| Author |
Message |
Martin Schöön
Guest
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 Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:42 am Post subject:
The Audio Critic? |
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I read about The Audio Critic http://www.theaudiocritic.com/
the other day and now I am wondering what you folks think
abut it.
/Martin
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bob
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 3:34 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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Martin Schöön wrote:
TAC was, for a time, a fine objectivist magazine, whenever the
hopelessly disorganized editor/publisher managed to get out an issue,
which was once a year tops. The editor has now morphed into a
hopelessly disorganized blogger who can't seem to manage even one post
a month.
For the curious, the $30 back-issue offer is a good deal. There's a
fair bit of good audio knowledge buried in among the (well-deserved)
swipes at the golden-ear press. The "web zine" is $10, I think, but
there are only 4 equipment reviews up, the most recent 6 months old.
(To be fair, there are also some CD reviews, although these are
invariably raves, plus a good article on center-channel speakers.)
Whether you're likely to get much more meat from that carcass is
anybody's guess.
bob |
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Tim McTeague
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"Martin Schöön" <martin.schoon@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.11.04.20.42.39.392331@gmail.com...
I picked up the pile of back issues and really enjoyed their no nonsense
approach to audio. A lifetime subscription to his webzine was only about
$12 so I went for that as well. Too bad it nearly never gets updated. His
magazine had a history of late publication and it looks as if his webzine is
going to follow suit. Guess he can't blame the printer for it this time.
It would also be nice if he could send an e-mail to subscribers when it DOES
get updated. Still, I got my money's worth as his on-line review got me to
check out the Linkwitz Orion's, which I subsequently purchased. They are
the best speakers I have ever heard so, while I do wish his site would be
more active, I won't ask for my money back. Actually, I can't even contact
him as there is no info on his website. I suppose he does not want letters
to the editor nor angry e-mails demanding content.
Tim McTeague |
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Ethan Winer
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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Martin,
| Quote: | I am wondering what you folks think
|
I agree completely with Bob and Tim. I too bought their back issue bundle
and lifetime subscription very recently, and I found those back issues a
huge breath of fresh air. But it also was very depressing to realize that a
magazine that tells the truth is doomed to failure while those that promote
magical thinking continue to prosper and grow.
--Ethan |
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andy
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 12:08 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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Ethan Winer wrote:
| Quote: | [SNIP] But it also was very depressing to realize that a
magazine that tells the truth is doomed to failure while those that promote
magical thinking continue to prosper and grow.
|
One person banging away on his own is not going to produce much of a
magazine particularly if he takes time and trouble to perform good
objective reviews. It is also rather difficult to perform interesting
objective reviews for most of the equipment in the audio chain. "It has
no discernible influence on the sound under normal operating conditions
and has these features" (which you could read in the specification
sheet) is not a review that will sell magazines. Such a magazine would
be forced to review almost nothing but speakers.
As you note, there is no magazine or online audio site that provides
sensible information to consumers looking to purchase something better
than that available in the department stores. Certainly, many authors
have provided such information on their web pages and usenet postings
but this is not where a consumer would look and, even if they did, they
are unlikely to be able to distinguish it from the much larger amount
of information provided by the commercial audiophile industry.
What such consumers need is an authorative site which presents sensible
material along with objective reviews about what is important in home
audio. This is likely to get only modest support from industry and is
not something that could really be sold. I see not viable alternative
to a web site largely supported by enthusiasts and the running costs
supported by advertising. However, these enthusiasts exist and many of
them date back to audios boom-time and hence are retired or
semi-retired having significant amounts of free time. Perhaps the
biggest problem would be finding someone willing to put in the upfront
graft to get the thing going. I suspect it would then be relatively
easy to divert many from the pointless bickering that often occurs on
usenet towards something more rewarding. |
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Arny Krueger
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"Ethan Winer" <ethanw at ethanwiner dot com> wrote in
message news:JtidnRzRh6wUu_PeRVn-gA@giganews.com
| Quote: | Martin,
I am wondering what you folks think
I agree completely with Bob and Tim. I too bought their
back issue bundle and lifetime subscription very
recently, and I found those back issues a huge breath of
fresh air. But it also was very depressing to realize
that a magazine that tells the truth is doomed to failure
while those that promote magical thinking continue to
prosper and grow.
|
The good news is that "Fi" magazine which was IMO a major
promoter of magical thinking collapsed long ago.
