I suppose there may be a dishonest reviewer or two out there, but I think the vast majority are honest, and their reviews are compromised only by their own belief systems and biases, same as you and me. I see no evidence that any of the buff mags are pimping for the big equipment makers, like the car buff mags do. Stereo Review, of course, if it still exists, is another story. I doubt anyone interested in this topic takes anything in that magazine seriously.
But, what motivated me to respond to this thread is the comment above that reviewers have to pay the mortgage. Except for the principals involved in the serious magazines and the internet mags, my impression is that most reviewers have day jobs. For example, my favorite reviewer (because he turned me on to my Harbeth Compact 7's), Robert Greene, is a math professor.
Now, there are editors and publishers whose livelihood depends on advertising revenue. Thus, I would be surprised to see really negative reviews in the buff mags. What purpose would that serve? Yet, for example, John Atkinson, wrote a very positive review of my Harbeth HL-P3's and later a very negative review of the Harbeth BBC LS5/12a's. (BTW, the P3's, like my Harbeth Compact 7's and all the current Harbeth speakers, were designed by Harbeth MD Alan Shaw and the 5/12a's are a BBC design). Now, Harbeth was never a big advertiser, and Ive never seen a bad review of a B&W, but still my impression is JA is a straight-shooter (quasi-anechoic chamber notwithstanding).
You also have to consider that except for speakers and mass market junk sold at the electronics emporia, most audio equipment nowadays is fairly priced, i.e, performance is about what you would expect for the price.
But, what motivated me to respond to this thread is the comment above that reviewers have to pay the mortgage. Except for the principals involved in the serious magazines and the internet mags, my impression is that most reviewers have day jobs. For example, my favorite reviewer (because he turned me on to my Harbeth Compact 7's), Robert Greene, is a math professor.
Now, there are editors and publishers whose livelihood depends on advertising revenue. Thus, I would be surprised to see really negative reviews in the buff mags. What purpose would that serve? Yet, for example, John Atkinson, wrote a very positive review of my Harbeth HL-P3's and later a very negative review of the Harbeth BBC LS5/12a's. (BTW, the P3's, like my Harbeth Compact 7's and all the current Harbeth speakers, were designed by Harbeth MD Alan Shaw and the 5/12a's are a BBC design). Now, Harbeth was never a big advertiser, and Ive never seen a bad review of a B&W, but still my impression is JA is a straight-shooter (quasi-anechoic chamber notwithstanding).
You also have to consider that except for speakers and mass market junk sold at the electronics emporia, most audio equipment nowadays is fairly priced, i.e, performance is about what you would expect for the price.