How can we improve?

I have no problem with what Huff said. Many reviewers feel like him but they also risk not getting gear to review if they have negative reviews. I watch Steve Guttenberg reviews from time to time and you can definitely read between the lines when he does not think too highly of a piece of gear. Same for some Stereophile reviews.

And I also take into account that our tastes may be different.

I do like the reviews from Nemo Propaganda. I find they useful and find him honest. He may review a pair of speakers and say they sound good but he prefers this instead. His review of my Arendal speakers is spot on.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Definitely Pass has the best binding posts, Levinson's Hurricane posts would be my second choice.

Sometimes unpacking isn't much to write about sometimes like in the case of the Esoteric amps it is. I thought how the box unclasped then lifted off was cool. Eliminated that back breaking lift out of the box. There was still some back work to get it in place but at least that initial out of the box was eliminated. Things like that should be pointed out. I had a T+A CDP it had like a bar across the bottom back by the connections, I'm sure it had a purpose but I hated it. I loved the unit but hated that bar. That's something I would have mentioned.
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THIS! This is what I’m talking about. For example, how many times have you ever read about WHY there are tiny pieces of paper on the sides of the top of an Esoteric CD player or network player?

I’ll wait….

Never.

It’s there because the engineers at Esoteric felt it sounded better to leave a small gap/ever so slightly loose top.

Esoteric packaging is unmatched too! World class along with the sound. The new Grandioso streamer is AMAZING!!!

What about the stupid lip on the back of every Lumin that makes it frustrating to reach cables, disconnect XLR’s and the like?

Anyway….ifs like a car review that only talks about how it drove the the hair salon or market.
 
Mechnutt said:
I have no problem with what Huff said. Many reviewers feel like him but they also risk not getting gear to review if they have negative reviews. I watch Steve Guttenberg reviews from time to time and you can definitely read between the lines when he does not think too highly of a piece of gear. Same for some Stereophile reviews.

And I also take into account that our tastes may be different.

I do like the reviews from Nemo Propaganda. I find they useful and find him honest. He may review a pair of speakers and say they sound good but he prefers this instead. His review of my Arendal speakers is spot on.
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It’s fine to only review what you love, but I was speaking about the other factors that just never seem to get covered: boxing, connections, ease of use, remote, manual, etc.

The MBL and Devialet remotes are my favorite! Using them puts a smile on your face.
 
Mike said:
It’s fine to only review what you love, but I was speaking about the other factors that just never seem to get covered: boxing, connections, ease of use, remote, manual, etc.

The MBL and Devialet remotes are my favorite! Using them puts a smile on your face.
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IMHO high end products should come in a flight case or have the option to come in one. This is particularly important on items above 40 pounds or so.
I realize at the lower price ranges this can be expensive however some really expensive products come in really crappy cardboard boxes. I am not a fan of crates, better than a box, but still a pain in the ass. Just my opinion.
 
Mike said:
What about the stupid lip on the back of every Lumin that makes it frustrating to reach cables, disconnect XLR’s and the like?
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Yep, for me that lip also hampers removing the ethernet cable. I haven't found a better way than aligning a screwdriver or knife on top of the locking tab and awkwardly pressing down on it from the side while the other hand holds the connector, because there simply isn't room to get my fingers close enough to lower the tab. Maybe those with skinnier fingers can do it...

This is my only real quibble with my otherwise excellent D2 and T2, and while inconvenient, certainly not a dealbreaker.
 
JCS123 said:
Yep, for me that lip also hampers removing the ethernet cable. I haven't found a better way than aligning a screwdriver or knife on top of the locking tab and awkwardly pressing down on it from the side while the other hand holds the connector, because there simply isn't room to get my fingers close enough to lower the tab. Maybe those with skinnier fingers can do it...

This is my only real quibble with my otherwise excellent D2 and T2, and while inconvenient, certainly not a dealbreaker.
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Again, have you EVER read about this in any review? Nope.
 
Mike said:
It’s fine to only review what you love, but I was speaking about the other factors that just never seem to get covered: boxing, connections, ease of use, remote, manual, etc.

The MBL and Devialet remotes are my favorite! Using them puts a smile on your face.
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You just keep making points, LOL The Devialet remote is the coolest thing ever. To make sure we're on the same page I'm talking about the one that's like a vintage rotary knob. You get the old school feel in a remote.

I don't remember seeing MBL remote. Another one I like is the Parasound. The one to my P6 is huge and the buttons have a logical layout and some of the buttons are different shapes, easy to use in the dark, or if you can't see, LOL
 
If a reviewer was to compare a product to another product. Wouldn't that in essence be admitting something's not perfect. How could it be the pinnacle or the very best If there is something about it, some other product might do a little better. Or even different.

Comparing a product to another product would only happen if you had reviewed the other product. And you would thereby be invalidating your other review or be saying the other product is no longer good. Negating the positive accolades you had prior given.
 
Kingrex said:
If a reviewer was to compare a product to another product. Wouldn't that in essence be admitting something's not perfect. How could it be the pinnacle or the very best If there is something about it, some other product might do a little better. Or even different.

Comparing a product to another product would only happen if you had reviewed the other product. And you would thereby be invalidating your other review or be saying the other product is no longer good. Negating the positive accolades you had prior given.
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Rex, your logic is deeply flawed.
 
