Ian S wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...
Consumer Reports (et al) is probably okay for appliances but
worthless for discerning the differences in serious audio or other
things requiring a higher level of discretion. This applies to some
simple things as well.

So they are OK for rating "appliances" but not simple things? Is a TV an
appliance? How is "serious audio" defined?

They rate a Sears Craftsman wrench the same as a
Snap-On for example. One is a mediocre product that meets a minimum
federal buying spec the other is pretty close to the best that can be
built for its intended purpose. Since their tests only determine
whether or not they met a specification, both are equal.

Consumers Union develops its own tests and subjects the tested items to the
same test. Frequently, testing involves a test to failure. In addition,
products are evaluated on the basis of cost so that a product with the same
performance but cheaper will rank higher. My response to the O.P. was in
reference to TV displays. Perhaps you could read the report in question and
determine specifically where it is deficient. I know "audiophiles" poo-poo
CU's tests of audio equipment probably because they don't generally test the
boutique components that audiophiles drool over.

My guess (and it is a guess) is that they have tested some
high-end gear and found most of it to not be all that
exceptional. I think that some high-end stuff (certain
speakers and certainly certain surround processors) are
easily a cut above the Best Buy mainstream.

A Craftsman
wrench is suited for its intended purpose but it is not as good as a
Snap-On, it's as simple as that.

I suppose Snap-On wrenches are "serious" tools. I get the distibct
impression that "serious" to you is determined by the price tag.

OK, just what do you use such tools for that would make it
imperative for you that they work all that much better than
the Sears versions? The only people I can see needing such
killer-durable would be professional automobile or
motorcycle mechanics or professional machinists. Sure, it
may make a tool junky feel upscale to own super-duper tools
(I am that way about some of my tools, myself), but feeling
good about something does not make for a rational reason for
ownership. The average tool user can get as much mileage out
of a set of Sears tools as he can get out of a set of
Snap-On versions.

I have a 240 square foot shop out back and have it populated
by maybe eight grand worth of bench and hand power tools and
non-powered hand tools. I can do a lot of stuff out there
(mostly involving woodworking, but also involving some
metalworking and machine-tool stuff), but I do not kid
myself and tell people that I am a professional woodworker
or machinist who must have top-tier hardware. That said, I
am more than satisfied with owning mostly mid-level tools,
although some are professional grade.

Howard Ferstler