How can we improve?

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
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Location
Sarasota, FL


How can the industry improve if we only get “best”, “new reference”, “ground breaking”, etc reviews?

It’s amazing to me when I see this stuff that nobody is talking about the packaging, instructions, connections, finishing, etc. Forget the sound, that’s subjective. But are these guys seriously saying every product is perfect?

Just remember what the VAC Master 300 amp looked like before I told Kevin I didn’t like the look? What if we all just blew smoke? It would still look this:

Instead of like this:
 

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I can understand not wanting to do negative reviews, but you're right - I gave up on the site that hails the product of the month to be "the pinnacle", "the end of the search", etc.... only to be bested the next time a review sample comes in.

That kind of reviewing in itself creates negativity - I get upset at having wasted my time and untrusting of the reviewer. Just my 2¢.
 
Mike said:


How can the industry improve if we only get “best”, “new reference”, “ground breaking”, etc reviews?

It’s amazing to me when I see this stuff that nobody is talking about the packaging, instructions, connections, finishing, etc. Forget the sound, that’s subjective. But are these guys seriously saying every product is perfect?

Just remember what the VAC Master 300 amp looked like before I told Kevin I didn’t like the look? What if we all just blew smoke? It would still look this:

Instead of like this:
Click to expand...


Reviewers are not supposed to be product designers and offer their opinions to audio manufacturers on how to make the exterior of their products look sexier to audiophiles.

Since you are both a dealer and distributor, you have a voice in that arena.
 
mep said:
Reviewers are not supposed to be product designers and offer their opinions to audio manufacturers on how to make the exterior of their products look sexier to audiophiles.

Since you are both a dealer and distributor, you have a voice in that arena.
Click to expand...
Whenever I watch reviews on everything from Ice Makers to automobiles to outdoor pizza ovens, the reviewers all talk about the look of the product, the quality of the packaging, the design, the ease of use and many other factors. I think it would be interesting to get audio reviewers opinion on things like the quality of packaging, the ease of instructions, the overall design or quality or look of the product, initial ease of use, etc. For example, did they find it difficult to connect the XLR cables in the back of the unit because of some aesthetic aluminum overhang which serves no purpose other than to frustrate you trying to connect or disconnect a cable (real example)? Was the device unreceptive to a big chunky audiophile power cord (another real example)? Was the device so light that a big chunky power cord caused the device not to sit flat due to its weight? Maybe talk about the quality of the footers (example: I remember the Blue Hawaii headphone amp coming with sharp spikes only and scratching the hell out of some of our racks).

These are all things we experience every single day with products, surely reviewers must do as well. I rarely if ever hear these other things being discussed regarding audio reviews. But they are part of other product reviews for nearly everything.

Just a thought….
 
Mike said:
Whenever I watch reviews on everything from Ice Makers to automobiles to outdoor pizza ovens, the reviewers all talk about the look of the product, the quality of the packaging, the design, the ease of use and many other factors. I think it would be interesting to get audio reviewers opinion on things like the quality of packaging, the ease of instructions, the overall design or quality or look of the product, initial ease of use, etc. For example, did they find it difficult to connect the XLR cables in the back of the unit because of some aesthetic aluminum overhang which serves no purpose other than to frustrate you trying to connect or disconnect a cable (real example)? Was the device unreceptive to a big chunky audiophile power cord (another real example)? Was the device so light that a big chunky power cord caused the device not to sit flat due to its weight? Maybe talk about the quality of the footers (example: I remember the Blue Hawaii headphone amp coming with sharp spikes only and scratching the hell out of some of our racks).

These are all things we experience every single day with products, surely reviewers must do as well. I rarely if ever hear these other things being discussed regarding audio reviews. But they are part of other product reviews for nearly everything.

Just a thought….
Click to expand...

Pointing out obvious flaws in the design like jack's and binding posts that are spaced too close to use with audiophile cables is one thing. Redesigning an existing product like you did with Kevin is not a reviewer's job.
 
mep said:
Pointing out obvious flaws in the design like jack's and binding posts that are spaced too close to use with audiophile cables is one thing. Redesigning an existing product like you did with Kevin is not a reviewer's job.
Click to expand...
True. I was just thinking if you found something frustrating, the manufacturer may not even know (or care to be fair), but it’s worth mentioning.
 
Mike said:
True. I was just thinking if you found something frustrating, the manufacturer may not even know (or care to be fair), but it’s worth mentioning.
Click to expand...

The legacy 'reveiwers' staying stuck in the past is a large part of what's led to their being largely irrelevant today.

Jay will get more views and sell more product with his videos in a day than the legacy media will in 6 months.
 
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'Subjective experience is not the most reliable indicator of objective reality'

a tag line from the signature of a member on another forum that I like............
 
I suppose it's good he's putting it out there. I personally wouldn't waste my time reading anyone's reviews that are positive all the time. Especially to the point he won't even review something he doesn't like. That's why I don't read What Hi-Fi.

I can see if the product was so bad it didn't have anything good to say. You can point out aspects you don't like without trashing or bashing. Like someone said on another thread you have to learn to read between the lines.
 
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