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I want to see manuals, reviews, msrp, and information about old products.

But they are interesting for photos.Their content is totally one sided except for any reviews, which is a beautiful thing !! Give 'em credit for that! One sided info is kind-of sick'n....

I believe going to the source should give you the best information regarding a product's specs. However, I would not rely on a manufacturer's review of its own product. This is one of the many reasons that I subscribe to and depend on Stereophile as a source of information and unbiased opinions. I need independent views from either consumers' reviews or independent experts such as those in your magazine. In fact, Stereophile reviews are my number one source of information. I also utilize a website www.audioreview.com, which consists of product reviews from people who own the equipment.

Using a company's website allows for a slow methodical approach to deciding what I want to purchase. A brochure can only hold so much, and its information can quickly become outdated. I don't think advertisements can really be trusted, but they do make a good starting point for looking up more details about a product. It is difficult to judge if a dealer's sales pitch is really in your best interest, or if they are just trying to meet a quota. Also using a web page for research means you will never have to deal with a hard sell. After using a company website I will use other places on the Internet to answer my questions and see what other people think. I only walk into the dealer when I have almost decided and need some of the more difficult questions answered. Of course, a good review in your magazine can be what makes me go to their website in the first place.

These days if you are not online, you are nowhere. If you are online, make it count.

I count on publications and web sites like yours before I will even consider a product; the compaired reviews are my deciding factor.

A poor, difficult website can hurt a manufacturer more than a good one can help, since it calls into question the organization's capability. Surely, folks' final decisions are based on what they hear, no?

I rely on the manufacturer's website to tell me things about my equipment no review or ad can do. Very few manufacturers do this simple service. Most websites are just giant billboards explaining how great their company is. I would love to get a job telling a manufaturer how his website apprears to the average person and what is missing. I would go to town.

If a manufacturer is not willing to produce a website that is easy to use, and very informative, then I am a little leery about the company as a whole. For most people, at least in my opinion, the website will be the first point of contact between both parties. What is that old saying, you only get one chance to make a first impression? Personally, I have been to numerous websites in a wide variety of industries that have been so poorly designed and/or executed that I will only visit many of them once. I also realize that I may have visited these sites during a developmental stage. If that is made known by the company then I will try back at a later date. If that fact is not made known, then I will not check back at all, regardless of the company, its products, or my initial interest in them. I also fully realize that to produce a good quality website requires a lot of time and money. That makes it more difficult for a smaller company to have a website than it is for a larger company. Perhaps the main reason I value a good website, is that I like to do as much product research as I possibly can before I visit a retailer. The Internet is the perfect place in which to do this. Am I being unfair to those companies that do not have what I consider to be a "good" website? I am certain that I am, but I am not likely to change in this belief. Thank you for letting me express this rather lengthy opinion.

The manufacturer's attitude about my desire for information is directly reflected by it's willingness to invest in a comprehensive web site.

specs

So many items can no longer be purchased locally and "full color sales brochures" are a thing of the past. The web plays a big role in today's hifi world.

For the most part, I find manufacturers' websites lacking. Clearly it is something many manufacturers put little effort into. On the other hand, when e-mailed, their responses often show passion for their products and what they do.

A web site will not by itself sell me anything, that requires an audition. But time is limited so I do research on line, and it helps me locate dealers.

It's critical. Websites are able to provide information that might not be available otherwise (no local dealer, etc) and they show the company has a sufficient operating budget to pay for customer and marketing support.

Being from a small southwestern town, there are no high-end audio stores, locally. Well authored website stores make it easier to shop.

Websites really separate the men from the boys. Some of them are just superb, others are frustratingly sub-par. Check out PS Audio's site for an example of how it ought to be done. Mark Baker's www.turntable-kits.com site is a great example of a good Mom-and-Pop-shop site. I confess I DO judge an audio company by its website—if the site is lame, chances are the company is, too. At least, that's what I feel.

It is not so important to me. I like to know a little about the company and websitesare great places for setup and maintenance tips, but it is hard to hear much. Duh.

The best way to know about audio gear is to listen to it. I do, however, appreciate service assistance etc for already purchased items when it is available on line.

Information sells, especially to a well-heeled, hopefully discerning cohort such as audiophiles, yet almost every speaker company's site misses out on two or three of the following obvious necessities: up to date information, logical organization, obsessively thorough product information via secondary links, minimally acceptable graphic design, and incredibly, even list price and dealership information. (I know of many concerns which expect you to email for a nearby dealer—presumably to prevent telephone price-shopping—but which then don't answer the stinking email for one or two weeks, if at all. Surfers expect immediacy, simply by definition, and how can anyone not know that? The Internet is no longer remotely new.) Incredibly, much of this holds true even for folks who sell only from websites. And the vehemence with which companies ignore emailed feedback seems roughly proportionate to the detail of the criticism therein. It's as though they just can't be bothered to stand out from all the other flotsam, or fail to grasp the importance of the 'Net for preliminary shopping, at the very least. I consider it gross misjudgment on their part. On the other hand, I'm sort of taken with "The Onion"-like obituary of the designer in meadowlarkaudio.com's photos area, as well as other aspects of that particular portal. Humor sells, too.

Unfortunately, most manufacturers, especially those in the high end, do a poor job of website implementation. To be useful, a website should at least contain a list of all currently available products, complete mechanical and electrical specifications (including impedances), lists of all inputs and outputs, complete description of digital formats supported, recommended power ranges, etc. There should also be explanations of all options available for each piece of quipment, retail prices, and lists of all dealers and distributors. The website should be updated at least monthly, and no manufacturer introducing a new product should consider doing so if they do not simultaneously update their website. Anything less results in useless websites.

Unless you live in a major metropolitan area it is impossible to actually see or even hear many products. A well put together web site is often the only ``local dealer `` I have. Unless it is well presented my access to your products is limited. A poor or average web site is a real put off.

All to often the dealers are out of literature to pass out to customers.

With the advent of broadband, I can't imagine bothering with the cost of printing a multicolor borchure when Adobe PDF files are available for download in the comfort of my listening chair!

Although I feel not mandatory, I view manufacturer's websites as very important because I use them to filter out a product based on whatever criteria I deem important to me at the time. this way I can better zero in on a product and it saves me a lot of time. The more info that I can look at quickly the better.

I consider this a first source. An informative website makes a difference in my purchasing decision.

The web is now the initial research tool for almost anything.

information...information

BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT, BUT STILL PREFER TO "REACH OUT AND TOUCH" BEFORE PURCHASING SUCH HIGHLY PERSONAL GEAR

I really rely on reveiwing a website before I make a purchase. Unfortunately it appears as though the manufactures see their website as a necesary evil, rather than a productive sales tool. They all seem to be very lax in updating their website with their newest materials. And it seem as though all of them feel the same. I am aware of a new product long before it is revealed on the website. They sould come to realize that this is where a potential customer can browse and learn about a product without the high pressure of a salesman. Also it permits me, the buyer to be a little more informed when I finally audition a peice of equipment.