A proposal: the Objectivist Audio Review magazine

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, crenca said:

 

 

 

I would not say ASR/Amir is a "good" approximation of what Steve is saying (which, just to note, is a bit of a strawman that the old guard regularly tears down).  Let us call it a "so/so" step in the direction which "objectively" challenges the subjectivist review status quo of Audiophiledom.   I would point to @Archimago site as a "good" step in the right direction. Like @randosays it appears almost all efforts/good intentions up in the status quo sooner or later however.  ASR in particular is Amir's baby which he uses to beat his very subjective horses.  

 

As a proponent of a consumer oriented adjustment to "what's good for the industry is good for Audiophiledom" status quo, I think we need to be a bit more creative than Steve's Consumer Report strawman.  Thankfully internet forums such as this one have created a communication network for proactive consumers, such that the old guard review establishment is no longer THE source of information.  Their efforts to hold on to their turf are in vain because it is exactly as Steve says:  they can not be trusted for all the reasons he states and more (much more).  IF for example the @The Computer Audiophile were to cave in to what is in fact enormous pressure from his "peers" to censor/shape this forum into yet-another-mouthpiece of the status quo, then it sooner (rather than later) another forum would pop up in its place.  The open internet is simply too big for the old guard to ever reign back in.  

 

What would a real consumer oriented Audiophile information source which actually bucks the current "system" look like?  Does it have to be Consumer Reports clone, or can it be something else?  How will it maintain its principles with integrity over the long term?  All excellent questions.  I don't know all the answers, but I submit that what folks like @Archimago & @The Computer Audiophile are already doing (however limited they are currently) is indicative of the real future of High Fidelity, at least any High Fidelity that proactive consumers want to be a part of.

 

Hi Crenca - We're getting there. As my brother Dave takes over more of the business side of CA it frees me up to focus on writing and steering the community. I no longer have to talk to advertisers or potential advertisers. it's quite freeing and feels great to have the separation. To that end, a great way forward and something that we do, is hire writers and tell them they have free reign about that which they write and what they say.

 

The writers for CA have nothing to gain by maintaining the status quo. My only requirement is that they are honest and feel good about their articles. If they are happy with what they've written, I believe others will be as well. 

 

I've said many times before, I'd hire ten @mitchco's in a heartbeat. 

 

In addition, I look at people reading our articles as giving their precious time to us. So, we better give them something back for that time. Whether that's knowledge, help, entertainment, or something else doesn't matter to me, but we better deliver something. 

 

CA will never end up as a status quo publication. That's a dead end and extremely uninteresting to me. I like to push boundaries and I understand how the internet works. I'm actively working to expand our base of writers on both the subjective and objective side. I enjoy reading both type of articles and believe there's a place for both on CA. The trouble is finding good writers. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Let's. not make this thread another referendum on ASR/Amir. We've beat that horse too many times around here. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

37 minutes ago, Jud said:

On topic again: Yes, it would be nice to have something devoted to measurements.  Do you think this would be entertaining/interesting enough to stay afloat?  (Don't know what Archimago is doing about finances, and I'm supposing the range of equipment available to any one individual who'd want to do this is limited.)  Regarding blind testing, that doesn't feel terribly valuable to me.  I agree that I'd prefer to see measurements.

 

If I could find someone in the US to do measurements for a reasonable amount, I'd have a measurement section here at CA. I'd love to publish measurements of all the products we review because I find value in them as do others. I don't view them as the final word for my equipment selections, but they are neat to digest. 

 

P.S. I'd even love to publish measurement of products we haven't reviewed.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Sal1950 said:

Why don't you talk to Amir and work out a deal?

Stereo Review and Audio both worked with outside labs. Stereophile has Atkinson but now that can be a suspect relationship.

That would be like Stereo Review getting its measurements done by Audio magazine. Sounds a bit strange to me. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

3 minutes ago, Milt99 said:

a flamingly subjectivist site like this

Huh? Perhaps you’ve been gone for a while or are just ignoring our articles by mitchco and archimago. 

 

I prefer to offer both subjective and objective points of view. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

47 minutes ago, crenca said:

Indeed in this instance I have a "what the h#$l are you talking about?!" reaction

As many have toward you frequently ?

[The Computer Audiophile]

24 hour cool off period required. This topic will reopen Thursday.