Prior to A/V components purchase, download and read professional reviews from these popular TAS buying guides. Good Luck.
Buyer's Guides | AVguide
Buyer's Guides | AVguide
No, it isn't ... but nor is it black and white. At least Absolute Sound is up-front about the particular guide I was reading being sponsored by one of the manufacturers. I found the review of Hifiman very interesting.Yes, I would keep in mind that hifiman sponsored the publication, but that does not mean that I entirely discount what it says about Hifiman or other products.the accusations about them catering / giving into advertisers is old and tired.
Well, Absolute Sound is a new one to me, so I haven't yet. But yes, I'll be seeing the site again.If you read Stereophile and The Absolute Sound magazines regularly you will learn about their reviewing policy.
If you are buying a commercially produced magazine, you can never be completely sure. The cover price of newspapers and magazines may not even pay the production cost. The publishers rely on the industry (whether we are talking about hifi, car, or any other specialist or consumer sector) not only to support them through advertising, but also to provide test samples. However much they may claim editorial independence, I think there is a limit to how far they will go in offending any particular advertising manufacturer, or in not buying into certain "givens". How many cable manufacturers would advertise in a magazine that took a hard-line cables-make-no-difference stance? How many editors would accept even one article to that effect?If you are paying for a magazine, you should be assured that it is unbiased.
And that is exactly my point. The purpose of a review is to provide unbiased objective advise. Most magazines do not do that. and that is what makes me not trust these publications.If you are buying a commercially produced magazine, you can never be completely sure.
Read them, but don't take their word as gospel. If it weren't for these magazines, we would not have people fooled into $500/mtr cables which do absolutely nothing to improve the audio quality. I would rather trust my ears than a review by one of these magazines, as I can never be sure if there is an agenda that they are pushing which we do not know of .We can't be sure, but I don't see that as a reason not to read the magazines and their websites.
The articles and guides links are for FYI only, not for FYR.
The articles and guides links are for FYI only, not for FYR.
FYI - For Your Information
FYR - For Your Review
Agreed. We can't even criticise stuff we don't even know about. All the links are appreciated.My comments are in no way to undermine your effort in posting the links to the reviews. I am sure many will find them useful.