Audio Reviewers Are ALL Paid Shills!

[MrBoat]

Not all, but there are a lot of copycats seemingly reading from the same script. And then there's those terrible AI review sites with the AI voice that speaks phonetically and without any personality whatsoever. This AI approach is becoming increasingly popular and is just intellectually lazy at best. There is clues of what sites do this in the channel names of many, with the name being somewhat of AI in nature. Then there's the 30 somethings that is telling us about "old school," even though it's apparent he hasn't been out of the parents home long enough to have hindsight into old anything.

Audioholics kind of sets the bar for what is IMO, believable and professional, non biased reviews with perhaps a bit too much factuality at times, if they can be checked for anything at all. Not a bad quality, really, and more likely just a necessary evil of reviewing technical products so I give that a pass due to my lack of tech geekiness.

A lot of reviewers irk me, though. The cheapaudio guy is one and the Iyagi fellow. Andrew Robinson, yet another. Z reviews I can't take seriously as a grownup and I am compelled to tell him that anime is not real.

Paid shills? Many are. When I start to hear groveling towards consideration to their "need" to make a living at this, just makes me instead tell them to get a real job. I'm not going to have much in the way of pity to so many who are trying to take the shortcut to wealth without the hard work, and what otherwise tends to depict an existence of 'getting over' on the system.

 

[highfigh]

Not all, but there are a lot of copycats seemingly reading from the same script. And then there's those terrible AI review sites with the AI voice that speaks phonetically and without any personality whatsoever. This AI approach is becoming increasingly popular and is just intellectually lazy at best. There is clues of what sites do this in the channel names of many, with the name being somewhat of AI in nature. Then there's the 30 somethings that is telling us about "old school," even though it's apparent he hasn't been out of the parents home long enough to have hindsight into old anything.

Audioholics kind of sets the bar for what is IMO, believable and professional, non biased reviews with perhaps a bit too much factuality at times, if they can be checked for anything at all. Not a bad quality, really, and more likely just a necessary evil of reviewing technical products so I give that a pass due to my lack of tech geekiness.

A lot of reviewers irk me, though. The cheapaudio guy is one and the Iyagi fellow. Andrew Robinson, yet another. Z reviews I can't take seriously as a grownup and I am compelled to tell him that anime is not real.

Paid shills? Many are. When I start to hear groveling towards consideration to their "need" to make a living at this, just makes me instead tell them to get a real job. I'm not going to have much in the way of pity to so many who are trying to take the shortcut to wealth without the hard work, and what otherwise tends to depict an existence of 'getting over' on the system.

In the early-'80s, we used to describe Stereo Review as "They never reviewed a bad product from an advertiser". I don't remember Julien Hirsch mentioning that the green magic marker CD treatment was parody, either.

Michael Fremer. Need I say more? How about Steve Guttenberg (not the actor from Police Academy)?

Nobody 'needs' to be a reviewer for anything unless their employer demands it. If they created a company or channel for reviewing things, it's because they wanted to do that or they found that they could make money and get free stuff in that way. Watch some guitar/amp/effects reviews and you'll see whiners like one woman, wondering if they should continue, a guy carrying on about someone's playing and saying things like "He's amazing! I don't know how he can improvise so fluidly" when he could easily have listened to their music ahead of making the video, hearing that what he thought was improvised was part of a 15 year old song.

Then, reviewers of items that have little/nothing to do with music have at least one guitar in the background, sometimes several or a banjo, mandolin etc. Why do newscasters need instruments in the background?

WRT the 30-something- are you sure they have actually moved out of their parents' basement?

I'm particularly annoyed when I see reviews and demos of speakers or system that were recorded using a smart phone from a distance- we're hearing the room and all of its flaws- how do they expect us to believe their statements about anything being the best, great, or any other adjective?

 

[MrBoat]

Michael Fremer. Need I say more? How about Steve Guttenberg (not the actor from Police Academy)?

Steve Guttenberg. . . likeable fellow, though. I don't take his reviews beyond someone who is passionate about audio. I would not trust his subjective opinion to make a purchase by. It's basically just like watching one of our friends talk about equipment. Someone who is well connected enough to play with expensive toys.

