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In Reply to: Don't confuse commentary vs. criticism; and... posted by cdb on February 17, 2007 at 14:16:49:
Is it a perfect rule?No.
Is it better than nothing? Yes.
In theory, a games-player could qualify under the rule by placing products on consignment in Boston, Worcester, Nashua, New London, and Providence. OK. Very funny.
But a company with dealers in: NYC, LA, Miami, Huston, and Chicago probably has a dealer within a 4-hour one-way drive of a sizeable chunk of Stereophile's subscribers.
And, in my experience, a company that can attract 5 real dealers is over the hump, and if the product is good, more dealers will sign up, especially if there is a favorable review.
I never want to say, "Don't get near the water until you can swim," but, I also feel that writers have an obligation to keep their enthusiasms in (prudent) check. It is the consumer who bears the burden when a boom-and-bust company busts. Not the writer.
Follow Ups:
keep them there on consignment to satisfy the minimum criteria. this is an old manufacturers trick, and there are many more to capture the consumer and the big review in the early life of an audio company. we used to send the review samples in the most rare and attractive wood to capture an accomodation sale too. the more things change, the more......
> in my experience, a company that can attract 5 real dealers is over
> the hump...
This is exactly the point, John. I was once told by a new manufacturer
how difficult it was for him to get his product sold by 5 dealers, yet
for established companies, it is not hard at all.
The 5-dealer rule means that the new company can experience its
growing pains without being exposed to the glare of a magazine review
(vide Zanden), and get essential feedback about what it is doing from
a team of experienced listeners -- the people who work on dealers'
sales floors. By the time they have 5 dealers, it is likely that they
will be ready for "prime time." See www.stereophile.com/asweseeit/746
> Is it a perfect rule? No.
> Is it better than nothing? Yes.
Without such a rule, the reader has to rely on the judgement of the
magazine's editors and writers that a particular company is ready
for review exposure. And as as has been pointed out, that that
judgment is not influenced by outside factors with entities other
than Stereophile cannot be taken for granted.
Regarding the longevity rule, I find it interesting, but with some
exceptions -- such as BEL noted by Charlie Hansen -- it will map the
5-dealer rule closely, in my experience. One high-profile
manufacturer has suggested that we pull a "Dun & Bradstreet" on every
company whose product we want to review and use that as a guide. After
all, the conventional wisdom in business is that until a company is
turning an annual gross revenue of at least $1m, it is a hobby rather
than a business. But given that almost all high-end audio companies in
the US are closely held and, unlike the UK, their finances are not in
the public record, that would be unworkable, I feel.
The fact remains that _all_ magazines have to choose what they feel
worth giving review coverage to. The paradox is that at Stereophile,
we make our guidelines public knowledge and are criticized for doing
so, while at other magazines, such decisions are made behind closed
doors, "in smoke-filled rooms," and no-one utters a peep of protest.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Music First Audio, DIY/HiFi Supply (NOT all kits), Supratek (as mentioned), Amazon turntables and I believe a substantial number of other companies producing products well thought of and also favorably reviewed by other mags/e-zines have been in existence for a while now. By JA's rule excellent products competitive with those S'phile chooses to review (in terms of sound, build quality, cost, even customer service) could be around for twenty years and still not qualify.
Not a bad idea. It might make sense to amend the rule to "five dealers or else being in business for XX number of years".But as John Marks pointed out, it's still not perfect. Take for example Brown Electronics Labs (BEL). By all accounts, they make a fine amplifier at a reasonable price. I believe that they only have two active dealers, but they have been in business for something like 20 years. So they would qualify under your proposed rule. But my understanding is that they only produce a handful of amplifiers each month and the waiting list is well over six months, even with only two dealers. Would it serve Stereophile's readers to review such a product? Maybe, I don't know. What do you think?
I recently heard a BEL amp that is a few years old and was quite pleasantly surprise with how sweet and musical it sounds (I am more of a low-powered tube person myself). I have not even heard about them in many years, so it is good to know they are still around.
By the way, whenever someone asks about solid state gear, I always mention Ayre amps and linestages as being among the solid state stuff I have heard that sounds good.Also, I think it is commendable that you so frequently mention other manufacturers in a favorable light in your postings.
< < I think it is commendable that you so frequently mention other manufacturers in a favorable light in your postings. > >Only the ones I like!
Actually, there are quite a few good products and companies out there. Look at BAT, for instance. They make a fine product with a well-deserved reputation for sound quality and reliability. Victor Khomenko is often found on these forums offering helpful (and factual, unlike some other "experts") advice. (I also think he must be a little older and wiser than I am, as he offends people far less frequently than do I...)
I came close to standing in line for a BEL 1001 Mk5. My instincts got the better of me and I decided to venture elsewhere.
There is no question that the BEL has a following and is undoubtedly a great sounding little amp.
I was a little taken back by the $4K price, especially since I did some mental math and concluded that the parts cost was less than $700 in single quantities.
When you have a six month backlog you can keep bumping up the price until the demand is in line with your capabilities.
this is just a suggestion that'll go nowhere. JA ain't gonna change his rule.
nt
Both ACI and Ohm have been reviewed in Stereophile, but I admit not
for many years. They both have a very low profile these days.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
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Although I'd still love to see, say, the middle of the current Ohm line get reviewed by some place that does measurements.
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