Stereophile Recommended Components: Fall 2018 Edition

[GSOphile]

To me one thing that sets Stereophile apart from most other publications is that they publish fairly comprehensive measurements of most reviewed products, and in a significant number of the reviews I've read, the measurements diverge from the reviewer's perception. This can be a valuable data point.

 

[Joseph R.]

Well call me a cynic.
Another gimmick to me are these "Best In Show". Amazing how these reviewers all list the same equipment, albeit in different order usually totally contrary to what most people in attendance hear.

Just to drive a point home, at Munich, one reviewer gave "The Most Coveted" product at the show, the D'Agostino Relentless amplifier, even though the thing wasn't hooked up to anything and had never been heard by anyone. My questions as to "why" went unanswered.

As I said, I am a cynic, put almost no trust in what these reviewers write but admit I do subscribe to most of them to look at the new and old toys to see what is coming to market.

Yes the measurements add some credibility to the mag, but I am not quite sure how competent of an engineer John Atkinson is. At times it seems Stereophile is one mind. I guess John Atkinson keeps them all drinking from the same trough.

From my standpoint, Priaptor, I don’t think your a cynic at all. Sounds to me you “calls them as you sees them”. Inside viewpoints are always appreciated. By me at least.

 

[still-one]

Well call me a cynic.


Just to drive a point home, at Munich, one reviewer gave "The Most Coveted" product at the show, the D'Agostino Relentless amplifier, even though the thing wasn't hooked up to anything and had never been heard by anyone. My questions as to "why" went unanswered.

As I said, I am a cynic, put almost no trust in what these reviewers write but admit I do subscribe to most of them to look at the new and old toys to see what is coming to market.

Oh, come on there is a difference in coveting something and having any experience with it. There are numerous super cars I covet even though I have never driven them. That is why you question went unanswered.

 

[still-one]

Duplicate

 

[jdandy]

It's sad that "printed" lists are viewed as less reliable than something on the web. I pity future generations of audiophiles.

Jim.......Yeah right, I read it in a magazine or newspaper so it must be true. I saw it on TV is in the same boat. .

The point I'm trying to make is nothing beats a personal hands-on experience. If you haven't had direct experience with anything, and your only proof source is someone else's opinion printed in a magazine, or even by word of mouth, then you essentially have no experience with said item.

 

[still-one]

Jim.......Yeah right, I read it in a magazine or newspaper so it must be true. I saw it on TV is in the same boat. .

The point I'm trying to make is nothing beats a personal hands-on experience. If you haven't had direct experience with anything, and your only proof source is someone else's opinion printed in a magazine, or even by word of mouth, then you essentially have no experience with said item.

Dan
And until you have experience with more than just that item you still cannot have a valid opinion as to whether it is good, bad or mediocre.

 

[jdandy]

Dan
And until you have experience with more than just that item you still cannot have a valid opinion as to whether it is good, bad or mediocre.

Jim.......I agree.

 

[Mike]

Jim/Dan - it horrifies me that people are putting so much credibility in some nameless guy on Audiogon or a self-proclaimed reviewer WITH NO SYSTEM, but lots of excuses. There is no substitute for auditioning stuff for yourself. Nothing worth doing comes easy. Get off your butts and go audition. If it means spending $300 on a plane ticket, then so be it.

 

[Priaptor]

Oh, come on there is a difference in coveting something and having any experience with it. There are numerous super cars I covet even though I have never driven them. That is why you question went unanswered.

Big difference in your example.

A car is driven, maybe not by you but by the reviewer and why one may covet it.

An amplifier needs to be heard to judge its performance like a car needs to be driven. To covet something that had never been turned on blows a hole in your comparison.

 

[Joseph R.]

Jim/Dan - it horrifies me that people are putting so much credibility in some nameless guy on Audiogon or a self-proclaimed reviewer WITH NO SYSTEM, but lots of excuses. There is no substitute for auditioning stuff for yourself. Nothing worth doing comes easy. Get off your butts and go audition. If it means spending $300 on a plane ticket, then so be it.

Agreed. I can’t tell you how many components and/or speakers I have coveted until I finally heard them myself. I guess that’s what advertising is suppose to do. But a $300 plane ride or an extensive road trip is a small price to pay to purchase any high end gear. I personally live many years with my high end purchases. I cannot afford to make a mistake. I have asked opinions of some well respected developers (like Ted Smith) along the way. But the deciding factor must be my ears. Come to think of it, besides the Bose 901’s (big mistake) I don’t think any purchases I’ve made were ever “recommeded” by any audio magazine.

 

[still-one]

Big difference in your example.

A car is driven, maybe not by you but by the reviewer and why one may covet it.

An amplifier needs to be heard to judge its performance like a car needs to be driven. To covet something that had never been turned on blows a hole in your comparison.

You are incorrect. The definition of covet is to yearn or want something you don't have. There is no requirement that the item functions exceptionally. A lot of people covet very expensive mechanical or automatic watches that do not keep time as well as a $75 Casio that syncs with atomic clocks. They do it because they are beautiful and relatively rare.

 

[Joseph R.]

Doesn’t the ninth and tenth commandments say ‘thou shalt not covet...”. Come on guys it’s aganst natural law !!!