Such public reports of magazine sales of the rest of the
consumer golden eared ragazines seem to show at best a lack
of any increases. My reading of badges at HE2005 suggested
that if there had not been any dealers, vendors or press
present, there wouldn't have been a lot of human presence.
http://www.gedlee.com/downloads/Observations%20and%20Thoughts.pdf
reports the following from "The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest":
"The Fest this year had about twice as many exhibitors as
last year, but alas appeared to have only about half as many
attendees."
However, the causuality for this good news is not clear. It
may well be a simple matter of demographics. |
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Steven Sullivan
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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bob <nabob33@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Martin Sch??n wrote:
I read about The Audio Critic http://www.theaudiocritic.com/
the other day and now I am wondering what you folks think
abut it.
TAC was, for a time, a fine objectivist magazine, whenever the
hopelessly disorganized editor/publisher managed to get out an issue,
which was once a year tops. The editor has now morphed into a
hopelessly disorganized blogger who can't seem to manage even one post
a month.
For the curious, the $30 back-issue offer is a good deal. There's a
fair bit of good audio knowledge buried in among the (well-deserved)
swipes at the golden-ear press. The "web zine" is $10, I think, but
there are only 4 equipment reviews up, the most recent 6 months old.
(To be fair, there are also some CD reviews, although these are
invariably raves, plus a good article on center-channel speakers.)
Whether you're likely to get much more meat from that carcass is
anybody's guess.
|
The msot recent article is a report on the HE2005 Atkinson/Kruger debate by Tom Nousaine,
posted in July.
--
-S
"The most appealing intuitive argument for atheism is the mindblowing stupidity of religious
fundamentalists." -- Ginger Yellow |
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Steven Sullivan
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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andy <andy19191@fsmail.net> wrote:
| Quote: | What such consumers need is an authorative site which presents sensible
material along with objective reviews about what is important in home
audio. This is likely to get only modest support from industry and is
not something that could really be sold. I see not viable alternative
to a web site largely supported by enthusiasts and the running costs
supported by advertising. However, these enthusiasts exist and many of
them date back to audios boom-time and hence are retired or
semi-retired having significant amounts of free time. Perhaps the
biggest problem would be finding someone willing to put in the upfront
graft to get the thing going. I suspect it would then be relatively
easy to divert many from the pointless bickering that often occurs on
usenet towards something more rewarding.
|
Audioholics comes closest to your ideal. They sometimes sip the
kool-aid, and they haven't embraced blind comparisons as much as they
should, but more often than not there's good solid information.
www.audioholics.com
Me, I'm wondering what's going on at Sound & Vision magazine. David Ranada,
the resident 'objectivist' with the highest profile, seems to have
gone underground.
--
-S
"The most appealing intuitive argument for atheism is the mindblowing stupidity of religious
fundamentalists." -- Ginger Yellow |
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Ethan Winer
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:08 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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Arny,
| Quote: | "The Fest this year had about twice as many exhibitors as last year, but
alas appeared to have only about half as many attendees." |
Why am I not surprised. These days it seems everyone and his brother wants
to be a speaker manufacturer.
Or a cable maker. :->)
--Ethan |
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Ethan Winer
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:10 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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Andy,
| Quote: | One person banging away on his own ... Such a magazine would be forced to
review almost nothing but speakers. |
Good observation.
| Quote: | What such consumers need is an authorative site
|
I agree, but first you have to convince the consumers they need objective
advice in the first place. This is the main problem as I see it - too many
people WANT to believe in magic.
--Ethan |
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Arny Krueger
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"Ethan Winer" <ethanw at ethanwiner dot com> wrote in
message news:DKadnUpLYskzBfLenZ2dnUVZ_tqdnZ2d@giganews.com
| Quote: | Arny,
"The Fest this year had about twice as many exhibitors
as last year, but
alas appeared to have only about half as many attendees."
Why am I not surprised. These days it seems everyone and
his brother wants to be a speaker manufacturer.
Or a cable maker. :->)
|
Earl's speakers are indeed different. Basically sort of like
large stage monitors with an extra octave of bass,
correspondingly less efficiency, and a more refined horn,
err waveguide tweeter. |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"Martin Schöön" <martin.schoon@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.11.04.20.42.39.392331@gmail.com...
