Who is the best reviewer?

[MylesBAstor]

Hi

I also remember DAW from the early, glorious days of TAS, I also liked PHD ..

now I have a problem with this conclusion... ... Would that mean closer to the recording? If that was the case how could the ARC sound "better" ? That he preferred the ARC. Fine but if the other is closer to what he remembers from the performance, wouldn't that mean that the component acquitted itself of its duties better? that is to reproduce as well as it could ? ...

I must say I liked the Rowland Coherence One, that was one hell of a preamp ...

By the way right now enjoying through Headphones Dvorak Cello Concerto, Bruch Kol Nidei with Antal Dorati and the LSO, next Hanson Symphonies on Mercury still ...

Frantz:

I think it's a comment on what the component added (or subtracted from) to the sound and sounded pleasant vs. what was a better representation of of what the actual recording sounded like. Say the high strings were a little bright on the actual recording and the ARC smoothed them out while the Rowlands portrayed the recordings as it should have been.

It's been a decade or two probably since looked at the review and I think that issue is in storage

 

[kach22i]

Good to read someone else is willing to say how bad Dorgay is.

His path is destructive, that is all I have to say.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=84119.0

[quote author=kavu link=topic=84119.msg814568#msg814568 date=1280399818]
Hi,

I had posted previously about some penaudio serenades not sounding right. After trying a few things suggested on this board, I mistakenly concluded that there was just a bad interaction between the speakers and my room. I sold the speakers, and the new owner, who is more savvy than I am, discovered some serious issues with the speakers themselves.

I had contacted Echo Audio at the time of purchase and emailed a bit back and forth. When I informed them that I thought they were wired wrong, they told me that Jeff Dorgay had them last and that he thought they were wired correctly. They promptly stopped emailing me and never handled the problem.

I feel like the item was completely misrepresented. I would actually like them to compensate the new owner and cover all charges pertaining to having them fixed completely.

One thing for certain, I would never ever do business with them again and can't recommend that anyone else should either. I am happy to share our entire thread of emails pertaining to this transaction.

If anyone can think of anything I can do, I'd appreciate it. I am going to contact the better business bureau.

Thanks,
dan

[/QUOTE]

I am the first buyer. They did not sound right to me. I took it up with Echo Audio...and their response (after contacting Jeff) basically amounted to tough luck. I shipped them to Japan to another buyer who verified that the speakers were internally flawed (with respect to how they are wired).

EDIT: The thread got moved to here;
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=84119.0

 

[DaveyF]

The reviewer who just reviewed a piece of equipment that I own and gave it a rave!

 

[kach22i]

The reviewer who just reviewed a piece of equipment that I own and gave it a rave!

That always feels good, like a vindication.

Congrats.

 

[microstrip]

The best reviewer is the one who says nice thinks about our own equipment.
The bad reviewer is the one who says bad thinks about our own equipment.
The worst reviewer is the one who said nice thinks about our own equipment and later changes his mind!

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Do you mean that ML gave JC the high hard one?

the line-up of recievers of the 'high hard one courtesy of ML' is long and illustrious.....JC might be the first one in line.

 

[mep]

ML has proven over time that he is incapable of keeping a business solvent. He is great at marketing/selling, but he is horrible at running a business. Mike Kay told some great stories about the folly of doing business with ML.

 

[caesar]

His path is destructive, that is all I have to say.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=84119.0

EDIT: The thread got moved to here;
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=84119.0[/QUOTE]

Did that really happen to a review sample? That could get Mr. Dorgay sued fast!!!! If it's not true, however, it could get you in legal hot water for spreading false rumours!

 

[caesar]

The best reviewer is the one who says nice thinks about our own equipment.
The bad reviewer is the one who says bad thinks about our own equipment.
The worst reviewer is the one who said nice thinks about our own equipment and later changes his mind!

Microstrip,

Great insight!

 

[caesar]

Dear Caesar: +++++++ " I disagree with one thing. The professional reviewers are experts. " +++++++

I agree that some of them are experts and not because ( sole ) they heard a " lot of stuff " but because some of them has the in deep right knowledge.
IMHO only a few of them are really experts and only a few of them can honor the word " expert ".

Btw, many audiophiles are real experts too. I don't know you but maybe you are an expert.

