Not the WHF Best 2025 HiFi Awards

[Jasonovich]

Share your YouTube and other HiFi publications awards here.

Huffy gets the first run.

View: https://youtu.be/-Mg-Rx5jmkw?si=KQCcectEB9Qch2bU

 

[RoA]

Not wanting to poo on you thread Jasonovich ... I dislike end of year 'the best of ...' vlogs. They all do it and worse, some do them in categories with separate videos instead of making new content. Complete waste of time imho with rehashes.

They could at least make it a little interesting by doing the 'worst of ...' but none of them want to piss of their paymasters.

 

[Jasonovich]

Not wanting to poo on you thread Jasonovich ... I dislike end of year 'the best of ...' vlogs. They all do it and worse, some do them in categories with separate videos instead of making new content. Complete waste of time imho with rehashes.

They could at least make it a little interesting by doing the 'worst of ...' but none of them want to piss of their paymasters.

You make a really good point. The worse of, 2026 at least people can stear away from making disastrous purchasing decisions.
Lot of the mainstream Vloggers or even publications like WHF tend to stay clear of this, in fear of suppliers withholding future products.

I look at it as a form of entertainment with a big pinch of salt.

Here's Darko doing his bit, apologies in advance, his usual Roon is my universe might offend some sensitive souls 🙂

Three audio products that reset my expectations for 2026 | Darko.Audio https://share.google/rRVFQgi3Gnh3dOhhG

 

[Jasonovich]

These guys are like Marmite but nice to see them kicking out against the establishment.

Funny, just recovering from a bad flu, fancy some toasted bread, with slice of cheese and marmite!

8 Best Speakers of 2025, According to Over 1,000 Reviews Worldwide | Headphonesty https://share.google/byC5kN0UMubT3eEk5

 

[davidf]

The worse of, 2026 at least people can stear away from making disastrous purchasing decisions.

This is the typical trap that has been created by the likes of WHF - filtering everything down to a single rating - and even worse with some sites, down to a distortion measurement.

Let's not forget that some products, even though they may not be 5 star ones, maybe not even 3 star ones, may well be the right products for some people and their needs. Someone may well steer clear of the perfect product for them.

After all, a review is one person's opinion, based on their preferences, the system used, and the room they're in. The system may not be that familiar to them, and they won't be using this product long term, nor with a range of other components, so a review may well lack reliability and compatibility issues, as well as not being able to comment on its suitability for any one individual.

 

[Jasonovich]

This is the typical trap that has been created by the likes of WHF - filtering everything down to a single rating - and even worse with some sites, down to a distortion measurement.

Let's not forget that some products, even though they may not be 5 star ones, maybe not even 3 star ones, may well be the right products for some people and their needs. Someone may well steer clear of the perfect product for them.

After all, a review is one person's opinion, based on their preferences, the system used, and the room they're in. The system may not be that familiar to them, and they won't be using this product long term, nor with a range of other components, so a review may well lack reliability and compatibility issues, as well as not being able to comment on its suitability for any one individual.

The 5 star rating system is pants. I agree.

 

[Gel Man]

I like WHF rating systems if other sites want different ones so what, if they were all the same it would be boring. WHF have always recommended their rating system as a buying guide but to also demo too, and they don’t have a problem with other sites either.

 

[Jasonovich]

Fill your glass tumbler with crushed ice and pour generous amount of Baileys, sit back, relax.....repeat the words foomba foomba ....foom..ba! Now listen to Tarun.

Cheers!

View: https://youtu.be/GgY54FK0x8M?si=BuoMCywjKNLKMvxe

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Fill your glass tumbler with crushed ice and pour generous amount of Baileys, sit back, relax.....repeat the words foomba foomba ....foom..ba! Now listen to Tarun.

Cheers!

View: https://youtu.be/GgY54FK0x8M?si=BuoMCywjKNLKMvxe

I’ve never gone to YouTube for reviews and, never will. Many will say anything is wonderful, for the right price. Others just use it as a platform to grind their particular axe.