It's a love hate thing, you either love it or hate it.
Consider me one who loves it. |
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Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"Tim McTeague" <mcteague@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:5rqdnRCa9qUSMfHeRVn-jA@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
"Martin Schöön" <martin.schoon@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.11.04.20.42.39.392331@gmail.com...
I read about The Audio Critic http://www.theaudiocritic.com/
the other day and now I am wondering what you folks think
abut it.
/Martin
I picked up the pile of back issues and really enjoyed their no nonsense
approach to audio. A lifetime subscription to his webzine was only about
$12 so I went for that as well. Too bad it nearly never gets updated.
His magazine had a history of late publication and it looks as if his
webzine is going to follow suit. Guess he can't blame the printer for it
this time. It would also be nice if he could send an e-mail to subscribers
when it DOES get updated. Still, I got my money's worth as his on-line
review got me to check out the Linkwitz Orion's, which I subsequently
purchased. They are the best speakers I have ever heard so, while I do
wish his site would be more active, I won't ask for my money back.
Actually, I can't even contact him as there is no info on his website. I
suppose he does not want letters to the editor nor angry e-mails demanding
content.
Tim McTeague
Isuspect a fair amount of the reason it takes so long to get reviews out has |
to do with the probability that not many companies want TAC to look at their
stuff and ABX it. |
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Tim McTeague
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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|
<nyob123@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
news:ypbcf.6559$m81.3848@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
| Quote: |
Isuspect a fair amount of the reason it takes so long to get reviews out
has to do with the probability that not many companies want TAC to look at
their stuff and ABX it.
Perhaps. But at least he could throw in some music reviews, or editorials, |
or SOMETHING to make me feel as if I did not waste my money. After a bit I
just forget to even check back with the site. Too bad.
Tim |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:38 pm Post subject:
Re: The Audio Critic? |
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"andy" <andy19191@fsmail.net> wrote in message
news:1131300483.717127.56070@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Ethan Winer wrote:
[SNIP] But it also was very depressing to realize that a
magazine that tells the truth is doomed to failure while those that
promote
magical thinking continue to prosper and grow.
One person banging away on his own is not going to produce much of a
magazine particularly if he takes time and trouble to perform good
objective reviews. It is also rather difficult to perform interesting
objective reviews for most of the equipment in the audio chain. "It has
no discernible influence on the sound under normal operating conditions
and has these features" (which you could read in the specification
sheet) is not a review that will sell magazines. Such a magazine would
be forced to review almost nothing but speakers.
|
Which is where most of the attention should be paid. Nothing else impacts
the enjoyment of audio nearly as much. Things like DSP and EQ and room
treatment deserve far more than they get in any magazines.
The fact that so many people seem to think that they can finesse the sound
of their systems with cables and expensive knobs is really quite shameful
when you consider how lame the thinking process must be to actually believe
these "tweaks" actually have any real impact on the sound.
| Quote: | As you note, there is no magazine or online audio site that provides
sensible information to consumers looking to purchase something better
than that available in the department stores.
|
That brings us back to speakers.
Certainly, many authors
| Quote: | have provided such information on their web pages and usenet postings
but this is not where a consumer would look and, even if they did, they
are unlikely to be able to distinguish it from the much larger amount
of information provided by the commercial audiophile industry.
|
And none of the magazines seem to want to do anything that might really
enlighten people as to what it is possible for equipment to actually do,
otherwise we'd never see a review or write up (other than sneering) about
green pens, or magic stones.
| Quote: | What such consumers need is an authorative site which presents sensible
material along with objective reviews about what is important in home
audio. This is likely to get only modest support from industry and is
not something that could really be sold.
|
Stereo Review Sound and Vision does a pretty good job of that and is (last I
heard), the largest selling magazine for the 18-35 demographic.
I see not viable alternative
| Quote: | to a web site largely supported by enthusiasts and the running costs
supported by advertising. However, these enthusiasts exist and many of
them date back to audios boom-time and hence are retired or
semi-retired having significant amounts of free time. Perhaps the
biggest problem would be finding someone willing to put in the upfront
graft to get the thing going. I suspect it would then be relatively
easy to divert many from the pointless bickering that often occurs on
usenet towards something more rewarding.
I wish that I had your confidence that that would be the case. |
It seems some people live for the bickering and the word games, hence
Stereophile and RAO. |
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