Do magazines have too much influence?

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="plastic penguin"]My only real issue with WHFS&V is they claim to give impartial advice. Which is true, but in doing so, with 5 stars and annual awards is they also endorse that product.[/quote]

Strange argument - so if we didn't given opinions of, and Awards to, products, we'd be more impartial?

 

[John Duncan]

I thought my sheep was rather good. Had heaphones and everything. Pah. Pearls/swine.

 

[gpi]

[quote user="Carzy Dragon"]
I am stunned by some of the arguments advanced on this thread. I find the Specialist to be incredibly stupid. Is that an unpopular thing to say? Does adding IMO make any difference? I'm surprised that everyone is defending WHF - from who? Who is this so called Specialist? I can justify why I think he's on the dumb side.

The Specialist seems to be claiming to have a greater understanding on Hi-Fi than professional critics, yet he's not a trader. What does he do? What are his academic credentials? It's very easy to take pot shots from behind a picture of a pair of loudspeakers and an ostentatious nom de plume. The respected reviewers on this site and of this magazine use their own names and reputations and stand by them.

The Specialist offers insults to the providers of this forum ("mere journalist" is a term ignorant to the point of being obtuse and in no way a simple view point). Without the consent of WHF the advice he is so keen on giving would most unfortunately have to be given elsewhere. The insults he offers I feel extend to me. I have joined this site following my respect for the magazine and hence it's writers.

The Specialist's apparent altruistic motives perhaps deserves some examination. Of course, he doesn't regard the views of others using this forum, oh no! He doesn't even take accoutn of the views of the editor of this magazine! He here to help us poor peons! What a swell guy! However, I find his aggressive commentary and abusive tone to at odds with apparently doing this all for our own benefit!

Added to the above the Specialist contradicts himself from one post to the next! (I won't quote, you can read this thread for evidence). Self contradictory, insulting to his readers, writing anonymously . . . . my my my it seems to me this 'Specialist' could learn a lot from journalists.
[/quote]

I find this thread attempting to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Plus. your post is against the rules of this forum in that you have called a member 'incredibly stupid'. Maybe unwise to say rather than unpopular.

 

[plastic penguin]

Andrew, I'm just trying to highlight a fact. WHFIS&V is there for a reason. As an example, for a lot of people, like myself, who loves music but can't access the latest stuff due to circumstances and money.

As regards the comment about your reviews and endorsements, it's true. That's not a gripe, otherwise I wouldn't buy your mag every month for the past 4 years. . .we as individuals don't have to buy with a 5 star recommendation. That's the choice!

Keep up the good work.

 

[gpi]

[quote user="JohnDuncan"][quote user="Gerrardasnails"]We can all be "Sheep" from time to time (no picture please John!)[/quote]

Sorry, what?

[/quote]

Looks a bit distressed to me John. Maybe he's listening to... N...Nu... Na... (no, don't say it!)

 

[John Duncan]

[quote user="gpi"]

Looks a bit distressed to me John. Maybe he's listening to... N...Nu... Na... (no, don't say it!)[/quote]

Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, probably.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Thaiman"] the same go to WHF&V reviews of saxon Cd player! I still hasn't come across anybody that own them yet! I would be intereting to see how many HiFi dealers in UK that stock the model.
I am not saying every reviews should be a 5 stars but I just answer the original question....Do magazines have too much influence?
YES![/quote]

I have one!!! I don't think Talk Electronics use UK dealers, but don't quote me on that.

Of course magazines have a big influence just look at the gear mentioned on the whf forum.

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]

Strangely enough, such influence doesn't seem to affect Bang & Olufsen
shops, or Bose stores, too much - they seem to be doing pretty well in actually
selling to customers the benefits they see in the products they stock, rather
than relying on the reviews to do their job for them.

What can we conclude from that...?
[/quote]

Bang & Olufsen is a life style statement, people who buy that type of music centre couldn't careless and they peoperbly already have a stack of Krell anyway
but Do they sell as many as Cyrus, Arcam or Roksan? I doubt it (I don't know, just guessing) It just my thought on this subject, it is not a magazine's fault that many HiFi shop decided to stock 5 stars review products! I would do the same
A few thread below this one there is a guy asking about Opera cd player? that is rare in here as most people are asking about Roksan and Monitor Audio which seem to be WHF&V house brands. I am not picking an argument with anyone, it's just my thought on this subject
I don't have any doubt in reviewers ability afterall I bought WHF magazine since when it was a HiFi magazine and bought blind from good reviews many time without problem. The question here though is not How acurately WHF&V reviews are but How reviews can greatly effect peope in industry and consumers.

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Thaiman"]Bang & Olufsen is a life style statement, people who buy that type of music centre couldn't careless and they peoperbly already have a stack of Krell anyway [/quote]

I doubt that - most B&O systems are bought as the household's only set-up, and on style, quality and reputation, plus small matters such as dealer service, installation, etc...

[quote user="Thaiman"]but Do they sell as many as Cyrus, Arcam or Roksan? I doubt it [/quote]

I think any of those three companies would be happy to have even a small fraction of B&O's turnover or sales.

[quote user="Thaiman"]
A few thread below this one there is a guy asking about Opera cd player? that is rare in here[/quote]

Consonance Ping (made by Opera) is reviewed in the August issue of the magazine.

 

[JoelSim]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
Thaiman,

So it sounds like you're saying not that hi-fi magazines have too much influence, but that one does, and that this is to a great part due to retailers slavishly following WHFSV test results and not standing by products and manufacturers in which they believe, and promoting those products to potential customers.

