I currently read Sound&Vision, Audio Video Interiors, and Home Theater magazines.

Any others that you heartily recommend? I'm all ears, err eyes

------------------
Play it LoUd!!

Oh, Playboy, Cherry, Hustler, Maxim, Low Rider, FHM......all the usual male sexist pig kind of stuff

Soundhound must hide those when I go over to his place....

I used to read audio mags but find them all tedious and/or pretentious in one way or another.

The only magazine I read without fail these days is "Psychotronic Video."

I like SGTHT, but I take everything I read in these magazines with a huge dose of salt. In many cases, the writers and editors are no more educated on the subject than I (if that!) and some of their conclusions I find highly questionable.

However, it's a source of information I might not otherwise have. For instance, while I try to go to CES every year, I certainly don't have the time or energy to experiment with every new product that comes out the door!

Jeff

Soundhound,

You actually READ those mags? I just look at the pix. Yeah, some of the interviews: "I just love people and want to save the ...".

I read Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. I especially like Stereophile because they do the measurement thing as well as tell how the piece of equipment sounds. The Absolute Sound can be soooooo arrogant at times. I find it very educational and interesting to correlate the measurements and the perception of how the equipment sounds. But some of the prices of equipment. Sometimes I just laugh and say: "are you for real?"

At work, I read all sorts of magazines (that I get free subscriptions to) about electronics, computers, physics and other raunchy and exciting stuff that makes my naughty parts tingle.

Occasionally, I'll look at a car magazine to see what is new and exciting (part of the reason I look at the stereo mags) and undoubtedly beyond what I can afford.

Paul

------------------
the 1derful1

[This message has been edited by Paul J. Stiles (edited July 14, 2003).]

I've been getting "Car and Driver" for the last 16 years. I like the sense of humor the writers have.

All of the major recording mags that offer free subscriptions to pros I have access to. They mainly come across as advertisements but occasionaly you can find some good commentary and some good technical ideas.

I also subscribe to "Tape Op." It's really pretty cool feeling compared to the others. Somewhat more down to earth although the majority of the reviews turn out to be positive...

Maybe I should have asked... "what audio video magazines do you like?"

Thanks to the Hound for his list...he is a true ass

I dont put stock in any of them really but even with all the info we have at our fingertips with the the www.. it's still fun to get a mag in the mailbox

------------------
Play it LoUd!!

I had cut my audio video down to one, Listener, and then it folded. I now get Sound and Vision and Stereophile, only becouse they are cheap, about a buck a copy when subscribing. I was getting the Audiophile Voice as they picked up Listeners subscription list, a very nice thing to do, and the quality is there but not a lot of substinance. At $30 a year for 6 issues I am still debating although I have enjoyed the free ones. The others are worth the buck an issue for at least keeping you up on some of the newer things and also for the music reviews (although I have disagreed with most of those lately). Limited to the house as I am I need something to at least point me in the right direction. Listener was that mag for me.

Sound & Vision, and Handloader.
Richard

While I hope they don't quote me in some cheesy self-boasting ad, I've got to say that Sound & Vision has by far the best editorial content - in all departments. Useful, understandable, and definitely not from Mars. They could use better quality photos and paper stock however. I frequently consult current and especially back issues (going back to their predecessor days as Stereo Review) when making purchasing decisions. While I don't always agree with their opinions regarding movie and album reviews, they are well-written. A must buy.

Home Theatre has great paper and superb photos. But on the editorial / content side they're definitely not from this planet. I would never buy a product based on any of their reviews - which seem based far too much on unsubstantiatable (is this a word?) opinion and voodoo. Their "lab results" are pitiful. My cocker spaniel could do a better job of reviewing movies. On the positive side they have toned down the arrogant reader putdowns considerably compared to a few years ago. (And a flurry of anti-Canadian opinion a few years ago kinda pissed me off a bit as well.) Nevertheless it's a should buy - because of the print quality / photos.

