Grand Prix Monaco review in new Stereophile- OUCH

Zanden measurements and subjective reviews? Yes, the Zanden I first got not only measured poorly, it was actually wired incorrectly at the factory and was therefore defective. However, it still sounded incredibly inviting. Mesmerizing actually. Why? I'm not sure. However, if you're interested in measurements as a guide for what's worth buying, surely you've given up on vinyl quite some time ago. Compared to CDs, vinyl SUCKS if you go by the commonly used measurements.....measurements are worthwhile generally and very useful for the most part, but if you let yourself get led around by the nose by measurements and just measurements, you'll end up in a very bad place.....as you will if you totally ignore them!

"Mothra" wrote: "but it;s would be typical of fremer to like because it is one of, if the not the, most expensive tables on the market."

That's silly my Japanese monster friend. I owned an relatively modestly priced Simon Yorke S7 for years and chose to not replace is with many far more expensive turntables that I reviewed. I reviewed the new $28,000 NAIM CD player and didn't feel it sounded all that different than my $7000 reference. I wonder on what basis you made the "typical" statement? Believe me, buying the Caliburn, even at an "accommodation" price was/is a big sacrifice. I am still paying it off. Another Caliburn owner I spoke with previously owned a Walker. He read my review and since he couldn't hear one before buying had to rely upon what I wrote. Talk about pressure! Was he happy with his purchase after doing a direct comparison? Absolutely. Another guy bought one and complained to me about my review at the HE2006 show in Los Angeles. He told me my review was misleading. Why? Because he felt after buying the turntable that I had 'held back' and that the Caliburn was far better than I let on. He also owns a Ferrari and says the Caliburn is his favorite purchase. I don't own a Ferrari but I agree with him. It's my favorite purchase ever too. Another buyer who writes for TAS came up to here mine and then bought his. You can be cynical but you should hear the Caliburn under good conditions. Unfortunately the sound at most of the shows has been poor but not because of the 'table.

That last piece was worth more advertising dollars for Continuum than a double full size page in that Wall Street journal mentioned before. Excellent sales pitch! And there you have it.

Just to elaborate on my prior post.

I too love the audiophile world, as opposed to the Wallstreet Journal reviewer mentioned, and don't think there is a more worthy cause to push for than listening to great music through a great system (that is, besides eradicating famine or child abuse in the world). And we audiophile customers the world over want/need true independent reviewers that give us an indication of product performance of various brands.

I do dislike the often invisible politics behind the equipment review process, manufacturers and the intermingling of commercial interests that happens all too often, and I think it taints the review process. How can you as a reviewer when you are comparing two turntables, state your independent opinion when you in fact obtained an "accommodating price" for one of them. You can't. In fact by paying (or paying off in this case) an "accommodating price" you are in fact saying that you would not have purchased it at the customary price. Hence not buying into its value proposition. So if your not paying a company the normal margin it's asking for, you have to pay with something else. Something like your posts above.

This post is not to take away the tremendous contributions that Mr Fremer has made to the audiophile review business in the past and in the future. There can be no doubt about that. But in the case of the Monaco tt Stereophile review and the content of this ensuing thread is evidence of the apparent controversy and indicative of much that goes on in the equipment review world.

11-13-07: Mtkhl567 wrote:
"That last piece was worth more advertising dollars for Continuum than a double full size page in that Wall Street journal mentioned before. Excellent sales pitch! And there you have it."

Yes, this is from a Monaco TT owner. So.... nothing strange here.