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You're a manufacturer presumably not a dolt so please cut the act.

> > Please clarify. Point to the review or reviews where this
> > happened?
Every review in Stereophile for starters. Don't you understand their published review policies?

> > Can you legitimately say that a crap component got a good review?

I never said such a thing. I said it appears that 90% of all equipment reviewed gets a positive review and probably 1/2 of them end up in the recommended components list.

> > Which? When? Oh, it's your subjective opinion regarding the nature
> > of a review or events?

What's "its"? If all or most of the reviews I read are positive how does that, a positive review, in anyway distinquish any reviewed component as being exceptional? My point is that it doesn't - but it does clearly effect what components many audiophiles consider worthy of purchase and it does effect dealer stock lists. This obviously means, to anyone who is capable of understanding, that mediocre equipment ends up in the recommended components list and on dealer shelves.

> > I travel and visit the country's top dealers _weekly_. Where have
> > you derived your experinece from? A fair question, no? Be specific.

Great I don't deny there might be a dozen, maybe two dozen, really good audio dealers in the country. However there are hundreds of audio shops around the country - most of them are pretty lame and IMO many of them are lame because in order to make sales they have to craft their inventory to satisfy buyers who read the magazines.

Do you think there are more than a couple of dozen good audio dealers in this country? Do you deny that most audio dealers stock components recommended by the major magazines? Do you realize that in order for a component to be reviewed a manufacturer has to agree and actively participate?

> > You seem to decry mags as mere marketing tools for Mfgrs.

LOL! Clearly they are and they openly admit it!

> > That we'd all be better off without them and their insipid,
> > conniving ways? I couldn't disagree more.

I never said their was anything unhanded or conniving about what they do and how they do it. They have published policies and apparently audiophiles don't read them.

> > Well run magazines keep our hobby active and informed, and allow
> > Manufacturers a venue to advertise (or is that evil?).

They allow manufactures alot more than that. They allow certain manufacturers the option and the oppurtunity to use the review process to market their goods. Stereophile's process is skewed to almost insure a positive review (read it and weep) and participation in the process has good potential for a component to end up in the RCL or some other special feature.

> > The more venues for information, discussion, argument and derision
> > the better. A great print or net magazine can keep the hobby going
> > and the dialogue up to date.

You mean they provide an oppurtunity for any paricipating manufacturers product to qualify as the hype of the month.

> > They offer informed opinion with historical background, stated
> > bias, preferences and past opinions and reviews. Let's weigh that
> > with a internet review opinion from someone named, um, "Gunther".
> > No context, no system description, no idea whether he's the second
> > cousin of the manufacturer, but because it's --net-- it's more
> > credible? I _know_ this self-marketing nonsense goes on daily on
> > the net.

Yada yada! I'm not complaining about the review per se - a competent dealer working with astute audiophiles (laugh) can overcome a bad review. I'm talking about the review policies/process, recommended listings and other special features available to manufacturers playing ball with the magazines.

> > That is patently ridiculous based on my expereience and _requires_
> > you to state specifics- stores, salesman etc. There are extremely
> > few top HE shops in the US I haven't been to, so I am interested
> > in comparing notes?

Again I don't disagree that there might be a couple of dozen good audio stores in this country. Do you think there are this many or more or less? Or are you telling me that the top audio shops in the country aren't much different than the average mom and pop brick and mortar audio shop? Or don't you make such a distinction?

Most audio shops I visit don't stock or display anything other than whats advertised or marketed through the major US magazines and far and away most of the equipment stocked is lines that show up in the Stereophile recommended components list.

It's ludicrious for you to base your objection to my comments because you travel to the top audio shops in the country on a regular basis. BFD - I'm not talking about the top audio shops I'm talking about the average shop and the average shop is stocked full of Stereophile recommended components.

Or have you been so busy travelling to the top stores in the country that you are actually so out of touch don't realize what's going on in the average audio shop?

> > Given thee breadth of the RC list, it's hard to be a dealer and
> > represent _none_ of those products, which dilutes your opinions
> > and conspiracy theories to their element--IMO.

Please there's nothing about my comments that hints at or suggests a conspiracy. The magazines openly publish their review policies - apparently audiophiles, yourself included, have failed to read them and understand what they mean.

> > What great products missed a review for lack of ads? You offer
> > tons of opinion, but no specifics? Name names and we can get to

"Ads"? What are you talking about "Ads"? I never said anything about ads.

Why don't you read Stereophiles and other magazines equipment review policies, the disclaimers on their Recommended Components lists.

THEN REALIZE THAT SOME MANUFACTURERS BUY ADVERTISING AND/OR SUBMIT COMPONENTS FOR REVIEW NOT ONLY TO SELL TO INDIVIDUALS BUT TO SELL THEIR LINES TO DEALERS.

Yes the magazines are a vehicle for equipment manufacturers - this is clear and obvious based soley upon the how the magazines chose equipment for reviews, who does the review and how the manufactures are in the drivers seat.

There is nothing covert or unhanded about it - the magazines publish their policies. You and other audiophiles simply chose to deny the implications and then go so far as to charge those who question or note the reality as conspiracy theorists.

Give me rhythm or give me death!

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