Stereophile Class A and Frequency Response

03-05-08: Smeyers
I find this disturbing that Stereophile would put the speaker in this category.

Why do you find this so disturbing? Do you have some form of biblical belief in Stereophile? They are prone to the call of the dollar just as any other business.
If you wouldn't put them up on a pedestal, they wouldn't let you down.
Their recommended component section is just for shiggles.

Cheers,
John

"Why do you find this so disturbing? Do you have some form of biblical belief in Stereophile?"

For better or for worse, the ratings in Stereophile have a strong influence on the buying decision of many. If they make a claim that they will only include products that meet a specific specification within a certain elite group, they should stick with that. For me it's a general issue of integrity, and I it makes me feel less positive about the folks that run the magazine.

I don't subscribe to Stereophile, but, I can imagine that they just might be as capable of human error as anyone of us might be.

Call me jaded then, but I've been a subscriber for over 20 years, and I've seen the magazine grow into a glossy business rag. I wouldn't put integrity in the same paragraph as Stereophile anymore than I would put business and ethics together. Just as many other business' have learned to profit off their past reputation, so has Stereophile, they sold out a long time ago.

They do take good photos, 'audio porn' if you will. Also, they are somwhat helpful when reading about functional descriptions, balance control, phase invert switches, etc. You really can't take any of their subjective comments seriously though, and their recommended components is the pinnacle of all shams.

If you find yourself taking their recommended component section seriously, you should rush to the nearest audio store and listen for yourself. Then you'll realize it's all just a hoax. Yes, I do realize that they do have a strong influence, but this can also work for you. For example, take that last item that you like, and have been dreaming of, wait for Steerophile to review it, if you're lucky and it gets a poor review, then you'll save a boatload of cash when buying it.

Of course, if it helps you to sleep at night knowing that someone else thinks your stuff is 'da bomb', you can always pay more to have Stereophile endorse it.

Yes, the B&W 802D's do not belong in the Class A speaker section, according to the magazine's own policies. That should tell you all you need to know about the legitimacy of Stereophile's 'Recommeded Components' section.

I hope you don't take David Letterman's Top 10 lists this seriously too....
Also, I guess while I'm bursting your bubble on the 'Stereophile illusion', I might as well break the news that there is no Easter Bunny, Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy either.

Cheers,
John

"If you find yourself taking their recommended component section seriously, you should rush to the nearest audio store and listen for yourself."

The problem is there are so few brick and mortar shops around anymore, so more of us rely on reviews, reputation, etc. and take a chance with our purchases. If you don't live near a good size city, the choices are even fewer. Also many of the shops that still do exist often do not carry the product that you want to audition.

I do realize that Stereophile is a business like any other and will do what it can to increase the bottom line, especially in an age where many have turned to big TV, internet, and iPods for entertainment. I would be nice to think that in this niche hobby, they would rise to a higher level of ethics.

Anyhow, this thread veered off topic a bit; my original question was answered!