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Stephen Mejias has said goodbye to Stereophile. He is going to work for Audioquest.
Too bad, I enjoyed the Entry Level very much.
Follow Ups:
Now if it could just lose the RJR inane reviews...
"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"
...can't understand what you have against RJR.
He's one of the best in Stereophile.
If you say so.
"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"
I liked his musings as well. Nothing wrong w/ upward mobility in 2014.
Congratulations to Mr. Mejas;
I wouldn't make too much of his career move.
Maybe he's going to make more money with Audioquest.
It's certainly not the first time a young recently engaged young man left for a better opportunity.
He probably has "crazy" aspirations to have a few kids with Miss Little, buy a better car, and a home where he can crank up his subwoofer(s) without the neighbors bitching.
Whatever his reasons are, I'm sure they are legit and benefit he and his future wife.
Mr. Atkinson being a classy guy probably shook his hand and wished him the best in his future endeavor.
........I was a vegetarian for 15 minutes... until the main course.
As an intense inmate of an Asylum, I dont think I can compose such a nice normal post.
Cheers
Bill
Thanks Bill. I have my moments.
........I was a vegetarian for 15 minutes... until the main course.
Spot on....nicely said.
...the Sam Tellig of the millenials.
And a Stereophile editor.
But at this point in his life he needs to think about making more money and moving toward a career he can move up in.
He will be missed.
Very good summation..agree.
I was not aware. That segment of the industry is always needed for both beginning and seasoned audiophiles. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his writing style is far less important than the amount of new and inexpensive gear he introduced to our consciousness. I happen to enjoy reading about how his life relates to his hobby. After all, audio is not in a vacuum and is only a part (whether small or big) of one's life.
agree totally. and those who spewed venom against his column just did not get the fact his writing was a different spin on things, not just the dry, "i plugged it in" "it has 5 RCA inputs and 3 LED lights" type reviews. no chesky music, no audiophile drivel.will miss him.
Edits: 03/30/14
...as I did Corey Greenberg, Lonnie Brownell, and Rick Rosen.
The voice of the young, and a voice that can write well, is an excellent offset to the other side of the spectrum.
See ya. Dave
Yes, a nice offset indeed.
Some interesting under-the-radar stuff posted.
Agree. I did not like much of the music he talked about, but I was glad to be exposed to it. Some was as actually brilliant, like Aidan Baker.
Looks like Stephen got a nice bump. Congratulations to him.
No loss .
Your loss.
and from a 71-year old
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
From a 62 yr old.
Mr Atkinson, if you lose your seed corn, then you will have no harvest.
More time with Lavorgna. Departure of SM. A much needed 'win' for readers. ML is a first rate writer and reviewer, who is not self enamored. His work on Audio Stream is a 'must' read.
I look forward to reading his column.
You are right that Mejias was sometimes self-enamored, and his reviews often failed to tell us what we really wanted to know. Nevertheless, losing him is unfortunate, because he was unique and a little different.
So, who will be his replacement? Please, don't say Ariel Bitran. Redux: excellent news re Michael Lavorgna.
From a 74 too.
Cheers
Bill
You must be one of those "joyless old men" SM so perfectly pegged.
Shame about Stephen Mejias, especially as I believe Atkinson was grooming him to take the helm eventually ... perhaps [half jokingly] he feared he would inherit having to do measurements and bolted?
Michael Lavorgna will be an excellent addition, only I hope it doesn't spell the end of the AudioStream site.
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
Thanks! for sharing.
...were'nt part of the job interview. The reviews were probably just the means for him to be introduced to some of the Audio Quest folks, but it does make you wonder when audio critics end of working for the people whose products they've been reviewing.
I doubt he was being a reviewer as merely a means for finding an audio company to work for. Mejias can write and it's entirely possible that plenty of people were impressed with the guy. Hiring him as a VP of communications (the guy's job at Stereophile is to communicate) probably led AQ to get interested in him.
I wouldn't say it's unusual to be offered a position from some other outfit. And with the recession and all - if someones is going to throw significantly larger coin at you to write for them then you gotta look at it. Sounds as if Mejias is a smart man - he will continue to stay with Stereophile in a music review writing capacity. Didn't completely close the door and if the AQ thing doesn't work out maybe he can return.
Well, it smells a lot better for Mejias to take a job with Audioquest than it does for our government officials to get cushy jobs as lobbyists once they lose their elected seats.
Now THAT makes you wonder who these folks have been working for.
> One can only hope his positive reviews of AQ gear...weren't part of the
> job interview.
They weren't. His most recent AudioQuest review, of the DragonFly v1.2
(see link below) appeared in our March 2014 issue, which was prepared last
December. This predated the outreach from AudioQuest and the eventual
offer of a job.
> The reviews were probably just the means for him to be introduced to
> some of the AudioQuest folks...
