For me it is for the reviews (both equipment and music) as well as technical information. I like learning of things of which I had been unaware.

I do not care where columnist X went on a trip, his spouse's name, his favorite wine, political leanings, etc. I'm not offended/put out - it is easy to read over these things - but it wastes limited space that could be used for information related to audio.

I am more amused by the 500 components list than I like to admit.

Mr. Baird's music reviews, the equipment stuff, and the bitchy letters from audiophile dorks.

I do not care about tellig or dudley's leanings re political stuff, eating habits, or religious matters..or anything else, really.

and that stupid Yoav Geva "why my speaker is the best in the world" BS is getting stupid.

I like the reviews of both the music and the gear I can at least aspire to. There are a lot of companies making interesting gear that never gets reviewed but the magazine does a good job at what they DO cover.

At this point, Stereophile is an old friend I look forward to seeing each month.

I read the whole thing, even the parts with multi-channel!

I like to see what's new....and keep up with what Musical Fidelity is up to this month.

Stereophile (which may be surprising to some) has just about the best music related interviews I run across in my periodical surveys, and I especially like the incorporation of specific recordings in the reviews...both as a musical resource and a comparative reference! Stellar, really.

I secretly hope for Lars references in Sam's column, and enjoy trying to decode the section titles in Wes' reviews.

When John marks writes something, I know I will be interested, even if I don't think I will be before starting his column!

I like how Art and MF try to get across some of the science facts about what they are discussing, and I enjoy comparing JA's measurements with what the reviewers are describing.

I like how MF will go out on a limb with his impressions and his willingness to "suffer" the slings and arrows of outrageous measurement results.

I even read the ads....mostly looking for the very rare instance of a Hi Fi (non-cable) ad that shows a system that's actually connected to itself or a source of electricity.

I guess it boils down to me getting the feeling that I'm reading things writen by people who honestly enjoy the same hobby I do. Stereophile satisfies my desire for "truthiness" in its reporting.

Initially back in 1994 it was for the Audio Mart section in the back and the dealer ads. Found alot of nice gear to buy in those sections.

Also, the recommended components sections were nice. I trust what the reviewers have to say about particular brands.

I don't.

Quote:
I don't.

"And that's why I read Stereophile."

I too, read cover to cover. The gear,and music reviews and interviews are the best. Editorial content is always interesting. Good writing is always a bonus and Stereophile has consistently had a great staff. The eccentricities of some staffers are part of the fun. For 20+ years the mag has enhanced my enjoyment of music and audio. It's the only magazine on any topic I've read for that long.

Reviews that I hopefully learn not just about the product, but something about the category too. Nice pictures are a must- with detail shots even better.

I started reading Stereophile when it had 2 staples holding it together. I'm still reading it cover to cover.

Somebody help me, please. I've tried to resist but I can't help myself.

I started my subscription back in 1994. I see no signs of ever quitting this fine publication!

I wanna be there when JA starts using MP3's to evaluate equipment!

It makes the best fishwrap I have ever found.

I really, really miss Listener.

I also subscribe to Absolute Sound.

I spend some time with the Head-Fi folks.

Quote:
Thanks to everyone for their inspiring/humorous/honest responses.

A followup question: what are your other sources for audio info/news/reviews?* Do you read any other print sources? What about sources on the web? What fix do other websites and print publications provide? Are you able to find material in them not found in Stereophile? If so, what kind of content is it?

*note, admitting to reading magazines and websites other than Stereophile will lead you to be banned from this forum

The audio graveyard is full of sources I used to love....Audio, High Fidelity and Stereo Review (at times,) Listener, Fi, and couple others whose name excapes my mind right now.

I still read TAS - about half the time.

Online, I like Positive Feedback, Six Moons (I like Srajan Ebaen, and sat around for a good listening session with him once,) Audio Asylum, and Soundstage.

I don't have all that much dedication to the online magazines - it seems I approach the content as more 'disposable' when it's online than I do when it is tangible and in my hands. One notable exception - I like reading Michael Lavrogna's work wherever it appears.

