|   Why are the reviews so high | Bond
Jan 1, 2002 8:15 AM | | I've decide to invest in a high end system...I just scanned the ratings of all the int. amps and amplifier. Most products are rated between 4 and 5. I guess it really does not matter what I buy, chances are, it will be good, form the $300 Pioneer to the $8000 Accuphase. Can someone help me understand this? |
| Budget | one50
Jan 1, 2002 12:41 PM | | First make a budget, I'm only going to spend x amount of cash for audio. With the budget in hand you can compare items within that budget.
Now the difference in price is just like buying a car...you can buy a Kia for pennies or a Lotus 8v for lot-o-pennies. They both get you to work and back. One looks better, sounds better, has better parts, better enginering, etc...
Thats the basic difference. More money doesn't mean it's the best...If I had all the money I ever wanted I would never buy a Bently for $650,000.00 It's not my bag...Same with audio...some of the Mega High end stuff is just not my thing and If you listen to it, it might not appeal. In this hobby you have to listen, listen, listen...and choose what you like...not what others like. |
| It's because the rating system is extremely limited | Dougman
Jan 1, 2002 12:47 PM | | There are any number of reasons why this happens, but, in a nutshell, the 5 point scale, with voluntary submissions, virtually guarantees that any product that is not defective will get scores above 4. Because people are supposed to rate products within their category, rather than on an absolute basis. And, there is a fundamental bias about who submits reviews and why.
So, everyone who buys a product doesn't review it - only those who are motivated by the product being noteworthy (in either a good or bad way) actually review it. So, if I buy a product, and I'm happy with it enough to review it, I'll certainly give it a 4 or 5. If I am unhappy with it, or it is somehow defective, I'll defintely give it a 0 or 1. What you don't get are 2s and 3s, for average or indifferent products. Because that is more a commentary on the reviewer having bought something that is indistinguished than on the product itself. So those reviews never show up.
In a nutshell, if a product has very LOW scores, the reviews provide a good tool to avoid it. If the scores are superb - i.e. right at or near 5 (with many reviewers, or else it is unreliable) then THAT is a good indication that the product is outstanding. However just about everything else will score in the range between 4 and 4.5 which is fairly useless info. |
| It's because the rating system is extremely limited | Dan McG
Jan 17, 2002 9:38 AM | | One thing is for certain, higher priced gear nealy alway uses the best components avaiable. The sound may not be to your liking but the quality is nearly always terrific |
| re: Why are the reviews so high | Doug C.
Jan 1, 2002 2:34 PM | | When reading reviews look closely at the "Simalar Products Used" listed by the reviewer. Are the simalar products used in a lower, higher or similar price range to the product being reviewed?
If someone upgrades from a clock radio, any $250.00 reciever is going to sound great. If someone indicates they purchased a 2K set of speakers because they sounded better than others costing as much as 4K that were auditioned, this is significant.
The rating system is not perfect, but with some effort you can glean lots of useful info from them.
Doug C. |
| re: Why are the reviews so high | PJ
Jan 1, 2002 6:01 PM | | Learn to read between the lines...who actually reviewed it. Have they listened to any really good stuff, or as was said above just upgraded from something inferior?
If there is 100 reviews for a product, read them all and you should be able to get a decent idea about a product...and ask in the forums etc. |
| re: Why are the reviews so high | HTguy
Jan 1, 2002 6:27 PM | | Don't let the reviews pick YOUR componants. They are heavily 'owner' biased. It's only human nature to try to reinforce you buying decision by saying the stuff you bought is the best. Use it to find out if many people are having reliability issues. Don't worry about any sonic attributes, good or bad. Listen for yourself. Usually you will notice that much of the less expensive gear gets better ratings than the expensive stuff. Is the cheaper stuff better? Not really, some people are just easier to please than others. Those in the higher end tend to be fussier about their componants, even though they cost more. |
| re: Why are the reviews so high | Bond
Jan 1, 2002 7:46 PM | | Those are all great responses... I had noticed the more critical review of the higher end material, and yes, it is human nature to support your recent investment of x dollars, and yes statistically speaking, if it's great to one's ears, or if it's a DOA, you will want to share that information with other.
Thanks for your responses..... I will scan with a more critical eye...
dan |
| re: Why are the reviews so high | Glen B
Jan 3, 2002 12:07 PM | | Ratings and opinions, whether from here or elsewhere should only be used as a guideline or starting point of what components to shortlist for "auditioning." Before you purchase high-end equipment, you should always listen before you buy. As much as possible, try to arrange an in-home audition of the component. Don't blindly follow the opinions and tastes of others. |
| It's human nature | Voodooloo
Jan 4, 2002 2:35 AM | | It's natural when spending our hard earned money, to want and expect a good value for our dollar. Hell, that's why we spend it in the first place: to get the "best" performance we can afford. Therefore, it is also natural that, when satisfied with a purchase (meaning the equipment doesn't sit up and fart in our face), that we will tend to overstate our assessment of the unit's virtues, and overlook some of its shortcomings. And, of course, our choice has to be BETTER than the other fellow's. So what he's got has to be a piece of #$@#! Hell, we also drive the best cars, have the best girlfriends/wives/kids, and dogs too! |
| The primary reason,,,,and I'm guilty | Dust Cover
Jan 4, 2002 12:28 PM | | When you get a product you love....you can't wait to do a review........when you get a product thats allright but nothing special you tend to not write a review. At least I'm guilty of that. |
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