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My ears, a few friends, and a few acquaintances. Magazine reviewers? No, not really. With the exception of a few . . .
Other people usually have experiences or insights that we lack, and their opinions can be extremely useful when we make our own decisions. This is especially true when it comes to forking over big bucks for new equipment. Below is a list of expert sources. When you are considering a purchase, which do you find most reliable?
It is always a tremendous pressure that one's hifi components should be well reviewed in the major magazines. At the very least, there should not be any adverse comments, because one's mind then starts the painful process of component rejection. To avoid heartache and dejection I would audition only those components that have received rave reviews. But my ears will always be the final arbiter in the choice I make.
Though a particular audio component may have identifiable sonic traits, this does not preclude that it will be a unimous "like" or "dislike" attribute. For instance, what one listener discerns to be added detail, another will discount as "steely" treble, or even distortion. Audio and music are so peculiarly subjective that one must trust one's ears first.
I like to read colorful descriptions of the sounds as married to the equipment I see being reviewed. But this is like learning to read only by hearing. When I finally get a chance to HEAR FOR MYSELF, all (O.K., most) of my theoretical ponderings become questionable. I then curse Wes Phillips (love-hate, Wes) and begin again.
It really depend's on the individual as far as friends reviewers sales people, newsgroups especially like soundstage where everyone contribute you get much more information about the topic's involved. then again if you have a friend who is a professional reviewer, you have it made...someone who know's a great deal and you can trust.
I wish you had allowed us to choose two choices and rank them in order of preference. I always trust my ears and what I hear above all other sources of information. I also appreciate the time and effort that many of Stereophile's writers put into attempting to describe what they hear in a product. I have found that I agree with some writers more than others. My assumption is that we hear things in the sound that have roughly equal importance to our enjoyment of the music. I appreciate what professional reviewers do to help further our understanding and appreciation of music and the equipment that brings it to us. Keep up the good work!
Really it is a combination of the above. One can pick up a lot of information from web sites and the newsgroups and combine that with the professional reviews to give them a starting point. From there you can talk to your local salespeople. But in the end it comes down to what sounds best to you, not to someone else listening to different music in a different system, in a different room from your own. I do believe that in this day of access to so many sources, that reliance upon professional reviews is diminishing. At one time, they were the only game in town for many of us. Dana B.
I generally tend to trust the professional reviewers, but have found a tendency on their part to avoid saying anything bad about anyone's product. If they say they noticed that it "lifted a veil," it might be snakeoil. If they go absolutely rabid over how good it was, it probably has something to offer.
Reviewers usually provide a concise point of view that can be used as a reference point for purchases. This point of view might prove erroneous to one's ears, or, a right-on recommendation that shuts down all cognitive dissonance. Either way, the reviewers point of view serves as a hinge for the correct decision.
Objective reviewers like "Stereophile" and :Guide to Home Theater." I don't think I've ever seen "Audio" or "Stereo Review" seriously criticize a product. Sales people and mail-order would be at the bottom. I find that with a little research I know as much as the salesperson, and they're paid on a commission and they're going to push what they sell. Manufacturers' web sites help distinguish features of different models. Advertising helps catch the eye. I do enjoy different comments on the internet. My ears at my house. In summary, your reviews and my pocketbook help me make my decisions.