Who is Amir? When it comes to topping I prefer chocolate. Metric? LOL All I know is a mate has an AUD3000 DAC-3 and it sounds exactly the same as a Focusrite 2i2. That's probably because of the speakers. No audible noise with either from the listening position. I guess it's unlikely you'd find a raving assessment of a 2i2 in one of those silly publications though.
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To me the best that impressed me was the first copy of Hifi Plus. So well written, competely different from other mags that I've read before
There are many DACs that are much more expensive. Why single out a $3000 DAC for cost criticism?
For example: https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-fall-2024-edition-digital-processors
I thought someone mentioned the brand, so I was responding to that because I know someone who has one and have heard audio converted by it. I don't read Stereophile articles sorry. And even if I did "single out" that brand as you say, so what? It would be my prerogative as an example of an over-priced brand that survives on the basis of audiofool magazine "reviews".
Actually, at first it mostly survived on the basis of audiophool measurements. It was a favorite at ASR until eventually a dac with better measurements came along.
Odd, since Stereophile has the most credible measurements of any reviews at present.
Well I build my own gear, so there's no interest in publications reviewing branded products. For a while there I thought Erin's Audio Corner was pretty legit. as he goes way further with great measurements and even has the endorsement of Floyd Toole, but Hardison has a commercial agenda which is to push his "affiliate links". He's really concentrating on bookshelf speakers that are attractive to a broader audience. I guess that maximises the kickbacks. I no longer follow his Facebook group as it's all so very tainted by this and I'm not buying speakers. As to Stereophile, just no way. I wouldn't go there even out of fleeting curiosity.
I can see how it can appear like that. And I respect your opinion.
May I provide an alternative view for consideration?
I've been reading Erin's measurements since his days with diymobileaudio.com and his Medley's musing website and erinsaudiocorner.com, before he started the YouTube channel. He has been long interested in measuring loudspeakers- transducers and completed ones. The bookshelves things is simply because it is much easier in terms of transport costs and setting up. (ask me how I know 😢
Besides, even with an NFS, to haul a 100kg speakers off the ground is no easy task. Particularly for a person who has previously had a back injury. I would love to see more reviews of huge speakers, but I would rather Erin NOT do this, for his own health.
On repeated occasions, Erin is at pains to point out that's working hard to not do "click-baity" things. With a YouTube account you can see how the algorithms work, and what you can do to maximize viewer engagement. In my view, Erin works hard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, or rub people/manufacturers the wrong way. Don't shoot the messenger!
The affiliate links and subscriptions/click and Patreon probably don't allow him to break even. YouTube has changed they way they monetize from content creators, and most people who upload videos are NOT doing it for living. But connect, share and commiserate with people who have like-minded niche hobbies? Like the old Mastercard ad, there are some things that money can't buy- it's priceless!
I build my own gear too. But I do wonder if it's worth my effort or time, when there are countless other things that compete for my time (at this stage of my life). Besides, someone may have done it better than I have. So I am always curious on how it compares to things on the market. And that's why I do look at measurements/reviews of other things.
If you're retired and build for a hobby and have no interest of what's on the market, then I also understand. But once our toaster or kettle dies, do people (re) build their own? Is it worth the time / effort / money? Or do we go out and buy our own? It depends. I work hard at reducing how much I judge people's actions.
Look at this fellow. His family almost went crazy when he quit to job to build THE air fryer...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0j9j11t#:~:text=Dutch engineer Fred van der,global phenomenon it is today.
May I provide an alternative view for consideration?
I've been reading Erin's measurements since his days with diymobileaudio.com and his Medley's musing website and erinsaudiocorner.com, before he started the YouTube channel. He has been long interested in measuring loudspeakers- transducers and completed ones. The bookshelves things is simply because it is much easier in terms of transport costs and setting up. (ask me how I know 😢
Besides, even with an NFS, to haul a 100kg speakers off the ground is no easy task. Particularly for a person who has previously had a back injury. I would love to see more reviews of huge speakers, but I would rather Erin NOT do this, for his own health.
On repeated occasions, Erin is at pains to point out that's working hard to not do "click-baity" things. With a YouTube account you can see how the algorithms work, and what you can do to maximize viewer engagement. In my view, Erin works hard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, or rub people/manufacturers the wrong way. Don't shoot the messenger!
The affiliate links and subscriptions/click and Patreon probably don't allow him to break even. YouTube has changed they way they monetize from content creators, and most people who upload videos are NOT doing it for living. But connect, share and commiserate with people who have like-minded niche hobbies? Like the old Mastercard ad, there are some things that money can't buy- it's priceless!
I build my own gear too. But I do wonder if it's worth my effort or time, when there are countless other things that compete for my time (at this stage of my life). Besides, someone may have done it better than I have. So I am always curious on how it compares to things on the market. And that's why I do look at measurements/reviews of other things.
If you're retired and build for a hobby and have no interest of what's on the market, then I also understand. But once our toaster or kettle dies, do people (re) build their own? Is it worth the time / effort / money? Or do we go out and buy our own? It depends. I work hard at reducing how much I judge people's actions.