 

[isolar8001]

A lot of reviewers irk me, though. The cheapaudio guy is one and the Iyagi fellow. Andrew Robinson, yet another. Z reviews I can't take seriously as a grownup and I am compelled to tell him that anime is not real.

Yeah...the Cheapaudioman is highly annoying. If I see one more 100 dollar chinese amp or DAC, I will lose it.
He tests (listens to) speakers with Metallica. And his facial hair is a freakin' nightmare.

Iyagi looks to be a rich spoiled son of some corporate big wig...sorry kid, you is just too young.
Andrew Robinson will shill...as good a shiller as there is.
Z and his bevy of underage Japanese anime girls is concerning...If I hadn't seen films of him at shows, I would have sworn he is on house arrest...for something.

I like Thomas...he seems pretty down to Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasAndStereo/videos

 

[cpp]

I'm waiting for day when Audio reviewers start reviewing each other , like a no holes barred death match

 

[MrBoat]

I'm waiting for day when Audio reviewers start reviewing each other , like a no holes barred death match

Some do. There has been some laughable online drama between some of them. Nothing worse than seeing fights between catty males, so it is something to be avoided at all costs.

 

[adk highlander]

The only guy I trust outside of the guys here is Kalman Rubinson on Stereophile. He is a scientist as well as a reviewer. More or less retired now but I always enjoyed both is articles and reviews.

 

[MrBoat]

Yeah...the Cheapaudioman is highly annoying. If I see one more 100 dollar chinese amp or DAC, I will lose it.
He tests (listens to) speakers with Metallica. And his facial hair is a freakin' nightmare.

I must admit that I have a few $100 amps but none were purchased because of youtube reviewers. I found them surfing the reviews over at ASR forum and because of the measurements. The $300 Icepower module kit I bought because of Toids review. I actually like him and the Joe N Tell guy. At least they don't go over the top with the made up persona bit and they do some DIY projects that are fun and well explained.

 

[Mikado463]

I continue to read Stereophile and TAS. While I take most reviews with a grain of salt you do learn how read between the lines after the years. If I had to choose between the two as for a preference it would be Stereophile. Although I have met Robert Harley on two occasions and we had great discussion on all things motorcycles, a passion of his.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think a big thing to keep in mind is just how good most of the major manufacturers are at delivering a decent or better quality product. Even a cheap Yamaha AVR is still a Yamaha AVR. They've been in the business forever and a day. So, would you expect to hear a super negative review of almost anything they deliver? How about Denon? Any quality speaker manufacturer you've heard of just give a crap product?

This is the problem. I'm more of a projector guy, and I say the same thing all the time. It's not like Epson has any complete garbage projectors. Their home theater stuff is 'good' at worst, and gets better as you move up their line in tangible ways. BenQ as well. JVC and Sony? Absolutely! Really solid stuff. My issue is more about reviewers that give entirely subjective reviews of products without taking a single measurement. They don't have the tools to measure light output, or how loud a projector is. Or they don't even comment on that stuff and just read the manufacturer's specifications. It's sad, and bad form. Especially from anyone who makes a living doing things. But, it doesn't make the product bad. It just makes the review not as good as it could have, and should have been.

I basically don't read a lot of audio reviews at all. I have found that I don't blast my system, and if I were buying something nicer, I wouldn't spend a ton of time stressing over what may be nearly inaudible differences between gear. It's great that so many people do really deep research on this stuff. Really. Solid. I would do a fair bit of research if I'm buying speakers for my home theater setup... Sure. But, after that digging, I'm just buying them and enjoying them and not stressing beyond that point.

I've been coming here for years. The idea that there is no such thing as a bad product in reviews actually makes sense. What reviewer wants to see a manufacturer or product fail? Why would a reviewer NOT reach out to a manufacturer if the specifications are WAY off from what is advertised? Why would they not let them know and give them a chance to respond? But, you gotta look for the places that do come back and give an honest statement about things at the end of the day. Being respectful, but honest. It sounded great, but didn't deliver the power that it was rated at. Or, when it reached the stated power, it had far more noise than was tolerable. Or, our first test sample had some issues which the manufacturer quickly resolved. Great service!

