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In Reply to: Suppose a new issue of Stereophile came out and after two days... posted by TomLarson on April 20, 2007 at 18:21:22:
The Oppo review was an embarrassment. It is purchased for its VIDEO quality as opposed to audio - although the audio is fine at the price.
Why would a review not devote a paragraph or two to the strengths of the unit = its video performance. The reviewer only tacked on one sentence about the video performance as an afterthought after completely focusing on the audio.
And I believe it was also an older model. This "built-in" product review delay could contribute to the demise of printed mags vs. immediate on-line reviews of products, music and all entertainment stuff.
Follow Ups:
namyohorengekyo
For those particularly interested in video quality, please note that the Oppo OPDV971H was reviewed by Steven Stone in Stereophile's web-zine sister publication, Ultimate AV (formerly Stereophile Guide to Home Theater). It's at http://www.guidetohometheater.com/dvdplayers/1105oppo/index.html
I also did a survey of all three Oppo models for EnjoytheMusic.comThe new 981 rules.
Steven Stone
I am quite sure you could find many reviews of video performance elsehwere. Stereophile cannot be all things to all people, and I think it strikes a nice balance for all income levels. Bottom line is that I have always enjoyed seeing a new copy in my mail box.
> Why would a review not devote a paragraph or two to the strengths
> of the unit = its video performance.
Because Stereophile collectively doesn't give a damn about
television!
> I believe it was also an older model.
It is still a current model, according to Oppo. Perhaps you know
better than they do?
And I am puzzled by the fact that there doesn't appear to be a peep
of acknowledgment from those who continually bitch about the cost of
products chosen for review in my magazine that our May issue majored
on affordable gear.
John Atkinson
Editor. Stereophile
Thank you Mr. Atkinson for the Oppo review. I have subscribed to Stereophile for many years and don't care much about tv. will probably buy an Oppo for music after paying for the Sonic Euphoria PLC. Thanks to mr. Damkroger and your magazine for that pleasant expense. Would love to see a review of the more expensive Oppo. Also would love to see Mr. Dudley write about some field coil Lowther type speakers from France. Please consider it.
thanks
barondla
Hey, John, here is one voice of thanks for more affordable gear reviews. Unfortunately, I am only now reading the November 2005 issue (I have very little time to read your fine magazine, or any others, for that matter), so except for a quick glance at the cover when it arrived, I really didn't know how focused this issue was on lower-priced gear.Something to ponder: As my rig has slowly improved over the years (thanks in no small part to Stereophile), I have lost interest in other publications that more consistantly focus on lower-priced gear, like Home Theater Magazine, Sound & Vision, etc. I find that I still want to read about gear somewhat above the level of my current system. This leads me to understand how difficult your job is. Most readers would probably like you focus on gear at or slightly above the level of their own systems, and of course, everyone's system is at a different level!
John The Oppo review was good. I enjoyed reading it. It seems to me these people have nothing better to do than pick on Stereophile. I wish the issues were larger with more reviews. I enjoy looking at each issue and think you do a great jobe. Ignror these bozo's as the aspparently have no life. Thanks for your quality work.
There was nothing good in the entire issue! No Musical Fidelity, no Wilson, no big tables.... The next thing you know, we'll be reading about CD / receiver combinations - wait, no that's not right...damn!Okay, so you had the Peak Consult piece as a token, just don't make a habit of the cheap stuff.
about "budget" and "entry level" gear. Usually it's for gear that is considered very expensive by almost everybody else.
An example is when they reviewed the Rogue Atlas. They kept making excuses for its performance because it was inepensive and entry level. I have one and I consider it to be expensive at $1500 w/cover.
I guess when you play with megabuck components all day, $1500 is chump change.
My ex certainly considered my gear to be too expensive. It's one of the main reasons she left.
By the way I'm selling my Krell, Threshold and Klyne gear (all purchased new) as I finally have buyers. Why? My lowly Atlas, Quicksilver Mini Monos and QS LSP blow them away at a fraction of the price.
Thank God for lowly budget gear!
I thought it was primedias' mag, unless you are a majority shareholder in PM.Assuming your last paycheck cleared, why do you care what all the 'commentators' here say? 'Affordable' is after all, a sliding scale. Your only worry is when the ABC numbers tank; hopefully they don't, despite the fact you manage to smoke power amps due to non-real world 'testing'...
> I thought it was primedias' mag, unless you are a majority
> shareholder in PM.
I do own some stock and have the usual share options granted senior
staff. But the usage of "my magazine" is the norm in the editng
community and stems from the fact that a magazine's identity is the
editor's personal creation. Stereophile represents _my_ idea of what
an audio magazine should be and has done for the past 21 years. Why
would you have a problem with that?
> Assuming your last paycheck cleared, why do you care what all the
> 'commentators' here say?
I have always felt that magazine editors need to be responsive to
their readers, hence my continuing dialog on forums like this.
> Your only worry is when the ABC numbers tank...
Stereophile's audited circulation for the final 6 months of 2006 had
actually increased over the first 6 months of 2006, so that worry is
not imminent. :-)
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Do you really think that the only reason that JA pours his heart and soul in Stereophile is for a paycheck? That's ridiculous!He had a stake in the magazine when it was first sold. He could have retired then if Mammon were his only motivator.
Just because the only thing that matters to you appears to be money, don't make the mistake of assuming that everyone else shares the same shallow viewpoint.
Mr. Atkinson - I didn't mean to come on that strong. I'm a 10+ year subscriber to Stereophile with a separate two channel dedicated audio system and a 5.1 home theater setup elsewhere in the house.Yes, the 970 is still available as Oppo's second DVD player offering after the 971. However, I suspect you'll not review the newer 981 model (at $229). This is their present "statement" product, not the budget 970. With other manufacturers (you know who they are), you review numerous price-point models, upgrades and the latest designs.
I also liked the budget-minded focus of the May issue. But, if as I suspect, the Oppo review was a one-timer - it might have been fairer to review their newest & top model (although still very inexpensive).
Many audio enthusiasts constrained by a combination music/home theater setup might well have appreciated a combo review. At least 10% dedicated to the video quality. After all, isn't this population the market for concert videos? This particular product basically is not an audio-oriented item. It is a very cost-effective DVD/HD video player which happens to offer good sound.
I would be VERY appreciative if a follow-up review could be done on the 981. It would hardly be out of line with past Stereophile practice. (And again, I do believe yours is the best audio magazine out there). By the same token, a full scale audio/video convergence review would be nice. A totally (subjective) one not needing measurements if your testing gear is aligned towards audio.
Peep,,,Peep,,,Peep.
There didn't seem to be "peeps" about anything which is why I started thet thread. I was glad to see the affordable stuff, esp AD's review of Rega, since I have seen that advertised on audiogon and elsewhere for a few months and was wondering if it was any good.
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