 

[Alpinist]

Just to drive a point home, at Munich, one reviewer gave "The Most Coveted" product at the show, the D'Agostino Relentless amplifier, even though the thing wasn't hooked up to anything and had never been heard by anyone. My questions as to "why" went unanswered.

The whole concept of most coveted component seems pretty silly to me. Especially if it was a static display. I mean, what’s the point? I saw the Magico M6 static display at RMAF last year. The sign should have said “World’s Largest Bookends”.

Ken

 

[Priaptor]

The whole concept of most coveted component seems pretty silly to me. Especially if it was a static display. I mean, what’s the point? I saw the Magico M6 static display at RMAF last year. The sign should have said World’s Largest Bookends.

Ken

Ken,

Exactly my point. What is the point other than to show your bias by making such an absurd claim.

I think there is a growth curve in high end audio as most of us are both into the music as well as the gadgetry. We begin (especially in the early days of Harry Pearson) being guided by those we think are honest and providing a legitimate opinion. Many of us get burned following the Pied Piper and with time, as Mike pointed out, learn to listen for ourselves and spend the time and effort. The early phase leads to the second phase of making up your own mind, but looking to "recommended components" or some other nonsense list for confirmation bias. The last phase which is the healthiest is to purchase a system YOU are happy with regardless of what the choir sings.

Not picking on Magico here, but using it as an illustration. When buyers/reviewers/forums/your dealer claim something like the M3/M6 is the greatest thing in the world, the best they ever heard, the best speaker ever, it is hard to state they are not your however it gets much easier as you grow in this hobby.

 

[Ctsooner]

We all want validation for our purchases in life. I"ts fun to see our own gear on there and when it's not, it's fun to bitch about it. It's become all about politics etc.. as to what they will review. Heck, I own Vandesteen, Ayre and Audioquest. All gear that is on their outdated lists and all gear that advertises with them lol.

If anyone thinks they can just use a list or word of mouth to purchase gear, then they are nuts. what will it sound like in your own system is more important. I have to hear gear in order to purchase or if I purchase I need to know that I can send it back if I don't like it in my room. Some dealers will work with you. This is the biggest reason I will only work with dealers or at least a company that knows me, my ear and the rest of my system.

Fun to read and nothing else for me. They are trying to get clicks and sell scripts.

 

[Joseph R.]

What I find strange in the “recommended components” are the negative comments. Like “josh thinks they are less articulate in the bass” or “it is a bit lacking in upper extension”. Who is going to consider a purchase of the component after that? If you find the reviewer credible than the recommended component listing has valuable to you. Otherwise it makes great kindling.

 

[Priaptor]

You are incorrect. The definition of covet is to yearn or want something you don't have. There is no requirement that the item functions exceptionally. A lot of people covet very expensive mechanical or automatic watches that do not keep time as well as a $75 Casio that syncs with atomic clocks. They do it because they are beautiful and relatively rare.

Ok I'm "incorrect" with an emphasis on "incorrect".

You are taking the "coveting" out of context of how it was used. It was used by Harley, in his evaluation of "best of Munich" where he listed most coveted, for an "audio" product that had never been turned on and I think wasn't even operational. In that context it is an absurd and nonsensical claim. As to a watch, it is a different context and anyone who knows or has owned an expensive automatic watch, who covets them, is coveting something that is "functional" albeit as accurate as one's internal clock and hopes someday is collectable. Same goes for artwork and so many other things.

When it comes to an audio amplifier, that loses 50% of its value once purchased, no matter how gorgeous, unique, rare if it sounds like crap then in the world of high end audio it would hardly be "coveted" by anyone, even the most biased.

Now I see you have D'Agostino amps and trust me I have nothing against the brand so don't take it personal as I am not insulting D'Ag. In fact I had an extended trial of the S250 when Elliot of Bending Wave was auditioning SS amps for his Gobels and I have to say I loved it; one of my favorites. I haven't been into SS for a long time and the S250 threw me for a loop as it was so good and convinced me to give SS another try as my last was years ago and it just didn't push my button; the first Constellation Stereo amp with Magico Q1.

In the context of what I am referring to, a product that will NEVER be a collectible, is not artwork no matter how beautifully it may look its only true value is how it sounds. For a reviewer to claim it is the most coveted product at the show when it was never turned on, not even operational comparing it thousands of other amazing products that are being displayed and listened to, IMHO, is biased and absurd, even if the reviewer didn't believe he was doing that. These kinds of statements by reviewers, IMHO, mitigates the effectiveness and veracity of what these guys write. But that is my take.

 

[MichaelZ]

Big difference in your example.

A car is driven, maybe not by you but by the reviewer and why one may covet it.

An amplifier needs to be heard to judge its performance like a car needs to be driven. To covet something that had never been turned on blows a hole in your comparison.

Plenty of cars are coveted long before they are driven by a reviewer. Witness the hype surrounding the return of the Toyota Supra. It’s funny to watch, because as more information is released about the car, the level of excitement for its release appears to be dying down.

I would also also say that the auto press is the last group that should be emulated by the audiophile press. Every issue, either real or supposed, that exists in the audiophile press is amplified in the auto press. Payola, luxury travel, gifts for reviewers, etc. are all well documented. The whole industry is a farce.

As as for audio reviewers, like everyone I have those that I trust and those that I do not. And I will freely admit that a lot of that trust is based on how they act in public and in online forums like this one. I feel like you see their true colors there.