In article , Chris Isbell
wrote:
On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 10:23:32 +0000 (GMT), Jim Lesurf
wrote:

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."

Dumbing down implies that there were providing intelligent reviews not
so long ago. I cannot recollect this happening during my adult life.

I think that's absolutely right.

I admit that until recently I thought the hi-fi magazines had deteriorated
since I was first interested (about 1975). However in a New Year
clear-out I found a small cache of HFN&RR issues and annuals ranging
from 1977 to 1985.

Contrary to my expectations, I was struck by how similar they were then
to the stuff we now get fed by the hi-fi press. Even the same sorts of
controversy over cables and the like.

I conclude that the hi-fi press's output remains much the same as it ever
was and I must have become more cynical over the years (or should that be
"better educated" instead, or maybe even "less gullible"?).

--
John Phillips

In article , John Phillips
wrote:
In article , Chris Isbell
wrote:

I think that's absolutely right.

I admit that until recently I thought the hi-fi magazines had
deteriorated since I was first interested (about 1975). However in a
New Year clear-out I found a small cache of HFN&RR issues and annuals
ranging from 1977 to 1985.

Contrary to my expectations, I was struck by how similar they were then
to the stuff we now get fed by the hi-fi press. Even the same sorts of
controversy over cables and the like.

FWIW I have issues of the mags back to the 1950's. My own view is that the
reviews improved up until the mid 1960's, and remained quite decent (for
the then-current state of knowledge) until about the mid 1970's. then began
to decline.

Hence I'd agree that if you start from about 1977 they have tended to
decline or be poorer. However there was still some quite good reviews even
at the end of the 70's and just into the 80's. (For example, NK's excellent
measurements and detective work on arm and turntable resonances around
then.)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article , John Phillips
wrote:
In article , Chris Isbell
wrote:

I think that's absolutely right.

I admit that until recently I thought the hi-fi magazines had
deteriorated since I was first interested (about 1975). However in a
New Year clear-out I found a small cache of HFN&RR issues and annuals
ranging from 1977 to 1985.

Contrary to my expectations, I was struck by how similar they were then
to the stuff we now get fed by the hi-fi press. Even the same sorts of
controversy over cables and the like.

FWIW I have issues of the mags back to the 1950's. My own view is that the
reviews improved up until the mid 1960's, and remained quite decent (for
the then-current state of knowledge) until about the mid 1970's. then began
to decline.

Hence I'd agree that if you start from about 1977 they have tended to
decline or be poorer. However there was still some quite good reviews even
at the end of the 70's and just into the 80's. (For example, NK's excellent
measurements and detective work on arm and turntable resonances around
then.)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html