The Audio Critic Has Retired

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Speedskater

Speedskater

Member
Joined 2002
#1
THIS IS GOODBYE!

Having reached the 90th year of my life, after several years of very little productivity, I have decided to stop altogether. My website has been discontinued; there will be no more content added to it. That does not mean that what has been published and available up to now will be lost. Everything on the website has been transferred to Welcome to biline.ca News and Updates!, the technology site of Jeff Mathurin. Nothing is missing, thanks to the supportive efforts of Jeff. You can still go to every former section of The Audio Critic by using the menu on the left. It is not without considerable regret that I am making this move, but the time inevitably comes when you have to call it quits. Goodbye, friends and antagonists; it has been a great 38 years!

—Peter Aczel
Editor & Publisher
Midsummer, 2015

Link to archive:
The Audio Critic
 
#2
I'm sure his fans will miss him, I'm impressed that he was able to continue for as long as he did.

I have a lot of respect for a fellow who sticks to his convictions even if ultimately I agreed with very little he wrote. I subscribed for a year or so to the magazine more decades ago than I care to admit.. I found his writing style pretty abrasive actually.

As a contrast I have subscribed to Audio Amateur and its descendants continuously for over 3 decades. Realizing that I hardly ever looked at them after a certain point I gave all of my AA away along with Glass Audio and the small collection of SB that I had amassed a couple of years ago.
 
#3
His writing was indeed quite abrasive and his gratuitous mentions of his competitors was unseemly. But... he got the technology right, had some incredibly smart people write articles for him, and the magazine was a great resource for those who took a rational approach to audio. His deep knowledge and love of music elevated him above most other audio writers.

He deserved more recognition than he got.
 
#4
Probably true, but I have to admit I like reading the prose written by those with something of a narrative to relate, it's just more entertaining which is frankly what I am looking for. The ignorance of science and scientific method does bother me I'll admit. It's my get away from reality hobby, even if my expectations are grounded somewhat in technical rigor. (My particular technology choices may not be, but how I approach the design definitely is.)
 
#6
I figured Peter was mellowing when he discontinued the Hip Boots column, which I enjoyed, but then I wondered if it wasn't because of possible law suites, à la Amar Bose. Yea, his writing style was somewhat rough but I kind of liked that. Maybe that's why I like Donald Trumph. I respected that he had the "cojones" the say what he believed even if half the time I didn't agree with his ears. I have a good stack of original hard copies of his very intermittent publications plus some downloaded copies. Retire in good health Pete!
 
#7
Great writing style and reviews. Staunchly accurate within himself and clear in what he conveyed to his audience.
Can't say I agreed with everything he tested but as a reviewer, but you did learn a thing or two from him compared to the rest that blurs together.

Regards
David
 
#10
Speedskater said:
THIS IS GOODBYE!

Goodbye, friends and antagonists; it has been a great 38 years!

—Peter Aczel
Editor & Publisher
Midsummer, 2015

Link to archive:
The Audio Critic
Click to expand...


Goodby, Peter. It's been great to have you a part of the community. It takes all kinds and views to which your's have been a nice part of the whole. Take care of your health and let's hear from you when you reach the magic 100 year mark!

Sincerely,
Richard Marsh
 
#11
I probably got into DIY, and even back into HiFi as a hobby, because of Peter Aczel's writing. In particular his review of Siegfried Linkwitz's "Pluto" loudspeaker intrigued me enough to build a pair, and I have never looked back.
 
#12
Speedskater said:
Goodbye, friends and antagonists; it has been a great 38 years!
Click to expand...

Peter, as a relatively recent signer-upper here, I've seen your Speedskater moniker from time to time but didn't catch the connection!

As a grouchy old objectivist, I've agreed with you a helluva lot more often than not. Thank you for all your efforts these many years. I hope you enjoy your retirement.

Kind regards,

-- Jim
 
#14
kevinkr said:
Probably true, but I have to admit I like reading the prose written by those with something of a narrative to relate, it's just more entertaining which is frankly what I am looking for. The ignorance of science and scientific method does bother me I'll admit. It's my get away from reality hobby, even if my expectations are grounded somewhat in technical rigor. (My particular technology choices may not be, but how I approach the design definitely is.)
Click to expand...
Many times we need something just to dream / escape a little from reality ... On the one hand some use valves to build amplifiers (like me), so another might reform old cars, live in secular homes, and etc .... it's human nature. Also divergence. After all, DIY or audio hobby is for fun, not for "robotizing" people...

Having said that, I enjoyed reading some materials of Audio Critic, for me serves as a balance against excessive subjectivist world of audio, since I consider myself to be in "the crossfire" (some things happens, but others do not). Goodby Peter
 
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