|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
32.218.72.145
My December column was my last.
Sorry I was not able to say good-bye to readers.
Happy New Year to (almost) everyone.
At least I left with a laugh.
Follow Ups:
'nuff said...
Frank
....
Kind of Blue
. . . family, cats, internet radio, quirky audiophile friends, cheap tweaks, affordable GOOD gear, and all the other recurring themes that made your column the most entertaining in the magazine? And who can write in your inimitable style?
I ALWAYS enjoyed your column, and it was usually the first thing I read in each issue. Unlike some ultra-serious reviewers, you always conveyed the FUN of this hobby. We'll miss your wit and wisdom.
Best wishes to you, Marina, Maksim, and all your extended family.
I always enjoyed reading your column. So long and good luck!
I truly enjoyed your fine writing for many years! Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.
Sam/Tom again thank you for your columns in Stereophile. The thing about your writing is, even if I was not interested in what you were reviewing, I still read your column for the entertainment content. Now that's great writing!
Mr. Tellig,
I've enjoyed your column since its inception as the Yankee Cheapskate ((IIRC) remembering with pleasure the B &K amps, your on and off again love affair with Quads, your travelogues, and my all time favorite, the photo of your wife smoking a cigar.
Best wishes to you and your family on your retirement.
Sam, you will be greatly missed and I wish you nothing but the best for you and you family. Your writing always kept my interest and just about all of the items you wrote about were affordable by anyone with a job, which is not easy to do when talking "high-end" audio. Thanks for all than you did for the industry and you kept reminding us it was about the fun and the music.
As for the business side, the whys are none of my business and things change as do people and the world keeps on spinning. At my age of 67 only 2 of the companies I left ceased to exist, none of it my fault, yet the others continued to operate in my absence (no great surprise), as I'm sure Stereophile will. It will be different, maybe better or worse, but time will tell. No one will replace your perspective and wit, and that will be missed most of all.
We all hoist a glass to you, Sir, and wish you the best.
Jim
Jim Tavegia
Mr. Marks' tribute was incomplete.
Tom was touting the joy of headphones (as we all know, he affectionately called them "cans") long before the current headphone craze. As Mikey is to vinyl, Tom is to headphones. But even better, and consistent with his catholic\democratic point of view, Tom was not touting the stratospheric realm of Stax but the joys of affordable headphones like the venerable Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and Grados.
Presaging Art Dudley's appreciation of under-the-radar artisans who rejected bling factor for form-follows-function, Tom wrote about the likes of Quicksilver monoblock tube amps and Ray Samuels headphone amps.
Tom was unique in his ability to bring his friends into his writing-fleshing out the joy of audio gear as being a hobby to share with friends and family and "characters of the best sort" like crazy Roy Hall.
These are things I will most miss. The hows and whys are not important. I can make educated guesses. I have seen changes brought about by age of not only Tom but also of the editor-in-chief, a man who has grown more rigid and less tolerant with age, and a man who needs to step down if the magazine is to be saved within the next five years.
Edits: 01/03/15 01/03/15
> I have seen changes brought about by age of...the editor-in-chief, a man
> who has grown more rigid and less tolerant with age, and a man who needs
> to step down if the magazine is to be saved within the next five years.
Thank you for your suggestion. I discussed it with my family and
colleagues and they are in agreement that you failed to make your
case and that I should therefore stay at Stereophile's helm. :-)
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
I trust that includes your very classy colleague John Marks who calls me a "retard" and calls our President "Barry Obumsky". Let me guess, Mr. Marks is your personal adviser.
Your delusional post appeared to accuse me of sucking up to Tom Gillett, which is a preposterous notion. You also purported to speak for others than yourself.
I straightened you out on that and you did not like it.
You have had an attitude problem for years, and I have taken enough of your socially-inappropriate behavior.
And on the subject of non-professor Mr. Obama, golly gee, where were all the people who TODAY insist on exaggerated deference to the office of the President, when years ago all the lefties were referring to "Bushitler"?
Sauce for the goose. This is not a monarchy, even though we are saddled with our own home-grown Marie Antoinette.
Seeing as Stereophile has officially, with no input from me, declined your strategic advice, I suggest that you send your resume to The Abso!ute Sound. I am sure they will snap you right up.
jm
The magazine is sinking, and won't last anywhere near five years as long as Atkinson remains at the helm. I used to comment about various issues in the Critics Forum, e.g. things that I preferred about the pre-Atkinson S'phile publications vs. the present versions but every time I did Atkinson would reply citing The "large" increases in circulation since he took over as editor. IMO, purely egocentric responses.
