What would make HiFi Reviews (more) useful?

[Ajani]

Wrong comparison. It is "objective" vs. "observational". To observe that a condition exists exists involves no subjectivity. Subjectivity occurs afterwards in either case with a judgment regarding that change. Two people can agree completely on a difference and yet arrive at different conclusions. I've known two prominent reviewers for decades and sometimes disagree with either as to the subjective side of what I find best - having heard exactly the same things.

That's a good clarification... I actually had to read your point twice for it to really sink in (hopefully I was just really tired when I first read it)...

Those of us who do remember that approach by Len Feldman and Julian Hirsch recall how utterly useless they were to convey any useful knowledge as opposed to information.

I never read their reviews, but I can imagine how worthless it would be to try and buy a stereo based on just the test measurements in Stereophile (for example)... As informative as measurements are, I can't see how they can be used in isolation...

In the comparative sense, sure. Remember too that reviewers (and store employees) can get any component at accommodation (I've purchased a couple myself that way), so it is a level field when comparing one to another.

I think TAS should return to its roots with the approach HP took long ago before he had to turn the reins over to new management.

rw

Certainly, comparatively between products of the same price... but between products of different prices, the comparison gets skewered...

The difference between a $3K amp and a $1K (at accommodation) in terms of percentages, is the same as the difference between a $9K and a $3K amp (at retail)... but while someone may be willing to accept the difference ($2K) in the first instance, the difference ($6K) in the second situation, for the same amps, might be totally unacceptable...