Fair points, Gene. From a business standpoint, I'm sure you know what you're doing. However, from a consumer standpoint, I think the business model leaves a few things left to be desired.
If you are reliant on the manufactures for all of your review samples, than it makes one wonder if you are really free to be as critical of a product that you otherwise might have been. After all, if you are overly negative about a product, a company might not want to send you more products to review.
Also, how can you ensure that the products a manufacturer sends you are representative of what they sell? An example that comes to mind is that Starke Sound amp that ASR measured. They had two samples, neither of which performed as spec'd. Your business model cannot capture that. I am very grateful that it was caught and pointed out to the consumer because I was considering purchasing one of those amps after reading about it on your website.
If you reviewed products sent to you by members, you could have more reviews, which could mean more website clicks. And if you were sent products by members that were flawed and not representative from the manufacturers perspective, then maybe they would send you separate samples to review and compare. Even more reviews. Even more clicks.
I don't mean to sound patronizing here. You know your business model better than I do. I'm just saying from my perspective, I can see room for improvement from a consumer perspective.
I am so tired of this so called argument that UNLESS a reviewer isn't critical enough or buys the product on their own they MUST be being influenced by the company that's sending them the product in for review.
Out of all the reviews I've read of these speakers to date
@shadyJ is the only reviewer that has pointed out these speakers
1 being voiced not in the side of neutrality
2 Not being able to crossover with subs without issues
3 And the issues these speakers can cause with receivers and some amplifiers
Everyone else has been singing these speakers and this speaker lines praises.
As mentioned if this was so easy to do you BUY them and ship them in to review. Better yet you buy them and buy all the equipment like a Klippel do all the work of measuring and then flip them for a loss. All while not doing any revenue from advertisers and sponsors and such. Only relying on donations from your subscribers
The reason Audioholics is so good to us their members is because Gene's business model. And this is not the only review that they have pointed out issues with products Monoprice Monoliths new line of budget amps is another one I can call up to mind right off the bat.
You can point out a products issues without beating them into the ground just to appeal to a few subscribers wishes that doing so means YOUR NOT INFLUENCED BY A COMPANY who sent you these speakers in to review.
If they did it your way no company would send in equipment to review sites for objective review. They'd only send in products to review sites that were subjective and could be bought off by their money and you'd never get any good reviews at all
