Has the focus of the forum shifted? Is it the marketing, promotion and cheerleading arm of selected companies? Has advertising changed the landscape?

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Very well said, Elliot. It is refreshing to hear this perspective, especially from a paying advertiser and someone within the industry. Bravo.
 
Yes. Another example. Is Steve the new cheerleader for Audioarts?

 
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Yes. Another example. Is Steve the new cheerleader for Audioarts?

Follow the bread crumbs
First the speakers , then the wires and accessories and then the amp. Strange that there is a reviewer that has the speakers all all three amplifier brands from the distributor and the cables and accessories
And Viola the storm collides on the thread in this Forum.
Coincidence?
Accident?
Nothing to see here?
Decide for your self
As o said I was born at night but not last noght
Full disclosure is what is required from me and others so what’s the story here?
 
Back to the OP …

Reviews and forum posts are for entertainment.

It doesn’t bother me if people promote their own stuff. It’s usually obvious, and often you don’t have to look beyond the alias of the poster to know what’s coming.

I tend not to look at a lot of threads just because of this. If it was different 15 years ago, then like all good things, it came to an end.

The whole idea of “What’s Best” is a red herring. What’s Best for what purpose? And for whom? Each must answer these questions for their own situation.
 
Back to the OP …

Reviews and forum posts are for entertainment.

It doesn’t bother me if people promote their own stuff. It’s usually obvious, and often you don’t have to look beyond the alias of the poster to know what’s coming.

I tend not to look at a lot of threads just because of this. If it was different 15 years ago, then like all good things, it came to an end.

The whole idea of “What’s Best” is a red herring. What’s Best for what purpose? And for whom? Each must answer these questions for their own situation.
That’s fine and I agree but you missed the point of the post.
 
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the Forum is favoring certain companies and products over others. This is fine personally IMO , we all the right to like what we like, however when the Forum is used to market one product over others, I believe this is a bridge to far.
Elliot, more specificity on both sides if you can. Innuendo is unhealthy.
 
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I do believe there are members here (and I could be wrong) who appear to have undisclosed secondary agendas and use these forums to their advantage.
As I asked Elliot above, specificity if you can.
 
As I asked Elliot above, specificity if you can.
Read post # 26 and the thread that this is based on. There are lots of posts from various people and you can decide for yourself . However this is far from the first time this has happened . Read the thread Zelaton and my ascension to Soulution as well.
You decide for yourself .
All of us have to have to clearly identify our status and declare out interests

Full disclosure
Please read the threads and thrn
My comments
Make up your own mind with all the info
Thank you
 
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Read post # 26 and the thread that this is based on.
Understood. Nothing personal intended. Just not a big fan of innuendo in general regardless. AA has certainly got some attention on WBF lately.
 
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That’s fine and I agree but you missed the point of the post.
I think it’s just another example of you and I having different perspectives. You think my response doesn’t fit your issue. I think it does. I’ll leave it at that.
 
There is no innuendo

The pie is missing from the table
The pie plate is on the floor
The paw prints run across the kitchen and the dog has pie filling and crumbs on its face.
By the way do you know what an Italian suppository is called ?

An innuendo
 
Yes, the forum focus has changed. And it has become a center piece for certain parties' advertising.

It seems to me and others I have talked with that the Forum is favoring certain companies and products over others. This is fine personally IMO , we all the right to like what we like, however when the Forum is used to market one product over others, I believe this is a bridge to far.

Well, sure, that is partly how WBF operates. It seems obvious to me.

The preference given to particular products and companies does shift over time. It moves from one to another. CMS, Master Built, Schnerzinger (sp?), CenterStage, Taiko, Lampizator, Zellaton, etc. etc. The result is long threads -- mostly telling us how wonderful the product is and the joy of the owner in having it.

Some of this catering may be advertiser encouragement. One message to potentials may be: "this is how you may be treated if you become a paying member." Some is simply product and self promotion.

I understand your pique as a paying advertiser and dealer. But your personal sense of unfairness and expectations for balance probably won't lead to any changes. You know just how competitive the business is and this is the way business happens here. Fairness in business is pretty limited. I don't think it is intentionally personal.

I suppose you could spend your own advertising dollars in some other way -- that's up to you.
How would you change things? If you think there is a remedy or "solution", what do you think it is?
 
I see the big threads, Taiko, Lampizator and many others. IMO the owners are active on those threads, and in a good way. Sharing tweaks, tube rolling, asking the manufacturer about updates and advice how to set up the gear.

I don't see this as unhealthy. We need both owners and the brand to contributor, to generate knowledge. I could see Goebel having a similar big thread, if the brand was more directly active, and the owners as well. Traffic and information attracts success, that is how a forum should work.

As regards the Zellaton journey and Steve W, this is similar to so many threads on the forum. Ron's system for example, all great threads IMO. I love reading both, like a journey and good information as well.

So I vote, lets stop bashing the successful threads (by volume) and get these other brands threads going, by encouraging owners of those products to post, as photos, tell us about their system and journey. This is what we all want surely?

Lastly, if we look at other forums, ones that have adverts or no adverts, there are big threads on certain brands, for example UK centred forums tend to have big threads on Naim, Linn etc. The same situation, some brands are very active, others not.

I this appeal to Elliot to encourage owners of Goebel speakers to join in, start a new big thread. Post photos, share experiences. Then we will see this threads fed by the owners of Goebel speakers.
 
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I see the big threads, Taiko, Lampizator and many others. IMO the owners are active on those threads, and in a good way. Sharing tweaks, tube rolling, asking the manufacturer about updates and advice how to set up the gear.

I don't see this as unhealthy. We need both owners and the brand to contributor, to generate knowledge. I could see Goebel having a similar big thread, if the brand was more directly active, and the owners as well. Traffic and information attracts success, that is how a forum should work.

As regards the Zellaton journey and Steve W, this is similar to so many threads on the forum. Ron's system for example, all great threads IMO. I love reading both, like a journey and good information as well.

So I vote, lets stop bashing the successful threads (by volume) and get these other brands threads going, by encouraging owners of those products to post, as photos, tell us about their system and journey. This is what we all want surely?

Lastly, if we look at other forums, ones that have adverts or no adverts, there are big threads on certain brands, for example UK centred forums tend to have big threads on Naim, Linn etc. The same situation, some brands are very active, others not.

I this appeal to Elliot to encourage owners of Goebel speakers to join in, start a new big thread. Post photos, share experiences. Then we will see this threads fed by the owners of Goebel speakers.

I agree. We did see for a while lots of participation and focus on one of Elliot‘s brands when he sold the Wadax stack to Mike. I don’t see how that promotion is any different from the promotion of other brands here on the site. You had a dealer and a client sharing something new with great enthusiasm and back-and-forth from both parties. I remember at the time thinking this was a massive amount of promotion and marketing for one of Elliot‘s brands.

I suppose if Elliot feels very strongly about what’s happening to WBF and maybe in a larger sense to the industry in general, he can bring it up in the next Ron Resnick round table podcast hi-fi five chat and share his complaints to that audience. It would be interesting to see the reaction because Ron moderates that discussion and is an owner here.
 
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