Incorrect. My asking Stephen Mejias to contribute reviews to Stereophile
in January 2011 had nothing to do with "introducing him to the AudioQuest
folks" and everything to do with what he brought to the table as a
listener, music lover, and writer. And Stephen, as Stereophile's
erstwhile editorial assistant since August 2000 and assistant editor since
June 2008, was widely known in the audio industry even before he started
contributing reviews and his "Entry Level" column.
> it does make you wonder when audio critics end of working for the people
> whose products they've been reviewing.
A fair question to ask, but in this case, everything was above board.
AudioQuest is aggressively hiring people they regard as talented.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
...one of my comments, and I can understand why. What I meant to say was that, rather than being sinister, the AQ reviews were likely the occasion for him getting to know the AQ folks. I wish him well, he was an interesting addition to your magazine.
There is nothing sinister here. On the contrary, if a reviewer was a patsy for a manufacturer, the last thing you would expect is for the manufacturer to hire him or her and dry up the flow of positive reviews. Best wishes to Stephen in his new job with a really top flight group of people.
I really enjoyed his writing ( his music not so much but I'm an old guy ). The most important thing ,to me, was that he had a real world system yet seemed to enjoy listening and experimenting with it as much as many other with much higher end systems.
> Stephen Mejias has said goodbye to Stereophile.
Stephen's final writings on audio for Stereophile will be in our June issue.
But he will continue to review indie-rock recordings for our Record Reviews
section.
AudioStream.com's Michael Lavorgna will be starting a new column in the July
Stereophile, to be called, naturally enough, "Audio Streams." Herb Reichert
will be joining our review team, as will Tom Norton now that he is no longer
technical editor of Home Theater magazine.
> He is going to work for Audioquest.
AQ made Stephen an offer he'd have been crazy to turn down. His new title
is VP, Communications.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Bless you, JA. First AD, now HR. Sending my renewal in today.
Also, thanks for giving SM a voice. His articles got me interested in headphones and DACs again. Skullcandy Aviators, Dragonfly 1.2, etc, etc.
I'll miss his perspective. Best of luck to him.
I for one found Mejias metrosexual ramblings about imaginary girl friends and cats a bit too much. I hope "The Entry Level" returns with a reviewer who can do justice to much needed reviews of affordable audio equipment, without all the other baggage Mejias brought to the table.
.............I fully agree with both of you :-)
Cheers,
Al
Ever too true. Yet, Brian H.P. also makes a valid point. When SM was able to refrain from his faux Brooklyn, Hoboken, hipster style, he brought a needed realm of review.
Stevie's main focus was on affordable products that SOUNDED decent, and how to put together a musically satisfying system on a real-world budget. Other S'phile writers (notably Sam) touch upon this segment of the market from time to time, but it was good to have a monthly column dedicated to stuff that offered real value for non-millionaire music enthusiasts. I hope someone carries that on.
I'll miss SM's column, reviews and blogs. Good news about ML and HR! I hope Michael can write on other subjects in addition to computer audio which he covers so well on his web site. Give Herb a column where he can write on anything he wants - I'll read it.
Does this mean it will be his task to tell consumers why Audioquest has 20 different models of interconnects? Snakes and Rivers vs Bridges and Falls? Who comes up with this stuff? I can't make heads or tales of their current product range, or why I should buy one product over another.
I bought a Dragonfly last month and I felt some trembling of the fingers and as if something overwhelming was going to happen. It happened. It was about an Audioquest DAC bringing Joni closer but also taking SM away.
Bill
Thanks for update. Glad to hear Michael Lavorgna will be contributing.
Michael is a very talented guy. After working with him for 1.5 years now, I have come to appreciate his skills and humor.
As a follower of Audiostream I agree totally.
Edits: 03/30/14
Look forward to both Michael Lavorgna and Herb Reichert. Both good writers with interesting points of view.
Herb was very helpful to me when I first got into Audio Note gear years ago. Michael and I have traded a few e-mails in the past and he has an interesting blog well worth checking out at http://www.twitteringmachines.com/
I second that. Michael L. is one of the industry's best writers.
Peter Breuninger, Editor AVShowrooms
I look forward to Tom Norton's upcoming work with Stereophile. It's great to hear he's coming back!
See ya. Dave
His audio urbanism will be sorely missed, sad to say.
Bill
Agree Bill the K.
nt
of a love of music, IMHO. I don't know if this was simply a lack of writing skills or a genuine inability to commune with music.
On the other hand, the music that he referenced in his writing was current and modern, a stark contrast to other Stereophile writers.
I wish him well in his future pursuits.
is that he loves music first and sound second. If anything, I thought Stereophile readers would have a problem with him because they care more about sound than music.
13DoW
nt
I personally enjoyed his writing. It took a few issues for him to streamline his approach, which is natural, but I felt he was a very good addition to the mag.
He was the only young reviewer among the ancient, and I mean ancient, current writers!
Who wants to only read 65 to 70+ year old's opinions?
