From: wkb@cbnews.cb.att.com (wm.keith.brummett)
Subject: Re: Please suggest Audio magazines!
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:14:12 GMT


    In article <1992Dec26.142802.14163@scott.skidmore.edu>,
    mcobb@scott.skidmore.edu (mary cobb) writes:
    > I'd like to subscribe to some good Audio magazines, but don't know
    > what they are.  I have found this to be a problem in attaining a
    > subscription for them.  One person mentioned _Stereophile_ a while
    > back, that sounds cool, if there are any others please mail me with
    > a phone number (or internet address? => ) that I can reach the company
    > at to get a subscription.  Thanks!


    Eric (Mary?),

    Probably the two "biggest" high-end, equipment-and-music-reviewing rags
    are STEREOPHILE and THE ABSO!UTE SOUND.  (The word "biggest" is in
    quotes because, a) I don't know the actual circulation figures, and b)
    both are published in a 5.5"x8.5" format.)  Most high-end dealers will
    carry, or at least be familiar with, one or both.

    I subscribe to STEREOPHILE.  It seems to be fairly well-balanced in the
    subjective/objective arena (a warning though: most of its reviwers have
    $$$$ tube amps and mega-buck wires, so be prepared if you're not into
    that stuff).  The periodic "recommended components" lists can be a great
    help in narrowing down a set to audition, but some folks take them a bit
    too seriously.  One big plus: Corey Greenburg.  STEREOPHILE's readers
    seem to be evenly divided between thinking that Corey is God's gift to
    those who are tired of stuffy audio writers, and thinking that he's a
    punk asshole sent by the devil to torment us.  As a really crude general
    rule -- if you're under 40, you'll be in the former camp; over 40, the
    latter.  But, love him or hate him, the Cormeister is a breath of fresh
    air.  He alone is probably worth the subscription price.

    I peruse a copy of THE ABSO!UTE SOUND (TAS) every now and then.  They
    seem to be firmly over in the subjective camp.  Maybe a little too far
    for my tastes.  I've been meaning to subscribe for a while now, but
    lately I'm not so sure.  In a recent issue, they supremely trashed the
    ProAc Tablette-II speakers.  Now, everyone's entitled to an opinion, but
    this wasn't a lone reviewer, nor subtle.  A couple of others on the
    TAS staff joined in and said that these speakers literally hurt their
    ears!  Now why do I have a problem with that?  Because a buddy just got
    a pair of these, and they are nice speakers.  We listened for quite a
    while (two different days) at the store, and again during a home demo
    period.  They were plainly better than speakers half their price, and
    not quite as good as some top-end Celestions to which we listened.  My
    buddy and I both thought they represented an extremely good value.  In
    any case, in no way did these speakers hurt our ears.  I cannot believe
    that several "pro's" found the sound to be as bad as they claim.  I am
    led to believe, therefore, that there are some personal or political
    agendas being exercised here, and I want none of that in a review.

    A good bit over into the objective camp in THE AUDIO CRITIC (TAC).  This
    is more of a one-or-two-man-show compared to STEREOPHILE or TAS, but it
    can be refreshing.  High on tech-talk, not afraid to call a spade a
    spade.  Well-mannered name-calling is not above them, and positions are
    vigorously defended.  Imagine, say, 50 pages of Dick Pierce in a peevish
    mood. :-)  I'll probably subscribe for a year to check it out.

    Dropping down to the mass-market rags, STEREO REVIEW and AUDIO dominate.
    You don't want to subscribe to either, but the October issue of AUDIO
    (the annual equipment directory) is a must, and an issue of SR every six
    months or so lets you keep up on the mail-order ads.

    If you are at all into the do-it-yourself aspects of audio, folks who
    run the Old Colony Sound Labs publish three good rags; THE AUDIO
    AMATEUR, SPEAKER BUILDER, and GLASS AUDIO (tubes).  I subscribe to TAA.

    Vitals:
               STEREOPHILE:  $35/yr (12 issues)     208 Delgado
                                                    Santa Fe, NM 87501

        THE ABSO!UTE SOUND:  $46/yr (8 issues)      Box 6547
                                                    Syracuse, NY 13217
                                                    1-800-825-0061

          THE AUDIO CRITIC:  $24/yr (4 issues)      P.O. Box 978
                                   soon to be 6?    Quakertown, PA 18951
                                                    215-538-9555
        Audio Amateur Publications:

         THE AUDIO AMATEUR:  $20/yr (4 issues)      P.O. Box 576
         SPEAKER BUILDER       "        "           Peterborough, NH 03458
         GLASS AUDIO           "        "           603-924-9464

        STEREO REVIEW and AUDIO:  at most bookstores and newsstands.


    -- Keith

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