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
Through my experience with many of the First Watt amps, I can say that, as wordy and flowery as 6moons can get at time, Srajan does do a very nice job of characterizing these components' sounds and the types of systems that they would work well in.

Likewise, my DAC experience also agreed to a large degree with Srajan's characterizations of those components and in what sorts of systems and for what sorts of preferences they would or wouldn't work.

Very useful information can certainly be found in those reviews.

No review is perfect and no review is a substitute for hearing a component yourself, preferably in your own system.
Roscoeiii,
Yes I agree, Srajan`s reviews are exceptional in their detail and augmented with comparisons with competing components. I always feel as I have a good grasp on what a component sounds like once I`ve read the review.Some will like his style and some won`t.

When I`ve heard something he`s reviewed I`ll say he`s very accurate and on the mark with rare exceptions.
Regards,
Roscoeiii,
Your comments that Srajan can produce helpful information is noted. But the other side of the coin is often overwhelming in his reviews, IMO.
After several years of growing frustration, I just can't read 6moons anymore. A recent example was where a five page review contained approx. 3 paragraphs of actual review. I don't know what the hell the rest was; part philosophy, part travelogue, part food review...

Sam Tellig does the same thing, but better IMO. And at least he gets to the point eventually and provides a concise description of the gear he is describing.

While I enjoy the fact that 6moons review some less covered and new equipment. But it has just gotten too esoteric for my taste.