Industry Insiders And Their Nonsense

[Barry]

I wouldn't dream of paying more than £50 for a pair of interconnects (which is why I make up my own), yet have paid £1,000 for a cartridge and a couple of thousand or more for preamps or CDPs; all of which were 'pre-owned'.

In the past, I used (then) 'state of the art' (film) cameras, costing thousands for travel photography, but I now use a fairly cheap digital camera of adequate quality.

Whereas my contemporaries run around in performance-tuned Mercedes and Audi cars, yet possess very modest audio systems, or none at all.

So it all depends on your interests and how you want to spend your money.

[Jimbo]

You couldn't buy a performance tuned Mercedes for the price some speakers and turntables are going for nowadays!

[hifi_dave]

The problem is they have become the norm in various Hi-Fi mags.

[Jimbo]

The problem is they have become the norm in various Hi-Fi mags.

Your right, the problem being many of the mags and reviewers have lost sight of reality and what most of the real world can afford. They have fallen down the bling rabbit hole and think its all about "aspirational" products and going along with reviewing the esoteric mega bucks equipment thinking that this is what folk want to read about.

The first thing I do is look at the price and then my interest in the review is usually over.

[Beobloke]

Your right, the problem being many of the mags and reviewers have lost sight of reality and what most of the real world can afford. They have fallen down the bling rabbit hole and think its all about "aspirational" products and going along with reviewing the esoteric mega bucks equipment thinking that this is what folk want to read about.

The first thing I do is look at the price and then my interest in the review is usually over.

That’s fair enough, yet your signature suggests you’re not using an entry-level turntable into cheap Bluetooth speakers, which is something many are happy with.

[narabdela]

That’s fair enough, yet your signature suggests you’re not using an entry-level turntable into cheap Bluetooth speakers, which is something many are happy with.

I can understand some of your postings here Adam. It is your livelihood after all, but I think you're in denial about the state of the audio magazine sector. I used to read Hi-Fi News avidly since my Dad started buying it in the late 1960s. I gave up on it after about 40 years when it started getting really silly. I don't even give it a second glance now on the rare occasions that I see it on a magzine rack these days. I know that there's nothing in there of the slightest interest to me.

[Barry]

I can understand some of your postings here Adam. It is your livelihood after all, but I think you're in denial about the state of the audio magazine sector. I used to read Hi-Fi News avidly since my Dad started buying it in the late 1960s. I gave up on it after about 40 years when it started getting really silly. I don't even give it a second glance now on the rare occasions that I see it on a magzine rack these days. I know that there's nothing in there of the slightest interest to me.

My experience exactly!

[Jimbo]

That’s fair enough, yet your signature suggests you’re not using an entry-level turntable into cheap Bluetooth speakers, which is something many are happy with.

No much of my system is not entry level but much of the gear is second hand and in total would not cost as much as one of your high end cartridges. Most of the stuff reviewed in the magazines nowadays seems to a have component prices far exceeding what the average person could afford. It may make entertaining reading but that is far as it goes. Like I say I look at the price first and then stop reading. That's why I have stopped reading the magazines and in fact stopped watching most Youtube content.

Hifi is now entertainment but not in the way it was intended.

[Beobloke]

I can understand some of your postings here Adam. It is your livelihood after all, but I think you're in denial about the state of the audio magazine sector. I used to read Hi-Fi News avidly since my Dad started buying it in the late 1960s. I gave up on it after about 40 years when it started getting really silly. I don't even give it a second glance now on the rare occasions that I see it on a magzine rack these days. I know that there's nothing in there of the slightest interest to me.

And, believe me, i completely understand the point of view that is being made here - for many, an expensive piece of hi-fi equipment is a complete non-starter.

The trouble is, from meeting people at hi-fi shows and some of the letters we get into the magazine, there are more than enough buyers out there to keep the high end going, especially when you look outside the UK. Much as it might come as a disappointment to people, a few hundred people on a couple of UK hi-fi forums do not represent the average high end hi-fi buyer. Equally, the point has been made about the financial state of the world. Unfortunately, those who can afford the really expensive stuff will nearly always be able to afford it. When crunches come, it's actually the middle ground that suffers , as budget items will always be popular and those who can afford to drop £8000 on a Koetsu cartridge or £50,000 on a SME Model 60 are likely to be largely immune to financial market perturbations.

Finally, Jimbo mentioned entertainment - well, why not treat a magazine as such? Most here know I'm a committed petrol-head but i have absolutely zero interest in buying a car magazine to read a review of the latest electric Corsa or the new budget-busting model from Dacia. The new Aston Martin DB12, though? Hell, yes - I want to read all about that, even though the chances of me ever owning one are also absolutely zero! A little dreaming never hurt anyone.

[struth]

i never by mags of any sort as im not that interested in a paid promotion, which many are(not saying yours' are), but it can be hard to distiguish at times. that goes for all reviews really. i do look at online reviews but take them with a large pinch of salts. even customer reviews are often all a con of things like amazon etc.

so best way is a site like this where its mostly enthousiasts who are giving their opinions.