How come you never see a Bad review?

[max]

How come every magazine I see out there never has a bad review?

It could be about amps,receivers,speakers,TV's,Subs,DVD Players etc.... but you never see a reviewer say the product sucks and not to buy it.

The only time I read anything honest is when they have face-offs or showdowns with a bunch of TV's in a catagory or something like that.

Does anyone have any input on these things?
Especially Kal since he has written a few reviews.

Thanks,
MAX....

[Tom]

How come every magazine I see out there never has a bad review?

It could be about amps,receivers,speakers,TV's,Subs,DVD Players etc.... but you never see a reviewer say the product sucks and not to buy it.

The only time I read anything honest is when they have face-offs or showdowns with a bunch of TV's in a catagory or something like that.

Does anyone have any input on these things?
Especially Kal since he has written a few reviews.

Thanks,
MAX....

maybe someone's getting their palms greased or they get some sort of support so they are afraid to say anything too derrogatory??

:whistle:

[Hippie]

maybe someone's getting their palms greased or they get some sort of support so they are afraid to say anything too derrogatory?? :whistle:

Thats my bet..
They are afraid to get sued for saying the product sucks.. :usa1:

[max]

So what's the point of reading a review? if they are being paid to make their statements.

MAX,

[deckard]

How come every magazine I see out there never has a bad review?

It could be about amps,receivers,speakers,TV's,Subs,DVD Players etc.... but you never see a reviewer say the product sucks and not to buy it.

The only time I read anything honest is when they have face-offs or showdowns with a bunch of TV's in a catagory or something like that.

Does anyone have any input on these things?
Especially Kal since he has written a few reviews.

Thanks,
MAX....
Sony KF60WE610 w/Sony Stand
Scientific Atlanta 8000HD PVR
JVC Prog Scan DVD Player
Yamaha RX-Z9 {9.2 THX Ultra 2}
Monster AVS2000 Voltage Stabilizer
2 Sets of Cerwin Vega VS120 Loudspeakers
Polk Audio CSi5 Center Channel
Polk Audio FXi5 Rear Surround Spkrs
2 Velodyne CHT-15 Subwoofers
Philips iPronto Color Touchscreen remote
Lutron Light Dimmer
Monster THX Wires
Xbox with Live "Game Tag - RIVALMONK

WOW nice gear man.....can I get a loan? :)

[Hippie]

So what's the point of reading a review? if they are being paid to make their statements.MAX,

It fills the magazine...
and justifiies paying someone a salary...

[brector]

That's one reason I like to check reviews on the internet. Almost no one is afraid to say somethings sucks :)

[LeeS]

Max,

You have to read between the lines in some of those reviews.

If nothing sucks, just how good did they say it was? What did they leave out?

Much different than the movies critics, they never seem to like the movies I do. :)

I do prefer the professional reviews over the user comments online. Much different than you see here, if someone is offbase here someone will call BS on them. :) I don't pay much attention to the reviews that the manufacturers post on their websites. Who's going to post a critical review?

I really like reviews from our members whom I've come to respect for their opinions.

My $.02 US ($.026414 CDN)
Lee

[max]

My $.02 US ($.01514348 CDN)
Lee

When I saw this I couldn't stop laughing, good one LeeS...

[max]

Sony KF60WE610 w/Sony Stand
Scientific Atlanta 8000HD PVR
JVC Prog Scan DVD Player
Yamaha RX-Z9 {9.2 THX Ultra 2}
Monster AVS2000 Voltage Stabilizer
2 Sets of Cerwin Vega VS120 Loudspeakers
Polk Audio CSi5 Center Channel
Polk Audio FXi5 Rear Surround Spkrs
2 Velodyne CHT-15 Subwoofers
Philips iPronto Color Touchscreen remote
Lutron Light Dimmer
Monster THX Wires
Xbox with Live "Game Tag - RIVALMONK

WOW nice gear man.....can I get a loan? :)

Thanks, but I just blew my money on new speakers. I will update my sig when they come. Maybe next month.

MAX,

[max]

Max,
I really like reviews from our members whom I've come to respect for their opinions.
Lee

That's why I come here for answers. I find on the net people bash equipment they haven't heard. And people praise the equipment that they own. It's almost always a bias opinion.
and never a straight answer.

MAX,

[57U]

Actually Lee has the conversion backwards, but we know what he meant...

Lee was correct about reading between the lines. It's often what the reviewer doesn't say. Once you've read a few reviews you can tell instantly which products are good and which simply "meet the specs" or something similar.

In S&V they usually have a "good" and "Bad" summary section. If there are a few "bads", then you usually know too...

[LeeS]

Geeez, how'd I do that? (stupid calculator :)) I've corrected my post, does not include the tax.

Lee

[Hippie]

Geeez, how'd I do that? (stupid calculator :)) I've corrected my post, does not include the tax.Lee

Doesn't Canada have two different types of taxes.?

[LeeS]

From what Max has said, two that total 15% on purchases. :(

Lee

[ernande]

You'll never see somebody rip a product apart in a magazine because most of the time they get it for free. Bad review = bye bye free stuff.

[max]

From what Max has said, two that total 15% on purchases. :(

Lee

8% PST = Provincial Sales Tax
7% GST = Government Sales Tax

It's horrible but we have to pay it or we dont get anything.

MAX,

[Hawkeye]

PST or HST vary from province to province.
GST is the same 7% everywhere.
In alberta we only pay GST.

[Kal Rubinson]

I and others have made public statements about this in print and on the internet many times. Speaking for myself:

I only review products that I want to review.

