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Mag editors and interviewers could do better

Is it just me or are there others who find the typical interviews with audio designers in the paper mags to promise more than they deliver? I'm not out to try and learn the intimate details of the people who design truly state-of-the-art gear, but I guess I’d like to know more that the predicable questions in the mags. But is this wise though? Is it better to not ‘meet’ your heroes. I'm just not sure.

For example, what design process led to the magnificent Vandersteen 7 product? Not just ‘we wanted better’ or ‘we didn’t cut corners’ and stuff like that. What did Beveridge use as his benchmark? Not just ‘try to recreate the live sound’ and so on. So, despite my uncertainty if this is a wise cause, I will be very interested to know the questions that people like us would like answered – if indeed there was an opportunity to ask them?
Thanks.

My system (passive)
Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures
LFD PA2M (SE) power amp
Benchmark DAC-pre
XTZ Cd player
Kenwood / Trio KT917 FM tuner
Nakamichi 682 tape
Pink Triangle PT Too
Breuer 8 Dynamic arm
Van den Hul MC1
LFD phono stage
Speaker cables – various LFD Audio
Interconnects – vintage Stereovox and LFD
Power cords – Black Rhodium, PS Audio
Power regeneration – PS Audio
128x128bigaitch

Showing 2 responses by cerrot

cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Bigaitch,

I would agree with you. It would be a nice addition to know what the designer was thinking of. I should not dismiss that so quickly. I was thinking in the realms of a trade-off. I would rather have the info I truly need and pass on the hyperbole but in the perfect world I would very much like to know what the designer wanted to achieve while i was experiencing the piece of gear. I just feel there is so much more info of value they could be giving us. I scratch my head on why all reviewers on one magazine do not have specific standard tracks they all play when reviewing gear. That would make things easier for us as well. I think HP leaving TAS has opened up my eyes a bit. I don't think TAS gives the streight scoop - only the straight revenue generating ads.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I'd just settle for a 'complete' review.

It wasn't until TAS reviewed an updated version of the Walker turntable, that they mentioned issues on the older ones.

Why don't they comment on a products noise and other real world issues? Telling me a cd player "sounds like vinyl" but than sounds like a rocket ship going of when I buy it does me not good.

At this point, I couldn't care less for the reviewer to tell me what the designer was thinking of when he conceived his fare. I would rather know what isolation the component sits on, how many hours of breakin & warm up, what cables are being used, etc.
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