Is it Possible to Properly Evaluate a Product if one Doesn't Like how it Sounds? Are Experts just Preaching Their Tastes?
- Thread starter caesar
- Start date
Well therein lies the conundrum - all reviews are subjective as we're all humans with different likes / dislikes. Can a reviewer decouple their emotions when listening to music and provide an objective review? I personally think it's incredibly difficult. On top of that, what about the reviewers' mood the day of the review? How tired were their ears, mind and body? How tainted is their listening room (treatment? room size? floor type? etc.) How synergistic is the gear connected to the unit under review? All variables matter IMO which greatly minimize the credibility of reviews, I take them with a grain or 3 of salt.. ;-).
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Of course it is however the fact that you don't like it is part of the evaluation. Hopefully the unlike part is not a preconceived one for in that case that truly isnt going to be a fair and unbiased one.
I dont think one would want to read a review of a pizza place if the person doing the review has stated in advance they hate pizza. This to me makes little sense.
Taste is a factor of course but in truth who really defines what makes someone like or dislike something. The defining of the factors IMO is the precursor for the evaluation.
Obviously, to an extent, yes. To an even greater extent, there is an old boy network— favoritism, and advertising dollars.
Admit that personal preference affects outcomes? Common sense.Nice that you admit it !
Absolutely. You offer what your actual observation are. If it sounds like chit? There's no reason to beat around the bush about it. Say what ya' gotta say and move on.
Tom
You get two choices Caesar...
a) if you don't like the way it sounds you have already evaluated it, or
b) you can be objective to yourself and evaluate the product using the same criteria you use to evaluate similar products. this may reveal why you don't like it -- presumably you have a reason, though that might be beyond some's ability to articulate.
So Caesar, what's it gonna be?
a) if you don't like the way it sounds you have already evaluated it, or
b) you can be objective to yourself and evaluate the product using the same criteria you use to evaluate similar products. this may reveal why you don't like it -- presumably you have a reason, though that might be beyond some's ability to articulate.
So Caesar, what's it gonna be?
exactly what does 'doesn't like' mean? that can indicate a wide variety of circumstances. from 'not my cup of tea'....to....sounds 'broken'.
not preferring it to a more favored product is one thing. in degrees this is very common, even normal. and there are many degrees of this happening all the time.
how professional are you to find your reasonable approach to be objective? and you knowing the difference between taste/preference and some shortcoming of performance is important. not everyone is equipped or motivated to navigate this equally. do you have the tools personally or system wise, to optimize this gear? might you yourself be the problem? has to be considered.
actually not wanting to hear music played on it is another thing. for gear to be a 'fail' like this is unusual where it would be even considered a candidate for review and sound wrong. i think in this case we give it back with honest comments and not go any further.
not preferring it to a more favored product is one thing. in degrees this is very common, even normal. and there are many degrees of this happening all the time.
how professional are you to find your reasonable approach to be objective? and you knowing the difference between taste/preference and some shortcoming of performance is important. not everyone is equipped or motivated to navigate this equally. do you have the tools personally or system wise, to optimize this gear? might you yourself be the problem? has to be considered.
actually not wanting to hear music played on it is another thing. for gear to be a 'fail' like this is unusual where it would be even considered a candidate for review and sound wrong. i think in this case we give it back with honest comments and not go any further.
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