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Question for Jim Austin

107.139.217.246
Posted on November 9, 2020 at 07:42:55
Dale Clark
 I know all the magazine writers, editors pretty much know each other. Just curious, do you guys communicate with each other as to not have equipment reviews published during the same month?

Just curious. I've seen very little crossover with equipment reviews unless its something borderline Home Theatre that Sound and Vision may take on. Personally, if I were an editor, I would try to coordinate such as to not have the same equipment featured at the same time

Thanks
Dale

 

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RE: Question for Jim Austin, posted on November 9, 2020 at 09:28:36
Jim Austin
Reviewer

Posts: 71
Location: New York
Joined: March 11, 2019
 Dale,

Being fairly new to this job, I actually don't know that many writers and editors beyond the Stereophile orbit, and I don't interact with them. (I'm sure I would do so more, especially at audio shows, if we were not in the middle of a pandemic.) The only coordination I engage in is through the company reps I work with to arrange reviews, who know I (like other editors, I assume) prefer not to have reviews of the same products in Stereophile and competing magazines at the same time.

Best Wishes,

Jim Austin, Editor

Stereophile

 

RE: Question for Jim Austin, posted on November 9, 2020 at 13:11:55
Dale Clark
 That makes sense....thanks

 

RE: Question for Jim Austin, posted on November 9, 2020 at 16:46:54
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8385
Joined: June 3, 2006
 What's the harm in having the same equipment reviewed at the same time? I think it will be interesting to get two opinions at once.

Bill

 

RE: Question for Jim Austin, posted on November 10, 2020 at 06:44:01
Dale Clark
 I would think manufacturers would prefer to " spread" the coverage as to keep the product in a spotlight for longer periods of time

 

It Varies, Actually, posted on November 12, 2020 at 17:13:42
Doug Schneider
Reviewer

Posts: 881
Location: North America
Joined: April 16, 2005
 Hi,

Knowing a thing or two about this, I can say that insofar as product reviews go, it varies, usually between these things:

1) There are some companies just happy as heck to get a review anywhere, anytime, so there's no rhyme or reason for where, when, and why something shows up.

2) There are some companies that don't want reviews.

3) There are companies that prefer to get it all out at the same time -- they send a certain number of products out and the magazines do what they wish, usually the quicker the better.

4) There are occasionally companies that will send out for one review -- that's it.

5) Finally, there are, as you said, companies that just wish to spread out the coverage over time. This is difficult as it means convincing the magazines to work along with them and also learning their publishing schedule so it can happen. But it happens -- but there are fewer of these companies that you'd think.

Doug Schneider
www.SoundStage.com

 

RE: It Varies, Actually, posted on November 12, 2020 at 20:11:09
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8385
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Stretching it a bit, imagine three leading magazines coming up with review of the same speaker. It can give the impression that the speaker is so good the editors cannot wait. It may also say that everybody is rushing to buy the speaker. I think if a profile of the designer also appears simultaneously in three magazines it is sure to make me rush to buy the speaker. Something close to it happened I think in the review of Elac Debut speakers.

Cheers

Bill

 

RE: It Varies, Actually, posted on November 13, 2020 at 18:48:55
Doug Schneider
Reviewer

Posts: 881
Location: North America
Joined: April 16, 2005
 Hi,

I wouldn't call it that much of a stretch -- it *could* happen -- but some logistical things can make it difficult. So unless the manufacturer really controls the flow of the gear and purposely delays pieces to account for different publishing schedules, it's unlikely.

For example, just by the nature of it, print is going to be the last to get something out review-wise -- they have to write the review, create the issue, send it to print, distribute it, etc. This is why print magazines are so behind these days -- unless they can get a piece of gear way up front from anyone else. It takes months to produce a final product for the readers.

On the other hand, the YouTubers can usually whip something out in no time at all -- they could have a review in days if not hours if someone really wanted to. Online magazines can produce very quickly too. What can sometimes hold us back, however, are the measurements, which we do in batches. Gathering the gear, shipping, getting it measured -- that can all add weeks. But, depending, we can sometimes work around that.

So there are all those considerations, too.

Doug Schneider
www.SoundStage.com

 

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