Newbie - Hi-Fi Mags

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Lynn SkeptiK

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Hi all, newbie here.

I was wondering what everyone thought of the hi-fi mags available in the UK these days. I'm just getting back into hi-fi after some years away so I've been picking up some mags to read and bring me up to date.

I must say I've been very disappointed. I know they've always had an eye on their advertisers, but I seem to remember them being better than they are now. I used to enjoy Martin Colloms in Hi-Fi News but he doesn't appear to be writing for them now.

They just seem to be endless glowing reports of absolutely everything...there doesn't appear to be any objective assessment at all, just perpetual high praise.

Have things really got so bad?
 
I've not bought one for 10years .....though I do occasionally have a look through ...see if theres anything new on the market.

But these day the web has more and often far more evenhanded reviews.

When was the last time you read a bad review .......there must be bad products out there ....you've heard them at shows. Oddly there are stonking products too ..that don't get reviews..

most mags need to rely on the adverts for finance, so they arn't going to bit the hand that feeds ....
 
Well, they have some nice pictures. I generally try to avoid anything hi-fi related other than my gear these days. It seems i'm perfectly happy until I read about a new sweet sounding thing or tweak. then i suddenly feel pressure to spend money or change something.
 
Oh yes I love nothing better than spending a couple of hours browsing through the mags before WH Smith security move me on.
My favourite features are:

1. All those lovely reviews and gorgeous pics that make you feel like the equipment you bought 3 months ago is totally out of date.

2. Readers problems. aka - An excuse to mention what kit you have.......

Dear Ed
I`ve got some massively expensive cables and some dust has landed on them. Should I simply blow it off or use a NASA supplied microfibre cloth to remove the rogue particles?

3. The subscription offers
Simply fill in the Direct Debit page and we will send you a dead mouse FREE (This offer applies to the first 2 applicants only)

4.The classified page.
You placed your ad in January and it takes until August before it actually appears in the mag by which time you have sold it elsewhere.

5. The dealers Sale ads.
Loads of equipment at rock bottom prices but never actually in stock.

6. Graphs
Any technical review with graphs. They are just so...............................scientific

These magazines would reach a much wider audience if newsagents provided seats and coffee.
 
Hi-Fi World is worth a regular read. They seem to have their heads slightly less firmly wedged up the arse of the industry than other mags.
 
Colloms doesn't write for Hi-Fi News anymore. They sacked him for starting Hi-Fi Critic (www.hificritic.co.uk).

News has been going down hill for a long time, but Miller taking over has accelerated things.
 
hifi news is just rehashed distributor writeup.

what hifi, is well what hifi...

hifi critic can be good but it's lacking mid range kit for review. and frankly despite what they claim about being turly in dependant of manufacturers, they still have to beg for kit, so a shit review could well limit their ability to obtain further gear.

hifi+ is still pure hifi porn, i can afford 5% of what they review, but love it to death for the pictures and rambling reviews.

hifi world, still a bit garden shed, but honest and approachable.

honestly though, they are all still more rleiable than 'unbiased' web forums. at least you know the reviewers bias's in magazines.
 
I like Hifi World, but I always end up coming back for a good read of hi>fi+, I really like this magazine. I think the format size, quality of production, writing and photography are exemplary.

The other mags are far too..., "how can I work my hifi with my 62 inch plasma and Dolby 5.1" - look, if you need that kick, go to the cinema, who wants a helicoptor from Apocalypse Now in their front room - big deal! :rolleyes:

Enough of that ranting, I like two channels of great music and thats what Hi>Fi+ gives me! The annoying thing is all that candy I can't afford!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone...from what I've seen I agree with your comments.


I'm most disappointed with Hi-fi News as that was a reasonably decent read in the 80s with fairly honest reviews, as long as you kept the reviewers' preferences in mind.

Still, even if the copy is regurgitated distributor spiel, the measurements sure do look impressive...and apparently you can log-on and check out even more measurements in case you aren't convinced!

How thoughtful - makes your four quid money well spent doesn't it?


I agree Hi-fi World is a little bit 'hobbyist' in many ways, as it always was – it's exactly the same as it was last time I bought a copy: 15 years ago! - but it still seems about the best of the bunch at the moment.


Thanks for the Hifi Critic link, David. I wasn't aware of that one so I'll check it out.


