6Moons.com vs. Stereo Times


I was looking for RMAF 2012 reviews today and my search led me to the Synergistic Research site. I noticed their Home Page announcement that "6 Moons.com just reviewed our Tranquility Base." When I clicked to read more I found that the review in question is of Ed Meitner's EMM Labs XDS1 SE SACD Player with the Tranquility Base being used in the context of the EMM product. Let's have a look at how 6Moons.com reviews this audio equipment.

On the first page of the review there are two page-wide views of the Tranquility Base but there is only a single brief paraqraph about the Tranquility Base, highlighted by this statement, "The Meitner was tested in tandem with an anti-vibration/noise-reduction platform." The reviewer then defers to a lengthy explanation from Synergistic Research on page two of the review, accompanied by one more page-wide view of the Tranquility Base. So far, the only "review" here consists of quotes from Synergistic Research literature and prominent photos of the Tranquility Base. I used to be in the advertising business. So far, this looks more like advertising to me than a review.

But wait. On page 3 of the review the comments about the Tranquility Base finally appear. But, as is typical of many 6Moons.com reviews, where twists and turns and tangents abound, couched in florid prose and convoluted phrasing, the review introduces a third product to compare with the Tranquility Base. This third product is a Japanese platform called the RAF-48. At this point things become muddied:

"The Meitner atop the RAF-48 platform was more austere. It was perfectly audible that the Synergistic created a golden glow which clarified but also saturated the top end. This lacked with the AR. Meanwhile the bass seemed better articulated and differentiated with the Japanese platform. The difference was not significant but repeatable and audible with each record ..."

Until we arrive at the very end of the review where we read, "This platform [the Tranquility Base] is manufactured with unique attention to detail. It is not very high and its outer edges are trimmed out with aluminum banding ...", along with more information taken from the Synergistic Research site about the physical features of the Tranquility Base.

The most important thing that the review had to say about the Tranquility Base was found on page 3 of the review smothered by the accompanying prose:

"The Synergistic Research Tranquility Base is a very interesting product. It clearly influences the sound in a good way. It is prohibitively expensive but worthy at least a listen just to be aware of what’s possible. I think it will be very versatile and improve the sound for any type of component sitting atop it."

In other words, the Tranquility Base does something good but it is way overpriced for what it does. On 6Moons.com you often have to wade through the mire to get to the point. What took them so long to get to the point?

This review confirms why I am not a fan of 6Moons.com reviews. In my opinion, their reviews are characterized by florid prose that is ostentatiously literary. And their convoluted comments are pockmarked by comparisons, digressions and tangents that twist and turn, ending by often obscuring more than they reveal.

In comparison, I find Stereo Times' reviews a breath of fresh air. 6Moons.com reviews make me feel like I am trying to unravel a puzzle wrapped in a mystery couched in an enigma. How do you feel about 6Moons.com and Stereo Times?
sabai
"But, as is typical of many 6Moons.com reviews, where twists and turns and tangents abound,"
Ain't it the truth!

6moons is kinda like a lot of journalism these days, part entertainment, part factual/news.

As such it can be entertaining enough if you want to spend time wandering aimlessly along with random thoughts talking about audio stuff as is the case with many reviews there.

The opposite of "just stick to the relevant facts and get to the point".

I have read some nicely done reviews on 6moons, but recently a lot of it comes across I hate to say as mere diarrhea of the mouth towards the topic at hand. I seldom am interested enough to make it through an entire meandering "review".

Some writing lessons would be in order for many but not all of the reviewers there.

So I like the fact that it exists as a form of nerdy audiophile entertainment, but its kinda the audio equivalent of reality TV to me, sometimes entertaining, but often drawn out and a waste of time in the end. I do like that they do tend to try to think and look out of the box quite often compared to other sources, but that is often not enough for me to add any value.

I have not read enough Stereo Times to form an opinion there yet but I'll go out on a limb and say the quality control there at least might be better.

BTW the late John Potis did reviews for several sources in his day and was an excellent reviewer and writer IMHO. [url=http://6moons.com/audioreviews/walsh/micro.html]Here[/url] is one of his offerings on 6moons a few years back that hit the mark. If you want to cut to the chase with 6moons, their yearly Blue Moon Awards generally have some merit I would say.
I agree somewhat seems like they try and find the most complicated way they can give their opinion especially the head honcho. I find it quite irritating that they don't even list what type of gear is being reviewed. You can't always tell at a glance if it's a preamp or DAC for example. There are some music reviewers who are the same way, they will go on and on about another artist in relation to the review and barely touch on the music being reviewed.
I agree with Mapman's comments about John Potis. His leaving the site was a loss but his subsequent passing was a huge loss. Interestingly he was at least one of their reviewers who was unafraid of the effects of negative reviews even when they were the products of advertisers. I always wondered why he left. Hummmm......anybody know what ws behind that?
I was very sad to learn of John Potis' passing a couple years back and even sadder to learn afterwards that we were practically neighbors and I never had a chance to meet him, though he responded to a few email inquiries I had about amps for OHMs back when I was in major upgrade mode. I found out afterwards that he lived only a couple miles down the street from me. I would have loved to have some chats with him and I suspect he had an awesome stereo to listen to as well to boot. HE was perhaps the biggest contributor to my decision making process during major upgrade mode. I ended up with at least two major products he reviewed, the latest OHM Walshes and the Bel Canto CLass D amps to drive them.