Accounting for Differences
of Opinion Among Reviewers

Reviewer "A" loves this preamp, reviewer "B" thinks it mediocre. Reviewer "A" finds this speaker atrocious, reviewer "B" pronounces it state of the art. Why is this, can't these people hear? Shouldn't the reviewers always agree? The answer is no.

An audio system represents a complex conglomeration of sophisticated electronic components. These components interact with one another and with room in which they are placed. The "sound" of a given system is determined not only by the sonic character(s) of the individual parts, but also by how those characteristics mix or interact, a sort of "sonic synergy," if you will. This interaction often accounts for differences of opinion, between reviewers and audiophiles alike, on any given product. Consider, for example, a preamplifier that sounds great in your system, but lousy at your friends house. Why is this? Most likely it is due to poor compatibility between components used in the system. For example, a slightly "bright" preamp may sound fine in a system with a rolled high frequency character. That same unit used in a system already tending toward brightness would sound atrocious. Not the fault of the preamplifier, just a poor match.

Reviewers, I think, sometimes overlook the fact that their system (and/or their own preferences) are not the same as everyone else's. They loose sight of the fact that perception of tonal characteristics will change based upon the reference point of the observer. In other words, a unit that is tonally correct in one system may not be in the next, but that does not mean that the unit itself is at fault. Often we see a "categorical" pronouncement made on a product that would be untrue in a different setting.

A very significant, and often overlooked, "component" in the signal chain is the listening room itself. Every enclosed space possesses a specific sonic signature determined by its size, ratio of dimensions and reflective qualities. The reflectivity coefficient, in particular, is important as it is the characteristic most likely to affect tonality. The differences between rooms can be great, and it is absurd to expect that two people, listening in two different environments (especially to loudspeakers), will experience identical sound. Yes, basic sonic characters will be revealed, but high-end audio always has been and always will be, concerned with the appreciation of subtle nuance and detail. It is precisely these aspects that are likely to be different, room to room.

The last and most important variable is the individual listener. People hear differently, both physiologically and psychologically. Many differences of opinion between listeners can be accounted for based upon their personal biases as well as variations in listening ability. It is not only possible, but likely, that two individuals exposed to the same system will have differing opinions about its qualities, or lack thereof. This due to both individual bias and differences in auditory acuity.

Consider two listeners, one capable of hearing out to 15kHz, the other with an upper limit of 10kHz. If both listen to a system with characteristic brightness above 13kHZ, it is obvious that one listener will be more sensitive to that condition than the other.

Even more important is simply ones preference for the sonic character he or she prefers. To some folks, a slightly rich bottom or subtly elevated high frequency response sound natural and neutral.

Reviewers are only human, they can make mistakes. But for the most part I honestly feel these guys report what they hear. However, their tastes in music reproduction may not necessarily agree with yours. Therefore you must be very careful before buying a product based solely upon the recommendation of one reviewer. However, if you have read many of his reviews, feel that you are familiar with his biases and find his tastes seem to follow yours in other instances, you can be somewhat more assured of making the right choice.

Read as many reviews as possible to see if you perceive a consensus of opinion. Talk to dealers and friends of their experiences with a given product and, most important, listen for yourself if you can. Be wary of dealers that promote only the products they handle as unequivocally "the best." There are many good brands and no dealer can expect to carry them all. If you hear: "This ABC preamp is definitely the best there is, and you are nuts if you don't buy it from me now, that XYZ you are considering stinks," look for another dealer. Associated equipment and personal biases must always be considered. While there is undoubtedly a "perfect" choice for a given component, in a given system, to a given listener, there is no such thing as a component that will be "perfect" in all systems. Always let your own personal preferences be your guide to selecting the equipment that is right for you.