I am unwilling to spend a lot of time with stuff I hate.

I see myself as a stand-in for the consumer who sees something of interest in print, on the web, at a show or at a showroom and who wants to take it home for a trial.

The result is that this pre-selection process eliminates most products that are prima facie cases of bad design, bad execution or foolish fancy, by my personal criteria. This greatly decreases the probability of the unit failing to satisfy in, at least, some ways.

I get paid the (small) amount per review regardless of the tenor of the comments or the amount of heavy lifting and I am always encouuraged to be as critical as possible. Purchase discounts are not a differential influence since they are available on almost anything. Frankly, most of the stuff I review is pretty good and I try to help readers find out if a particular piece is suited to them or not by describing it and my reactions to it as clearly as possible.

There's lots more about this buried in the archives of AudioAsylum, fwiw.

Kal

[Hippie]

8% PST = Provincial Sales Tax 7% GST = Government Sales Tax


Is that on everything, or certain products...


Oops.. didn't mean to change the thread...

How about that review on the ___________ (insert brand here) HDTV set....

[max]

Is that on everything, or certain products...


Oops.. didn't mean to change the thread...

How about that review on the ___________ (insert brand here) HDTV set....

Yes Hippie, that is on everything except food, baby stuff & other basic Necessities.

But everything else, if you wont die without having it then you pay taxes on it.

MAX,

[max]

I and others have made public statements about this in print and on the internet many times. Speaking for myself:

I only review products that I want to review.

I am unwilling to spend a lot of time with stuff I hate.

I see myself as a stand-in for the consumer who sees something of interest in print, on the web, at a show or at a showroom and who wants to take it home for a trial.

The result is that this pre-selection process eliminates most products that are prima facie cases of bad design, bad execution or foolish fancy, by my personal criteria. This greatly decreases the probability of the unit failing to satisfy in, at least, some ways.

I get paid the (small) amount per review regardless of the tenor of the comments or the amount of heavy lifting and I am always encouuraged to be as critical as possible. Purchase discounts are not a differential influence since they are available on almost anything. Frankly, most of the stuff I review is pretty good and I try to help readers find out if a particular piece is suited to them or not by describing it and my reactions to it as clearly as possible.

There's lots more about this buried in the archives of AudioAsylum, fwiw.

Kal


Thank you Kal for an insiders point of view.
MAX,

[57U]

Certain products like "real food" are exempt from taxes. From there it gets pretty complex, but most purchases are subject to GST (a value added tax similar to Europe) and the individual provincial tax, unless you live in a province with the "HST" - Harmonized tax - I belive it's 15% in that case, or Alberta with no PST

Originally, when the government brought in the GST (to replace a (hidden) manufacturers tax that was making our manufacturing non-competitive on exports and increasing costs on most goods in Canada) the taxes were to be "included" in the overall price, like they are in Europe. I thought this was a good idea, but most people wanted to "see" the taxes, so now they're "visible".

[Hippie]

I thought this was a good idea, but most people wanted to "see" the taxes, so now they're "visible".

What about payroll taxes..
We get hit with Federal and State taxes taken from our paychecks..
There are a few states here that have no State Tax though...

again.. not trying to change the thread, but I find it interesting how different countrys work and play...

[57U]

http://www.taxtips.ca/tax_rates.htm

Although Canadian rates are higher, on average than US rates, there are certain other expenses that are lower.

Health care - "everyone" is covered.
Most City/School taxes are lower
Few "gated" communities (with cost for security, etc).

People do not "need" to send their kids to private schools as much because of better "across the board" educational funding. Same goes for University - our costs are much lower than US.

The amount of disposable income, is therefore, on average, roughly equal and is therefore more dependent on which city/state you live in than which country.

I think we're now way off topic.

[LeeS]

I could split it out into another thread, 'Canadian Economy and Taxes' :)

But I don't think Max minds at all.

Kal, who writes good reviews for those of us who can't afford the audiophile grade equipment? Emphasis on good.

Lee

[max]

But I don't think Max minds at all.
Lee

I dont mind, my question has been answered. This thread can go anyway you guys want.

MAX,

[deckard]

As far as most magazines go, its not the subscribers that keep it afloat its the ads(every 2 pages and then some)they have even researched what PAGE of the mag catches your eye first, right or left. sad.
Bash a product from sony, bye-bye sony ads, bye-bye sony MONEY. Its just the way business works these days. People who spend their OWN money on a product and review it us for may not have a clue what they are talking about but at least its honest and they can give us ideas and advice that can influence our next purchase. We already know what we want anyway we just need some honest opinions and experiences to research what we buy. If JOE buys a TV that blows up after a month I would like to know about it. Will the company admit some of their tvs blow up, no, but JOE will.

[Kal Rubinson]

Kal, who writes good reviews for those of us who can't afford the audiophile grade equipment? Emphasis on good.
Lee

Dunno. My interests don't go that way. In fact, I am often embarrassed that I cannot help friends with specific advice when their price range differs from mine.

The only specific I can offer is Bob Reina's continuing series on sub-$1000 speakers in Stereophile. Of course, his interest is primarily 2 channel.

Kal

[killedkenny]

Since Max doesn't mind...
Don't forget that the we pay GST on the PST !!! They are not calculted seperatley on the original amount, so really it's 15.56%!!

[LeeS]

The only specific I can offer is Bob Reina's continuing series on sub-$1000 speakers in Stereophile.
Thanks, I'll see what I can dig up. :)

Lee