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I'm surprised a manufacturer wouldn't just make a quick phone call or send an email to someone like John Atkinson if they had never heard of the person requesting a product for review.
AV Tech Media Review Policy
Due to a number of recent unauthorized solicitations to high-fidelity manufacturers, distributors, and media-relations personnel for review equipment, we feel it necessary to post this policy reminder.
We have been alerted by several major brands that individuals misrepresenting themselves as freelance contributors for our magazines and their associated websites have either attempted or have succeeded in having review equipment sent to them. With theft of said equipment being the final result in some cases.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind brands that a "trust no one" approach is the most prudent policy. Review equipment is researched, curated, and established by editorial staff, not freelancers.
If brands are contacted by anyone other than the editor or known senior staff member of any AV Tech property, then we would ask that before establishing further communication with the individual, that you contact one of our editors via their website directly to ascertain the validity of the request.
Thank you, AV Tech
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COMMENTS
Trust no one
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 1, 2018 - 10:39am
An interesting road to go down when you consider how easy it would be to fake reviews. Just take a deceased writer's review and change a few cultural references, music and of course the equipment and you have a brand new review with hardly any effort.
I kinda wished I’d thought of that...
Submitted by jeffhenning on August 1, 2018 - 10:41am
...up to the point that the FBI broke down my door.
Of course, that’s the only way I can now afford expensive AV equipment since that Liberian prince took my $20K and neglected to wire that $15M to my bank account.
How can the manufacturers be
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 1, 2018 - 12:29pm
How can the manufacturers be so dumb, not to double check with audio magazines (and websites) and known audio reviewers? ..........
I used to think
Submitted by ok on August 1, 2018 - 2:36pm
audiophiles as decent people somehow }:-()
They are
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on August 1, 2018 - 2:55pm
They are also indecent opportunists, music lovers, lovers of fine writing, double blind listeners, and double blind to their own faults. They are anything but monotoned.
Let's put it this way. Some audiophiles are jazz musicians, and some are politicians. For all we know, Putin, Trump, and Obama enjoy high quality sound. Keep it in your pants, Tony - I'm not trying to start a political discussion. I'm just pointing out that audiophiles are human beings, with all the blessings and faults thereof. Plus, there is no guarantee that some crook who contacts an ultra high-end company with promises of a review in Stereophile is actually an audiophile, or cares about anything more than stealing the equipment and selling it for an untidy profit.
"keep it in your pants"
Submitted by tonykaz on August 1, 2018 - 3:48pm
Oh geez, I'm not trying to screw somebody, am I ? or are you referring to my wallet ?
I can't imagine a Manufacturer needing or hoping for a "Useful" Product Analysis from any "Un-known" person, what would be the point?
A Successful Review should yield a Beautiful & Quotable "Higher Authority" Close ( as it's known by Salespeople ). Who on Earth want's a "Lower or un-known non-authority" opinion about the gear they designed, financed, carefully packaged and are ready to ship?
However, I, personally, would easily agree to a "Long Term Test" ( as we say in the Auto Business ) of a Full Linn System or a Full Meridian Active System ( once I get settled in Florida ). A small System for the Boat would also be something I'd be willing to accept responsibility for .. otherwise I'll send for a Full PS Audio, without Stereophile's helping hands, by throwing a Big Fat Plastic PayPal at em. ( MADE IN USA -- ALL THE WAY! )
keep it in your pants is too naughty to comment on, pshame on ya.
Tony in Michigan
ps. nice hearing from you
Policy
Submitted by tonykaz on August 1, 2018 - 1:32pm
Yes, of course, Policy should be explained so that all of us readership, manufacturers and industry people can understand some of the Calculus of Editorial Decision.
For instance, why is 33.3 vinyl stuff leading out the major body of Editorial Content. Always Analog First? what's up with that ?
The Major Writer for Stereophile is HR, he should be the Author of the Lead Piece. ( he could be writing for The Atlantic Monthly if you lads aren't careful )
Rewarding Writing Skill & Talent will elevate the entire Journal's performance.
Hell, Stereophile already has Gigantic Editorial Content, nearly all significant and important ( even crucially important ).
Stereophile is the finest Audio Magazine in History, thanks JA!
Tony in Michigan
Sounds good
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 1, 2018 - 3:16pm
Always a good idea to involve Calculus it makes for entertaining reading.
Analog first is simple better pictures.
As for HR he would fit right in at the Atlantic Monthly.
Why reward writing skill and talent? The bad stuff is much more fun.
History is going judge Stereophile's editorial content rather harshly.
Whether Stereophile is finest audio magazine or not it isn't better than Street Rodder.
"History is....
