Colloms Hifi Critic 200 review

[Womaz]

As a none UK forumite I would for sure appreciate some background to the Ann W comment.

Best/Mike

I've sent you a PM to explain!

Thanks Ian! PM:ed back already!

/Mike

Hope it didnt offend anyone, just tongue in cheek comment.

[Mikeeo]

MC reviews have always been a mystery to me and my own listening experiences though at few times they concurred.

I also come from the Naim camp and Dev is def better in all areas. The thing is that the Dev really do PRAT so good it is just natural music coming out of the speakers as it doesn't leave a mark of it self like a product that is 'tuned' this or that way. 

Well we all have our experiences and opinions. 

/Mike

I've read the term Pace Rhythm and Timing a number of times in reviews but never understood what it stands for. If I wouldn't read it in the context of an amp, I woud think you were talking about the drummer... Can someone please enlighten me?

And the bass player... I guess if you have heard a lot of live music were the musicians really gel with each other to create a wholeness bigger than it parts that would be for me the live PRaT. Having that reproduced in you system well....

/Mike

[Axel]

I heard Naim kit once and must admit I did like it ......but lets be honest it's the Ann Widdiecomb of hi fi  

I think that post should get an award for the most pithy of the year!

So, you think he's taking the pith?

[munkee]

Since when does the 200 have Bluetooth?

[Harry.]

I'm afraid I thought Mr Colloms was no longer with us, it's been so long since I have seen his name in print. I am relieved to see he is alive and well and still reviewing HiFi! To be sure, this is one of the old school reviewers who come from the era when Linn and Naim were omnipotent. The Devialet must be something of a shock for him! 

[IanG-UK]

Thanks Ian, for the teaser of the review. I'm totally comfortable with a review that finds the Devialet not to the author's liking; we all have audio preferences.

I think that reviews are most valuable when we feel we have some familiarity with the reviewers interests and preferences. Then we're reading opinions and commentary from someone we feel we know. Without having some understanding of his ears, it's hard to take issue with his opinion. I've never heard of him and I know nothing about his style or audio inclinations. At about $30.00 an issue the magazine is pricey; I'd be interested to know if anyone who subscribes thinks it is three times the value of Stereophile. As you say, not many will be familiar with him, though Paul Messenger is well-known.

I also love the PRaT of Naim equipment, I love the urgency and drive it has compared to the other similarly-priced equipment I've heard. But it is solidly true that I have lost nothing in the rhythm and drive department going from Naim to Devialet. And I've gained so much in the subtlety, depth, clarity and expression of the music that I could never go back. And the bass texture and detail in the Devialet is still something that I marvel at... and me with my 'umble D120.

I think that the number of knowledgable music enthusiasts (not people interested in just hi-fi) who have switched from Naim to Devialet is a telling counterpoint to the idea that PRaT is compromised with Devialet. I don't count myself among the wise or knowing crowd, but I do believe that the slim chrome boxes are amazing, both for sound quality and value.

Hi Damon

In the UK it is £60 for four quarterly issues so I guess it is $120 in Canada and the US. As a UK resident I like it more than Stereophile because it has a UK/International focus whereas understandably I find Stereophile to have a US/International focus. What's more, HiFi Critic takes no advertising which contributes to making it a nicer read (IMO) and is allegedly more impartial (though this would be disputed by some).

Its resulting tiny budget may contribute to the narrower range of brands seemingly available for review - and over its eight year life it has, IMO, moved more towards reviewing Naim at every opportunity. Perhaps because it is a brand which seems readily accessible to them. And the three main reviewers are all Naim users. I think this creates an undesirable slant on the review agenda - though I do think Martin Colloms remains the best reviewer I come across, for his obsession with detail, his technical knowledge, his ability to convey subjective impressions better than most, and his unique (?) willingness to adopt a robust scoring system which has been around for about 30 years.

The magazine's shortcomings, IMO, are particularly its narrow reviewer base, an overemphasis on pace/rhythm/timing (which seemingly inevitably correlates with all things Naim), and a scoring system which has become rather crazy over the years - with some well regarded CD players scoring 10 - 20 points and one player scoring 450 points.

Nevertheless, I still buy it from a decreasing choice of serious hifi magazines (3 or 4?) available in the UK.

[IanG-UK]

Flattery is ...

Read my post numbered 2 here posted on 2nd April and then this remarkably similar post numbered 110 on 4th April on the Phantom Pink Fish thread:

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showt...532&page=8

I await the royalties flooding in ...

[Rufus McDufus]

That's a straight cut and paste of your comment isn't it?!

Here's the links to each, Ian's being the earlier by a day or two.
http://devialetchat.com/showthread.php?t...5#pid13325
http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showp...tcount=110

[thumb5]

I read the first sentence "...if this interpretation is correct" as if it should have a colon on the end, and then quote your words, Ian. Maybe I'm being unduly generous. Without a doubt, the poster should have made it obviously a quote and attributed it to you.

[Mikeeo]

Copyright violation! Or Ian=John ?