wjm@whuxl.UUCP (MITCHELL) (08/17/84)
<gulp> I've just started subscribing to "The $ensible Sound", an audio publication based in the Buffalo NY area. They are NOT another slick "High Fidelity" or "Stereo Review" nor are they an esoteric Underground publication. They are trying to give audiophiles listings of equipment (and recordings) that offer exceptional VALUE for their price in all price ranges from budget to high-end. They do not accept advertising from manufactuers (although they will accept classified ads from subscribers and dealers) to keep their objectivity, and do list typical discounts for equipment they recommend. They do not pull any punches in their reviews (about 1/3 to 1/2 are downright unfavorable - and justly so). I highly recommend them - subscriptions are $18 per year for 4 48 page issues (2 year and 3 year discount rates are also available). Bill Mitchell (whuxl!wjm)
gordonl@microsoft.UUCP (Gordon Letwin) (08/27/84)
I recently subscribed to "The Sensible Sound" ("T$S"), but ordered about
8 back issues. Having studied them closely and recently I believe my
opinions have some value in this discussion.
1) objectivity/subjectivity
---------------------------
These guys are an interesting blend... they are not "golden ears"
in the hard-core sense, for sure. They try to be "sensible" - for
example a brief note in one issue poked fun at some manufacuturer
touting their super-overpriced pre-amp with "optical quality" face-
plate glass, T$S asked sarcastically if the glass made the sound any
better. In summary, they USUALLY have a good deal of common sense,
and definitely don't believe there is a 1-to-1 correlation with price
or prestigious name and product quaility.
On the other hand, sometimes they loose track of that common sense.
A recent issue reviewed some aluminum "spacers" they describe as
shaped like Hershey's Kisses. You're supposed to sit your equipment
on them to somehow focus the strain of the physical support. THe
reviewer claims they helped under his turntable (somewhat plausable),
under his speakers (slightly plausible) and under his AMPLIFIER
(highly unlikely). I think the reason for this variablility in
rationality is due to their having several "editors" who range from
mostly-rational to fully-bonkers.
I was mostly disapointed with my subscription and will not renew
because the reviews are highly subjective. They don't even publish
general specs such as the RMS power capability of an amplifier, a very
important consideration. One item I particularly recall was an
article by their "lead reviewer/editor" (forget his name) talking
about why he was opposed to blind tests. Making reference to the
Monstor Cable vs 12-gauge lamp cord tests, he says the test showed
exactly why blind tests are bad: "they confused the listeners so much
they couldn't even tell the good stuff (monstor cable) from the bad
(lamp cord)." This isn't a direct quote, but it is an ACCURATE
paraphrase and made me want to laugh and cry together. In the same
article he goes on to say that the looks of the unit and the
manufacturer's reputation do SO effect his perception of the
sound, and since blind tests disguise this they are no good.
This is, of course, exactly the opposite of what "sensible" should
be. No doubt the units looks, the manufacturers reputation, and even
the over-high price you paid DO increase your enjoyment of the unit,
but they don't change the SOUND of the unit. If T$S were truely
sensible they'd talk seperately about the sound and the esthetics, so
you'd know which you're paying your money for.
2) CDs
------
T$S is definitely not "anti-CD". They've come up with a clever
"straddle" position so that they can appear against CD's now when
thats safest, and switch over to "pro-CD" later when those that are
saying the automobile will never replace the horse are clearly
recognized as bogus. They say there's nothing wrong with the CD
concept, but that the Japanese "rushed out" their units too fast and
the current units sound bad. They say some third generation
units (not available in the US yet) are pretty good, so that CDs will
be a good thing to have "later, but not now."