thelefthead

Hi Chris,<br /> <br /> Thanks very much for your thoughtful reply. Your point regarding a negative review of a tech component being just as valid as a negative review of an audio component is rock solid. It is indisputable that the inherent conflict of interest in reviewing products from companies that may or may not choose to advertise with you is present- and you faced it down with integrity. <br /> <br /> So, while I still feel that there is something not right in the world of audio reviews, I'll see if I can't find another review of yours to complain about. ;-)<br /> <br /> I think Alan Sircom really speaks to the issue that led to my initial comment. There is something different about the way audio products are reviewed from any other tech - but at the end of the day it is all just tech. In the case of audio it is tech that can really create a fantastic experience under the right circumstances - but photographers could argue something similar.<br /> <br /> Alan's comments point to two issues I hadn't considered fully before. If the argument in Alan's comments is followed to conclusion, they imply that there simply is no valid way for reviewers to compare one audio product to another. <br /> <br /> But maybe the more interesting implication is that the fundamental issue is that many readers seeking reviews have so little faith in their own perceptions that they value the review over what they themselves would hear if they listened to the components - so negative comments are blown out of proportion constraining what reviewers can actually say in their reviews. <br /> <br /> Food for thought for me. <br /> <br /> Thanks again,<br /> Kelly<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Hi Chris,<br /> <br /> Sorry, I may have committed some crime of etiquette. I didn't sign any name to my post. Noticed a reply to "one and a half" but no reply to my own comment. My name is Kelly. I'm quite sincere in my intent to challenge you and not insult you, so please let me know if and how I may have missed the mark.<br /> <br /> Thanks,<br /> Kelly<br />

So, let me start by apologizing for my first comment being a little negative. I've been reading the site for a while and think you do a great job of providing tons of information for those of us who are both into audio and tech enough to care about getting decent sound out of a computer.<br /> <br /> And now here comes the but...<br /> <br /> When it comes to reviews so far you don't really have any more credibility than those writers in Stereophile or The Absolute Sound who only seem to have two ratings - "love it" and "love it more" - unless it is from some unknown company who has done something unusual. <br /> <br /> You had a shot at credibility with this one. A negative review? On an audiophile site? Wow. But sorry to say you didn't get there. A negative review of a piece of computer hardware doesn't count. There are plenty of those out there, because computer techies are a little less prone to loving everything that comes along. While I know the value of NAS and the role it plays, it simply isn't an audio component that can affect sound quality.<br /> <br /> I'll keep reading. I really get the sense that your integrity means a lot to you. And as I said, you do a great job of providing a collection of information that would otherwise be very hard to find. I appreciate the work you put into it. But if you are going to try to separate yourself from the lemmings in audiophile review land - you still have some work in front of you.<br /> <br /> If I haven't managed to offend you yet, perhaps you would be open to a suggestions. Try a methodology similar to that employed by WhatHifi.com (an example: http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Hi-Fi-Reviews/Hi-fi-amplifiers-Reviews/Rule-Star-Rating-Any!142/Rating_Desc/ ). It at least facilitates some comparison between the options out there.<br /> <br /> Thanks,<br />