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Classes in Stereophile

An NHRA drag race is won by the car with the lowest elapsed time. That is a one-dimensional decision matrix.

Whether this loudspeaker is preferable to that loudspeaker must involve at least six factors and perhaps a dozen. Most of those factors are subjective--at least in the sense that even though one can measure efficiency, bass extension etc. objectively, where each factor fits in tradeoffs is a subjective personal decision. E.g., the person who pays about $2000 for LS3/5As or clones has made the subjective decision to pass over speakers costing less that go deeper in the bass.

So, as far as I am concerned, that a Class B component costs more than a Class A component does not mean that someone might not prefer the component that ended up in Class B for whatever reason.

And NB, JA has never claimed that all writers have heard and vote on all components eligible for RCL. It is possible I take the cake for covering the greatest number of "off the beaten path" components, and because of that, I often ask JA to follow up on something I think is really really good, or which I think is on the cusp of two categories. I think that the fine print does a good job of letting people know, for example, if a component has only received column coverage and only from one person, versus a full review and more than one other voice.

But the piece only ST or I have heard might be just the ticket for you, while something that has had a full review and in addition WP, MF, and AD have weighed in on, might strike you as a nothingburger.

From that perspective, I agree with JA's inclusive policy.

Cheerio,

JM

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