 

[jjbomber]

Many will say anything is wonderful, for the right price.

The same as magazines then really!

 

[Dave_]

I’ve never gone to YouTube for reviews and, never will. Many will say anything is wonderful, for the right price. Others just use it as a platform to grind their particular axe.

All subjective reviews are utterly worthless wherever and whomever they're published by....

Objective/technical reviews will help you to filter out all the dross and draw up a shortlist...

 

[Jasonovich]

I’ve never gone to YouTube for reviews and, never will. Many will say anything is wonderful, for the right price. Others just use it as a platform to grind their particular axe.

It's just another format, it's far from perfect but it does what publications can't do, they engage with the viewer.

Some of the Vloggers also have publications of the products they've reviewed like Darko and some of the foreign sites, this gives you the best and worst of both worlds.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

It's just another format, it's far from perfect but it does what publications can't do, they engage with the viewer.

Some of the Vloggers also have publications of the products they've reviewed like Darko and some of the foreign sites, this gives you the best and worst of both worlds.

I would need a massive injection of patience, to wade through all the dross/shite on YouTube, to find the small minority of good reviewers. As I don't want to buy anything, that's not going to happen.

 

[davidf]

All subjective reviews are utterly worthless wherever and whomever they're published by....

Oh the irony - people who don't believe reviewers, but will jump onto a forum or social media group to ask for recommendations, only to be recommended what those people own.

I guess it all comes down to listening with your own ears, or choosing something based on the numbers...

 

[jjbomber]

only to be recommended what those people own.

... or stock in their shop!

What you describe above is Cr-Apple's marketing strategy. Like it or not, they are the best marketing company in the World, so the system works. Influencers in all guises are here to stay. Human nature is to want to be one of the herd, not one of the pioneers. Niche players will always have their place but mass production suits the herd better.

 

[davidf]

... or stock in their shop!

What you describe above is Cr-Apple's marketing strategy. Like it or not, they are the best marketing company in the World, so the system works. Influencers in all guises are here to stay. Human nature is to want to be one of the herd, not one of the pioneers. Niche players will always have their place but mass production suits the herd better.

Some retailers are like that, but not all. If I feel something else suits someone better, I'll say so.

Oh, and "influencer" doesn't even register as a genuine job or career in my view - don't get me started on them! More like people who can't be arsed to get a proper job. You'd think they'd avoid, seeing as they seem to have a high mortality rate...

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Oh, and "influencer" doesn't even register as a genuine job or career in my view - don't get me started on them! More like people who can't be arsed to get a proper job. You'd think they'd avoid, seeing as they seem to have a high mortality rate...

" Influencers in all guises" are completely ignored by me...

 

[Jasonovich]

... or stock in their shop!

What you describe above is Cr-Apple's marketing strategy. Like it or not, they are the best marketing company in the World, so the system works. Influencers in all guises are here to stay. Human nature is to want to be one of the herd, not one of the pioneers. Niche players will always have their place but mass production suits the herd better.

Product Placement really pisses me off. It use to be the stomach cleaner called Coca Cola.
Today it's the Fruity Cargo Cult outfit called Apple.
Most of the films you watched, the lead is using a MacBook.
Indirectly inferring to that every one is using an Apple laptop.
Really not true, it's about 10% of the PC market. Lenovo is actually the top selling brand.
Apple are marketing prostitute's and they've captured the mindset of the young, I suspect they'll go the way of Facebook and become irrelevant.

 

[jjbomber]

Most of the films you watched, the lead is using a MacBook.

Villains are not allowed to be seen with any Cr-Apple products.

 

[Dave_]

Oh the irony - people who don't believe reviewers, but will jump onto a forum or social media group to ask for recommendations, only to be recommended what those people own.

I've Never done that. Not interested in others opinion on kit, as I said it's utterly worthless.