Thus spake Serge Auckland:
I don't know what the first one was, but more recently in HFN, almost
anything by David Allcock gets me going. It's almost as if he's
deliberately trying to live up to his name......

His latest, page 56 of the January 2006 HFN, when reviewing a passive
(note, passive) preamp (that, in itself, is a misnomer..its a switch
and a variable resistor....) he goes on about how "Stage depth was
slightly foreshortened" Give me a break, it's a resistor! how can
it "foreshorten" anything?

Give me Percy Wilson and Gordon J King anytime.

"andy" wrote in message
oups.com...
Holidays coming and spending too much time chatting. One topic that
came up I thought might make an interesting thread (but what do I
know my last one got no responses) and exercise the memory a bit.
What was the first article or review you read that metaphorically
punched you on the nose and made you realise that the mainstream
audio press might be foresaking the path of light and truth and
going over to the dark side? In my case it was a review of a Linn
turntable. I cannot remember
which magazine but the reviewer stated being able to hear
instruments that were inaudible on other turntables (i.e. going a
bit further than equivalent reviews today but this would have been
one of the first of this type and I presume it would take a few to
get the balance right). I think he may even have made the mistake of
the naming the instrument (?) and the record (Roberta Flack?). I
also recall something about leaving records on the carpet. Again if
I recall correctly, this perfectly decent turntable had been around
for a few years prior to the review but after it the price rose
dramatically and, I assume, so did demand. Does anyone else remember
the review and did a story behind the review ever come out?

Hi Fi reviewers Rulebook:
1 Check to see if product is not made by someone on the magazine's taboo
list, whatever the badge says.
2 Check if the item you are about to review has already been done
elsewhere & read the 1st & last paragraphs.
3 Decide to agree or disagree having consulted with one's editor.
4 Pull from said reviews any catchy observations & rewrite them. Include
a good sprinkling of punning titles.
6 Add phrases using keywords such as slam, height, involvement, tactility
etc. The occasional foreign phrase gives the piece a nice tone.
7 Reinforce the magazine's party line such as integrated amps are better
value or pre/power combo's will guarantee better sound depending, in this
case at least, which type is being reviewed.
8 Make sure that program material mentioned in the review is on the
approved list of obscure music. This will lessen the likelihood that any
potential purchasers will be familiar & therefore cut down on awkward
letters actually sent in by readers. It doesn't matter if said material is
unavailable of course. If feeling particularly self-congratulatory, merely
invent the name of the band or ensemble.
9 If reviewing budget items, make sure that any other item of equipment
mentioned costs ten times more. Doing so will be consistent with Hi Fi shows
& will remove any likelihood that the manufacturers will complain. Make sure
any cable mentioned costs more than the item under review.
10 Do not be tempted under any circumstances to actually turn on the
equipment for review!
11 Graciously accept lunch or other gratuities offered by either the
manufacturer or agent - both if possible & don't forget to compliment them
on their sexist advertising.
12 Remember to recommend removing all even pages from any books in the
listening room & remove any headphones so they don't effect the sound.
Unsoldering the speakers from TVs is naturally a good option for those
purchasers who insist on having such frivolous non-Hi Fi goods near their
stereo.
13 Don't forget to mention all upgrades, bolt-on PSUs etc available from
the manufactures but don't mention prices!

As for going over to the darkside, that presumes they've been somewhere else
1st. The idea that the source equipment was always the most important item
made sure the only item from that Scottish manufacturer that I'd ever buy,
was an HDCD disc.