Magazine Ethics - TAS

I don't think the controversy over compensating reviewers with free equipment or deep discounts unavailable to consumers is new, its just become more of a focus because of some of the YouTube discussions. I doubt it will change. Most of the "reviews" in TAS and stereophile are not really reviews in my opinion-they are marketing pieces for manufacturers who enjoy a symbiotic economic relationship with the publications. Some publications-like Soundstage-seem to be more sensitive to maintaining independence. 

Even so, I still enjoy the mags and find a lot interesting information every month. They are not going to end the gravy train, that's just how it is. But I don't see a reasonable argument against full disclosure of the relationships. Everybody still gets their free stuff. I think maybe some do that, some don't. It just allows readers to make their own judgment concerning the credibility of a "review" based on all the relevant facts. Doesn't cost anybody anything. What's wrong with that? 

re ethics: in today's climate: being ethical, fair, kind is not rewarded. Lying, scamming, cheating, bullying is the norm. The truth does not matter, defending lies at all costs and at anyone's expense has become a virtue.

Objectivity at a review publication would be as rare as a politician focusing on his campaign promises

Well I hope Woo Audio sees this and lets me write a stellar review for their flagship headphone amp.  

Would people rather pay, say, $150 a year for a subscription and eliminate all conflicts of interest or continue to get it for less, or free, and deal with these issues?

That's basically the choice, as far as I can tell. You get what you pay for.

FWIW, another two cents.

Reviews, like suggestions and opinions offered on all types of forums, are opinions.  When audiophile reviewers publish their pieces on various components, there are simply too many variables to consider them as anything but, not the least of which are room dimensions & acoustic properties of the sound rooms they are using, the components of the so-called reference systems, individual musical tastes, personal preferences, individual hearing acuity, etc.  Even a publication that strictly followed the journalistic canon of ethics and employed sound scientific principles in blind testing wouldn't possibly be able to account for all of the different variables involved.  Regardless, if you read enough reviews, you can become more familiar with individual reviewers' personal preferences & biases and read between the lines, so to speak.  There are a handful of professional audiophile reviewers and publications whose opinions I place more stock in than others with regard to providing guidance in narrowing down purchase options.  In the end, however, the best reviewer for audiophile toys is always your own ears.