What about opinions on, or reference music in reviews, recorded after 1990 or 2000?
All the other, old writers, do not listen to current music.
There is some good, recent music out there, but you will not find much at all for the under 50 crowd, yet anyone much younger, in Stereophile!
How do these readers relate to the reviews?
Stereophile is an "old man's" magazine!
"Who wants to only read 65 to 70+ year old's opinions?"
Duh? it's not their age per se, which impacts on their opinions but one reaches an age at which their hearing acuity simply doesn't allow for 'golden ear' type distinctions and reporting. IMO if JA had an ounce of credibility he'd send them out to pasture.
I pretty much agree with you on this.
Yeah, these guys are old, but they're not suffering dementia. What you've shown is prejudice, not criticism. The trend towards portable audio is driven as much by economics as it is by culture or technology. Yes, there is some good NEW music out there, but I'm not sure that ANYONE (including Mejias) is talking about it.
FWIW, Mejias gave very interesting, if sometimes superficial, reviews of products while promoting his own tastes (and band), and documenting his personal (and romantic) life. It was a nice twist on things, and we will miss him. And at least he didn't go to work for Bose.
Question: Will Miss Little follow him out to the West Coast? All you old farts stay tuned to watch As the World Turns...
The new good music out there (90's and 2000+) is discussed on most music forums.The analog era and before, ended in the early 80's, which is were Fremer, Dudley, and others all reside.
I am talking people in their 30's and 40's, not teens or college age.
People that grew up in the 80's and 90's.
People with jobs that own home audio systems.
They are left out, and not marketed to by Stereophile.
Stereophile is aimed squarely at the senior citizen over 50 crowd!
Edits: 03/29/14 03/29/14
I'm under 50 and love S'Phile.
Well said actually..maybe he won't be moving to La La land..and be a "man about town" for AQ. These days sales positions are not reliant on location.
If he does move, it will be brilliant, screw these winters.
More likely he'll be moving to China. That's where they make most of that crap.
Yes but generally old men are the ones who can spend $100k on stereo systems - the 25 year olds with money are sleeping at Apple and microsoft and working on video games to care about which tonearm to put on a Thorens.
It's primarily a stereo equipment magazine not a music review magazine. Indeed, the stereo magazines are about the only places to read about "geezer" music.
Your comment is nonsensical.Sphile has reported the tthe average reader owns a $15,000 system. Far, far below
your arbitrary 100k number.And does not one need music to evaluate stereo gear?,Or perish the thought, test tones are better.
Edits: 03/29/14
One guy has a $200,000 system, two others have a $10,000 system. Average of those system would cost over $70,000. Meaningless bs, if not purposely deceptive.
I totally agree it is meaningless. The 100K number was something RGA pulled out his rear. I just thought IF one was going to throw some "average" number out it should be the one Stereophile actually claims is correct (15K), unless I am mistaken with that figure. Although that is what I remember.
Edits: 03/30/14
nt
Here is what I wrote "Yes but generally old men are the ones who can spend $100k on stereo systems."If you look at overall wealth of the U.S in age groups you will likely see that boomers possess the most money as a group. I never said that the "average Stereophile subscriber spent $100K." That is something you invented - that is called a straw man.
Old Rich, mostly white, men talking about equipment and geezer music FOR other old rich, mostly white, men.
The music at most audio rooms are painfully boring - Diana Krall playing in at least 5 rooms on each floor all the time - Hotel California (Holy 1970s Batman) continuously being played. Krall is at least current but really probably because she shows some leg and she's attractive enough but not too attractive that the old geezers think they'd have a shot with her if they met her. And because it's well recorded that trumps music "quality" any day. I have a bunch of her albums too - she's good but hardly worthy of that kind of play to virtually the exclusion of everyone else who ever sang a song. There will be more Krall than Ella played at an audio show - ??
And Don Henley and the Eagles did actually record other songs but you'd never know that at an Audio Show. I'll take anything else in a "New York Minute" over hearing bloody Hotel California for the 9 millionth time!
And reading about yet another re-release of a re-release gold edition double pack download of the Beatles or Fleetwood Mac or Mahler is frankly cringe-worthy.
Edits: 03/31/14
Based on the two Diana Krall albums that I have, I wouldn't say that they were particularly well recorded. More like, over processed and compressed. I'd rather hear Amanda McBroom. It was recorded better.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Same applies with $15k. Don't know too many 20 year old's putting $15k in their home stereo. Nor is it likely their first choice of music is any sort of classical music.
Bingo.....
nt
Uncalled for.
He has a history of scumbaggery.
I like the word scumbaggery.
How about the word snarcolepsy?
Edits: 03/30/14
Specifics? Otherwise zip it.
I was referring to the person you responded to. I think his post speaks for itself.
I apologize. I thought you were referring to SM as well.
No problem. SM is one of the good guys.
Cheers
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