Look at this fellow. His family almost went crazy when he quit to job to build THE air fryer...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0j9j11t#:~:text=Dutch engineer Fred van der,global phenomenon it is today.
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If you think that's bad, look into the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper.
https://grr.com/publications/robert...960s,the intermittent windshield wiper system.
https://grr.com/publications/robert...960s,the intermittent windshield wiper system.
ASR: Audio Pseudo Science Review.
I think of them as the Julian Hirsch Memorial Society... a bunch of fools who believe that measurements are all we need to judge a component. If you so much as challenge their notion and point out that we don't really quite understand how psychoascoustics work and that we don't quite know how to measure them, then they get all huffed up and tell you that you don't understand science.
If you then retort that... hey, but I AM a physicist... then they really get upset. The buffoon who used to run reddit r/audiophile did not want me to challenge him in his echo chamber and actually banned me.... later I found him active at ASR and again, he couldn't ban me but he ignored me.
ASR is not about science. Amir used to write application software at Microsoft, so I believe. He's not even an engineer, scientist... no f'ing way.
Anyhow they are very insecure in that site.
Now for managazines... how about his link... note there are more....
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/A...iFI-Stereo/70s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1976-02.pdf
Warning, there are missing pages in the scans...
The other thing I wanted to point out is that even if someone has no commercial interest, have you noticed the pitfalls when we comment on other people's work?
Whether it is something as simple as someone else preparing a meal for us, or someone else who works in our own industry.
We might need to couch our language in a diplomatic way. And even then, often it might not work, and we, as the messenger who was hoping to provide constructive feedback, get's shot!
I'm with you Tony.
The measurements are getting better. eg. CTA2034A.
But after you've seen a hundred of them, it exposes more blind spots...
The more you know, the more you realize you don't know...
Whether it is something as simple as someone else preparing a meal for us, or someone else who works in our own industry.
We might need to couch our language in a diplomatic way. And even then, often it might not work, and we, as the messenger who was hoping to provide constructive feedback, get's shot!
I'm with you Tony.
The measurements are getting better. eg. CTA2034A.
But after you've seen a hundred of them, it exposes more blind spots...
The more you know, the more you realize you don't know...
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In my business we have Peer Reviews.
Not meant to be nice.
Even when your bosses are nice Chinese American Lady Scientists.... when the door to the conference room closes... WHAM! They get you.
But it's always business, never personal. Always constructive - offer a solution, always offer a solution or an alternative:
"It'd be safer if we shut down the High Voltage Outputs before we switch the signal inputs"
NEVER
"You idiot, you're gonna fry the output section if it's ON when you switch the input signals, the damn plane is gonna blow up! For sure we'll lose our jobs and you'll be lucky to work making burriots at Pepe's Casa De Comida On Wheels!!! "
Afterwards you pull up your underwear over the new bunghole they just gave ya and y'all go out to eat lunch.
The trick is to have thick skin and to realize that indeed it's not personal... that your designs are not a personal thing and that some else might have a different view point - even if I KNOW they are fools you just don't appreciate the pearls of wisdom that I show them... ;-)
BTW, a boss of mine once asked me to set up a peer review... I retorted that "I have no peers in this team"... with a straight face... he didn't know what to do... 1, 2, 3... "Oh hell, I'm just joking, I'll set it up"...
The fools at ASR wouldn't last to the Peer Review. Just the comments, made and filed before the meeting proper, would melt them. The comments can run to the hundreds... each one needs to be discussed and disposed.
The bottom line is that money and lives are on the line ( in thar order )...
Not meant to be nice.
Even when your bosses are nice Chinese American Lady Scientists.... when the door to the conference room closes... WHAM! They get you.
But it's always business, never personal. Always constructive - offer a solution, always offer a solution or an alternative:
"It'd be safer if we shut down the High Voltage Outputs before we switch the signal inputs"
NEVER
"You idiot, you're gonna fry the output section if it's ON when you switch the input signals, the damn plane is gonna blow up! For sure we'll lose our jobs and you'll be lucky to work making burriots at Pepe's Casa De Comida On Wheels!!! "
Afterwards you pull up your underwear over the new bunghole they just gave ya and y'all go out to eat lunch.
The trick is to have thick skin and to realize that indeed it's not personal... that your designs are not a personal thing and that some else might have a different view point - even if I KNOW they are fools you just don't appreciate the pearls of wisdom that I show them... ;-)
BTW, a boss of mine once asked me to set up a peer review... I retorted that "I have no peers in this team"... with a straight face... he didn't know what to do... 1, 2, 3... "Oh hell, I'm just joking, I'll set it up"...
The fools at ASR wouldn't last to the Peer Review. Just the comments, made and filed before the meeting proper, would melt them. The comments can run to the hundreds... each one needs to be discussed and disposed.
The bottom line is that money and lives are on the line ( in thar order )...
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IMO more cult than grift. Suggest 'Audio Scientology Review'.