It's not unreasonable to treat manufacturers with respect.

Sponsored reviews are also not a bad thing as long as they are labeled as such up front. Don't make me watch a whole video then at the end mention that Samsung is sponsoring the video. That just means I sat through an advertisement. I have a bit more respect for reviewers who are able to say whatever they want about the product during the review, even if it is sponsored and let us know that up front. Then actually do cover the positives and negatives in the review.

Anyone who doesn't get it and thinks reviewers just should cater to consumers, and ignore the need to pay for everything is just kidding themselves. A few sites are able to get by with support from others and more normal ad revenue, but Project Farm and The Hook Up can't be every channel or website that is out there.

On the plus side, FORUMS are amazing and really allow for some honest commentary about various products. I'm blown away when I see posts that say "Hey! I just bought this stuff. Did I make a good buy?" - Like that question shouldn't have been asked FIRST! Crazy people out there.

 

[Dude#1279435]

No Audiophile was a favorite. Not that I know anything, but it was fun seeing him tinker around with the latest speakers.

 

[Danzilla31]

The only three sites I love the most for reviews are Audioholics ASR and Erin's Audio Corner

I do love Youthmans he's not as good with measurements but he does a lot to promote our hobby and showcases a lot of people's home theaters. I'm actually planning ON GOING TO MWAVE this summer. I'm super stoked it should be fun!!!! He does a panel with Archea from ASR and another guy as well and it's a good panel. Their story on what happened when they double blind tested amps and how Archea was fooling them with the switching was pretty hilarious

I also think some honourable mentions are Joe N Tell and Techno Dad and also Spec of Tech they aren't as good with measurements but they do a great job of trying to promote our hobby and I love Spec of Tech getting his hands on all sorts of gear and putting it into action

Other then that? Yeah I feel the same way you guys do.

Hey whose that guy that breaks apart speakers and then sells kits that make them better? I can't stand that guy. He annoys the SH$T out of me for some reason

 

[MrBoat]

Hey whose that guy that breaks apart speakers and then sells kits that make them better? I can't stand that guy. He annoys the SH$T out of me for some reason

Sounds like Danny from GR-Research. The guy with the tube connectors and other snake oily bits? Yeah. . .I avoid that one and I seem to have been able to rid youtube suggesting his videos, along with others.

 

[Danzilla31]

Sounds like Danny from GR-Research. The guy with the tube connectors and other snake oily bits? Yeah. . .I avoid that one and I seem to have been able to rid youtube suggesting his videos, along with others.

Oh yeah it's Danny yeah he really gets to me for some reason

 

[MrBoat]

Oh yeah it's Danny yeah he really gets to me for some reason

Because he's an obvious shyster to anyone that has been to town before. I couldn't be in the same room with him. I'd be inclined to heckle him and flip him off.

 

[gene]

The only three sites I love the most for reviews are Audioholics ASR and Erin's Audio Corner

I do love Youthmans he's not as good with measurements but he does a lot to promote our hobby and showcases a lot of people's home theaters. I'm actually planning ON GOING TO MWAVE this summer. I'm super stoked it should be fun!!!! He does a panel with Archea from ASR and another guy as well and it's a good panel. Their story on what happened when they double blind tested amps and how Archea was fooling them with the switching was pretty hilarious

I also think some honourable mentions are Joe N Tell and Techno Dad and also Spec of Tech they aren't as good with measurements but they do a great job of trying to promote our hobby and I love Spec of Tech getting his hands on all sorts of gear and putting it into action

Other then that? Yeah I feel the same way you guys do.

