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In Reply to: I'd like to see EVERY reviewer do part of what Art did. posted by Rick W on February 25, 2007 at 09:04:15:
>I'd like to see EVERY reviewer do part of what Art did...Tell us
>how they got every component/accessory in their possession.
I posted my list on the Asylum a few years back. I will do so again.
>It's quite possible that long lists of "associated equipment"
>include many items the reviewer didn't buy...
Of course.
>...and may not even normally use.
No. We try to ensure that everything a Stereophile reviewer lists
in the sidebar accompanying the review is in active use.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Follow Ups:
> I posted my list on the Asylum a few years back. I will do so again.
I have only listed equipment that is in current use, either in my
listening room or elsewhere in my home. I own other items that are in
storage and haven't been used in a long time. I also haven't listed
samples that I have on loan and are currently under review or
equipment connected with Stereophile's recording activities, all of
which I own. Nor have I listed the small number of "distressed"
review samples that we have in storage but can't be returned to the
manufacturer because they are no longer in business:
Items Purchased:
Linn Sondek LP12 turntable (x2)
Linn Linto turntable power supply
Linn Ekos tonearm
Linn Arkiv B phono cartridge
B&W Silver Signature loudspeakers
Celestion SL6 loudspeakers
Rogers LS3/5a loudspeakers
Mark Levinson No.33 monoblocks
Musical Fidelity M250 monoblock (1, used for speaker measurements)
Mark Levinson No.380S preamplifier
NHT PVC passive preamplifier
Linn Linto phono preamplifier
Mark Levinson No.31.5 CD transport
Ayre C-5xe universal player
Technics DVD-AX10 DVD player
Pioneer 578 universal player
Toshiba DV79 DVD player
Musical Fidelity Nuvista 3D CD player
Mark Levinson No.30.6 D/A processor
Benchmark DAC 1 D/A headphone amplifier
dCS 972 digital-digital converter
Z-Systems rdp-1 digital equalizer
Slim Devices Squeezebox WiFi D/A processor
Apple 30GB iPod
HeadRoom Blockhead headphone amplifier
Sennheiser HD580, HD600, HD650 headphones
Sony MDR-7506 headphones
Power Wedge AC conditioner (x3)
Target and Sound Organization racks
Cables from Canare, Madrigal, Apogee, Power Wedge, Linn
Room Treatments from ASC and RPG
Items on manufacturer-sanctioned long-term loan:
Benchmark ADC 1 A/D converter
Revel Ultima Studio loudspeakers
Mark Levinson No.326 preamp
Mark Levinson No.32 preamp
Classe cdp-202 DVD/CD player
(all of the above are scheduled to be returned in March 2007)
Musical Fidelity X-24K D/A processor
APC S-15 power conditioner (x2)
Ray Samuels Emmeline SR71 headphone amplifier
Ultimate Audio UE5 and UE10 headphones
(I have offered to return these, but they are custom-molded to the
shape of my inner ear, making them useless to anyone else)
Shure E3 headphones
Celestion SL speaker stands (3 pairs)
Cables from AudioQuest, Cardas, Crystal Cable, Ayre, Kimber,
Madrigal, DH Labs, DiMarzio, Stereovox, PS Audio, SynergisticItems on loan that I have asked to pay for but for which an invoice
has not been forthcoming:
Ultimate Audio UE5 and UE10 headphones (see above)
PS Audio P300 Power Plant
Linn Classik receiver
Ray Samuels Emmeline Hornet headphone amplifier
Yamaha @PET receiver
RME & Digital Audio Labs soundcardsI hope this disclosure is found illuminating, and I am sure that all
reviewers can produce similar lists. Note that I don't list
all this equipment in my reviews, only that which was used during the
preparation of any specific review.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Forgot to mention that I have several Shunyata AC cords on loan and a
Hydra conditioner. I also have 20 Ayre Myrtle Blocks that have been
paid for. The Benchmark ADC1 and the Classe CD player have since been
returned.
Just crossing Is and dotting Ts.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Hi John,< < Mark Levinson No.33 monoblocks > >
Don't you mean No.33H? I think the 33's weigh something like 450 pounds each and require a 230 VAC connection.
< < Cables from AudioQuest, Cardas, Crystal Cable, Ayre > >
Those Ayre cables are actually prototypes that don't sound as good as the production version. If you still use them from time-to-time, we'll be glad to trade them out for you. If they are just gathering dust, I can give them to a friend.
that's fine, it's not like a hand outs of "... trinkets or gifts (screwdrivers, watches, or whatever)" after all!Make certain you throw in a few myrtle blocks, one can never have enough myrtle blocks!
