Critic's Corner

It has happened, and it is bad for everybody, I think.

72.82.29.123

In Reply to: RE: Hello John! posted by thetubeguy1954 on May 22, 2008 at 10:14:01

I think that a designer should design, and while the opinions of other people can be valid data points, a designer who is ready for the big leagues should not act as a weather vane, turning this way and that as the wind blows.

There have been a few cases where a designer has appeared to be willing to change a product in response to a review. IMHO when that happens, it is bad for everybody. On the other hand, I heard a story from a dealer once that he had been told by the manufacturer that his Manufacturer's Comment was insincere, and that there in fact were no product changes in response to the review. Which leads to the John Dean Watergate problem--lying then or lying now? That guy is no longer on the scene, so that case can stay closed.

A product that is ready for the big leagues will have been tried out by its designer with as wide a variety of associated equipment and in several radically different listening rooms. The longer I stick at this, the more I appreciate the wisdom of JA's policy that a magazine should not be the backbone of a product's marketing. I love it when an importer tells me check back next year, he is backordered 24 amps as it is and does not want to make matters worse. That tells me that people who have to pay for the product are liking it, and that it is the marketplace and not one's poobah's opinion that is driving things.

But to return to your original point, while I can think of one case apart from the ones you cite, I don't think it is a huge issue. And I would rather get a ManCom that says, politely, one monkey don't stop this show.

JM

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