Submitted by ken mac on August 1, 2018 - 3:54pm
going to judge Stereophile's editorial content" very favorably. Stereophile remains one of the few monthly magazines still in print, not only online, that favors, that demands, long form journalism, is highly investigative in its approach, is commandeered by an excellent, demanding editor and two outstanding and no less demanding deputy editors, and maintains incredibly high standards from its entire writing staff. Each and every SP writer toils hard and spills blood over these reviews. That John Atkinson has held such high standards for nigh on 30 years is an amazing feat easy comparable to The New York Times. Stereophile is the New York Times of audiophile journalism, no other mag is even close.
Stereophile commandeered?
Submitted by NeilS on August 1, 2018 - 5:41pm
I assume you meant to write "...is commanded by an excellent, demanding editor..." rather than "...is commandeered by an excellent, demanding editor...".
No. JA commandeers!
Submitted by rschryer on August 1, 2018 - 6:09pm
He's tough and demanding. He doesn't put up with s#!t. Besides, "commandeered" sounds way better than "commanded". :-)
"put up with shit...
Submitted by tonykaz on August 1, 2018 - 11:34pm
Hmm, right you are. the Shit Dac is still Obsolete and Shit even Advertises it.
Making me question if our lovely JA is now turning out poignantly accurate Ad Copy for Advertisers like the old school 33.3 guys did.
( I had my hands on an early Yggy "Obsolete" Dac and wasn't impressed enough to own the darn thing -- yet, HR seems to have feelings for it ). I believe my curve adjusted hearing over Mr. HR's little dac-romance.
I'm hoping for a DAC that plays as well as Joshua Bell or even Norah Jones. Am I asking for too,ooo,ooo,ooo,o much?
Tony in Michigan
"spilling blood" ?
Submitted by tonykaz on August 1, 2018 - 11:16pm
isn't that exaggerating ?,
But then again, some of us might be tempted to slit our bloody Wrists if another $14,000 Phono Cartridge gets Giant Hugs and Kisses from ....
Tony in Michigan
"deputy" ?
Submitted by tonykaz on August 1, 2018 - 11:19pm
who are those deputies?
Tony in Michigan
Re: Policy
Submitted by John Atkinson on August 2, 2018 - 4:30am
Stereophile is the finest Audio Magazine in History, thanks JA!
You're welcome, Tony. And thanks to you and everyone for helping make this website a stimulating place to visit.
John Atkinson
Commandeerder, Stereophile
Dear Man
Submitted by RoryB on August 2, 2018 - 8:30am
JA is a dear man among the world of journalists. Where would the world be without people in journalism like him who are honest and fair-minded rather than pushing their agenda and fattening their wallets? There's far more than enough of that in the mainstream, which the audiophile world is not. The dual focus of subjective (listening) and objective (measurements) content in Stereophile reviews is a formula that should be emulated by everyone. At the risk of verging on the ridiculous, we really ought to have a JA Appreciation Day to recognize the transformative effect that Stereophile has had on the industry under John's leadership.
If I wished for anything, it would be a similar dual mandate in covering inexpensive hi-fi gear along with the expensive stuff - I miss Stephen Mejas' column, The Entry Level, and wish there could be a return of the feature in each issue, even if Stephen is on to greener industry pastures.
JA for Pulitzer Prize for
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 1, 2018 - 3:07pm
JA for Pulitzer Prize for audio journalism (or, did JA already get one?) :-) ..........
Some people
Submitted by Indydan on August 1, 2018 - 3:06pm
Wow! Some people really are something else. Calling manufacturers of audio gear, while pretending to write for audio magazines, so they can steal gear.
Some people have no shame...
"Keep it in your pants"? ....
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 1, 2018 - 4:22pm
"Keep it in your pants"? ............ Is "Carlos Danger" an audiophile and a Stereophile reader? :-) .........
Just another sad sign or the times...
Submitted by jimtavegia on August 1, 2018 - 6:48pm
we live in. The level of evil we have arrived at over the last 20 years is beyond comprehension. Highly intelligent computer geeks using their skills to just hack individuals and companies; folks smart enough to steal credit card info, but not enough to hold a real job; and people using social media for deviant purposes. A solid vetting process cannot be overlooked anymore for anything. Sorry to hear about this.
Surprised new
Submitted by georgehifi on August 1, 2018 - 10:41pm
"Surprised new
Submitted by foxhall on August 2, 2018 - 1:56am
I'm surprised a manufacturer wouldn't just make a quick phone call or send an email to someone like John Atkinson if they had never heard of the person requesting a product for review."
Exactly what I did, when I got a email from Sam Tellig asking for a review sample, I asked JA if it was legit, and it was./
Sorry Sam but I just had's to know.
Cheers George
Commander & Chief ................
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 2, 2018 - 5:57am
Commander-in-Chief :-) .............
How about Chairman & CEO? :-)
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 2, 2018 - 7:51am
How about Chairman & CEO of Stereophile? :-) ..........
This seems to have been a real Rorschach test of a thread!
Submitted by Anton on August 2, 2018 - 8:47am
"The world is devolving, it's worse than when I was a kid."
"History will judge Stereophile harshly."
