I received my Absolute Sound today and was reading a review of the Rotel RDD 1580 DAC by Spencer Holbert.The meat of the review I did not take exception to. It was the fact that he refused to divulge the mystery DAC that was so thoroughly trounced by the Rotel RDD-1580. Here is a excerpt from TAS:
With the comparison DAC the effect was "similar", but the soundstage was truncated, never extending beyond the edges of the speakers, and about half the depth.This was using the same USB cable, the same computer - the same everything. For the same price, the RDD-1580 put the comparison DAC to shame, and was far more engaging in it's ability elicit a viceral response to the music. Several times during the track "Discovering" I caught myself clenching my fists and sliding toward the edge of my seat, all because the RDD-1580 made the music that much more gripping.
Ok; great DAC. What is the "comparison" DAC that was as Spencer put it, "put to shame"?
In the comments following the online review one reader asks; "Did I miss something, or did the author really refuse to say what the comparison DAC was?" To which the author replies;
"I admit, guilty as charged. But I feel it is not my place to denigrate companies, but rather point out the good ones. I think it would be unwise to be too negative about a brand, because they can turn around and come out with great products overnight. Rotel had some rough years, but they have really made a comeback."
What bravery! This kind of SH!T makes me want to puke!
Certain editors of magazines wonder why subcribers question their integrity and ethics.We sure wouldn't want upset the company of the "comparison" DAC, as they might not be so intersted in doing business with us in the future........
I wonder if reviewers at TAS are issued one of these (pictured) when they accept a position at TAS?
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Adendum
I find it curious that only one reviewer thus far has chimed in. It makes me wonder if there is a unwritten rule amongst reviewers to not have an opinion in a public forum that may be seen as critical or supportive to one of their own - curious......
Edits: 04/07/14 04/09/14
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Topic - TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - geezerrocket 10:48:49 04/07/14 (84)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - fantja 10:44:01 06/15/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - sholbert@theabsolutesound.com 12:43:59 06/12/14 (1)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - lord addleford 15:04:27 06/12/14 (0)
- no unwritten reviewer code as far as I know - Sue Kraft 20:28:39 04/09/14 (9)
- RE: "Do you think Rotel will be bragging how their DAC is so good... - Ivan303 19:15:57 04/10/14 (2)
- Sad, isn't it? - Sue Kraft 08:23:30 04/11/14 (0)
- RE: "Do you think Rotel will be bragging how their DAC is so good... - geezerrocket 08:18:39 04/11/14 (0)
- RE: no unwritten reviewer code as far as I know - Sprezza Tura 21:02:18 04/09/14 (5)
- Agree----NT - lancelot 06:34:27 04/10/14 (4)
- RE: Agree----NT - Sue Kraft 09:34:40 04/10/14 (3)
- RE: Agree----NT - Sprezza Tura 09:38:02 04/10/14 (2)
- RE: Agree----NT - Sue Kraft 13:11:07 04/10/14 (1)
- RE: Agree----NT - Sprezza Tura 14:19:34 04/10/14 (0)
- What I am realizing is the reviewer community is a club... - Steve Parry 15:12:59 04/09/14 (20)
- The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - Ralph 13:56:34 04/11/14 (12)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - chervokas 13:21:09 06/13/14 (5)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - Ralph 14:18:25 06/13/14 (3)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - chervokas 19:03:09 06/13/14 (0)
- Let's set expectations - Bill Way 15:00:11 06/13/14 (1)
- RE: Agreed nt - Ralph 08:55:25 06/16/14 (0)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - lord addleford 14:13:03 06/13/14 (0)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - rick_m 10:13:17 04/14/14 (1)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - Ralph 11:06:53 04/14/14 (0)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - geezerrocket 15:15:03 04/11/14 (3)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - Ralph 09:28:23 04/14/14 (2)
- RE: The correct principle is that a rising tide raises all boats - geezerrocket 10:50:09 04/14/14 (1)
- its funny, - Ralph 11:12:15 04/14/14 (0)
- Like Groucho said... - mkuller 18:54:22 04/09/14 (3)
- RE: Like Groucho said... - oldmkvi 08:33:19 04/10/14 (2)