For music, I still like reading Rolling Stone and Q magazine for popular music updates - more for releases than what to buy.

Regarding your question about what the other girls have that Sterophile don't - nothing. It's just that Stereophile only lasts a day or two, so I wander elsewhere to seek temporary pleasure before coming back home to Sterophile each month. The others? They mean nothing to me, baby.

Others that I enjoy are Enjoythemusic.com, Six Moons and WhatHiFi. I haven't read TAS in years because of bad writing. WhatHiFi is more of a quick read to keep up with what's buzzing in Europe rather than a writers type of mag.

In addition to Monty's picks I also read with interest: Stereomojo, Goodsound, Soundstage, Positive Feedback, Affordable Audio and whatever else I come across.

In addition to roadster's and other's previous picks I'll add Dagogo, Vinylphile and anything else that looks or sounds interesting to me.

I might read the Phile IF it would let me subscribe to the digital only version :-)

Seriously, the link doesn't work. I don't want the paper version to clutter up my house.

Anybody working on this?

Quote:

I might read the Phile IF it would let me subscribe to the digital only version :-)

Seriously, the link doesn't work. I don't want the paper version to clutter up my house.

Anybody working on this?

Which link are you talking about? The "DIGITAL/IPAD EDITION: 25% OFF!" link? What happens when you click it?

The link sends me off to buy physical magazines. I don't see a way to buy the digital edition.

It's particularly easy to pick up a physical subscription to Soap Opera Digest and ATV Rider.

Quote:
The link sends me off to buy physical magazines. I don't see a way to buy the digital edition.

It's particularly easy to pick up a physical subscription to Soap Opera Digest and ATV Rider.

Weird. Try clicking on it from the home page.
Or use this.

I'll ask someone to look into it. Thanks.

Thanks Stephen, that link worked.
I am now perusing Dec. on my Ipad.

Quote:
Thanks Stephen, that link worked.
I am now perusing Dec. on my Ipad.

Cool. I hope you like it.

Sorry about the trouble. It's likely that the bad link was due to a server problem. This should be moot when we move to a new platform over the weekend.

OK, put a 1 after my name and I'm a newbie :-)

Sent you an emai, Stephen, cant reset my password.

For the ads.

I don't read it as much as I set them out at work and other people read them. I read stuff on the website itself a lot more. Also, that new deal that pops up to the left is pretty darn good. You get 14 issues for $12.97 (when you select credit card) plus the option to receive another 12 issues for $11. Lamont scarfed that deal up. Gotta support the team.

Thanks. Happy T-Day.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Happy T-Day to you guys as well.

Don't know about the rest of you guys, but I do miss the writings of Jonathan Scull. He had an amusing way of conveying reviews of audio gear.

Mark Evans

We have a major feature written by Jonathan in our January 2011 issue.

"He had an amusing way of conveying reviews of audio gear."

Indeed he did. Jonathan's now applying his talent to the world of public relations and marketing.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

He is actually humorless and tactless

For the sake of a "bon mot" he would not hesitate a second to make fun of a manufacturer's gear

His reviews are all about himself and how great and fun a reviewer he is

He is a pompous fart

As it is now it is a half baked, badly written audio magazine

There is no comparison to what it used to be when Larry Archibald owned it

I miss Tom Norton and his real sense of humor, self deprecation and writing skills, the greatest audio writer ever, and I miss Larry Archibald also a great writer

Oh well. :-(

"I miss Tom Norton and his real sense of humor, self deprecation and writing skills, the greatest audio writer ever..."

I agree about Tom, which is why I hired him 20 years ago. But Tom's passion turned to Home Theater and he became first the editor of Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, then the editor of UltimateAV, and is now technical editor of our sister magazine Home Theater: http://www.hometheater.com/ .

You can find a complete list of everything Tom wrote for Stereophile and is available in our website archives at http://www.stereophile.com/writer/108 .

"and I miss Larry Archibald also a great writer"

You can find Larry's archived articles and reviews at http://www.stereophile.com/writer/110 .

