Question to the What Hi-Fi crew

[eggontoast]

I have read What Hi-Fi for a number of years but I can never recall reading a review on any Stax headphones.

Can you tell me why this would be as they probably make some of the best headphones in the world and start at a very reasonable £500.

 

[idc]

Stax have hardly had a mention on the forum and one reason why WHF do not review some products is a lack of demand.

 

[eggontoast]

idc:Stax have hardly had a mention on the forum and one reason why WHF do not review some products is a lack of demand.There could be some logic to that statement. But after reading last months magazine I would have thought that there would have been more interest in Stax headphones than the Aesthetix pre/power amplifier review which demanded a two page spread. There was also a three page spread on Chord's Chordettes a completely unremarkable product. I'm sure they could fit in a half page review for some Stax headphones, they might then get more of a mention on the forum.

 

[Clare Newsome]

AFIAK, we've never been offered Stax headphones for review, despite seeing them at various events. Will follow that one up...

 

[eggontoast]

Clare Newsome:AFIAK, we've never been offered Stax headphones for review, despite seeing them at various events. Will follow that one up...
It would be an ideal time to do a review as they have just updated there product line up.

Just out of interest how do you decide which products get reviewed and which don't ?

 

[Clare Newsome]

OK, news from the test team is that the UK distributor doesn't wish to supply review samples.

Now, in this kind of situation we assess how much we need to review a product. Is there a big demand for the review? Is it a mainstream product we really need to have in our review line-up? If the answer is yes - and we have enough funds available - we'll buy it to test. Sometimes we're able to borrow product from an obliging dealer, too.

However, as you're the first person I can remember requesiting a Stax review - and they're a little pricey to splash out on - I can't see us buying a pair in the near future. Obviously if there are any Stax stockists out there who'd like to lend us a pair from the new range...

We'll pursue direct with Stax when we next see them, too (they exhibit at some of the more specialist shows round the world).