Rules on Review...

Natalie is dead on. It's very hard to believe any reviewing magazine, dependant on advertising, to turn a profit, who will slam potential clients. Also, many of the audio industry's reviewing giants, if you will, are wined, dined, courted and gently loved to death. Do you think they will slam a product by one of these companies? I don't. Infact, you never see a bad review. I'm willing to bet, the only thing they do about a negative review, is to tell them before publication, giving the option to pull it. How come there are certain companies that never get reviewed? Never. Companies that are known to have killer electronics and the like? Very honest, don't you think? Is something rotten here? Consumer Reports is the only one out there that does any type of reviewing right. You read Sam Tellig's outstanding review of MF's new DAC and the next month they have the back cover ad. Very expensive and hard to get. Coincidence? They give the PS Audio 300 and 600 reviews that this product is the next coming. There are more of these babies, for sale, on Audiogon then anything. The power of the press, planting audio greatness seeds, has been going on forever. I read everything anyway, and then I go to my two, most trusted, bright, critical companions for first hand advice: MY TWO EARS. They haven't steered me wrong yet. (and if they ever do. I will forgive them, because I know they didn't do it maliciously or with a hidden agenda.) I have all the confidence in the world, in them, and so should you. Your ears that is. I love mine , and we'll hopefully, be together in good working order, for a long time to come.

I just read JA's review of the new Thiel 1.6. He had the classist way of saying that he was less than crazy about the speakers. You guys agree? (those of you who've read it, of course) I guess there is a way to write, not a negative, but a less than crazy about, review. It's a gentle thing; and I guess we audiophools know the dif. I suppose that's all that's necessary. Not quite the same review as the, less costly, Revel M20s, back about 6 months ago. Comparably priced (the Revels with stands, of course)- I know which I would buy, or at least lean toward.