LOL
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
> Make certain you throw in a few myrtle blocks, one can never have
> enough myrtle blocks!
Thanks for the reminder. I forgot to mention in my post above that
I have about 20 Myrtle Blocks in my possession that came with various
Ayre review samples. I would be happy to pay Ayre for these, of
course.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
> I forgot to mention in my post above that I have about 20 Myrtle
> Blocks in my possession that came with various Ayre review samples.
> I would be happy to pay Ayre for these, of course.
As this seemed such an important issue to you, bjh, you should note
that I have sent Ayre Acoustics a check for these Blocks. I assume
you will now acknowledge that the ethical books are balanced.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
.
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
> Don't you mean No.33H? I think the 33's weigh something like 450
> pounds each and require a 230 VAC connection.
Yes, No.33H. My error.
> Those Ayre cables are actually prototypes that don't sound as good
> as the production version. If you still use them from time-to-time,
> we'll be glad to trade them out for you. If they are just gathering
> dust, I can give them to a friend.
Sure. I will get them back to Ayre Central. Whose attention do I
need to mark the package for?
I have two generations, BTW, both terminated with XLRs. One very
early pair (0.5m), then a later pair (1m). I had assumed the later
pair are current. If not, then yes, I would appreciate a trade-out.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Thanks, John. In your case its a very long list, probably in part because you are both editor and reviewer, and you've been in your position a long time. It'd be informative to see such lists from all your reviewers, particularly a list indicating which components -- of the ones they bought -- they prefer to set up as a system for non-professional listening. That's what your readers do.....make choices based on sound preference and cost.Just telling you what info I feel would be honest, open, and helpful. I'm not trying to rake S'phile (or other mags) over the coals, nor am I canceling my sub.
Hi-I currently have out on loan:
Pearl DS-60 stereo microphone etc.
Pearl TL-44 dual-capsule microphone etc.
Sound Devices 722 hard-disk reorder (new loan of different unit from before)
All going back within 30 daysUltrasone Edition 9 headphones
Ultrasone Pro 2500 headphones
Rudistor RPX-33 headphone amp
Edition 9 + Rudistor going back this week
Pro 2500 going back or to be bought within 90 daysGrace Design m902 DAC/linestage/headphone amp
Lent with the understanding it was to be a major source for the interim, and if the loan goes on for more than several months, I will buy it.Oppo DV970HD universal player
Going back within 30 days# # #
What I wish I'd kept:
Spendor SP-1s
Fried C-3Ls
Fried D2/C2s
Quad 402.5/44/tuner
Denon TOTL TT with massive mahogany base and "PhD" illuminated buttonsLater,
I would appreciate you thoughts some of the other things the poster said, in particular:> I want to see a list of what the reviewer thought enough of to
> spend his/her $$ on and regularly use in their system(s). Want to
> mention more? Fine, then be forthright and list it as a > gift, "manufacturer-abandoned" leftover, "bought-but-no-longer-
> used" etc.Personally I would think it would be very useful to have this information routinely provided in the "Associated Equipment" section of each review.
Perhaps to avoid making this a life's work something as simple as subsections for Owned and Loaned in each category of the "Associated Equipment" list; gifts could go with Owned, such an item prefixed with "(gift)" for example.
True there would be some work gathering the revisions from each reviewer but after that I imagine ongoing changes would be no more onerous that what is required today for the current format.
Once or twice a year, Stereophile could have a special issue, "Equipment to Diet For," in which the writers list all the they were willing to forgo dinner in order to buy.:-)
.
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
> Personally I would think it would be very useful to have this
> information routinely provided in the "Associated Equipment" section
> of each review.
I have listed my own components in another response. Speaking
personally, why I don't mind providing such information, I believe
other reviewers, particularly for other magazines, will not be as
forthcoming. But to do so in the magazine is cumbersome given the
churn in components used and, I believe, unnecessary. Either you
trust a magazine and read it or you don't trust it and you don't
read it.
I also wonder what your agenda is? Art Dudley and Michael Fremer have
mentioned in the magazine what they own, John Marks and I have done
so in this thread, yet you (and others) don't seem able to leave this
subject alone with respect to Stereophile. Why don't you put the
question to the reviewers and editors of other magzines that frequent
this forum before continuing your inquisition of Stereophile's
writers?
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
If you would prefer to avoid disccusion of certain topics then don't publish thought provoking articles on same in your magazine.
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
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