Jonathan Valin the best audio writer, EVER.

mauidan · Jun 11, 2013

In the TAS 40th anniversary issue, Harley writes that Jonathan Valin is the best audio writer, ever.

Wonder if HP's decision to publish why he left TAS had anything to do with this?

KeithR · Jun 11, 2013

maybe most fickle writer ever. his head is so big and his references change so much, it's hard to keep up with him these days.

rbbert · Jun 11, 2013

devert said:
In the TAS 40th anniversary issue, Harley writes that Jonathan Valin is the best audio writer, ever.

Really one of the more comical statements I've read.

microstrip · Jun 11, 2013

Being an audio writer does not mean being a reviewer. I always separate these two aspects - and care little about the later. Surely, all IMHO.

Fast/Forward · Jun 11, 2013

I have some problems with Harley' statement. I mean, surely there must be other audio writers who have their spell check turned on?

Elliot G. · Jun 11, 2013

JV is a really good writer. I think that when he writes one can certainly understand exactly what he is saying. He paints an excellent picture and IMO he is very clear and easy to follow. I think however that being a reviewer is more than being a great writer. I have had a few battles with Mr. Valin about a myriad of subjects and I don't believe in his premises that there are multiple ways to listen or hear. I do respect his ability to express himself as well as anyone that has ever done what he does. HP was a great writer but HP never finishes anything and today barely writes a few sentences.

microstrip · Jun 11, 2013

I have a few favorite audio writers - at the risk of omitting some I also really like I will nominate just a few I consider very good. Gordon Holt, Harry Pearson, Jacob Heilbrun, Jonathan Valin, Martin Colloms and Paul Miller. Unhappily Jean Hiraga does not write regularly about audio since he started his audio company - but I still love reading his essays. This does not mean I always agree with their opinions or conclusions in reviews!

mep · Jun 11, 2013

David Wilson was the bomb when he used to write for TAS back in the Bronze age.

FrantzM · Jun 11, 2013

If you don't have something to say about someone .... Say nothing

I did like Wilson in the early TAS too .

asiufy · Jun 11, 2013

I like Fremer's writing style. It's far easier to grasp than Valin's.

alexandre

audioguy · Jun 11, 2013

The quality of the "writing" is immaterial. What counts is the quality of the reviewing and Valin falls far short in my book when he changes his reference favorites more frequently than I change my underwear. Zero credibility.

HP's writing style AND reviews I find much more substantive.

That said, I take all reviewer opinions with a very small grain of salt --- some more than others.

The guy whose writing I loved (but whose reviews were

) was Corey Greenberg. If he was nothing else, he was entertaining. VERY!

Bruce B · Jun 11, 2013

audioguy said:
The guy whose writing I loved (but whose reviews were ) was Corey Greenberg. If he was nothing else, he was entertaining. VERY!

Corey Greenberg and Chip Stern are very entertaining!

rockitman · Jun 11, 2013

I love Valin's RCA Living Stereo Bible. Great info on those recordings.

Shaffer · Jun 11, 2013

Heh, the header literally got a genuine LOL moment out of me. To me, "best writer" is an individual who can convey a thought/idea with very little to imagine on the part of the reader. The ideas must be clear, well-actualized, and most all... they must be defined in a manner familiar to those who read and understand English. Fremer is a good example of the latter, as is JA.

BTW, I loved CG's writing. The style more than the substance, but he sure got the idea right. I really like Steven Mejias's writing, as well. It's a pleasure to read. His last piece, where he expanded on his position driven by a reader's letter, literally brought a tear to my eye. Try that looking at a keyboard.

Elberoth · Jun 12, 2013

My personal fav is Martin Colloms. Not much in terms of writing style, but he more than makes up for it in terms of content.

For those who still haven't subscribed for his ads-free Hi-Fi Critic - I highly recommend to do so.

I also enjoy reading Michael Fremer and Dick Olsher among others. I wish Corey Greenberg was still writing about audio. He was THE entertainer for me.

mep · Jun 12, 2013

Dick Olsher drives me nuts because he won't review a piece of tube gear without substituting tubes from his personal stash. No tube gear sounds *good* until Dick rolls in his magic tubes. I still smile when I think about the time that Dick reviewed a VTL amp back when David Manley was still running the company and of course the amp didn't sound good until Dick rolled in his favorite tubes. David Manley was furious in his comments and you could just tell that David would have loved to plugged in a 211 into Olsher in a place where the sun doesn't shine.

Shaffer · Jun 12, 2013

mep said:
Dick Olsher drives me nuts because he won't review a piece of tube gear without substituting tubes from his personal stash. No tube gear sounds *good* until Dick rolls in his magic tubes. I still smile when I think about the time that Dick reviewed a VTL amp back when David Manley was still running the company and of course the amp didn't sound good until Dick rolled in his favorite tubes. David Manley was furious in his comments and you could just tell that David would have loved to plugged in a 211 into Olsher in a place where the sun doesn't shine.

[OT] Olsher and the Lesley Test. You guys remember that? My audio buddy and I would spend a considerable amount of time wondering what the music actually sounded like. Probably not the only ones. Olsher talked about the Lesley Test in almost every review with not juts a smidgen of reverence, but, as if the ending result defined the pinnacle of modern aural delineation. IIRC, it was the first S'phile Test CD that gave us a taste of the Lesley Test. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. [/OT]

mep · Jun 12, 2013

Shaffer said:
[OT] Olsher and the Lesley Test. You guys remember that? My audio buddy and I would spend a considerable amount of time wondering what the music actually sounded like. Probably not the only ones. Olsher talked about the Lesley Test in almost every review with not juts a smidgen of reverence, but, as if the ending result defined the pinnacle of modern aural delineation. IIRC, it was the first S'phile Test CD that gave us a taste of the Lesley Test. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. [/OT]

I remember. Leslie was his wife and he knew his wife's voice like all married men know their wife's voice and gear had to pass the "Leslie" test. Lot's of married guys develop filters for the frequencies their wife's speak on and they have selective notch filters so they only hear certain words they speak.

Andre Marc · Jun 12, 2013

mep said:
Dick Olsher drives me nuts because he won't review a piece of tube gear without substituting tubes from his personal stash. No tube gear sounds *good* until Dick rolls in his magic tubes. I still smile when I think about the time that Dick reviewed a VTL amp back when David Manley was still running the company and of course the amp didn't sound good until Dick rolled in his favorite tubes. David Manley was furious in his comments and you could just tell that David would have loved to plugged in a 211 into Olsher in a place where the sun doesn't shine.

My god, we actually agree on something 100%. Olsher is insufferable. I am sure he is a nice fellow, but he does not serve the reader. It is all about tube rolling. I thought I was the only one who who noticed this.

He spends 7 or 8 paragraphs writing a Bill of Materials and parts count. I just can't get through his reviews.

He just reviewed the same amp I did, the Carver Black Magic. He puts in NOS tubes that cost almost as much as the amp, then compares it to some decrepit old tube amps he has in his collection. Spare me.

mep · Jun 12, 2013

Andre Marc said:
My god, we actually agree on something 100%.

Will miracles never cease?

Actually Andre, I think we have agreed on a few things before.

Jonathan Valin the best audio writer, EVER.

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