- That was a great era... - mkuller 10:16:23 04/10/14 (1)
- Shirley you've seen - oldmkvi 10:54:13 04/10/14 (0)
- Nah, not a club - Sue Kraft 16:59:29 04/09/14 (0)
- RE: What I am realizing is the reviewer community is a club... - John Atkinson 15:28:27 04/09/14 (1)
- RE: What I am realizing is the reviewer community is a club... - bjh 17:26:38 04/09/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - middleground 05:23:17 04/08/14 (1)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - bjh 06:46:54 04/08/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 18:20:53 04/07/14 (33)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - geezerrocket 20:39:39 04/08/14 (3)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 17:37:10 04/09/14 (2)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 19:04:22 04/09/14 (1)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 23:36:56 04/10/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 19:22:30 04/07/14 (25)
- Don't be so naive - Alan Sircom 12:14:21 04/09/14 (1)
- RE: Don't be so naive - Sprezza Tura 12:32:10 04/09/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Tony Lauck 10:05:17 04/08/14 (17)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 10:20:23 04/08/14 (16)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - -æ- 08:26:44 04/09/14 (5)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 08:31:56 04/09/14 (4)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Tony Lauck 10:12:17 04/09/14 (3)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 11:21:50 04/09/14 (2)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Tony Lauck 11:38:25 04/09/14 (1)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 12:26:13 04/09/14 (0)
- 99.99999999 % - fmak 22:21:03 04/08/14 (9)
- RE: 99.99999999 % - Sprezza Tura 22:59:23 04/08/14 (8)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - fmak 09:05:56 04/09/14 (7)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Sprezza Tura 14:20:38 04/10/14 (4)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Tony Lauck 18:23:11 04/10/14 (3)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Sprezza Tura 18:27:47 04/10/14 (2)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Tony Lauck 18:31:01 04/10/14 (1)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Sprezza Tura 18:35:22 04/10/14 (0)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Sprezza Tura 11:23:16 04/09/14 (0)
- RE: 99.99999999 %_No - Tony Lauck 10:03:24 04/09/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 21:12:28 04/07/14 (3)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - jamesgarvin 07:51:16 04/08/14 (2)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 17:33:29 04/08/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - standingstones 13:38:37 04/08/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - The Bored 20:31:28 04/07/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - geezerrocket 18:58:50 04/07/14 (2)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 19:02:05 04/07/14 (1)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - RGA 22:03:02 04/07/14 (0)
- You are absolutely correct - the reviewer... - mkuller 15:29:12 04/07/14 (2)
- RE: You are absolutely correct - the reviewer... - Sprezza Tura 19:08:22 04/07/14 (0)
- "A publication way past its prime"... - Steve O 16:23:08 04/07/14 (0)
- Nope. I agree why is he required to diss something not about the reviewed product? not... - Elizabeth 14:59:26 04/07/14 (5)
- RE: Nope. I agree why is he required to diss something not about the reviewed product? not... - geezerrocket 17:33:00 04/07/14 (4)
- This kind of stuff is par for the course in paid reviewing.... - Tom Schuman 01:02:55 04/11/14 (1)
- RE: This kind of stuff is par for the course in paid reviewing.... - geezerrocket 05:12:54 04/11/14 (0)
- RE: Nope. I agree why is he required to diss something not about the reviewed product? not... - RGA 17:43:04 04/08/14 (0)
- I understand you point. I still do not think it is required to say which DAC. But it's retail $ told + nt - Elizabeth 14:48:17 04/08/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Diogenes 13:07:53 04/07/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Jive Turkey 13:04:47 04/07/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Pat D 12:30:20 04/07/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - Sprezza Tura 12:01:18 04/07/14 (0)
- RE: TAS Spencer Holbert's Shameful Admission. - fmak 11:07:12 04/07/14 (0)