Hey whose that guy that breaks apart speakers and then sells kits that make them better? I can't stand that guy. He annoys the SH$T out of me for some reason

Youthman is a good guy. He's not very technical, nor does he claim to be. Joe and Techno are clowns and their Magic Beans is based on a lot of nonsense and not something I'd endorse for anyone serious about room calibration. Even Dr. Floyd Toole commented similarly on an ASR thread as follows:

The basic flaw is that a steady-state room curve - which is what is measured at the listening position - is not a “target”, it is a “result”. We know that the shape of such curves is dominated by early reflected sound - off-axis radiation. The only reliable way to ensure neutral communication of sound is to start by understanding the loudspeaker - which is NOT what is revealed in a close-up moving mic measurement. Such a measurement can reveal an approximation to the direct sound/on-axis response, but the off-axis performance remains a mystery, and that is what is mainly responsible for the shape of the steady-state room curve at frequencies above the transition/Schroeder frequency. A room curve is well predicted by the "early-reflections" component of s spinorama ; BUT only above the transition frequency because low frequency performance is dominated by small-room resonances. These must be addressed and, fortunately, at low frequencies steady-state room curves have meaning. With bass accounting for about 1/3 of our overall impressions of sound quality it is clear that one must deal with the upper and lower frequencies differently. If a loudspeaker is well designed, i.e. free from audible resonances, spectrally flat on axis, and smooth off axis, the only adjustments that should be necessary at middle and high frequencies are broadband “tone control” spectral balance tweaking to address variations in program material. Low frequency room mode problems have to be addressed as a separate problem (see Todd Welti papers or my book), and once solved, again only “tone control” adjustments will be necessary for program variations. No fixed “calibration” can be perfect for all program material.

People keep looking for money-making ways to sell “calibrations” and most of them are lacking in some way. This is another one. It has a chance of making a truly bad loudspeaker sound better, but, in my opinion, it has an equal chance of degrading a truly good one. And so it goes . . . Pick the right demo material and the customer will be thrilled.

 

[isolar8001]

Because he's an obvious shyster to anyone that has been to town before. I couldn't be in the same room with him. I'd be inclined to heckle him and flip him off.

I would pour honey in his hair, and plant him face down on an anthill while holding a huge charged capacitor on his tongue.

 

[isolar8001]

Joe and Techno are clowns

Agreed...cant stand those guys and their nonsense...no wonder Techno's wife threw him out.
I feel bad for Erin hanging out with those two (on the Tube).

 

[davidscott]

In the early-'80s, we used to describe Stereo Review as "They never reviewed a bad product from an advertiser". I don't remember Julien Hirsch mentioning that the green magic marker CD treatment was parody, either.

Michael Fremer. Need I say more? How about Steve Guttenberg (not the actor from Police Academy)?

Nobody 'needs' to be a reviewer for anything unless their employer demands it. If they created a company or channel for reviewing things, it's because they wanted to do that or they found that they could make money and get free stuff in that way. Watch some guitar/amp/effects reviews and you'll see whiners like one woman, wondering if they should continue, a guy carrying on about someone's playing and saying things like "He's amazing! I don't know how he can improvise so fluidly" when he could easily have listened to their music ahead of making the video, hearing that what he thought was improvised was part of a 15 year old song.

Then, reviewers of items that have little/nothing to do with music have at least one guitar in the background, sometimes several or a banjo, mandolin etc. Why do newscasters need instruments in the background?

WRT the 30-something- are you sure they have actually moved out of their parents' basement?

I'm particularly annoyed when I see reviews and demos of speakers or system that were recorded using a smart phone from a distance- we're hearing the room and all of its flaws- how do they expect us to believe their statements about anything being the best, great, or any other adjective?

Back in the day late 70s I subscribed to Audio and Stereo Review. Later to Stereophile. I do remember that Julien Hirsch stated that all amps with similar specs sounded the same (probably mostly true) but he never did trash an advertiser. Still not bad but I preferred Audio.

 

[davidscott]

I continue to read Stereophile and TAS. While I take most reviews with a grain of salt you do learn how read between the lines after the years. If I had to choose between the two as for a preference it would be Stereophile. Although I have met Robert Harley on two occasions and we had great discussion on all things motorcycles, a passion of his.

Stereophile had some great writers. I used to subscribe back in the 80s and 90s. Back in my NAD separates days.