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In Reply to: RE: TAS Golden Ear Awards posted by elliot@frontrowtheater.com on May 10, 2008 at 07:26:52
elliot,Shall I play Devil's Attorney?
The title of the publication awarding a prototype is "The Absolute Sound" and while the modifier "Absolute" always seemed like a kind of naive arrogance- not much more useful than calling it "The Totally Awesome Noise", it does suggest a kind of continuing quest on the part of the reviewers for describing the gear that makes- in their view- the nearest to perfectly reproduced sound. -Tall men setting themselves a tall task paved in tall tales.
Of course, "best" is mysterious, challengable, and comparative, but if a person listening strictly for the best possible sound, regardless of criteria, the end result of judging "best" must be justfied, whatever the means of making it. On that level, there is a critical integrity in awarding a prototype.
As the priority criteria for the award is the best sound quality, there is no implied relationship as to whether someone can purchase the equipment. In fact, I would be more suspicious of gushing praise if it were for sale - moreso if the maker was a loyal advertiser- as it introduces the commercial corruption aspect that seems to permeate every discussion here.
Also, I see prototypes as a way to put new design ideas in front of the public. Isn't the cutting edge- the glimpse into the future more stimulating to you than the familiar stuff? Some may live happily on a diet only of 1963 McIntosh but I want to know as soon as possible that the jet packs we were promised in the 1963 "Popular Future Gazzette" are about ready. Of course, this is a way for a maker to get "free" publicity and market research, but remember the typically mind-boggling costs in time and money just to have the prototype. And even items that are made in small numbers are hugely expensive. I'm not an insider to the audio makers' world, but consider that a typical Formula 1 racecar steering wheel- of which probably 10 are made at a time- still costs over $50,000 each. When a manufcturer shows a prototype they are taking a huge risk- it could reveal negatives that are fixable but that will be forever ingrained on the public opinion and impossible to overcome: "Miraculous. palpable imaging, but exploded and burned down the reviewer's house." -Failures or negative reaction to protpyes could toss millions into the bin.
Many of these conspiracies of commercial corruptions of the manufacturer's, magazines and reviewers expressed on this forum strike me as insecurities. Ultimately we each have to be the critic, forming preferences for sound qualities and eventually opinions of what gear makes the kind of distortions we like better. If the audiophile doesn't listen, remember, and compare, and then discover whether the reviewers hear it the same way, the review is useless. With reviewers, one can only judge- and eventually trust- their taste and integrity by first learning to trusting one's own.
I had a 1990 $13 Hitachi clock radio and this had an amazing talent- wherever there was a triangle in a symphony, the triangle sound stood away from the mush and had a detail, purity and naturalness that is still the best reproduction of the triangle I've ever heard. So, in "Bambi's Absolute Noise Awards"- I award the 2008 "Bambi" the prestigious "Grand Prix de Triangle Non Plus Ultra" to the 1990 Hitachi $13 AM-FM clock radio, black. - And NO, you CAN'T buy one!
Cheers,
Bambi B
Edits: 05/11/08Follow Ups:
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