FranzM and the original author of this thread reflect very much sentiments I expressed in a thread called reviewing the reviewers on Audiogon. To summarize I simply set out:
1. older reviews had far more integrity than they do now
2. the readership should not have to read 'between the lines' to find out what a reviewer is saying
3. writers in magazines have an industry responsibility insofar as the readership look to them for honesty and critique
4. maybe it contributes or is in part linked with the decline in interest of Joe public with audio -
probably the most controversial aspect of my view
Hi-Fi Plus is a particularly interesting Magazine.
I know that Alan Sircom has written on this thread and has tried to explain his position and that of the magazine. Likewise Roy Gregory sometimes posts on here as well. I have some early editions of HiFi plus and it was a far better magazine about 2003 - Gregory was the original editor, and he was very good - sadly Hi-Fi Plus kept giving fabulous reviews to products imported by Audiofreaks (trust me Branco needed all the help he could get with his superb interpersonal skills - on that I refuse to say any more, as it happened they were nearly all good products, but when you then combine this with the fact that Roy had certain of his products on long term loan the integrity he once had falls apart.
Alan Sircom has taken the magazine in an altogether different direction. On the positive, he does review some cheaper products, unfortunately he does not fault anything.
Other discussions with reviewers
I spoke to Simon Pope who worked at Hi-Fi World and he said that unlike 20 years ago products are more consistently good, and that the magazine simply did not publish products that did not do well. He did say that magazines were scared of legal implications (as a lawyer I was surprised by this as there are no such implications). On the first point should products be compared with the same standards imposed 20 years ago. Do we expect the same of a current 3 series BMW against the E36 models of the 90's?
Martin Colloms. I have to say that I am a fan of his magazine the Audio Critic - he's happy to speak his mind, disagree with Paul Messenger (who also contributes) and set out what he effectively likes. There's no advertising in the magazine either. Best of all he will say how and why a product is not good, and if a previous version was better than the latest.
Old magazines
I recall reading editions of What Hi and also HiFi Choice in the early 90's. Full of comparative reviews. Genuine product criticism - I think one of them was something like a 20 product amp/cd-player/speaker system shoot out and it was truly informative.
Car Magazines
I accept that Hi-Fi and cars are very different, but we can learn from reviews of expensive cars - how? Because they do relatively test cars against one another and will set out a winner, they don't try and explain a product so as to justify it, they aren't scared to say if something is rubbish. They have information in abundance, and a proper explanation.
The way forward
a. Instruct a good lawyer (like me) in the event that any company threaten you - in other words have a disclaimer.
b. Do some blind tests and comparative reviews
c. Be honest, clear and speak your mind
