What is a reviewer?

[morricab]

Of course, it is a bit provocative.

It’s just completely beside the point but I will say that the guy with the opera singer girlfriend bought Acoustats along with 4 other audiophiles I knew after hearing my system. They are hard to find in Europe but not really expensive. A Norwegian physicist friend of mine bought my last pair when I decided to move to horns. He was a bass player and avid European Jazz afficianado (ECM)…we saw many jazz concerts together.

If you are on a budget I would say there is literally no better speakers to own if you are primarily into acoustic music rather than rock or electronic music. You need space for them though.

 

[Lagonda]

Umm…sorry but you know not of what you speak. You do realize that a large part of any orchestra is violinists? And when you are the konzertmeisterin, you need to be aware all the more. Also, FWIW, most “classical “ buffs I know listen frequently to other genres, including rock/metal and electronic.

Musician's are very focused on their instrument, the rest of the band/orchestra are only there to support their effort, you should know that by now. Having dated a violinist. The same with bass players, i would have given Suzi Quatro a spin in her day though.

 

[bonzo75]

Flow and ebb and tone are crucial, Ked is a rare exception

Only the above words in your post are correct, rest is all wrong

 

[Lagonda]

Only the above words in your post are correct, rest is all wrong

You classic music junkies crack me up, you are a dying breed !

 

[tima]

One of many reasons Ked needs an editor -- to keep him truthful.

 

[tima]

You classic music junkies crack me up, you are a dying breed !

But you will miss us when we're gone.

 

[morricab]

Musician's are very focused on their instrument, the rest of the band/orchestra are only there to support their effort, you should know that by now. Having dated a violinist. The same with bass players, i would have given Suzi Quatro a spin in her day though.

You are thinking only of soloists. My ex soloed and was Konzertmeisterin (1st chair in English parlance). We performing in the orchestra you have to be very aware of the other players and instruments. Great rock bands were ones where the sum was greater than their parts…you don’t get that without listening to the others…same with all music really. This is why someone like Yngvie Malmsteen is kind of a footnote in rock history and Randy Rhodes is a guitar god…he knew how to play in a band and Malmsteen not.

 

[ssfas]

I am also one of those nuts who believes unamplified sound (classical music or otherwise) is a good measuring stick.

People will have different opinions of what they hear in a system. Also crucially (and obviously) equipment interactions/synergies and room properties of the reviewer's systems can impact and taint comparisons.

But trying to achieve unamplifed music seems to me as a good starting point. It is interesting that some people find this controversial.

Quad / Peter Walker's motto from the 1960s "the closest approach to the original sound" still probably holds true. Sort of defines hifi for me.

 

[hopkins]

But trying to achieve unamplifed music seems to me as a good starting point. It is interesting that some people find this controversial.

Yes, there is nothing controversial about it. It is a rather vague concept, but the way it is often used here is in opposition to a more "technical" evaluation of systems, using measurements for example, or a more "analytical" approach where specific sound characteristics are evaluated.

There is nothing wrong with looking for speakers that we think reproduce well the music that we enjoy listening to.

It starts becoming more controversial, in my opinion, when it turns into snobbery, and the number/quality of live performances attended becomes a resumé item to affirm one's credibility (and discredit others).

 

[Another Johnson]

Yes such entities are corruption free and cannot be influenced. Regulations are certifications are always good.

Of course. Humans are impeccable curators of the moral high road. Oh … wait … then there must be no problem to solve. Hmmm … fading into sigh …

 

[PeterA]

Depending on where you are standing and the frequency bands. Musical instruments have very complex radiation patterns/directivity with frequency. One of the reasons no stereo can ever accurately reproduce an instrument is rooted in this. I do live shows all the time and find them to be completely hit of miss. The last live acoustic show was a person singing and playing a lute about 15ft away from me. There isn't a stereo on earth that could reproduce that.

Rob

So are you saying that it is not important for a reviewer to have experience listening to live music? I guess I am missing your point.

 

[mtemur]

Even a single grand piano, which I have heard numerous times from the likes of Alfred Brendel to many others, is something that lies completely beyond any home stereo I have heard. A Steinway in a concert hall has that rich wooden sound, and most high res recordings of piano music sound tinkly and glassy in comparison (undoubtedly because foolish recording engineers insist on sticking their mikes inside the throat of a grand piano, robbing the sound of its natural ambience).

