Robert Morein wrote:

Stereophile has been attacked on a number of grounds. Among these
accusations a
1. Exclusion of equipment from review that is a better value than that which
receives reviews.

Correct.

2. Favoritism.

Also unfortunately correct. If it advertizes, they never say anything
bad about it. Even Bose, when tested to +/-12 db accuracy for their
was given a glowing review.

3. Columnization about "tweaks" that some believe have zero, as opposed to
doubtful basis. Even by very liberal standards, it would appear that some
pseudoscience snuck into the magazine.

Unfortunately, when you run out of science, and have a deadline and articles
to write, you make things up. This is all too true of most magazines like
this.

"Joseph Oberlander" wrote in message
link.net...
Robert Morein wrote:

Stereophile has been attacked on a number of grounds. Among these
accusations a
1. Exclusion of equipment from review that is a better value than that
which
receives reviews.

Correct.

2. Favoritism.

Also unfortunately correct. If it advertizes, they never say anything
bad about it. Even Bose, when tested to +/-12 db accuracy for their
was given a glowing review.

Please bear in mind that I stated that this was an allegation, not a fact. I
have a suspicion that the evaluations "bend" a little, but it may be more on
the basis of personal loyalty than financial ties. Atkinson has repeatedly
given examples that contradict the notion that there is a tie-in between
advertising and evaluation.

My own personal experience was with an Adcom MOSFET preamp designed by
Nelson Pass. I had one on loan for six weeks. The Stereophile review
accurately measured the ouput impedance as rather high, around 2000 ohms,
but contained calming words to the effect of "not to worry", presumably
because the distortion did not rise under load. I had this preamp driving 12
feet of cable. Although the distortion didn't go up, it was obvious that a
preamp with a 2000 output impedance couldn't drive all that cable. In this
case, I can imagine a personally excruciating dilemma with respect to
cautions. Although this preamp has balanced outputs, it should not be used
to drive an amp at the other end of the room. Under those circumstances, I
demonstrated to myself, via a level-matched loop, that the preamp did color
the sound, though not unpleasantly.

Conversely, Dick Shahinian's speakers, considered remarkable by some, never
graced Stereophile's pages, except as a retrospective. Should Mr. Atkinson
have been swayed by Shahinian's personal characteristics as a loud,
antagonistic, abusive, prejudiced, and extremely obese individual? I think
not.

Joseph Oberlander wrote in
message hlink.net...
If it advertizes, they never say anything bad about it.

This is incorrect. As, for example, George Tice. Or Ricahrd Gray, or
any other number of advertisers...

Even Bose, when tested to +/-12 db accuracy for their
was given a glowing review.

As far as I am aware Bose has never advertised in Stereophile. The
last
Bose review in Stereophile was published in 1971 and is available in
the
free archives at www.stereophile.com.

A Bose speaker was reviewed a few years back in Stereophile Guide to
Home
Theater. The measurements were awful, the reviewer preferred a cheaper
PSB
system.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

John Atkinson wrote:

Joseph Oberlander wrote in
message hlink.net...

If it advertizes, they never say anything bad about it.


This is incorrect. As, for example, George Tice. Or Ricahrd Gray, or
any other number of advertisers...


A Bose speaker was reviewed a few years back in Stereophile Guide to
Home
Theater. The measurements were awful, the reviewer preferred a cheaper
PSB
system.

That's the review I was referring to. While they preferred the
other system, they hardly said ANYTHING bad about the glaring
problems with the Bose speakers. Typical of most magazines today.

Joseph Oberlander wrote in message
thlink.net...
John Atkinson wrote:
A Bose speaker was reviewed a few years back in Stereophile Guide to
Home Theater. The measurements were awful, the reviewer preferred a
cheaper PSB system.

That's the review I was referring to.

So why, then, did you say that this review was in Stereophile, Mr.
Oberlander? Other than the name and common ownership, the two magazines
have nothing in common. They have different editors and different staffs.
Stereophile is published in new York, the Guide in Los Angeles. And while
I did perform the measurements to accompany the Guide's review of the
Bose speaker, I have no responsibility for what appears in the Guide
and vice versa.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile