If we look at all the publications, web sites and other so called professional reviews and reviewers around, it begs the question:
which ones matter and which ones don't ?
which ones do you take with a grain of salt, and which ones do you put faith in ?

Exampled in many forum topics I see opinions on sites and publications such as Australian HiFi (imho just paid advertising), Smarthouse, What HiFi, HiFi Choice, Audioholics, projectorreviews, projectorcentral, cnet etc etc etc.

So the open question - can we list the good, bad and the ugly ?

The Good

HiFi News
HiFi Choice
Widescreen Review
HiFi World
The Pefect Vision (Online)

The Bad

What HiFi
Stereophile

The Ugly

Australian HiFi
SmartHouse

The Jury is Out

Audio Video Lifestyle

The Best

Your own ears
Your own eyes

Remember reviews are only a guide. Whilst some professional reviews use measurment tools that an amateur would not have e.g. to test projector performance, most reviews are based on someones opinion, a so called expert. Whilst this might be the case, at the end of the day it is your own opinion that counts.

It is you that has to listen to that pair of speakers you have just purchased for years to come, and the type of material or what personally makes you happy, will probably be totally different to the rest of your family or the guy next door, let alone the reviewer.

Be strong enough to say - I don't care what anyone else thinks - I LIKE IT !!!

Depends on th type of product. For stereo ger I like HiFi NEws and HiFi Choice from the UK. I like looking through Waht HiFi but do not trust that mag one bit anymore. As for Aussie mags, yer right - paid advertising. I hate Smarthouse, both print and online with a passion. That guy either writes incorrect info, or when he's right, he's usally stole it from another reliable media outlet.

Well mark, I totally agree with you so far

Agree with you as well on those. I'll add mine to the mix. For projectors reviews you can't go past Greg Rogers reviews in Widescreen Review (both online and printed issues).

hi aus, I only read reviews as an enthusiast and to feed the interest. which would I trust ...none of them !

way too many rave reviews out there that you go and check the gear out for your self to only find theyre not cracked out to be what theyre makign out as.

that said the ones have found more true to their word over the years have been the uk mags hi news, hifi choice, hifi world.

generally I read and might go check somethign out if notice something that peaks the interest.

certainly still flick through the local hifi rags, stereophile etc but purely for the interest factor wouldnt trust them !

Thanks Spero, forgot about that one - agree

Thanks Al, Hmm Stereophile where would you put that one in.

HeHe maybe I should have had another category called "The Jury is Out"

problem with stereophile is the often flaky type reviewers that turn up who are all into the black arts et all ! dose of salts is where I'd put that one.

In the local rags nick tatham in audio video lifestyle have found to be quite spot on in his summations. this is based on couple of reviews anyway I've read where he had reviewed gear I'd heard already.

Thanks Al - Done

So what is everyones view on:

Audioholics
ProjectorReviews
ProjectorCentral
CNet
Cine4home

hey,

interesting topic. Thinking about it, I guess I don't really take any notice of any reviewers opinions. Who are they to tell me, it's just their opinion and we all have them.

I'm a qualified chef of 20+ years. That doesn't give me the position to tell people that oysters taste and feel like salty snot and not to bother trying one because that's my opinion of them, but if asked, I would explain that rock oysters are sweeter than deep sea ones and the way they should look and smell when fresh. This is the character of an oyster.

I just like to read about the products features, abilities and possibilities. These are based on facts (providing they get those right), their opinions on what something looks and sounds like is according to them. I understand that they are to write a review on a product and not just talk about it's specifications and I realise there is a fine line between stating a products character and preformance as opposed to giving their thoughts and opinions, but I loose total interest when they cross way over this line and tell you that this product is the only product worth considering and to buy anything else would be wasting your money.

If this is the case, why don't stores trash everything else and only stock these products.

The yanky mags I find to be the most annoying. They really love the sound of their own voice and this is portrayed in thier reviews. The over creative dribble and constant referals and comparisons to their $ 250k reference system, makes me scratch my head and think, what the hell are you talking about!