I decided to give up and not renew my subscription.
As my West b'gawd Virginia compadre Elmer Sykes was so fond of saying in years past "FUKUM".
Al
tee hee.
And I was at TAS before 2001. And before that, at Digital Audio.
I personally think that my December Stereophile Fifth Element column was one of my best, and, I expect my February column to rock if not the world, at least parts of it.
jm
Tom;
I sincerely hope that you're not done writing, as yours was a style that was comprehended by the common everyday audiophile. Is there really such a thing?
I'm not inferring that you were less tech savvy or intelligent than most other audio scribes. I am saying that you didn't get bull shitted into believing in proprietary drivers doped with unicorn semen collected in the Andes mountains, or ten 9's silver wire wrapped in king cobra skin sheds.
It's my hope that you reappear tan, rested, and ready to kick ass!
If that is not your intent, then I wish you, your Russian babe, and Maskim all the best.
Take care.......
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
Best wishes.
P
As I slowly slip into the dark cesspool of audiophalia neurosis. . . .
My speaker building site
You changed my audiophile diapers beginning in the early 80's. You grew, I grew, and we were all happy. You are an entertaining audiophile cuddly bear in a sea of pretentious snobs. Price be damned, if you liked it, you liked it. I hope you will grace the pages of some other source as you are the Jeremy Clarkson of the audio sport splashing color and wit everywhere.
BTW, if you have been having problems with anyone with a funny accent let me know. Problems can be solved.
Best wishes for the future!
generally be a curmudgeon, Right?
Now who is going to keep Roy Hall fired up with your absence at Stereophile? Please have JA designate one of the writers to stir the pot with Roy! Hehe!
I enjoyed your writing over the years and will miss your column. Wishing you all the best.
Scott
for harping about Internet Radio. I love it!
Thanks for everything !!!!
Edits: 01/01/15
Sam's column was the main reason I used to renew my subscription. A voice of sanity among reviews of $80,000 amps and $100,000 speakers. Thanks for all the great articles.
Thanks for your articles over the years. You made me realize that it was okay to be an audio cheapskate and as such I have saved a lot of money in this hobby. I also enjoyed reading about the cast of audio buddies in your life (especially Lars!)and how you allowed us to make us feel like they were also our pals. Back in the day I wished you and Cory could have written the whole magazine.
I am afraid I missed the last 15 years of Stereophile. Your article was usually the first and a lot of times the only part I read of Stereophile.
Sam/Tom,
I've enjoyed your columns from the beginning and am sad to hear that I will not be able to any longer. Stereophile's loss is also mine.
I wish you health and happiness in the future. You'll be missed by many.
Cheers,
Al
Stopped reading Stereophile a long time ago but back in the day it was a must! Always enjoyed your work more than the rest. Plz don't misunderstand, 'cause you're very much still with us, but this news coupled with HP's passing feels like (another) final nail in the coffin known as the audiophile press. Looking forward to your future writings!
Happy New Year! ST
nt
How many people can claim to have had a full career writing subjective audio ... that's about as close to completely cheating the system as it gets it seems to me!
I recall first reading you back in the early 90's. Your was a post Beatnik style, a hoot, that was the model for some ... to mention but one, could there have been a Corey Greenburg without a ST, unlikely.
Well done.
That is sad to hear Sam. Yours and Art Dudley's columns were my favorites. I have been reading you since the 80's when you were called the Audio Cheapskate.......
enthusiasms that helped guide my system over the years.
Best wishes on your retirement.
N
I've enjoyed reading your contributions to Stereophile for more than two decades now. The humor you injected into the pages combined with your insights regarding the gear you reviewed made your column a highlight each month. In fact, I have a Music First Audio Baby Reference on order partly because of your (spot on) review.
Now, each time I spy the blue faceplate of the Baby Reference sitting in my rack I'll think of you.
Thank you, Sam.
You are the main reason I started reading and then subscribing to "Stereophile" many, many years ago. Obviously, going forward your absence will weigh heavily on whether or not I extend my current subscription. In this day and time when audio equipment is getting more and more expensive, I could aways count of your columns to bring everything back into focus...that being that a person doesn't have to spend a fortune (subjective word I know) to assemble a very good sounding system. I personally think, going forward, that the demise of the more popular audio mags will result from them reviewing a disproportionate number of insanely priced components. Should that happen some manufactures, unless they change their business model, will follow the magazines down that deep, dark hole. What will emerge will be something better...the second coming of the true hobbyist that will build his/her own equipment and marvel at how much better it sounds than the expensive gear they previously owned.
Anyway, best of luck as you begin the next phase of your life.
