't tell or he had other motives. If his review would have reflected my experience it might have given me pause to continue looking. At that time though not many streamers out there with built-in HD and ripping capability.

I do prefer a review to be honest though I don't recommend anyone buy based on a review. In fact, some of those overly glowing reviews they say stuff like this $2k gizmo will out perform anything under $20k I just disregard.

 

[mep]

Funny but actually overly general if true at all.

I was intending on buying a certain streamer, read a review and the writer said he couldn't tell any difference between the one I was going to buy and another very expensive name brand. That gave me a bit more confidence. No way to try it out. So I pulled the trigger. It checked all of my boxes except I was not satisfied with the sound. This unit cost $4k. I ended up selling it and buying my ACS10 which I did get an in home audition.

I can't say whether the reviewer was honest and he really couldn't tell or he had other motives. If his review would have reflected my experience it might have given me pause to continue looking. At that time though not many streamers out there with built-in HD and ripping capability.

I do prefer a review to be honest though I don't recommend anyone buy based on a review. In fact, some of those overly glowing reviews they say stuff like this $2k gizmo will out perform anything under $20k I just disregard.

Based on my experience on audio forums and reading audio forums I decided to leave, I don't think it's a general statement or untrue.

Audio forums are full of vitriol against reviewers. Once someone on a forum starts trashing a reviewer by name or reviewers in general, it soon turns into a pile-on.

I stand by what I said about when audiophiles love reviewers. It's funny because it is true.

One example of what I'm talking about is a guy who used to post on AS. Every time he bought a new piece of gear (which was often), he would scour the internet looking for positive reviews of his new acquisition. He would then start a new thread and post all the links to the positive reviews he found to reinforce the genius move he made in buying his new piece of gear.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

I was intending on buying a certain streamer, read a review and the writer said he couldn't tell any difference between the one I was going to buy and another very expensive name brand.
I can't say whether the reviewer was honest and he really couldn't tell or he had other motives. If his review would have reflected my experience it might have given me pause to continue looking.
I do prefer a review to be honest though

So the reviewers completely uncontrolled anecdotal AV experience with the streamer in his particular system/room, didn't match your completely uncontrolled anecdotal AV experience with the streamer in your particular system/room...and it could be a question of motive and honesty.
Cool

 

[rbbert]

It's a little hard for me to see how a totally subjective review can be honest or dishonest; IIWII, so to speak, and I don't see how a reader can determine whether or not the reviewer's opinions are "dishonest". One may not agree with methods or conclusions; that hardly makes it "dishonest".

 

[atmasphere]

This article is misleading but does point to the biggest weakness of the LP: setup.

This statement is false and is merely anecdotal at best:

Many modern records are pressed on cheap, recycled vinyl, arriving warped, noisy, or even defective right out of the shrink wrap.

My experience is anecdotal too but I've encountered exactly two defective LPs out of the wrapper in the last 20 years.

There’s no way around it: vinyl is work. It’s not a format you can just throw on and forget about.

If a decent phono preamp is used that doesn't generate ticks and pops on its own you find that only a simple dust brush is all you need.

Worst part is, no matter how careful you are, vinyl just wears down.

I have LPs that are 50 years old that have no wear. LPs tend to wear when the setup is sloppy.

I was basically paying extra to add pops and crackles to a CD recording.

I don't find this to be the case; again if your phono section doesn't generate ticks and pops on its own (and many do) then you find that LP surfaces are a lot more quiet than most people imagine.

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