It was really a good issue. However, I would like to see Sam Tellig reports on European brands other than Unison Research and Opera Speakers. This, along with Triangle speakers, is becoming a little bit boring.

Everything else is just fine.

Yeah people will always give you a hard time, oh well...

I like your writing and I really like how you go and talk to people in the industry. You also don't take yourself too seriously nor the people you are interviewing, nice.

I loved the comment about placing the speakers 6' out and putting quaters on them, you even had me going ha ha ha!!!

Anyway, keep up the good work, your perspective on hifi is greatly appriciated.

Quote:
Okay, no more Opera or Unison for a little while. How would you like a Musical Fidelity review? Coming right up, next month -- the A3.5 integrated amp and CD player. I've got a new speaker from Triangle coming.

you are kidding right? the only reason Musical Fidelity release a new product every week (or it seems like it) is to get reviews. They drive customers mad, the latest CD player will soon be replaced (probably next week) by a better one that's cheaper- if you'd spent $2000 and this happened to you - you'd be annoyed.

I do subscribe to Stereophile, but don't read the reviews any more - I used to worship at the alter of Art Dudley but when he couldn't be bothered to get real Quad II's to compare against the new ones, I knew I was wasting my time.
Honestly - all anyone wants to know is how do they compare to the old ones, and are they well made?

>Go listen to the Musical Fidelity A3.5 integrated amp and CD player and then tell me if I was wrong to review it (in the forthcoming October issue).

I look forward to these reviews!

Sam, what is the point when they'll only bring out 3.5v2 next month that will be "better" and cheaper?

Plus I don't like ANY transistor amp I've ever heard.

Plus I've known enough people who've dropped MF due to reliability issues.

You act like they are the only manufacturer actually bringing any product out.

Dude the fact that you say transitors are bad does not mean everyone thinks that(sam he does not speak for me that is sure!), it is great you have a personal preference, but to think that no one wants to hear about transistor amps is crazy!

I have heard musical fidelity and it does have its merits. Do I own it, no... I have other electronics that I prefer/own. But to say someone should stop reviewing what they find musically rewarding is quite intersting to me...

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great week!

Hi Sam,

Thanks a lot for your answer. Go ahead with the Musical Fidelity, I look forward to hearing about them.

Regards,

I look forward to your column! Love the edgy humuor and love the travel-related gems. I find myself dreaming of Italy...and those wonderful bargain tube amps! Keep up the great work.

Come on Sam, I asked Jon Iverson for you to do a live web cam/audio stream from either Italy or from the Musical Fidelity facilities. Now that'll get 'em riled up!

Am I wrong, or, in the distant past did you bill yourself as "The Audio Cheapskate"? Right or wrong, thanks for steering me to the Musical Fidelity X Series. Ever since Bob Carver was making waves I've been in search of the best sound for the buck, and MF has done a pretty good job of delivering that.

I recently started up my Stereophile subscription after failing to renew a few years back and was glad to see Tellig still reviewing affordable gear and hopefully still poking fun at Hall. One of my biggest beefs with Stereophile has been their failure to devote a substantial review section to affordable gear and a reluctance to recommend particular combinations of gear at certain price points.

At least somebody at Stereophile is listening to affordable gear. Harley did a good job of reviewing real world gear.

Keep the left-wing politics out of the magazine and I might stick around this time.

Stereophile's target audience probably isn't for the casual listener or the uninformed when it comes to audio reproduction. However, if you have a high degree of emotional appreciation for music you would probably never regret being introduced to the magazine. And after a few issues you would probably become so damn curious about audio equipment that you would go out and find a true high-end audio dealer and become hooked for life.

Hi.
I don't know if you want to take my opinion on this question, as I actually work for the magazine, but I also consider myself new to the hobby - I listen to music through a Magnavox boombox, own no headphones or portable music devices... - and don't make a ton of money. But, I highly recommend Stereophile to anyone who is thoughtful, passionate, and loves and/or plays music. A great place to start - if you find the full equipment reports somewhat daunting - is with the columns, "Listening" and "Sam's Space" are my personal favorites. Both are beautifully written and bridge the gap between the hobby of high-end audio and the appreciation of life, in general. Our music reviews are also very interesting and informative, and the music features - I think - are always great. And a great place to introduce yourself to the hot issues within the hobby is our "Letters" section. I could go on and on.

Again, though, I work for the magazine, and have fallen in love with it. I had no idea it existed before I got the job five years ago.