Be safe,
Raven
or were one of the reasons I continue to read Stereophile. Your contributions will be missed. Good luck and good health in the future!
.., but it looks like you've gotten lucky because you're passing through relatively quickly. Happy Trails to You!
I hope you're happy and well.
Later Tom you rocked.
Thanks for years of good reading. Happy ears!
you got me started, was late in the year 2000, I think with the Musical Fidelity A300 review, bought one, never been the same since.
Edits: 01/01/15
Best of luck to you. Have enjoyed your articles - Thanks
The end of an era. It's hard to have a unique voice in writing audio reviews - your style was instantly recognizable. Your column will be missed - hope you don't hang up the pen completely.
so was your writing career a kind of bad habit to break?
roger wang
A 20-year tradition is no more. I always went directly to your column with each new issue... Thanks for giving this addiction the human context it needs to be dealt with on a daily basis. You'll be missed, and my subscription may now lapse. NOT the news I wanted to read to start the new year, but all good things end, and I wish you well. Crap.
You make more sense than almost any other writer in this business. You are
the first writer I read in Stereophile every time, and if you aren't there,
there will be way less reason to read the mag.
Good luck to you in all future endeavors, and thanks for all the wisdom,
laughs, and smarts you imparted over the last however-long. I will miss
you a lot. You made my life better.
Thanks for the laughs, memories and insights-best of luck in whatever the future holds for you, Marina and Maksim!
Ken, if you see this, please email me. I can't seem to send you one through the aa emailer and lost your address. Wanted to see if you've recovered from all the Padres' activity.
d
Wishing you good health, good luck and a Happy New Year.
I subscribe to Stereophile for the writing and TAS for the pretty pictures, and I often complain about both rags! But I honestly enjoyed your writing Sam.
Best of luck to you in your new adventure.
ST/TG...thanks very much for years of excellent columns.
They were among the 2 or 3 I would read every issue.
Very best of luck in all future endeavors.
Thanks for so many excellent columns. I enjoyed reading them and learned a lot from them.
will make me laugh out loud? It was a good run, enjoyed the voyage you took us on each moth, be well and Happy New Life.
Thank you for the good-times and good advice.
We are often advised to find a reviewer who, somehow or another, shares our what? Tastes? Sensibilities? Hearing? Budget? I don't know, but I discovered that the things audio that you liked I did also and that I "approved" of your take on most things. And I found you an entertaining writer to boot!
Funny how you can read someone for decades and never think of saying "thanks". Now that's taken care of!
Best of luck in your next endeavor.
Rick
----------------------
"Have you a water buffalo?"
Sam's column is not just the most entertaining but the most useful. I was tipped off to a lot of good gear I ended up enjoying including:
Celestion 3's
RA Labs Mini Reference
B&K ST-140
Rega Planet
AD-700 headphones
many Naxos CDs
and last but not least -
"Serious Listeners" ear mounted acoustic reflectors
Very bad news!
I would have loved to read about Sam reviewing some of the most esoretic European Equipment available as The Platine Verdier or any Audiomeca turntable or CDPlayer.
I hope the Sam's Space to continue with another experienced audiophile (or musiclover/melomane).
Best wishes to Sam, Marina and Maksim the Cat!!
You have inspired me,
....this New Year I will not be writing for Stereophile.
Hello , this is Sam Tellig , The dog you are about to hear should appear to come from the left loudspeaker ..... :)No worries Sam I still have you in company , all the best for 2015 and godspeed ....
Regards ...
Edits: 12/31/14
Mega priced audio doesn´t interest me, so I always enjoyed your columns.
I hope Stereophile finds a replacement if you no longer write for them.
Thank you for the columns and good luck!
You have seemed like a constant companion, forever enlightening and lighthearted. I'm glad you never took this hobby too seriously but always gave seriously valuable opinions. It won't be difficult to imagine just Stereophile without you, but to imagine high-end audio without you. Thanks for being there for so long and the very best wishes from an indebted reader.
"Thank you, Ralph. And now for some pink noise, again recorded at minus 20 DB."
-Bob
When you open Stereophile Sams first up to bat, and there sure was a reason for that. I think the common man who is also a stereo nut really identifies with Sam.....thank you too...Mark Korda
d
For years I subscribed to Stereophile just to read your column, Sam. Thanks for all those witticisms,those European trips and mostly for the audio reviews. I sure learned a lot over the years. Dave
As many others have stated, I also looked forward to and enjoyed reading your column and thanks for enhancing my system, music and listening enjoyment.
Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!
nt
all the best,
mrh
What next? The great American novel?
