Thank you for your resopnse, Andrew. So what you mean to say is WHF is dead and in its wake is another periodical altogether, the likeness in name notwithstanding, that had never departed from its root. Perhaps, I should have mourned at the demise of WHF and boy do I miss it. Why should you be alarmed that I use the term "pseudoscience" so casually. Have you not heard it uttered among audio engineers often enough? It bothers me that non-specialist is adamant that there is directivity characteristics in conductors. That a sophisticated constructed power lead will make a world of difference in hi-fi. And there is that insistence that if the high frequencies circuitry in a crossover is not separated from the low one, deleterious effects from the low frequencies will swarm the high frequencies circuitry resulting in a corruption of the signal. When asked why does this not happen at the amplifier or pre-amp stage; they could not provide a satisfactory answer. So, you see Andrew, do you not agree that it takes an ethical audio engineer to explain to consumers that these assertions are nothing but snake skin oil. And I do believe that hi-fi periodicals have a responsibility to be honest to its customers, its readers, in this regard if it were to be considered a reliable guide.
I think I know of whom you speak about the reviewer who wrote those sentences. He was your predecessor at Gramophone is he not? Frankly, I am surprised he said that. I thought by 1999, CD technology had matured to a stage where there are noticeable differences among different makes. I guess he was one of the old school die-hards that have contempt for things too revolutionary. I am curious as to why Mr. Borwick decided to stop writing for Gramophone after the takeover. Perhaps he thought that Haymarket might bring the video aspect into what was primarily a periodical about the audio arts. Being an audio engineer, he probably thought that Gramophone might morphed into something unrecognizable and that he had no interest in competing with video engineers. Can't blame him. It would be nice though if you could coax him out of retirement to write a few technical articles for the hi-fi section. Even if it were to appear once in a blue moon, it would still be a treat.