Forum 'chatter' unreliable?

[Non-Smoking Man]

In issue 41 of HiFi+, Paul Messenger, a longstanding and renowned journalist, comments (In 'Speakers' Corner'):

..'in the main forum chatter should be treated as an entertaining insight into the psyches of the people chatting, not as a reliable method of discerning the properties of components.'

Discuss..

Jack NSM

 

[pmcuk]

I've always found forum posts more neutral and informative than professional hifi critics who have all kinds of vested interests circulating inside their heads.

Maybe Messenger is trying to defend his position against a tide of contrary opinions. The word "chatter" suggests he's in a huff.

 

[DUVET]

Anyone who spends their hard earned coin on hifi is more than entitled to have an opinion and thats not forum chatter .
PS . Shave that bloody beard

 

[CnoEvil]

Whether Forum Member or Reviewer - I find being "in sync" with their views and preferences is what matters....even people who have the opposite taste to me, I find useful - as it helps rule stuff out.

 

[simon g]

So, this 'chatter' about hifi components, how they work and sound, from experienced users, should be disregarded and all should hail the mighty professional reviewers?

He's got the cart before the horse there, to put it politely.

 

[lazycat]

OMG he's right.

Can I have my subs back please?

Tw*t.

 

[Lawrence001]

He has a point though, if you read some of the threads on measurement Vs listening/"musicality", cables, heated debates about the merits of various streamers etc, together with slightly dodgy advice (IMHO) from some members portrayed as fact rather than opinion, it doesn't help our case either. 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other I'd say.

If you treat all opinions with a pinch of salt and look at the numbers (and experience) agreeing with each viewpoint, bearing in mind some have entrenched opinions and don't seem to give way at all, then it is useful information in forming a view, but listening yourself in your own room and system is always the ultimate opinion of course.

 

[antonio66]

That must be close on 20yrs ago Jack, Paul may have changed his mind again now. I'm sure most on here have their own 'favourite' posters whom they believe to have a good insight in to the subject that's being talked about, everyone else is ignored, well it is for me

 

[orbscure]

I take everything I read online/printed with a pinch of salt and let my ears choose what's best for me...

 

[pmcuk]

I'm sure most on here have their own 'favourite' posters whom they believe to have a good insight in to the subject that's being talked about, everyone else is ignored, well it is for me

Yes, there are some very well informed posters.

But there's also some value in taking a broad consensus of views on popular items, just to get an idea of a majority opinion if there is one.

There are also more and less useful forums. One of the best forums is Head-Fi. They have some great threads and very good posters.

For the most informative opinions from designers, engineers and industry professionals there's DIY Audio.

 

[Nopiano]

There are a lot of so-called reviews that are little more than press releases, and others with so much imaginary guff about lower noise floors in fuses that the decent ones get tarnished or treated with cynicism.

Much the same can be said about forum contributors in my view. You learn who you relate to and who you don’t, as mentioned above. I’ve learned loads from both, and even more from putting in the effort to attend shows, dealer open days, manufacturers presentations etc. I’m personally far more fed up with YouTube wannabes, though several of those are worth a listen - even if they pad everything out. At least I can skim read, but I haven’t mastered skim listening!

 

[tuga]

In issue 41 of HiFi+, Paul Messenger, a longstanding and renowned journalist, comments (In 'Speakers' Corner'):

..'in the main forum chatter should be treated as an entertaining insight into the psyches of the people chatting, not as a reliable method of discerning the properties of components.'

Discuss..

Jack NSM

I agree with Messenger.

But I would add that audio press reviews "should be treated as an entertaining" just as much as "forum chatter".



#Entertainment, #Emperorsnewclothes

 

[tuga]

Anyone who spends their hard earned coin on hifi is more than entitled to have an opinion and thats not forum chatter .
PS . Shave that bloody beard

More than people who live off audio reviewing / advertising and are offered accomodating (wholesale) prices and extended loans?

 

[George 47]

Hifi + 41.....and last month is was Hifi + 208...somewhat old or am I missing something? Paul has somewhat dropped out of writing on audio.

I notice Hifi+ has a new YouTube channel with a Hifi Philosophy person, which sums up the new bright shiny US approach. Although I have a lot of time for Alan Sircom.

 

[Beobloke]

Hifi + 41.....and last month is was Hifi + 208...somewhat old or am I missing something? Paul has somewhat dropped out of writing on audio.

Unfortunatey I don’t think Paul is well currently. He was at the Audiojumble and I was shocked and saddened to see how he has declined since I last saw him.

 

[pmcuk]

I notice Hifi+ has a new YouTube channel with a Hifi Philosophy person, which sums up the new bright shiny US approach.

HiFi Philosophy? Save us from such an abomination. About as useful as the philosophy of garage doors......

 

[Nopiano]

Unfortunatey I don’t think Paul is well currently. He was at the Audiojumble and I was shocked and saddened to see how he has declined since I last saw him.

That’s very sad to hear. I loved his columns way back in Hifi News, and then his tenure at Hifi Choice in the A5 format period. Last time I saw he was writing in MC’s Hifi Critic.

 

[George 47]

Unfortunatey I don’t think Paul is well currently. He was at the Audiojumble and I was shocked and saddened to see how he has declined since I last saw him.

Yes, I was told he was unwell and he did not look brilliant earlier this year.

 

[George 47]

That’s very sad to hear. I loved his columns way back in Hifi News, and then his tenure at Hifi Choice in the A5 format period. Last time I saw he was writing in MC’s Hifi Critic.

He left and went over to Hifi Pig and wrote a review of the previous Munich (not this years) but has not written anything I have seen since.

 

[Gray]

- even if they pad everything out. At least I can skim read, but I haven’t mastered skim listening!

Some of them really do pad things out.
I've sometimes set YT playback speed to x1.5, even x2 and it's been about right