Colloms Hifi Critic 200 review

[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.