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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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In Reply to: Re: In the real world hands on experience is the only thing that should matter... posted by hahax@rcn.com on November 27, 2005 at 19:58:33:
All those neighborhoods I mentioned are inhabited by people with higher educations and (possibly) higher IQ's. ;) It depends on what you mean by "audiophile" I guess. Most people who own high-end equipment do not participate in this forum; most do not subscribe to the magazines (based on magazine circulation numbers versus high-end audio sales). It seems to me there are basically three types of potential buyers for high-end systems:(1) People that have heard such systems at a friend's or collegue's home. They then make a purchase based on that friend's or collegue's and a dealer's recommendation. They may buy a few issues of Stereophile or TAS as part of their research, but once the system is purchased they don't continue reading the magazines, etc. For these people the music is more important than the equipment.
(2) People who take a delight in being different, having finer tastes, having expensive things, etc., but know little (care little?) about music or what constitutes a good systems. These people subscribe to the magazines, and use the magazine's recommended components as a buying guide, non-comformist conformists so to speak. These people make all their buying decisions based on magazine reviews because they "can't" make them on anything else, i.e., knowledge. This is not unique to high-end audio. It is as prevalent in academics and politics as in high-end audio, i.e., intellectual followers who instead of thinking for themselves have an almost unshakable "faith" in what the majority thinks (i.e., magazine reviewers), because it is rooted in human nature. For these people the equipment, and the prestige that comes from owning the equipment, is more important than the music. IMO, these people make up the bulk of magazine subscriptions.
(3) True hobbyists who understand what makes a good system, and are able to judge with their own two ears. These people take delight not only in the music, but also in the equipment, i.e., the engineering behind it. As with any pursuit, these people are the minority.
The fact is that for a magazine to be successful (i.e., not on the verge of collapse every month) it must cater to each of these groups. What separates the good from the average magazine is the ability (or lack thereof) to be Shakespearean, i.e., amuse, entertain and lift up the rabble AND entertain and educate the elite. I'll be the first to admit that the major magazines have lost the "hobbyist" feel they once had. For instance, when I first started reading Stereophile and TAS there were fairly frequent articles on commercial mods and kits. You don't see that anymore in the major magazines. Unless one read Audio Perfectionist, Positive Feedback, 6 Moons, etc. the average audiophile would likely never know who Allen Wright is. That is why, despite their flaws, these alternate sources of information play such an important role. That is also why I spend my time on DIYAudio instead of the magazine's websites.
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Follow Ups
- Re: In the real world hands on experience is the only thing that should matter... - Wade Davis 11/28/0506:08:14 11/28/05 (0)
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