Reviewing the Reviewers - and the decline of HiFi


I know that Arthur Salvatore has an ongoing tirade with Michael Fremer, and whilst I don't wholly share his views so far as Fremer is concerned, I support the sentiment that reviewers themselves ought to be themselves reviewed.
I say this after having read another 6Moons review that basically says that the item they have reviewed is the best thing since sliced bread. With the exception of HiFi news - and that was about 7 years ago, and HiFi Critic (which is regrettably not distributed very widely as yet)- none of the magazines ever criticize products.
This may well explain why the industry is in such decline. Let's face it in the United States Breitling made more than the whole of the US HiFi industry put together! Think I am mad? Well think on this cars sell, and continue to sell well. New cars are by and large a luxury, because we can recycle old cars, but we convince ourselves on their necessity. Car reviewers are unfettered by the need to give wet reviews. The buying customers are therefore not forced to listen through the BS of a review to get some real and genuine information.
Manufacturers also have to wake up and not be so hypersensitive of any genuine comparative criticism - it leads to product improvement. The reviewing industry should get out of the habit of expecting 5 star reviews when they lend equipment to magazines for 'extended periods'. let's face it - most people see hifi and music as coming out of white ear buds, computers, and mobile phones.
lohanimal
Me too Mechans, a hobby within the hobby. I'm sure that is how it is with most reviewers. Along with the nice discounts they may get for components that they like, remember, no dealer markups. That isn't corrupt, is it? Oh, where is the line!
Why is everything always "in decline"? Why is there constantly a "conspiracy"? BTW I am using quotation marks to be extra annoying. I look at the choice in high quality gear at various price points, a wide multitude of musical formats, and the wide embracing of various and often contradictory forms of technology and, well, I see a bit of a golden age. Maybe I am being naive or pollyanna-ish, but I can read reviews for fun with a grain of salt. I doubt there is corruption per se, more like occasionally misguided enthusiasm?
If one just looks at reviews as a jumping off point and do their due diligence (homework, footwork, inquiries) and stop relying on others to gift them the answer to their prayers, than all would be well in the world.

We've become a spoon fed country and rarely look beyond what's told us. Critical thinking seems to be in short supply these days.

All the best,
Nonoise
"Why is everything always "in decline"? Why is there constantly a "conspiracy"?"

That's a good question. I know for sure that I am in gradual decline getting older and we all are in that same boat as far as I know. I think its just perhaps wanting the rest of the world to go with us as the ship goes down..... :^)
That gradual decline you speak of seems to me to be just a generational thing, in that different values and expectations are the norm now instead of the exception.

When that ship goes down, we're taking an irreplaceable part of that culture with us, leaving those who follow with, hopefully, a decent map to go by.

All the best,
Nonoise