Seems like so much has changed since I was last involved with Hi-fi, not just the mags: once proud British brands now either owned or built abroad. Although I never actually owned one, I have fond memories of the old MF A1, so I plunged in haste on what I thought was a bargain MF integrated on Fleabay recently, just to get me started again. Sad to say, I was more than a little disconcerted, not to say, piffled off, to discover that it's thoroughly out-performed by an old 80s Cambridge P40 I had in the attic. Dunno what's going on there...I've noted some scepticism towards MF on this forum that is somewhat at odds with my rose-tinted memories (losing touch is a dangerous thing, yes sir), but that's shortly for another thread methinks.



Cheers, LS
 
I personally don't put any store by any of the magazine reviews, or any internet review either - or come to mention it, reviews or reccomendation on hifi fora either.

I go out there and listen to stuff, and take my favourites home for a trial when I'm ready for buying.

I sometimes buy blind, if the price can easily be recouped..

but magazines, well I just look at them for the pictures.
 
yeah, i haven't bought a hifi mag for ages now...

forums do me..!
 
MF make some decent stuff, but it's all built down to a price, rather than built up to a target quality.
 
Hi-Fi Plush - illiterate drivel written by a Harry Pearson wannabe, mostly. The worst magazine in the entire history of the universe. It makes me laugh, so I still read it. The review of the new ££££££££££££££££ Nordost cables in the current issue is one of the most hilarious things I've ever read.

Hi-Fi World - not nearly as good as it used to be, but the only UK hifi magazine that doesn't merely trumpet the new and expensive, and still gives some space to DIY.

Hi-Fi Choice - haven't read it for ages. If Ken Kessler still writes for it, it isn't worth reading.

-- Ian
 
Hi-Fi+

Yes Ian, but the porn!

Might be a review of blue leds in the next issue ;)

sideshowbob said:
Hi-Fi Plush - illiterate drivel written by a Harry Pearson wannabe, mostly. The worst magazine in the entire history of the universe. It makes me laugh, so I still read it. The review of the new ££££££££££££££££ Nordost cables in the current issue is one of the most hilarious things I've ever read.

Hi-Fi World - not nearly as good as it used to be, but the only UK hifi magazine that doesn't merely trumpet the new and expensive, and still gives some space to DIY.

Hi-Fi Choice - haven't read it for ages. If Ken Kessler still writes for it, it isn't worth reading.

-- Ian
Click to expand...
 
sideshowbob said:
Hi-Fi Plush - illiterate drivel written by a Harry Pearson wannabe, mostly. The worst magazine in the entire history of the universe. It makes me laugh, so I still read it. The review of the new ££££££££££££££££ Nordost cables in the current issue is one of the most hilarious things I've ever read.
Click to expand...

Hi Ian,

How are you?
I like reading HiFi +. I like the stories, I mean the reviews.

sideshowbob said:
Hi-Fi World - not nearly as good as it used to be, but the only UK hifi magazine that doesn't merely trumpet the new and expensive, and still gives some space to DIY.
Click to expand...

It's not too bad at the moment, I still enjoy it overall.


sideshowbob said:
Hi-Fi Choice - haven't read it for ages. If Ken Kessler still writes for it, it isn't worth reading.

-- Ian
Click to expand...

Hifi Choice could be loads better. Ken Kessler has jump back to his usual seat at HiFi News.


Bring back HiFi Answers circa 1980 to 1986. My favourite.

SCIDB
 
hifi critic: is this guy on crack..

"Every low-distortion electronic signal path sounds like every other. The equipment reviewers who hear differences in soundstaging, front-to-back depth, image height, separation of instruments, etc., etc., between this and that preamplifier, CD player, or power amplifier are totally delusional. Such differences belong strictly to the domain of loudspeakers. Depending on the wave-launch characteristics, polar pattern, or power response of the loudspeaker (those are overlapping concepts), the stereo presentation of the program material can vary greatly. It cannot vary as a result of the properties of a normal (i.e., low-distortion) electronic signal path. The only exception I can think of would be totally inadequate channel separation (less than, say, 30 dB) between the left and right channels of a stereo device, which is hardly ever the case—and certainly not when high-end components are being discussed by said reviewers.



Beware, therefore, of electronic audio components with a personality. If they have a personality, they are either defective or the brainchild of a reviewer without accountability. "


so is he claiming if power reposne of the speakers can affect the sound that the power delivery abilty of the amp can't...WTF how you can isolate power response from delivery..

hificrank more like.
 

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