pocket. I fail to grasp why the fact that I disgree with you over this
matter means I support the interests of my advertisers over those on
my readers.
"In fact, Stereophile's policy on reviews is generally unpopular with
manufacturers, because it prevents a brand being launched in the US
on the back of a positive review. Which is why I implemented it back
in the 1980s. Much the same reasoning underlies our '5-dealer rule.'"
And I respectfully suggest that you avail yourself of a good dictionary. I neither said nor did I imply "conspiracy". I did not suggest that any more than if I were to point to a merchant's good customer service. That is not a conspiracy. But, perhaps as my grandmother used to say, "The thief's hat is on fire."
A review is not the only means to inform your readers. It turns out, in fact, that Harry Pearson (who seemed at once less beholden to advertisers and less successful than you) wrote about the qualities of the Shelter cartridge in The Absolute Sound before anyone was importing them. Apparently he found it of such quality and so reasonably priced that he could not resist. If memory serves he hoped that someone would import it. An adventurous soul could put that together with what Arthur Salvatore wrote, or with what information one could pick up on the Asylum and come to the correct conclusion, and purchase.
But not by reading Stereophile at the time.
It is not unreasonable for a relatively large circulation magazine (or commercial webzine) to write about products that are generally and easily available and have a continuing and convenient supply stream. But for the hobbyist, and I think the Asylum is full of hobbyists, that is not enough. Hence the interest in, and need for, sites like the Asylum and Arthur Salvatore's "High End Audio".
Mel
