HIFi Five youtube channel

mep said:
My main point is that nothing is going to change if the goal of the videos you guys are involved in is to bring about honesty and all you people do is tell stories with no receipts.
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Its already changing MEP you just are not able to realize it. The revolution has begun the toothpaste is not going back into the tube.
All of you want things to remain the same to get getting free gear, discounts , loaners etc, Not interested in change well hang on its here.
 
BendingWave said:
Its already changing MEP you just are not able to realize it. The revolution has begun the toothpaste is not going back into the tube.
All of you want things to remain the same to get getting free gear, discounts , loaners etc, Not interested in change well hang on its here.
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If I didn't want things to change, why would I ask for the names of reviewers and magazines that are behind the stories you guys are telling?

Can you please tell people who are reading this thread what the "revolution" is and how it has already started? The only
"revolution" I see is that some of you said you will no longer pay for advertising in magazines.
 
Kramer64 said:
Isn't that your room-from Memphis. I may be confused-that happens a lot. I'm referring to the Master Artist speakers. I thought those were really good.
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awesome, yes that was me, always looking for advice thoughts, what in your opinion is overall thought on that system, pro/cons, im doing axpona, caf and Dallas so wanna have it a good as possible, thanks
 
Porsche said:
awesome, yes that was me, always looking for advice thoughts, what in your opinion is overall thought on that system, pro/cons, im doing axpona, caf and Dallas so wanna have it a good as possible, thanks
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Careful Kramer. The next thing you know you will be a reviewer.
 
Kramer64 said:
I'm not a dealer- I see it through the eyes of an ignorant consumer. The situation Florian described is not, in my opinion, a "loan." Its a barter transaction for services and I have to wonder if anyone is paying taxes on the MSRP of the equipment. Calling a chicken an eagle won't make it fly.

I've never bought anything significant used or on the internet-I value brick and mortar dealers for their expertise and, hopefully, service after the sale. That's gets harder, much harder, if you live in an area with few if any truly high end dealers. So reviewers, magazines, and shows can be important.

Here's a question that I don't remember being asked in these discussions: What is fair for a paid subscriber of the magazines to expect? I think it is fair to expect: (1) If something is presented as a review, that the reviewer be completely candid, detailing both positive and negative impressions of the product. Otherwise-its not really a review. If there are constraints on total candor-say so, just be honest about what you are doing, as in "we don't do negative or comparative reviews and if we think you can do better for less, we won't tell you," (2) full disclosure of any compensations, accommodations, whatever, that might call into question the objectivity of the reviewer-like otherwise unavailable big discounts or "loans" that extend beyond the time necessary for the review. What's the case against this very basic level of honesty? Isn't that the minimum respect that subscribers are owed?

I spent a good bit of time in both the Porsche room and Bending Wave room at CAF-both were superb and all the folks in those rooms were very gracious. Elliott gave me a nice Bending Wave hat which I've worn around town some. A few people have asked what a Bending Wave is, and I'm happy to explain. Maybe that makes me a Bending Wave shill.

At any rate, this can be cleaned up, at least in part, just by transparency and that's pretty cheap.

At its core, it seems that the economic model upon which these publications are based precludes complete candor with their readers. Just because its gone on for a long time doesn't mean its not FUBAR.

Sorry for the too long post-thanks to Jay for doing this enlightening video.
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Porsche’s speakers sound great and they look even better.

Elliot always gets great sound.

The best solution is to always go listen for yourself.
Kramer64 said:
I'm open to reviewing or shilling, whichever carries the biggest discounts. Don't know how to do either, but willing to learn.:)
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Captain shill hasn’t been here for a while or you could have asked him.

Reviewers work hard for a pittance pay and that’s why I just don’t care about the long term loans.

The shills do way more harm.
 
As subscribers we desire objectivity, transparency, pro and con of products reviewed in publications; however, the reviewers are often heard to complain that anything the least bit negative in a review risks (1) the reviewer gaining a reputation for negativity such that manufacturers will avoid them (and maybe also their publication) for future reviews and (2) pulling advertising from the publication. Readers of certain reviewers observe that some pundits, while always positive, show different levels of positivity that one familiar with their work may be able to read between the lines to interpret. Other reviewers show less nuance. What's a poor less informed reader to do?
 
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GSOphile said:
As subscribers we desire objectivity, transparency, pro and con of products reviewed in publications; however, the reviewers are often heard to complain that anything negative in a review risks (1) the reviewer gaining a reputation for negativity such that manufacturers will avoid them (and maybe also their publication) for future reviews and (2) pulling advertising from the publication. Readers of certain reviewers observe that some pundits, while always positive, show different levels of positivity that one familiar with their work may be able to read between the lines to interpret. Other reviewers show less nuance. What's a poor less informed reader to do?
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Great questions.

I personally have never found it to be complicated - simply describe what you hear in the context of your system and room. Also switch gear around so you can talk about how it sounds on different gear, and compare how it sounds relative to other gear. Explain the differences in plain language for people to understand. I also like it when people describe the sound they like and prefer as context for us to better understand their preferences.

I don't think it needs to be necessarily X is better than Y, but rather this is how X is different than Y. It's ok to state if you have a preference, but balance it with what kind of listener would prefer gear X vs gear Y.

And I still believe that no one should put any weight on what any reviewers, people on forums or shills such as Capt Shill and his grandfather Major Shill like, don't like or anything else. And then there are the mini-shills who attack people with issues about a company in exchange for either sweet deals or special trade-ins and purchases on new gear direct from the manufacturer. Then they pretend they don't have a vested financial interest in their on line behavior.

There are so many variables in this hobby between system synergy, room set up, system set up, personal tastes and hearing ability that putting any weight on any sort of opinion should be for entertainment purposes only. If you don't take the time to try for yourself on something that is 100% completely subjective and system dependent, you can't get mad at anyone but yourself.

As for the loans/free gear/etc. - for me I think it's funny to watch them get into a fake huff on forums pretending they aren't on the take. The whole world knows otherwise. They aren't even subtle about their grift. If they spent half as much time trying to be honest as they did being on the take, hifi audio would be in a much better place.

That story about Mono and Stereo Florian told was eye opening and in line with what I've heard repeatedly from other companies about how many operate in this industry.

If you are in the industry and you haven't either heard about or been approached on this stuff, either you're oblivious or you're a company (or reviewer) no one cares about enough to approach.
 
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