In audio IMHO the word " expert " not necessarly means: professional reviewers or audio dealers or even manufacturers. The word is a " heavy " one and some audio industry professionals are experts in the same way that some/several audiophiles are experts too.

In this regard my position is that the difference between the " professionals " and we ( mere mortals ) " amateurs " ( like you name us. ) is mainly that they receive money for what they do ( a job ) and we did not and that's all.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

I guess I would like to expose the real expert reviewers from the quacks, which is why I started this thread.

However, I am not convinced that anyone posting on an internet website is an expert. However, internet posts could be useful information if they can describe what they heard, tell us what kind of sound they like, and tell us what else they have heard.

 

[kach22i]

EDIT: The thread got moved to here;
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=84119.0

Did that really happen to a review sample? That could get Mr. Dorgay sued fast!!!! If it's not true, however, it could get you in legal hot water for spreading false rumours!

[/QUOTE]

Now you are involved, better get yourself a lawyer.

The speakers are now in Japan and fixed, a happy ending. End of story?

I have five bucks says it happens again within five years.

 

[caesar]

Now you are involved, better get yourself a lawyer.

The speakers are now in Japan and fixed, a happy ending. End of story?

I have five bucks says it happens again within five years.[/QUOTE]


Did he give your product a bad review, or something?

 

[kach22i]

Did he give your product a bad review, or something?

Who me???

Just do a Google search on the guy, you will find out all you need to know.

 

[Gregadd]

He is getting way too much press here.

 

[kach22i]

a skilled writer .............. injects an appropriate level of levity

I trust you don't mind me chopping up your quote es347, but it strikes a good point.

I enjoy reading reviews not only because of the opinion and information offered, but for the humor, insight and "life perspective" they lend. This special blend of wisdom and levity is not unique to audio reviewers, but as a whole they have taken it to an artform.

 

[caesar]

Who me???

Just do a Google search on the guy, you will find out all you need to know.

I thought you posted in this thread because you were wronged in a review via malicious tampering with your product (and you hate the guy's writing style). If this is personal, I am not really interested - I come to this site to enhance the enjoyment of this hobby.

I do sincerely hope the two of you work in out. Life is way to short to expend so much energy on this.

Best,
Caesar

 

[caesar]

I am surprised no one has brought up Atkinson or Harley. I wonder if in today's culture of shock jocks and entertainment news via O'Reilly and Olbermann these guys are just too straight and boring. Their analogies don't quite have the same impact as Fremer's and they are not as poetic as Valin.

One unique thing Atkinson does that I find interesting is that he makes his own recordings. Since he is intimately familiar with the recording, as well as the original venue, he can analyze the performance of the component against the reference.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I am surprised no one has brought up Atkinson or Harley. I wonder if in today's culture of shock jocks and entertainment news via O'Reilly and Olbermann these guys are just too straight and boring. Their analogies don't quite have the same impact as Fremer's and they are not as poetic as Valin.

One unique thing Atkinson does that I find interesting is that he makes his own recordings. Since he is intimately familiar with the recording, as well as the original venue, he can analyze the performance of the component against the reference.

Caeser:

You might add John plays a pretty mean electric bass too John as I understand it, did some studio work too for various groups.

 

[kach22i]

I guess I would like to expose the real expert reviewers from the quacks, which is why I started this thread.

Mission accomplished.

Maybe we can go further and give some exposure to the bright stars rising outside the alternate reality of traditional print and discover the talent posting on blogs, websites and even those producing PDF's. Take this forum for instance, with it's dedicated corners.

What I've noticed in general is they are less formal, sometimes very humorous and sometimes very mean, although not all at the same time. It's like the extremes of human expression are unleashed without an editor to corral them.

 

[Elliot G.]

Harry and Gordon made this whole forum possible. I have never heard Gordon s system but I have been to HP many times. It is he who inspired me to do better and taught me almost every time I was there .. Harry is about the musical truth sometimes unpopular.\It was never about HiFi. It is never about gear worship.He knows his music as well
Show reviewing etc is just total BS. Its all in the details and the set up. How some reviewers can have a new reference each issue and make criteria for every product so it gets a good review to me is nonsense. IMHO its takes weeks and sometimes months to get a system "singing."
I only wish that more people could get to hear what he has done then they would really know what a audio system is capable of even if they don't own it!