Equipment reviews in magazines

Dave Moritz · 11-13-2007, 06:39 AM

Is it me or every time a publication reviews a piece of home theater gear that they slap a good review on everything? It seems like every review I come across the past few years might say a few negative things but go on to say how good the product really is. A good example is Sony's horrible sounding D class powered receivers. Every where I go I hear about how horrible they sound and when I listen to them I hate them. But when you read the review they go on about how good they sound and how it had no problem reproducing every frequency. Even though the previous offering I am speaking about was only rated at 1KHz. You almost get the impression that the way they slap great on everything that little JVC home theater in the box solutions not only perform as well as the dedicated receivers. But they make it sound like they have just as much power inside as well. When reviews place the hot running receiver from Onkyo up there with Denon, Pioneer Elite and Marantz it makes me wonder. Especially when you hear other issues about there poor performing video section. These are just two examples and other companies have had problems to but the issue is politically correct reviews!

It is like the politically correct world has taken over equipment reviews and everyone is afraid of being honest. Because they may piss off the company and they may not get gear sent to them. I feel it is more important to give accurate reviews and list all the problems as well as all the high points! If something performs perfectly then thats fine, but if it is lacking or is just a piece of junk. Then they should tell us so we can avoid wasting our money on it, thats why we where reading these articles wasn't it? I am in the middle of upgrading a good chunk of my home theater and when I start reading reviews and everything is written up as good. It gets frustrating especially when you start hearing about how poor something handles video or how bad something is layed out or how lacking the amplifier section is. Granted these reviewers do not have this equipment for a long time but many of the short comings should be evident when using the gear. When are we going to see honest reviewing come back to magazine reviews?

Ed Moxley · 11-13-2007, 08:05 AM

You may never see a bad review in a magazine. They'll say that the remote could have been laid out better, but that's about as bad as they get. The reviewer isn't going to bite the hand that feeds him. The best place to get honest reviews of equipment, is at forums, from members that have them, or have tried them themselves.

The receivers in some HTIBs, are dedicated receivers, that were bundled into a package deal (such as the JVC you mentioned). I, personally, don't like the systems that have the dvd player built into the receiver. But those that have a separate receiver, are pretty decent for entry level systems.

Phil A · 11-13-2007, 10:09 AM

The magazine or publication gets advertising revenue. Reviewers get accomodation sales at very low prices. The best you really can get is if you follow a paricular reviewer carefully that tends not be be overly biased and get a relative sense of what was said in past reviews and current ones from having the same equipment in place. In short, it serves as a general benchmark when you look in stores and watch or listen for yourself and see what other users have to say.

Dave Moritz · 11-13-2007, 10:47 AM

Thats why I am glad there are forums like this one!

Home Theater magazines are not what they used to be and its a shame.

gene c · 11-13-2007, 06:41 PM

I've always enjoyed reading mag reviews (subscribe to two of them) but you have to read between the lines to figure out how they really feel about a product. The last paragraph (summary) is usually where most of the BS is. On a positive note, they get to audition a lot of gear, often times in their own homes, for an extended period of time. After a while you get a feel for what they like and what they really don't care for. Regardless of what they write. The thing that really bothers me is how everything ends up on their "short list" of products to consider. As for which is better, professional reviews or forum members, they both have their place and I enjoy them equally. Then there's that mag that doesn't accept ads or products from the makers. Do I dare mention it? Naw, I think I cause enough trouble around here already.

**HTF Ads**

Kevin C Brown · 11-13-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

I've always enjoyed reading mag reviews (subscribe to two of them) but you have to read between the lines to figure out how they really feel about a product.

Bingo.

I, in fact do *not* believe that magazine reviews are all positive cheerleading for products. The real benefit to these kinds of reviews is to *compare* how they review different products. I am really focussed on display reviews right now, and frankly, I'm surprised by how honest some of them are. Displays with crappy deinterlacing, poor unif across the screen, the difference between HDMI and component inputs, LCDs vs plasmas, the big 120 Hz marketing joke for LCD, etc. The info is usually there that differentiates products from different manufacturers, but you have to read the review and not just the 1st and last paragraphs. And don't forget the measurements boxes too.

Brian Serene · 11-14-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene c

I've always enjoyed reading mag reviews (subscribe to two of them) but you have to read between the lines to figure out how they really feel about a product. The last paragraph (summary) is usually where most of the BS is. On a positive note, they get to audition a lot of gear, often times in their own homes, for an extended period of time. After a while you get a feel for what they like and what they really don't care for. Regardless of what they write. The thing that really bothers me is how everything ends up on their "short list" of products to consider. As for which is better, professional reviews or forum members, they both have their place and I enjoy them equally. Then there's that mag that doesn't accept ads or products from the makers. Do I dare mention it? Naw, I think I cause enough trouble around here already.

The name of the magazine that does not accept advertising, and buys its products off the shelf like regular buyers, is Consumer Reports.

Jeff Gatie · 11-14-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Serene

The name of the magazine that does not accept advertising, and buys its products off the shelf like regular buyers, is Consumer Reports.

Yes, but CR has their own agenda. Their reviews are most often aimed at perceived "value" and ease of use for the non-enthusiast. In terms of what an enthusiast wants in a piece of gear, CR often has no clue because it is trying to cater to the uninformed layman. This goes for everything from electronics to 4-wheel drive vehicles. Appliances, driveway sealer, garage door openers - I'd follow CR. Fanatical enthusiast type stuff like CE and autos, I leave CR alone.

Tim Hoover · 11-23-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Moritz

But when you read the review they go on about how good they sound and how it had no problem reproducing every frequency. Even though the previous offering I am speaking about was only rated at 1KHz.

I'm not disagreeing with the crux of your argument by any stretch of the imagination, but the above quote confused me. How would the frequency response of a piece have anything to do with how the power output was measured?