Can we form a Panal for av reviews?

[Sidharth Trehan]

What Mridul says can work and work well.

Cause, we did something similar while during the last get together of Delhi/NCR audiophiles, where we had invited friends (also 'Lyrita Audio' & 'Bass & Treble') to bring in various amps/speakers to audition. And for the whole day, quite a lot of permutations and combinations were played with various amps & speakers connected in my AV room. It really worked and will work well as Mridul has suggested.

The so called 'panel' was comprised of all the members giving their feelers, yet RESPECTED SENIOR audiophile members were present there & shared a word on the technicalities or clarified doubts of fellow members.

It meaningful to get buyers and sellers on the same platform and one to one interactions involved there on. It makes for a healthy market.

Wishes

 

[Sidharth Trehan]

And if its someone's personal space, the meetups could be arranged on cost-sharing basis as well, so ease the burden off the host, if any.

 

[vivekam]

I think having an AV Panel is a good idea. But execution of this idea is going to be difficult. Let alone factors such as bias, there would also be issues related to constraints while testing. For example, if a panel member were to go to an AV shop to conduct the review, then his review is limited to the shop's (possibly) sterile environment (where acoustic treatment may have been done).

This will work better if we can find people who have the space in their house and inclination to bring in products and listen to them on their own partnering equipment (which they know best).

The problem though with this style of review is that we might not be able to find resellers who are keen to part with their equipment to an individual's homes for review. Or will they? Question for the resellers really....

Vortex,
Your points are valid. In real life there is no end of if's and but's.
Our intent is to help buyer and seller. Here we are having two perspectives:

1. Seller's perspective:
Our panel will review/demo new products only. Say Wharfedale 10.2 is launched new then we will review/demo 10.2. Panel will not break its heads on 9.2.
Similarly, for amplifiers. Panel will review/demo new products. Panel can review products which are launched for first time in India.
So, in a sense this is tool for marketing for resellers/dealers/distributors. Also dealers gets a chance to interact with HFV members. Dealers can talk to them understand their specific needs and cater them.
Obviously, we can't push a seller/dealer to give a demo with equipments we wish to. But, in a long run this hurdle can be handled.

Advantages for seller:
- Marketing of new products.
- More interaction with individual users. Helpful in understanding specific needs.
- Possible chances of group buy of products.


2. Buyer's perspective:
Suppose I want to buy a integrated amplifier. Now, if we have this activity (Panel reviewing new products) then our forum will already have a database of reviews. I can use forum and find what's good and what's not so good in an amplifier.
Buyer will get a chance to interact with HFV experts. He can get advise in an instant. Also, he can be warned of certain pitfalls.

Advantages for buyer:
- Easy accessibility to expert advise.
- Possibly more chances of exploring audio equipments.


Vortex, we are not testing any equipments. We understand testing is not possible. We are trying to have a demo cum review (review in smaller sense). I understand this review will not be complete. But, it is just a stepping stone.
If this panel is a success we can think of many more possibilities.

 

[Kevian]

nice initiative Spiro...another small free addition to all this...on the lines of Team-Bhp or Bharat-Rakshak

lets have a "HifiVision" watermark on pictures of importance. That way when I google images....any picture from our forum will pull more attention...

what say?

 

[spirovious]

This idea will help Both as said by Vivekam-

We get chance to compare hifi devices & Seller will get wide opening if product rocks.

 

[alcy]

I agree with venkatcr regarding this. Demos & reviews are different. Also I doubt if dealers will be interested in this. There are of course a few good dealers, but then they can't provide the complete range of equipment & brands, which would be a limiting factor again.

As I see it, a good start would be to actually start posting more reviews in the Member Reviews section, instead of users digging the forums for one-liner reviews in multitude of threads & posts. To me that sounds more practical and an easier start.

 

[srramanujam]

Hi Spiro,

We can chip in with guys who are probable buyers of amplifiers and speakers. This way we will be doing two jobs:
1. The potential buyer will be able to get a more detailed demo. Also, buyer can get our forum members expert advise within seconds.

What is your suggestion on this? Will it work out?


Thanks

I will have a small purchasing power (really small for Bombay standards) which we can try out for this idea. Over the next four weeks, i will have to choose an amplifier to match the Usher Mini Dancer.

 

[spirovious]

Well there are chances that some Dealors may be interested to introduce new products they deal with & it will help both.

 

[vivekam]

Demos & reviews are different. Also I doubt if dealers will be interested in this. There are of course a few good dealers, but then they can't provide the complete range of equipment & brands, which would be a limiting factor again.

Yes, demos and review are quiet different. As a starting point we will begin with demo. We are in no way into reviews. We don't want to give certification to any product that it is HFV certified. Let us leave it to What-HiFi etal.

Our intent is to help prospective buyer. Buyer will be helped by having demo of new product and by reading about the old product in our forum.

Also, we wish to provide a platform where they can interact with HFV members. Indeed they can do it still now. But, I feel personal interaction is more better than virtual interaction.

 

[HiFiVision]

nice initiative Spiro...another small free addition to all this...on the lines of Team-Bhp or Bharat-Rakshak

lets have a "HifiVision" watermark on pictures of importance. That way when I google images....any picture from our forum will pull more attention...

what say?

This can be done.

My personal suggestion would be to initially start off by reviewing equipment that members of HiFiVision already own. One can get started by forming a review team in each city or town and then visit members (who volunteer to have their gear reviewed) in that city/town each weekend.

Alternatively members can invite dealers or distributors to bring their line of products to this weekend review meet.

 

[spirovious]

Thanks HFV,
Its nice idea to begin with.

 

[vivekam]

Thanks a lot HFV.
We have started a thread for volunteers.

 

[spirovious]

Can we have a Mumbai meet?
It can be comparing products one own,getting demo/experiencing them.
(as Mod suggested)
eg,one can compare CDp, soundcard,even spk at meet.

Only prob is gathering all at a time.

 

[Modsy]

Can we have a Mumbai meet?
It can be comparing products one own,getting demo/experiencing them.
(as Mod suggested)
eg,one can compare CDp, soundcard,even spk at meet.

Only prob is gathering all at a time.

Spirovious,

Mumbai meet is long due . Count me in.
Cheers.

 

[Raghav]

I am game if I am in town that day.

Spirovious,

Mumbai meet is long due . Count me in.
Cheers.

 

[spirovious]

Thats the problem,to gather everyone.

 

[spirovious]

After doing some serious review job,I felt like posting it again-
http://www.hifivision.com/av-lounge/16258-post-your-av-audition-demo-here-2.html

 

[spirovious]

After taking a lot of Demos before I purchase new AVR,I felt there are lot many things which new member can miss.The same AVR can sound much different with certain speakers,rooms & DSPs.To help others & get opportunities to demo new equipments,I feel we can form a team/panal to review.This review may not be like how the AV magazines do,but we can gather some day at dealers place & get audition done.
Later we can post our experience in HFV.
Few peoples ever interested can be-

Denom, Santy, Darshan & me.There can be few more who may join us,but getting time can be an issue.