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Lamont Sanford wrote:

I don't read it as much as I set them out at work and other people read them. I read stuff on the website itself a lot more. Also, that new deal that pops up to the left is pretty darn good. You get 14 issues for $12.97 (when you select credit card) plus the option to receive another 12 issues for $11. Lamont scarfed that deal up. Gotta support the team.

After reading online for years, like you Lamont, I scarfed up the great deal to support the team.
It is well written, educational and a great reference.
The editor must be pure genius.

Happy T-day to all.

Jeff

Say what you will about J10, but he was having fun and it came through in his writing. Whether or not he's a pompous ass, I wouldn't know as I never met him.

I enjoyed his writing a lot and when it came to tweaks, he wasn't afraid to try standing on the roof with a tin hat on to see if it made any difference in sound.

I'll bet he's still having fun doing his marketing gig.

If you wanted fun no one could beat Corey Greenberg

Catch22 wrote:

Say what you will about J10, but he was having fun and it came through in his writing. Whether or not he's a pompous ass, I wouldn't know as I never met him.

I enjoyed his writing a lot and when it came to tweaks, he wasn't afraid to try standing on the roof with a tin hat on to see if it made any difference in sound.

I'll bet he's still having fun doing his marketing gig.

Very well stated Monty :)

Mark Evans

He was hands down the most hilarious writer Stereophile ever had. I was really bummed when he was shown the door. Even knowing why he ended up leaving, I would still bet his reviews were relevent and described as he actually heard the stuff.

His and Gordon's round table discussions framed the debate between the purists and amplified camps perfectly.

John Atkinson wrote:

"There is no comparison to what it used to be when Larry Archibald owned it."

Oh well. :-(
John Atkinson

Editor, Stereophile

Why that smirk?
He may have been a mechanic but a mechanic in America maybe a hedge fund operator the next
The thing is to work for yourself as you develop some skills that you would never develop when you work for someone else, like they all do in Europe
He was smart, "recruited" you, gave you some stock In Stereophile; his business instinc were good
He was right about the demise of print newspapers, magazines and advertising and sold on top
The Avsforum started around that time and I never quite understood what Stereophile was waiting for to start its own web site; maybe afraid of canibalizing itself? At the time yourself and J10 were all posting in newsnet..
12 years down the road your own forum has just a fraction of the traffic that the audio forum on newsnet was generating with no moderation, and it was hilariously fun and entertaining
Owned by successive media group Stereophile was never the same
and it is not the new 30 years old clueless writers that you are bringing in that are going to change anything
He wrote very well, was always interesting and tactful, never mean like J10s
He lost big in his next move but then a lot of people went burst in the internet

I have been reading Stereophile since 1994.

What smirk? I clearly used the frown emoticon.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Thank you.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Mohammed Ap Flossy Bin Aural][quote=John Atkinson wrote:

"There is no comparison to what it used to be when Larry Archibald owned it." and it is not the new 30 years old clueless writers that you are bringing in that are going to change anything

I didn't used to resd magazines very much until the Tattered Cover book store in Denver started letting people read mags and provided comfortable seating to do so.(in the 1980s I think). Before that, in magazine stores, it was "NO Reading the Magazines before purchase"! Anyway, after that I bought more magazines than ever before.

I became addicted to audio, computer, and car mags. Read almost all I could and purchased many. Stereophile always seemed to be one of the best and is now one of only two subscriptions I have(the other being Shutterbug).

Thanks to what I have learned from Stereophile( and 30 yrs as an electricial engineer) I have assembled a system that, to me, does bring the live experience to my living room. Thanks for the well thought out reviews and a special thanks to JA for the measurements that are the best (and fairest, and most meaningful)in this industry.

I also love Audio eXpress , tape op, and the forum audio annext.

Baird is the best thing to happen to the magazine. I have been subscribed for 5 years now and am so grateful to have someone that writes about secular music (rock and roll!!!) instead of the same classical jazz wankery.

There are to many reasons I read stereophile to list . I can't think of a better way to spend $24( Canadian ) per year .