I don’t have a horse in this race, but it seems reasonable that if you’re going to tell someone that their logic is deeply flawed, they have a reasonable expectation that you’ll elaborate why, so your own logic can be similarly critiqued.
 
2FarGone said:
I don’t have a horse in this race, but it seems reasonable that if you’re going to tell someone that their logic is deeply flawed, they have a reasonable expectation that you’ll elaborate why, so your own logic can be similarly critiqued.
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I thought it was self evident. Audiophiles scream for comparative reviews. First of all, what audio product is "perfect?" None is the answer.

Because you review two products that are possible competition in their price and category would never invalidate either review. Each product stands on its merit.

I could go on, but I hope you see the fallacy in the logic.
 
Actually, I agree with you that it’s a non-sequitur.

I should probably disclose that I generally see little value in reviews, however. I know you’re a reviewer and it’s certainly not my intent to offend, but I’m inclined to agree with Mike that they’re of little value - to me. As he pointed out, “Forget the sound, that’s subjective.” But if subjective assessment of the way a piece of equipment sounds can’t be trusted, what’s left? And in my experience, it can’t be.

I should note that there was one reviewer at Positive Feedback that was of great assistance to me when I picked up my Odeons. I found my own way after that, but there was no question he showed me the way to what I was seeking.
 
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2FarGone said:
Actually, I agree with you that it’s a non-sequitur.

I should probably disclose that I generally see little value in reviews, however. I know you’re a reviewer and it’s certainly not my intent to offend, but I’m inclined to agree with Mike that they’re of little value - to me. As he pointed out, “Forget the sound, that’s subjective.” But if subjective assessment of the way a piece of equipment sounds can’t be trusted, what’s left? And in my experience, it can’t be.

I should note that there was one reviewer at Positive Feedback that was of great assistance to me when I picked up my Odeons. I found my own way after that, but there was no question he showed me the way to what I was seeking.
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Fair point. I was thinking more about the debate over sound, one guys sweet is a another guys salty, but we can at least get some idea of other incidental things like packing, manual, remote, initial experiences if you will. I just look at other product reviews and they spend 50% of the review discussing those things and the rest on the item itself and its performance.
 
So a review of the new Sentinel DAC does not need to address the DAC or the way it sounds. Only the box it comes in, cable layout and what else?

What if the reviewer said the DCS has more detail retrieval? Well, isn't that then a flaw in the Sentinal.
What if he says the Sentinal has better detail retrieval than the DCS. Doesn't that mean everyone who bought the DCS based on his review is now using a lesser DAC instead of the top of the heap.
My logic is not flawed. My logic is based on observation. Most reviews avoid compares. Why? My "Flawed" logic could be a logical reason why. Mep of course could tell us why compares don't happen. His editor must have given some direction. That or all the reviewers osmotically decided to alter their writing style at the same time.
 
Kingrex said:
So a review of the new Sentinel DAC does not need to address the DAC or the way it sounds. Only the box it comes in, cable layout and what else?

What if the reviewer said the DCS has more detail retrieval? Well, isn't that then a flaw in the Sentinal.
What if he says the Sentinal has better detail retrieval than the DCS. Doesn't that mean everyone who bought the DCS based on his review is now using a lesser DAC instead of the top of the heap.
My logic is not flawed. My logic is based on observation. Most reviews avoid compares. Why? My "Flawed" logic could be a logical reason why. Mep of course could tell us why compares don't happen. His editor must have given some direction. That or all the reviewers osmotically decided to alter their writing style at the same time.
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That’s not what I’m saying. Of course the sound is part of the review, but when one guy ADMITS he only reviews products he absolutely loves the sound of, and nothing else, are you telling me he can’t discuss anything else on a product he’s only luke warm about on the sound? The sound is it? Nothing else matters? So if parts arrive in a shoebox, good to go?
 
Mike said:
That’s not what I’m saying. Of course the sound is part of the review, but when one guy ADMITS he only reviews products he absolutely loves the sound of, and nothing else, are you telling me he can’t discuss anything else on a product he’s only luke warm about on the sound? The sound is it? Nothing else matters? So if parts arrive in a shoebox, good to go?
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And don't forget everything that guy decides to review is "game changing", "new reference", "sets a new standard", and then the same description is used on piece after piece, week after week. It's worse than a bad joke.

Then to make it even more of a joke, companies proudly tout those 'reviews' as if the predetermined outcome wasn't already bought and paid for.

The concept that 'reviews' aren't allowed to talk about additional things beyond the component itself is deeply flawed, lazy, and leads to their complete irrelevancy.
 
2FarGone said:
Actually, I agree with you that it’s a non-sequitur.

I should probably disclose that I generally see little value in reviews, however. I know you’re a reviewer and it’s certainly not my intent to offend, but I’m inclined to agree with Mike that they’re of little value - to me. As he pointed out, “Forget the sound, that’s subjective.” But if subjective assessment of the way a piece of equipment sounds can’t be trusted, what’s left? And in my experience, it can’t be.

I should note that there was one reviewer at Positive Feedback that was of great assistance to me when I picked up my Odeons. I found my own way after that, but there was no question he showed me the way to what I was seeking.
Click to expand...

Well, at least you ended your story on a positive note. Reviewer bashing is a team sport on audio forums.
 
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