_
To sum up, we have some old people here and some guy who must also go visit sailing websites and opine that motor boats are the future and sailing is defunct.
I figure the problem must be much bigger than we think. It seems someone other than Stereophile must have been receiving all the Musical Fidelity gear this past year or two!
;-D
All that Musical Fidelity
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 2, 2018 - 9:31am
All that Musical Fidelity gear has been going to a guy named "Q" ........... He works for James Bond :-) .............
I wonder if they've been sending gear to J Gordon-Levitt!
Submitted by Anton on August 2, 2018 - 10:27am
I think they just send it to him without asking!
:-D
Anton
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 3, 2018 - 7:02am
If you're talking about me I love to sail and enjoy being part of the crew on a larger boat.
The interesting question is did Stereophile and its staff break the industry so badly that people like me can't fix it?
Re: "History will judge Stereophile harshly."
Submitted by John Atkinson on August 3, 2018 - 2:18pm
The interesting question is did Stereophile and its staff break the industry so badly that people like me can't fix it?
Oh please :-)
John Atkinson
Commendatore, Stereophile
Stereophile in Danger?
Submitted by John Atkinson on August 3, 2018 - 3:50pm
Once MQA goes away it's the next thing on the agenda. I've been gathering data for more than a year.
But what if MQA doesn't go away? Do we get to continue doing what we're doing? :-)
And on the subject of MQA, check out my article on "temporal smearing" in our September issue, due to be published in a week or so. Some surprising results.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
MQA
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 3, 2018 - 5:57pm
If there was going to good news about MQA would MQA Ltd's website would have more views than my Vaporware thread. And it will be fun to leak more public information about what you don't want to talk about here. Bad news is always disclosed as late as possible.
I'm a little behind on my MQA articles but I'm back working one that involves issues with the MQA Encoder.
AVTech Media Ltd is much bigger than Stereophile
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on August 2, 2018 - 11:53am
It also includes AnalogPlanet, Inner Fidelity, Sound & Vision, Hi-Fi News, Hi-Fi Choice, Home Cinema Choice and Hi-Fi Show Live. It is the largest single specialized AV group on the planet, and reaches more than three million people. Shutterbug is also part of the mix.
This is another way of saying that the problem undoubtedly affects more than Stereophile. To what extent people have tried to pass themselves off as Stereophile reviewers to unsuspecting distributors, manufacturers, and dealers, I don't know.
As I've said more than a few times
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 2, 2018 - 4:37pm
Jason Stereophile was swallowed up by a minnow. AVTech Media Ltd has less than a million of assets in their latest publicly available balance sheet. They are a pretty small business.
May be this is a good time to
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 2, 2018 - 5:26pm
May be this is a good time to buy the stock (if it is a publicly available stock)? ........... Ten years from now, all of us could be very, very rich :-) .............
Buying stock
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 3, 2018 - 6:56am
Sorry Paul Miller beat you to it. He owns a chunk of the stock and upstream a venture capital firm owns a chunk of stock as well.
AVTech Media is too small to even report a complete set of financial statements so it isn't publicly available.
May be we could all chip-in
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 3, 2018 - 7:27am
May be we could all chip-in and buy back Stereophile? :-) ........ JA could "lead the charge" :-) .............
As much as I like crazy
Submitted by rt66indierock on August 3, 2018 - 8:29am
Stereophile readers need to come to grips with the reality that Paul Miller is at the top of the audio press in the English speaking world. Everyone else is a level or two below him.
Lincoln Cheng is the most powerful person in high end audio media. He is editor of Audiotechnique in Hong Kong.
Money talks :-) ...........
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 3, 2018 - 8:53am
Money talks .......... There is a price for everyone and everything :-) ...............
"Money is as good as cash" ..
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 4, 2018 - 1:00pm
"Money is as good as cash" ............ Yogi Berra :-) ..........
Minnow can be swallowed :-) ...........
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 3, 2018 - 9:37am
BTW ........ Minnow can be swallowed by a shark or an orca :-) .............
JA could :-) ........
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 3, 2018 - 10:59am
It is also possible, JA could start a rival magazine and/or a website .......... We will all move there :-) .........
Il Commendatore
Submitted by Richard D. George on August 2, 2018 - 12:10pm
In Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, the character thought (by some) to reflect Mozart's view of his father is Il Commendatore.
Maybe this should be the title.
Ahem
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on August 2, 2018 - 1:48pm
The Commendatore gets offed in the opera's opening scene, and returns as a ghost at the opera's end.
What do you really feel about John Atkinson? Have you discussed all this with your therapist?
;-)
A commanding presence in this life and in the afterlife
Submitted by Richard D. George on August 2, 2018 - 2:02pm
.... and Don Giovanni is a favorite opera. Saw it again at the Santa Fe Opera in 2016. A wonderful production and staging at SFO is always special.
" I really did not say, what
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on August 4, 2018 - 8:09am
" I really did not say, what everything I said" ........... Yogi Berra :-) .............
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