I completely agree. While recording engineers play a role in degrading sound quality, I believe mastering engineers bear most of the responsibility. They often manipulate recordings in ways that make them sound unnatural. Mastering used to be an art form, focused on faithfully transferring recordings to vinyl. But after the digital era and the rise of CDs, mastering became less necessary. Instead of shifting focus, mastering engineers took on the role of ‘polishing’ recordings.

In my opinion, mastering is the main reason for unnatural and irritating sound in many records. The problem has only worsened with the use of computers, where recording, mixing, and mastering engineers seem to believe they can add countless processes to the signal chain without consequence, simply because it’s all done digitally. They claim these processes are ‘transparent’ and often justify it by saying they don’t hear a difference in their studio. What they overlook is that these processes aren’t transparent—it’s their subpar professional equipment that fails to reveal the impact. How could it, when they’re using basic printer USB cables, patch boards, and standard power cords, all while believing that an isolation transformer guarantees perfect power? I know this because whenever I hear a direct recording, I’m struck by the natural, effortless flow of the sound.

I believe a reviewer must have a true passion for sound. While a passion for music is an added bonus, a love for sound is essential. They should also have the knowledge of which recordings to use when auditioning equipment.

 

[bonzo75]

Yes, let's have the dealers and distributers certify who can review their product.

I think you are referring to Oscars

 

[JiminGa]

tima, would you be willing to share the range of “industry accommodation pricing” ? 40-60% off msrp etc.

 

[ssfas]

I watched Matty Ball on that video, and in my humble opinion, while it is technically difficult to criticize, I would qualify that performance as a little "robotic" (or to put it less bluntly, lacking a bit of personality). If that is the true sense of the ballet, I'll stick to Baryshnikov...

It’s a technical solo. See him in R&J with his partner Mayara Magri in the previous video I posted and you might form a different opinion. He is one of the best male dancers on the planet. The fact that we have different opinions makes reviews redundant. Both fine dancers, just different. All the principals at Royal Ballet are different. You need experience and some knowledge to know why, and preference is entirely personal. Not dissimilar to ultra audio, most of which is largely a matter of personal taste.

 

[Kingrex]

You would be wrong at least outside the US.

I believe a very small percentage of people, in the US, I talk to about improving their power listen to classicsl. Many times its music I have never heard.

Where do you get your perception or data on what people listen too. I have about 120 data points. I only know a couple off the cuff that I have met that like classical like Marty and Mike.

 

[Kingrex]

tima, would you be willing to share the range of “industry accommodation pricing” ? 40-60% off msrp etc.

Think more along 20% to 30% on everything but cables. Cables might be 40% for a few manufacturers.

So put this in perspective. A reviewer now has $70,000 to $80,000 plus sales tax out of their pocket instead of $100,000 plus tax.

 

[Robh3606]

So are you saying that it is not important for a reviewer to have experience listening to live music? I guess I am missing your point.

Hello Peter

Should have been more clear. While it certainly helps I don't think anyone should expect a stereo to sound like a live acoustic performance. I see it as an unrealistic goal. Live amplified much better chance but even then with stereo? Much better off with multichannel.

Rob

 

[Kingrex]

Posting about Steve Guttenberg puts you in an unserious category. He sold audio equipment at retail, so I’ve written him off. Not interested in the opinions of anyone who ever sold audio equipment in a retail store.

What about Andrew Robins. He has 378,000 subscribers. How many does TAS or Stereophile reach?

I'm not going to bite on your snarky attitude. I am making a real point. Somewhat in reference to others' comments that a reviewer has to have a gosh awful expensive system to be considered a serious reviewer. I think Andrew and Steve have something to say to a much larger audience than any person writing about is $1,000,000 system. They each have a place. Both are legitimate sources of entertainment/information.

 

[Kingrex]

Hello Peter

Should have been more clear. While it certainly helps I don't think anyone should expect a stereo to sound like a live acoustic performance. I see it as an unrealistic goal. Live amplified much better chance but even then with stereo? Much better off with multichannel.

Rob

I sat in a.stereo store with a nice 7 channel stereo and a Fleetwood Mac concert on the projector screen. Sort of a Wow experiencs. The visual aid helps take you there. Darn enjoyable.