Page count depends on a lot of things, but is usually around 150 pages - goes over 200 with our April and October "Recommended Components" issues.

For Pete's sake, Steve, borrow some equipment and maybe some recordings from some of the other guys around the office. Sam and Mike Fremer probably have closets full of good stuff they no longer listen to. Listen to music. Just listen. Don't do other things at the same time. Then read one or more of the competitive magazines like TAS. That will give you some sense of why the rest of us subscribe to Stereophile, read these forums, etc. There's also a chance that it will lead to more interesting (to us, at least) entries in your Blog. Don't just stand on the edge, jump in the pool. The water is fine.

Do you think you will ever get a hifi? Or is it something you are just not intersted in pursuing?

Hi Clay.
I appreciate your comments, but I must say that it's not quite as easy as it might seem to borrow equipment from the writers. Aside from JA and Robert Baird, the writers work from home. To dispel what might be a commonly held idea, we don't just have all this great audio gear all over the office. We don't even have a listening room here.

Also, for my first four and a half years here at Stereophile, I lived in tiny (TINY) basement apartments in Newark and Jersey City, NJ. I should actually be happy that I never brought any gear home, because it's quite likely that it would have been stolen or destroyed in a flood. Seriously. I mean, for reals.

And, I'm getting to ALL of this in the blog, if everyone would just hold their horsies. (If I used smiley faces, I would put one for you here.)

Yo Ludwigvan968.
I've been meaning to thank you for your enthusiasm in our forums: Thank you. It's awesome.

To answer your question, I should tell both you and Clay something about myself: I've never been one to just jump into any pool. I'm passionate about a lot of things, but I try not to obsess over anything. With the exception of one thing: women. There's really nothing in my life that I would consider a "hobby."

But, short(er) answer: Yes, I think I will have a hifi someday. I was not interested in it at all five years ago, before I got this job. Now I am more interested. I imagine that, five years from today, I'll be a bit more interested still.

>I must say that it's not quite as easy as it might seem to
>borrow equipment from the writers.

Stephen and I have discussed putting together a starter system. But this will be in a couple of weeks after Stephen has house-sat for Wes Phillips while the latter is on vacation next month. I anticipate spending some time listening to his indie-rock faves on Wes's he-man rig is going to open Stephen's ears!

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

I have only subscribed for two years now and I just renewed because I don't recall a bad issue.

I also sent Mr. Atkinson a note out of the blue in which I was pleasantly suprized that he responded. Wow is what I thought and now stereophile has a lifer. Its the small things... ya know?

Henry

Hi Henry!

My personal slant is I love Stereophile, I think the staff does a great job of pandering to the unpleasable audio community.

I prefer to read about things that I can't afford. I mean, a lot of stuff, I can go out and audition for myself. I enjoy living vicariously through others.

Sam, I think does a fantastic job filling the niche of reviewing gear that mere mortals can afford. Listen to MF and, IMHO, you'll understand why it gets reviewed. I think it consistently performs over it's price point.

The one thing that I think that not just stereophile but the audio industry could do better is reach out to those music lovers who aren't bitten by the audio bug. This is an intimidating hobby to outsiders.

Ok, enough shameless sucking up!

BDT

Quote:
>I must say that it's not quite as easy as it might seem to
>borrow equipment from the writers.

Stephen and I have discussed putting together a starter system. But this will be in a couple of weeks after Stephen has house-sat for Wes Phillips while the latter is on vacation next month. I anticipate spending some time listening to his indie-rock faves on Wes's he-man rig is going to open Stephen's ears!

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Actually, this would be a GOLDEN opportunity for a story....how to convert a budding audio enthusiast.

BDT

Quote:

Quote:
>I must say that it's not quite as easy as it might seem to
>borrow equipment from the writers.

Stephen and I have discussed putting together a starter system. But this will be in a couple of weeks after Stephen has house-sat for Wes Phillips while the latter is on vacation next month. I anticipate spending some time listening to his indie-rock faves on Wes's he-man rig is going to open Stephen's ears!

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Actually, this would be a GOLDEN opportunity for a story....how to convert a budding audio enthusiast.

BDT

Hi Troy.
We're working on it. I've spent the last couple nights over at Wes' place, enjoying his system. It's pretty amazing, really. I can honestly say that to just play with this stuff for a little while is more than enough to want some of my own forever. I'll be posting my impressions at the blog: http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/

Hello Troy and I'm glad to see you here.

I figured I would let stereophile know that it was conversations with you that led me to this great publication. Perhaps some free issues should come your way

Henry