Interviews

And what a wonderful career it is ....... Hats off to you JA1 :-) ........

• "On why I felt including measurements in the magazine's reviews played a role in Stereophile's growth and the correlations between measured performance and sonic character with both loudspeakers and amplifiers."

Here, here, JA, as these tests and measurements can lead (the ones who can understand them) to picking the correct amp or speaker to suit first time up.
Instead of getting on the hifi merry go round trying pieces that don't suit, just because someone said "this is great you should get it"

Cheers George

I appreciate immensely all I've learned from your publication, JA, which I've been reading for several decades. The inclusion of your measurements has taught me so much. The NAD M51 was a great purchase. But I also bought the NAD M32 that you "highly recommended." It is bright, tension-inducing, and fatiguing to listen to for more than 5 minutes. Really unpleasant. Did you listen to it for more than 5 minutes?

Hey, John.

I had a Carvin AC50 fretless for several years. These days, I have my eye on a Kiesel Vader, multi-scale, 6 string bass (same company - they now use the family name). Still have my trusty old Carvin LB40 that I bought almost 40 years ago.

Some interesting new tech I just saw: the oPIK optical guitar and bass pickup.
http://www.light4sound.com

They have a really wild video of a guy playing a Stratocaster set up with nylon strings and that pickup. It sounds eerily like a classical guitar.

Cheers!

JA is wearing the near-mythical Stereophile baseball cap. I heard it imparts great power to the wearer.

Is it, perhaps, the secret to JA having become the Most Influential English High End Audio Magazine Editor? How did he even get so smart?

Hey, my theory makes just as much sense as a whole lot of other ones I've been hearing lately. I like mine better.

I'm not in the business of journalism (but I saw the movie "Shattered Glass" lol), but it always seemed to me that Mr. Atkinson would have been a pleasure to work for as a writer, if part of an editor's job is indeed to defend the honor of his writers within reason, and whenever reasonably possible. I'm thinking of the many dustups on AudioAsylum and elsewhere outside of the pages of his own publication where J.A. had the backs of his employees, even when they might have gone too far... anyway J.A. seems to have many fine attributes and presided over a fine publication, and it's always a pleasure seeing him in NYC clubs and halls enjoying live music (back when we used to have it, that is) even though I've never had occasion to say "Hello". All the best to you.

John Atkinson’s measurements— and the consistency of his methodology over the years, allowing us to compare apples-to-apples— is what sets Stereophile apart from every other hi fi publication. That, and his crucial interpretation of the results makes them meaningful and intelligible.

Florid language and subjective listening impressions, even by the most golden ears, don’t mean as much to me without the measurements.

Not relevant, not funny.
Yet four in a row.
Stop now, please.

Absolutely.
It's why I've stayed with Stereophile all these years. Including the tests with each review augments the objective information we get from the writers. Thanks for keeping these measurements in the magazine.

Salute! JA

It would seem to position you ideally for a Chris Squire article!