British mags I find provide the most solid and down the line information.

Aussie mags make me laugh when they struggle to write good things about the worst product that no one wants because they are afraid of loosing that companies advertising revenue.

I'm sorry, previewing my post I realised I have given this too much thought and have overstepped the line. I'll go to bed now.

Then again, in my own words, this is just my dribble and opinion, so what's it matter.

chef.

The problem I have with Audio Visual Lifestyle mag is that they seem to have a perfect record - They have never given a product a bad review. Now either they have a policy of only printing the finest products (doubtful, as some of the stuff Ive seen and heard is rubbish) or they are simply in it for the advertising revenue.

Methinks its the latter.

I do like Widescren review as a mag to read, they only problem is it is simply NOT good value for money. The mag is about 40 pages long and the number of interesting things in it are generally taking up about 40% of the mag each month. Therefore not good value for money.

I do like readin Cine4home, and the free onluine version of The Perfect Vision.

I may be stepping into trouble here but I was offered the opportunity to write a review from an Onkyo receiver seven years ago for one of the local mags (I will not say which, but I no longer take any of the reviews in there seriously anymore). After using the receiver and having come across a few (many) problems with it which were inherit to it I said I would also write about those problems (along with the good) in the review so that people whom went to buy it knew what they were in for. I was told that I could not do that so I passed on writing the review for them if I couldn't be honest. Oh well.

So with Audio Video Lifestyle we now have a new category:

"The Jury is Out"

Maybe I should have put this topic under the Home Theatre System sub forum instead.

I think more people venture over to there instead

You can request hte mods move it there if you want to.

I don't usually trust the Australian Hi Fi magazines, as they always only say good things about loud speakers. I still purchase some Australian Hi Fi magazines, but, it's more so that I know what new loud speakers are out, how much they are, what specs they are, etc.

I have to say I haven't really found any I trust but that doesn't stop me reading most just for interest in what products are around. I don't think any review to date has actually gotten me to go buy anything, well except for Al's review of the Elektra amp which got me to consider it and I couldn't be more happy.

Al when are you going to start your own mag?

The Bad : Good Gear Guide

Gadget Guy... band and downright scandalous

Projector central excellent. Very reliable, thorough reviews. Also has a good aussie following in the forum sections etc.
They are regarded as the best when it comes to all things projectors.

(www.projectorcentral.com for those who haven't had a look)

Agree the English mag's for Home theatre and hifi seem fairly good.

Not many aussies worth the read, though Sound and Image and Audio Video Lifestyle aren't too bad.

yep gave him an ear full at Martin Place one day not something I do normally but he is full of himself and I laughed in his face when he said Seven was HD when they were doing 576p

cheers laurie

BAD Australian T3 Magazine.

Kind of handy for checking what is available worldwide in all kinds of electronic gadgets.

( although not classed as a Professional Electronic Mag by any means ).

Seems to be virtually identical to UK T3 with dollar pricing

The reviews and best lists though are pathetic unless you need an Ipod.

My 2 pence worth.

I buy no Aussie mags anymore. I glance through them at the newsagents only (and yes I do feel guilty for wasting the stores time - its not their fault the mags are shite!)

Hi all, The one site that I keep going to for my home theatre info and reviews is Audioholics. I know it's American and we don't get some of the products here but the reviews they have are pretty good.

I can't stand the Aussie mags. Just have a look through and see who has the biggest ad and you will find a glowing reveiw of that product in the mag somewhere!

But IMHO you can't beat your own listening or viewing opinions. What I like might not be your kettle of fish. But If you don't the Denon avr 3805 receiver then there's something wrong with you!

It's quite amazing how many reviews are nothing but crap

Most Australian Hi Fi magazines are simply glorified advertisements. The worst thing about them? You pay to read those ads!

I do personally trust What Hi Fi Sound & Vision, which hails from the UK, though.

The only person I have ever trusted to give an honest review
is Peter Aczel from The Audio Critic
Unfortunately his reviews are very few and far between.