Stark Contrast - LG-BD390

[admin_exported]

I'm just confused. How is it possible that two established magazines can review the same item in opposite directions. This is with the audio quality of the LG-BD390.

WHF

''Sonically, the BD390 simply knocks the competition out of the park. Via it's HDMI output, sound is gutsy, controlled at the top end, forceful low down and always involving''.

HCC

''If there's one element of the BD390 that's not quite the same wow factor as just about every other aspect of this machine, it's the audio performance. It's good, but not spectacular. For the price, it's adequate''.

All professional reviewers. So which is true?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, of course we stand by our review, and I couldn't comment on the other one...

 

[Tom Moreno]

Andrew Everard:Well, of course we stand by our review, and I couldn't comment on the other one...

...of course one should always demo before buying...

 

[Andrew Everard]

Indeed - I would have thought that's taken as read by now...

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well i can state the fact that we're the only magazine to team-review products comparatively, in dedicated facilities, with access to both reference set-ups and price-comparable rivals, and with a specific emphasis on performance per pound - and that's exactly how the LG was tested.

There are many Blu-ray players we could have put up against the LG that would have made it sound ordinary; not at that price-point, however.

Still, both we and HCC gave the LG an overwhelming thumbs up in the overall rating.... It's a great player at its price.

 

[Big Aura]

and that's the problem with subjective reviewing...

 

[lee37]

there are plenty of reasons why the reviews could be different.

1) maybe andrew was still hung over from the night before

2) clare was still drunk from the night before it is a stressful job

3) youve not just come back from an awards show cos in that picture you all look smashed

4) in a bad mood because they just got told of by andy for watching to many films and not actually working

or maybe the reviewer of the other mag did not have his hearing aid turned up full volume

seriously though

i have read reviews from both mags on many different items and i must admit to prefering and agreeing with what hifi .

but what does wind me up is when reviewers compare £200 products with £400 ones, its not an accurate comparison.

what hifi doesnt do it very often except a blu ray test recently but the others seem to do it most of the time.

i suppose thats why ive been reading what hifi since 1989 sad eh !!!

 

[Andrew Everard]

lee37:3) youve not just come back from an awards show cos in that picture you all look smashed

In what picture?

 

[Jonathan Evans]

lee37:
4) in a bad mood...

Actually, you've hit on one of the benefits of our reviewing method there: it removes much of the chance of a lone reviewer allowing their grumpy (or unreasonably cheerful, come to that) mood colour the review, whether intentionally or not.

If it's a group opinion, much of this gets ironed out.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I must admit I do read both and have alway's done and I do find it interesting reading the comparision's.

 

[Torres09]

Having been luckly enough to have spend the day at the towers recently and seeing the test rooms/set-up i know which review i'd go with......

 

[Anonymous]

I have auditioned the LG-BD390. The sound was nothing great to my ears.