Strangely enough, such influence doesn't seem to affect Bang & Olufsen shops, or Bose stores, too much - they seem to be doing pretty well in actually selling to customers the benefits they see in the products they stock, rather than relying on the reviews to do their job for them.

What can we conclude from that...?
[/quote]

We can conclude that purchasers of Bose and B&O 'lifestyle' systems are Sunday Times readers and have little interest in sound quality. They do not subscribe to WHFSAV or any of the other mags either.

And to be honest neither of those systems majors on sound quality from a positioning perspective, that is just one component of their experience.

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="Thaiman"]Bang & Olufsen is a life style statement, people who buy that type of music centre couldn't careless and they peoperbly already have a stack of Krell anyway [/quote]

I doubt that - most B&O systems are bought as the household's only set-up, and on style, quality and reputation, plus small matters such as dealer service, installation, etc...

[quote user="Thaiman"]but Do they sell as many as Cyrus, Arcam or Roksan? I doubt it [/quote]

I think any of those three companies would be happy to have even a small fraction of B&O's turnover or sales.

[quote user="Thaiman"] A few thread below this one there is a guy asking about Opera cd player? that is rare in here[/quote]

Consonance Ping (made by Opera) is reviewed in the August issue of the magazine.

[/quote]

If you rather read my post and understand it that way then that's fine Mr. E. I don't want to argue with anyone (today, anyway
I just hope someone else may understand my point rather than being black or White just for argument sake!

 

[gpi]

[quote user="JoelSim"][quote user="Andrew Everard"]
Thaiman,

So it sounds like you're saying not that hi-fi magazines have too much influence, but that one does, and that this is to a great part due to retailers slavishly following WHFSV test results and not standing by products and manufacturers in which they believe, and promoting those products to potential customers.

Strangely enough, such influence doesn't seem to affect Bang & Olufsen shops, or Bose stores, too much - they seem to be doing pretty well in actually selling to customers the benefits they see in the products they stock, rather than relying on the reviews to do their job for them.

What can we conclude from that...?
[/quote]

We can conclude that purchasers of Bose and B&O 'lifestyle' systems are Sunday Times readers and have little interest in sound quality. They do not subscribe to WHFSAV or any of the other mags either.

And to be honest neither of those systems majors on sound quality from a positioning perspective, that is just one component of their experience.[/quote]

How many B&O products have you heard? Their systems and speakers especially are very good.

 

[Thaiman]

GPI, they do sound very good but for the same money I could come up with a few systems that will out preform the B&O in every department. and that is the different mate.
Now a day I don't think you can buy a bad sound system anymore.

 

[gpi]

There are a lot of misconceptions in hi-fi and this is another one. Some folk think B&O is bought for the style statement it makes rather than for its sound quality. The idea that folk buy a B&O system with no regard for sound quality is strange.

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="gpi"]There are a lot of misconceptions in hi-fi and this is another one. Some folk think B&O is bought for the style statement it makes rather than for its sound quality. The idea that folk buy a B&O system with no regard for sound quality is strange.[/quote]

Agreed, gpi. And they buy for perceived value, the user-interface and the superb build-quality, too...

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Thaiman"]If you rather read my post and understand it that way then that's fine Mr. E. I don't want to argue with anyone (today, anyway

I just hope someone else may understand my point rather than being black or White just for argument sake![/quote]

Wasn't aware I was reading it in a any particular way - just correcting some misconceptions and answering a point you made.

 

[Tear Drop]

[quote user="Thaiman"]Now a day I don't think you can buy a bad sound system anymore[/quote]

O come on! I have been patiently reading this thread resisting the urge to post thus far, but this comment is beyond absurd. I can conclude one of two things, if not both, from this - you have very limited experience of listening to equipment and/or you have very poorly developed listening skills. This potentially points to one of the many reasons why the magazines do in fact have such power in the industry. Consumers, most of whom have no clue what quality music reproduction consists of, need to be 1) told what to buy, and 2) given a pat on the back for owning the latest 'star rated' equipment.

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Tear Drop"]you have very limited experience of listening to equipment[/quote]

LOL I can't laugh any louder mate! limited!??
[quote user="Tear Drop"]or you have very poorly developed listening skills.[/quote]
What is listening skills?? You listen to music and that's it! Did you went to college to learn how to listen?

 

[Tear Drop]

[quote user="Thaiman"]What is listening skills?? You listen to music and that's it! Did you went to
college to learn how to listen[/quote]

Thank you for proving my point

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Tear Drop"][quote user="Thaiman"]What is listening skills?? You listen to music and that's it! Did you went to
college to learn how to listen[/quote]

Thank you for proving my point[/quote]

No problem, any time

On the serious note though, too many people do taking HiFi far too seriously! I am as passionate about music as the next forum members here but for once "stop listen to HiFi and Listen to music instead" that what HiFi equipments are for.

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"][quote user="Thaiman"]If you rather read my post and understand it that way then that's fine Mr. E. I don't want to argue with anyone (today, anyway

I just hope someone else may understand my point rather than being black or White just for argument sake![/quote]

Wasn't aware I was reading it in a any particular way - just correcting some misconceptions and answering a point you made.
[/quote]

Irony it's not just how iron tastes... but I am sure you do know that

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Thaiman"]

Irony it's not just how iron tastes... but I am sure you do know that [/quote]

Sorry, but wasn't aware of any irony in what you originally wrote.

 

[gpi]

This thread was started about 26 hours ago and is now at nine pages. Is that a record (or a CD, before someone chips in)?

 

[Anonymous]

I doubt it knowing this forum, but I think healthy debate is excellent..........

 

[Andrew Everard]

I think the vanman saga ran to about 200+ posts, but it took a while longer to get there...