Jim Lesurf wrote:

Or: ;-

position 4: Obtain some reliably obtained measurements, combined with some
listening tests that confirm that the kit is basically OK. Then use the
measured values to estimate their impact upon your own requirements, based
upon your own experience, situation, and taste. :-) (Can view this as a
varient upon position 1 if you like.)

Well, I would prefer a variant on that, call it 4a, combined with 3. Use
the numbers to find a short list of basically OK kit, then use listening
test in your own situation to see what works best for you. Then throw
away all the mags and spend the money on LP/CD etc...

The magazines seem to have taken to avoiding measurements as they take time
and money to produce, as well as some level of real understanding by the
reviewer.

They have apparently also decided they are incapable of explaining how
readers can make intelligent use of them. It isn't a "bigger/lower the
better" thing in many cases. It is a matter of what values may be most
suitable for some readers, but not for others. The snag is that the
reviewers have to understand this, and be able to explain it clearly for
the benefit of newer readers.


Yes thats the point I was trying to get at in 1, it doesn't matter in
the real world if a amp produces .001 or .002% THD. But I do know people
who chose kit based just on these sorts of numbers, I suspect it saves
them from the need to understand anything, and avoids waisting time
hearing the stuff.

I fear it is 'dumbing down'. The impression is that they have decided their
readers are too dim to understand, and they can't be bothered to even try
and explain. Easier to say, "I am an expert and X is better than Y, so
there."


I think a lot of people just view HiFi as another thing they should own,
You can almost see the check boxes,

HiFi (x)
Home Cinema (x)
Second Car (x)
etc.

It stuns me when I see mags like "Stuff" that is full of lists of what
people need to spend money on this month. Maybe I am just getting old, I
certainly fit the "Grumpy old men" description I saw on the TV over the
hols...

--
Nick