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In Reply to: RE: The only thing I would make reviewers 'blind' to is - PRICE of the gear they are reviewing! posted by Eldragon@gmx.com on June 12, 2012 at 08:23:54
With a few exceptions, reviewers at Stereophile and TAS essentially write as a hobby. The few hundred bucks they get paid for an article doesn't begin to compensate for the time invested in auditioning and writing. The real reward is getting to play with lots of gear. They review what interests them, subject to approval by the editor. Sometimes the editor suggests a component, sometimes the writer suggests it. Given that reality, how exactly do you propose that the writers be ignorant of the price of components when those writers frequently propose the subjects of their own reviews? Secondly, even if you could get the writers to agree to review whatever component the editor sends them without being told its price, any experienced audiophile can make a pretty good guess at the price of a component. If I see a folded metal chassis and plastic knobs I can be reasonably confident that I'm not looking at an MBL - level price tag. If the mystery component says "Audio Research" on the front panel then its not likely to have a 3 digit price tag. No one is going to look at a new Rega turntable and think "this must cost $25,000."
Please explain how you expect your idea can be implemented.
Follow Ups:
Hi-Fi Critic regularly does blind listening tests. So do I, with help from my wife. You DO have to be sure to match volume levels, but it's NOT hard. BTW, many times, less expensive equipment wins these blind tests.
I took a look at Hi Fi Critic's web site and the index pages for a couple of years of the magazine, and I found no mention of blind testing. A search of the forums turned up lots of arguing over DBT and a reference to blind testing of music samples ripped via different methods, but nothing about routine use of blind testing by the reviewers.
In any case, given the realities of how the two US audio magazines are actually created - by freelance part - timers working in isolation and scattered around the country - I just don't see how it would be possible to keep the reviewers ignorant of what they're reviewing. One obvious problem is that the components arrive by UPS at the reviewer's home and and have to be installed into his or her system. You may be fortunate enough to have a wife who is competent to make changes to your system, but you can't assume everyone has such an assistant. I definitely wouldn't have wanted my wife messing with my gear back when I wrote for Listener . She's flummoxed by the Dish Network remote control; I can just imagine her trying to mount a phono cartridge or five!
I should have said that Hi-Fi Choice regularly does blind listening tests, and YES, many times, cheaper units win. As for my home blind tests, pre-amps, amps, phono amps, and cables are easy to test blind. Speakers, especially the big kind I favor, are harder but I manage with help from some strong friends.
.
Short’s the best position they is. Bullet in the Brain
nt
...role, even subconsciously.
“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"
― Charles Bukowski
I was going to congratulate for netting a few with a transparently obvious troll ... but it seems you were serious!
Short’s the best position they is. Bullet in the Brain
...don't worry confusion will eventually dissipate.
“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"
― Charles Bukowski
you forgot to mention the "accommodation " pricing offered to reviewers. sweet. ever so sweet.
While the magnitude drops, the playing field stays level.
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