Are there any Hi-Fi Mags worth reading?

Hifi mags are like pretty girls - they'll get you into big trouble if you're not careful.

I never read hifi mags for their advice.

I still read the odd one however.

Try HiFi Critic.

Subscription only (but you can order individual issues) and no ads. Written for sentient adults.

Hi-fi mags, like car mags, have got glossier and glossier. But they create employment.

Engelbert

When i was a kit a thought WhatHifi the bees knees and its critique absolute! Peter i think refers to it as the 'Beano' and without meaning disrespect to this fine comic i think i agree now! Hifi World seems quite a good mag although it has a fixation of valves and WD stuff. Hifi News is refreshing as it actually dares not to be 100% positive about everything in its pages

Another vote for Hi Fi Critic (not to be confused with Audio Critic). It's not cheap, but you do get some in-depth articles on a variety of hi fi related stuff. The current issue has some excellent stuff on studio monitor speakers.

Oh, and nice record reviews too!

Treat all "hobby mags" as a guide, not a bible. A bit of light entertainment.
I get hi-fi world on subscription. Not much in common with "What hi-fi", but not exclusively about £3k cables & £10k amps. It has a reasonable section on vinyl, which suits me as well.
Worth 5 mins in wh-smiths to have a peek.
Matt.

quote:

Originally posted by Keleigh:
When i was a kit ...

Meow

Surely true hifi journalism passed away on the demise of Paul Benson and Hifi Answers.

A second vote for Hi-Fi World, but also try "The Word" for a music fix.

Jono

Just for a lark I spent (because it was) £4 on latest HFN 'for LP12 SE' front cover - the mag was/is o.k.

I know that I should have spent less of the money on latest 'Record Collector' with Bob Dylan & Eva Cassidy articles.

I liked 'Flat Response' & 'Hi Fi Answers' (both of which impelled me to spend money regularly) best, but currently prefer what's left of HFW (I read HFC free in local library).

I particularly liked Kaiser Chiefs releasing lovely 'Dandy'/Gnasher 2 vinyl & 1 CD singles 2007-8-20.

Its good to have information and views espescially when one is interested in a particular component. Yes the source of information may have their own hidden agendas but at the end of the day a sensible person will demo the component and make their own decision. For example alot of forum members (Naim)praise lyrical about SBL speakers. Years ago I heard the SBL speakers through a highdrawer Naim electronics in the Naim room at Hi-Fi Experience. The speakers were good but a big anti-climax for me, I expected more, I did not know what all the fuss was about. Just good speakers but defnitely not the value for the price. Later on I heard recently Allae speakers through lesser Naim electronics. They were wonderful for me because they were so revealing without sounding limited or boxy (this is because just before I listenned to Neat Motive and Momentum speakers which were good but had that limited boxy tone)and then with same elctronics I tried the Dynaudio Focus 220 and that had the 'wow' factor. Its all subjective test, the essence being one must try the equipment for your own ears.

But yes I do trawl forums,internet and read Hi-Fi magazines (usually in WH Smith for free) if I want to find out information about a particular component. I look for specification and views, it is the common denominator in views I look for,it does not take rocket science to sort out an enthusiasm from just a perfunctory good review.This helps me to sort out which equipment to demo, after all there is such a wide choice one needs some help to filter the choice through. At the end of the day trust one own ears...!

quote:

Originally posted by Romi:
Years ago I heard the SBL speakers through a highdrawer Naim electronics in the Naim room at Hi-Fi Experience.

The speakers were good but a big anti-climax for me

More accurately still:

"These speakers, as I then heard them, were good but ...."

We can only rely on our own experience but should be wary of thinking that one experience of something tells us all about it.

Stereophile is not bad. I do read the testing sections, especially the measurements. The January edition (2008) features the review of the Supernait.

quote:

Surely true hifi journalism passed away on the demise of Paul Benson and Hifi Answers.

Don't know about true hi-fi journalism but magazines which are entertianing to read certainly did!

i have a friend who supplies a stereophile sub. every year. i sometimes like the music reviews, if only bcs. things i might never come accross are listed. otherwise, it's like looking a playboy - look but don't touch. i will not be purchasing a $100,000 turntable -- as far as i know, anyway.