Have you ever thought it would be cool to have a stereo reviewer come to your house?


While I was listening to my system today, I started thinking it would be really fun to invite one or more stereo system reviewers from magazines or blogs over for a blind listening session. I wouldn’t let them see the room or the equipment at all. They could play whatever music they like, form their impressions, rate the system, and even guess how much was spent on it. After that, I’d reveal everything and see how close they came. I’ve always been curious how my setup stacks up against the kinds of systems these reviewers hear all the time.

baclagg

If anyone needs validation about how wonderful their system sounds from others, perhaps they should also take a risk and enquire how handsome they look standing along side it.

On personal reflection thinking about the reasoning behind the original post, I’ve never found the need to ask, but perhaps if the reviewer was blindfolded…. l could at least sound wonderful.

So you do agree with me or are you just being sarcastic? Always up for a good brawl if the situation demands one. The silence of other members concerns me. Audiogon's silence and lack of action was expected. Until Dougs self debasement I didnt think of him at all.

cleeds

Not going to the moderators. Not my style. I am hoping more of you will speak out which may not occur. Removing the threads isnt acceptable either. I would want a public admonishment of Doug and a lifetime ban without an apology. I already cancelled my dealer account with Agon for different reasons prior to this event.

The rule is no advertising on the forums. This is enforced with dealers who hawk their lines, but some reviewer teajay used to announce upcoming reviews and I complained about this on the forums as well. I dont recall seeing him lately so perhaps he has stopped this practise. 

I got flagged once for not have the dealer symbol but I never once mentioned my equipment and I simply couldnt quickly add this to my moniker. Yes lazy but I also demand that such things be easy to do and intuitive. 

I have been contacted by directly by a number of dealers who agree with me about this situation but dont want to stir things up. They dont want to associated with anything negative. I am a bit of idealist, made more so by current political and social events. Interesting to see what action these dealers take. 

Thanks for at least agreeing with some of my concerns. 

This has gotten ridiculous. I will bring this to the attention of Audiogon, if they don't already know it, and ask them myself whether what i am doing violates policy. 

If so, then my response would be: If reviewers are allowed to talk about their reviews, and some of them are paid, then why would I not be allowed to talk about my book? I am not paid for my reviews, yet I was prohibited from attaching a link. Once it was brought to my attention, I ceased doing it. 

Here's the truth, none of this is all THAT important to me. With due respect to the industry members who gain a living from it, the topic is equipment and hobby. Sorry, that is simply not one of the most important things in life to me. You are free to disagree. It's a great hobby; it's not worth hassles beyond that. 

I knew when I thought about writing the book and publishing it that there would be a certain amount of blowback, hassles. So be it. This kind of hassle can be easily put to rest. I think audio_audition is wrong, and I could care less if 1,000 dealers agreed with him. But to show integrity and that I am not intentionally trying to do something deceptive or greedy, I will bring this to Audiogon's attention. My reputation is worth more than making money from a book about audio. 

My intent is not to skirt rules, to try to get away with anything. I will prove it by asking the powers that be at Audiogon myself. Frankly, none of this is so important to me that I want to make enemies, get away with schemes, etc. 

If Audiogon says I need to change what I'm doing, then I will consider whether it is reasonable. 

Audiogon has already responded to my inquiry, and I am vindicated in the way I chose to discuss my book. So as to not violate policy, I did not try to turn the forum into an ad, i.e., what the book costs, putting a link to it, etc. I am free to discuss the fact that I wrote the book and its content, which I believe is an appropriate response from Audiogon. 

Thus, Audiogon has agreed that my posts do not violate its policy. 

Now, perhaps we can return to the discussion that I intended to hold, to stay on topic?