Stereophile Guide to Home THeatre strikes a pretty good balance between fact and fiction (err...opinion) in their reviews and editorial content. Good quality paper and photos. I have used at least one of their reviews in a major buy decision. A should buy.

Widescreen Review has some very good reviews and technical insight. But it's an unattractive publication that you would never leave in open view on your coffee table. A nice to buy.

Stereophile. What planet is that again? Buy it only if you have a phaser pointed at your head.

All those other specialty stereo / home theatre mags: I can't name them all but I have scanned just about all of them from time to time in my local big-box bookstore. Never saw enough redeeming qualities or content to ever buy one.

Too bad Hi Fidelity, and Audio and AudioScene Canada are no longer around. Especially the latter. Most Americans probably never came across it, but AudioScene Canada had some absolutely incredible regular contributors, including Dr. Floyd Toole (when he was with Canada's National Research Council) and Ian G. Masters (now handling the readers' Q&A section in Sound & Vision).

Just my opinion based on over 30 years of heavy reading / subscribing.

Jeff Mackwood

S&Vision,DVDetc,live sound,mix,Sound&video contractor,remix,etc. By subscribing
Everything else I read at Border's

.

I remember "The High End". It was the very first thing I read in each issue, even though it was on the very last page of the magazine.

After Hodges died, Corey Greenberg took over the column (which retained its name) for a short while before moving on to bigger and better.

Best,
Sanjay

I also subscribe to S&V. It's not the same magazine though. I used to love the HIGH END, especially when Corey used his tongue 'n cheek comments, (I actually would laugh out loud). The cartoons! The magazine just isn't funny anymore. I loved it when it was Stereo Review, oh well - progress. If it wasn't for S&V I would never be an Outlaw. The biggest thing I like about this magazine is their focus on the average hi fi person with limited funds.

I find it interesting that no one mentioned The Perfect Vision. I subscribe to TPV, Stereophile, SGTHT, and S&R. I let the Stereophile drop because I didn't have much need for reviews of $70K TT and the like. I also use to subscribe to HomeTheater but let it drop too. It seemed like it lacked substance. Just glossy pictures. Sort of like Playboy does HT.

Of the magazines I subscribe to I like TPV the best. There's a good mix of equipment across the price spectrum. The articles are well written and, most of all, they like Outlaw equipment (just kidding).

One of the problems I have with all the mags are the "less than controlled" use of adjectives and superlatives when describing equipment. If two AVR's are superb, execellent, transparent, etc but one is 5 times as expensive as the other does 'excellent' have a different definition? Is it 5 times as superb. A little editorial and descriptive control on their part would be appreciated.

S&V and HT. I will echo comments above that HT is not so great nowadays. I used to enjoy B.Butterworth, but he is long gone. S&V is good for the average or casual HT fan. I still like D.Ranada's articles.

[This message has been edited by Slee_Stack (edited July 18, 2003).]

You mean there is more than just the great pix in those? I knew I was missing something… Ack.. I get to distracted with the pix… who can read… LOL

I am addicted to my audiophile mags. Stereophile, Absolute Sound, SGHT, Perfect Vision, and Sound and Vision. For HT I really use all of the above-and follow up by listening in High end shops. What I have found is simple. Listen before you buy!(I love 30 day in home). I really did like my Monitor Silver 5i's better than Vandersteen (2CE), Martin Logan (arius), after listening to them all at home. It is what you hear that is important-not what someone else hears. For me it's the music. I do read white papers and manuals for fun also-I am nerdy, and enjoy a lot of input on this subject. John

[This message has been edited by jmartin (edited July 25, 2003).]

My foray into stereo mags started back in the early 70’s when I was in high school. The school library stocked Stereo Review and it was then that I first read articles from Julian Hirsch, whose articles taught me a lot about stereo equipment. I currently subscribe to S&V, HT and SGTHT. Of the 3 I like S&V the best, because it gives the best “in the lab” info and David Ranada carries on in the tradition of Mr. Hirsch. I browse TAS and Stereophile at the bookstore, but they tend to cover stuff that is way too much $$$ for my budget.