Now that is a drag. I'm very sorry to hear that. The last component you influenced me to purchase is an LFD NCSE (aaahhhh no remote) and I'm thankful to you as I never would have heard about this component if not for your column. And I'm sure there a many other selections I've made over the past 30 years due to your input. But alas, everything starts, everything ends, and I wish you much happiness in the future.
Thank you. I enjoyed your column. It helped me squeeze out a hard one many times.
I laugh my evil laugh.
No really thanks for the entertainment and education. Your work is appreciated.
cocktail + sweet spot = fun and relaxation!
Let me join the other well-wishers.
If I may, in wishing Tom well, I would like briefly to comment from my own personal perspectives (that were first, as an entertained reader and then as a collegial colleague), upon a couple of obvious things, and a couple of perhaps not so obvious things.
Obviously, Tom is a great writer. He developed not only a persona but also an authorial tone that was extremely effective in holding the reader's attention and bringing him along for the ride.
Perhaps it was Tom's background as a direct-mail-copy writer, but Tom's columns usually had a sense of pacing--of knowing when to give the reader a little break--that very very few audio writers have ever had.
Pedestrian or pedantic, Tom was not. More like a really interesting and funny fellow guest you meet at a wedding, and are glad you did.
Obviously, Tom cared greatly about audio. Was he 100% "right" all the time? Nope. He was not re-engineering Solomon's Temple; for Tom, an audio system was not just a destination but also a journey.
He retained the ability to show a boyish enthusiasm over offbeat gear. He defeated the temptation to rise ever higher into the price stratosphere. His emotional connection to audio and its role in his life was not a put-on. Anyone who ever heard him talk about his having his nose pressed against the glass outside Providence's McIntosh dealer on North Main Street realized that.
Not so obviously, Tom's tastes in music, and the music he wrote about and used as evaluation material (thereby promoting it), were not only cultured but small-c catholic. He loved Bunny Berigan and he loved Sibelius.
Tom was not interested in devoting ten years of his life to squeezing the last little gasp out of Jennifer Warnes' "Famous Blue Raincoat" 's title track. He'd rather hear all sorts of unfamiliar music and unfamiliar recordings than keep going back to the same worn place in the carpet--a lesson almost all of us could do a better job of applying to our own listening.
Related to the immediately above, and again not obviously, Tom was an unlikely but for that reason an even more effective advocate for non-physical means of music access--and it is no surprise that he plumped for democratic streaming, rather than elitist, expensive, and perhaps fetishistic highest-res downloads.
So, end of an era for Stereophile.
I have put in a formal request that the all-expenses-paid Festschrift take place at Scores Gentlemen's Club in NYC.
Make mine Veuve Cliquot.
Hail Brunonia!
john
"Was he 100% "right" all the time? Nope"
ST/TG was right far more often than wrong.
John, Now we know it's official. Times sure are a changing.
...and if Sam wants to unload any gear for cheap, I'm right around the corner.
;-)
Thanks for keeping me entertained all these years. If not for your column I'd have stopped reading Stereophile over a decade ago.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Always enjoyed reading your column...!
here's hoping you'll break the resolution......
various items I tried (and liked) based on your column:
Adcom GFA
Musical Fidelity (yes!!) A1
PS audio DAC
Brief affair with SETs
etc.
Cheers mate.
Your column was one of the things I was looking forward to seeing again. Good luck with your resolution.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
To hang around R. Crumb and Johnny Depp, and write for Wine Spectator?
“Somebody was always controlling who got a chance and who didn’t. - Charles Bukowski
which means there aren't any reasons left.
Keep laughing, be well and a Happy & Healthy 2015 to you.
You're off to a good start...
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I wonder if you know what an influence you have been on so many for so long. Thanks.
At the request of the Moderators,
This space has been deleted
...you don't keep it.
Best of luck.
Happy new year
Stereophiles loss
Alan
Your writing on audio was (is?) almost always worth seeking out and reading.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Sam, you gave me many happy reads over the years.
Thanks for all the great writing and have a Happy New Year!
Hats off!
nt
nt
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
I wish you well with your retirement if that is your intent.
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
For a while, your column served as the reason I couldn't wait to receive the magazine every month.
A most profound thank you for all of the years you provided me with such enjoyment. You will be sadly missed. Best of luck to you, Sam!
Was usually the first thing I read when then new issue arrived. Rain X on CDs and cheap CD players from Radio Shack. What fun. Also told me about the AR table with metal armboard. A buddy still has one. And Lars ...
.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Who are you going to write for now Mr. Gillet?
I enjoyed your column for years. Good luck.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: