'Sound advice' in the new issue.
Mmmmm....Not sure if mixing it up is the way to go. I used to like the seperate Hi-Fi, TV, A/V, & MP3 sections. As I'd tend to skip the TV & MP3 sections (They're of the least interest to me). Now they're all lumped in together.
I can see the benefit, as you're using less pages now, but still think I prefer the old system.
All in all, a subtle but worthwhile update, although I don't think that iRiver MP3 player should be in any magazine outside of a Mothercare catalogue..... Nasty....
EvilWolf:Andrews certainly looks like he's enjoying the good life (pun intended!).
Unless you're outing me as a Felicity Kendal fan, I fail to see any pun, intended or otherwise.
And those in the know will tell you I don't do 'enjoying"...
Thankyou for the (magazine) comments. That face is my serious face. It took a lot of work not to do the silly grin and look like a children's TV presenter (makeover mk 2).
The idea of mixing up all the questions in Sound Advice was to allow us to answer more questions and make what is essentially a letters page feel more inviting. The tabs with subject headers still make navigation clear and, with such modern convergence among products, we thought it necessary to break down the sections for sake of clarity.
I think the changes made to the magazine make a real difference.
Overall I would say it looks sharper and easier to glance through to find what you want to read.
My particular fav is the playlist page, reading through it was one of the areas which caught my eye as being better. ÿCompared to the old mag only subtle, but that is the secret of great design.
Compliments to the design team, they have done a good job! ÿ
I totally agree with Big Chris. Mixing the Sound Advice topics just brings chaos where before there was clarity - a retrograde move.
Unfortunately real hifi is being squeezed out in favour of AV, PC and MP3. Shame.
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JoelSim:Unfortunately real hifi is being squeezed out in favour of AV, PC and MP3. Shame.
No doubt AV, PC & MP3 are, today, bigger markets - and, actually, that's fine by me! (Speaking as an AV afficianado, and not so interested in hi-fi anymore).
Squeezed out? Across the magazine and website we do more hi-fi reviews than we ever have. And more than anyone else.
That's why you won't find six page reviews of a product you can't actually buy. If it's new hi-fi that matters, it's reviewed by us, it's as simple as that. If you believe MP3 isn't a part of modern hi-fi, well...take a look at the Uniti. Or our recent feature.
The mix of kit we test is purely down to demand - it's only natural that you want a decent home cinema to compliment a decent hi-fi after all.
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Richard Melville:Squeezed out? Across the magazine and website we do more hi-fi reviews than we ever have. And more than anyone else.
That's why you won't find six page reviews of a product you can't actually buy. If it's new hi-fi that matters, it's reviewed by us, it's as simple as that. If you believe MP3 isn't a part of modern hi-fi, well...take a look at the Uniti. Or our recent feature.
The mix of kit we test is purely down to demand - it's only natural that you want a decent home cinema to compliment a decent hi-fi after all.
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It's much more than that Richard. I've said this many times now, and that is that hifi separates assume less and less pages of the mag. I understand why, but I for one, am not getting value for money from the mag any more. The vast majority of it is of absolutely no interest to me. I have a telly and have no intention of buying another one for 10 years. I don't want home cinema as I don't watch movies much, likewise BluRay, besides my DVD player is high enough quality for me. I have no interest in MP3, in fact my iPod and Bose Sounddock collect dust in a cupboard. I have little interest currently in computers but I do actually read those bits. The remainder of the mag therefore takes about 45 minutes to read cover to cover. That is approximately 1/3 or 1/4 of the time of each of the other 2 magazines I subscribe to.
Very very disappointed as when I first started reading WHF about 20 years ago it used to keep me happy for a good few hours.
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JoelSim:
Richard Melville:Squeezed out? Across the magazine and website we do more hi-fi reviews than we ever have. And more than anyone else.
That's why you won't find six page reviews of a product you can't actually buy. If it's new hi-fi that matters, it's reviewed by us, it's as simple as that. If you believe MP3 isn't a part of modern hi-fi, well...take a look at the Uniti. Or our recent feature.
The mix of kit we test is purely down to demand - it's only natural that you want a decent home cinema to compliment a decent hi-fi after all.
It's much more than that Richard. I've said this many times now, and that is that hifi separates assume less and less pages of the mag. I understand why, but I for one, am not getting value for money from the mag any more. The vast majority of it is of absolutely no interest to me. I have a telly and have no intention of buying another one for 10 years. I don't want home cinema as I don't watch movies much, likewise BluRay, besides my DVD player is high enough quality for me. I have no interest in MP3, in fact my iPod and Bose Sounddock collect dust in a cupboard. I have little interest currently in computers but I do actually read those bits. The remainder of the mag therefore takes about 45 minutes to read cover to cover. That is approximately 1/3 or 1/4 of the time of each of the other 2 magazines I subscribe to.
Very very disappointed as when I first started reading WHF about 20 years ago it used to keep me happy for a good few hours.
Yes, ditto here, except I'm a quick reader and have finished around the twenty minute mark. It's interesting that on the forum it's the HiFi section that's the most active, not the Home Cinema sections.
The magazine and the website allows us to write about hi-fi more than anybody else. I'd guess you spend more time on here and in our magazine than the others?
A five page review of a product in another title is misguided - increasingly, you'll get video and even podcasts after group tests on this site, rather than a few extra pages of waffle from people solely testing kit at home rather than a selection of listening rooms. The new issue has 24 reviews of hi-fi products compared to 23 home cinema products.
You can read more quality opinion about hi-fi here than anywhere else - more news, reviews and features - online Munich coverage and the new issue out next week are prime examples.
We outsell every competitor by a huge margin too. The majotity of rivals sell 2-6k copies a month at the moment. So, given the current situation, I'd say enjoy them while you can!
Tarquinh:
JoelSim:
Richard Melville:Squeezed out? Across the magazine and website we do more hi-fi reviews than we ever have. And more than anyone else.
That's why you won't find six page reviews of a product you can't actually buy. If it's new hi-fi that matters, it's reviewed by us, it's as simple as that. If you believe MP3 isn't a part of modern hi-fi, well...take a look at the Uniti. Or our recent feature.
The mix of kit we test is purely down to demand - it's only natural that you want a decent home cinema to compliment a decent hi-fi after all.
It's much more than that Richard. I've said this many times now, and that is that hifi separates assume less and less pages of the mag. I understand why, but I for one, am not getting value for money from the mag any more. The vast majority of it is of absolutely no interest to me. I have a telly and have no intention of buying another one for 10 years. I don't want home cinema as I don't watch movies much, likewise BluRay, besides my DVD player is high enough quality for me. I have no interest in MP3, in fact my iPod and Bose Sounddock collect dust in a cupboard. I have little interest currently in computers but I do actually read those bits. The remainder of the mag therefore takes about 45 minutes to read cover to cover. That is approximately 1/3 or 1/4 of the time of each of the other 2 magazines I subscribe to.
Very very disappointed as when I first started reading WHF about 20 years ago it used to keep me happy for a good few hours.
Yes, ditto here, except I'm a quick reader and have finished around the twenty minute mark. It's interesting that on the forum it's the HiFi section that's the most active, not the Home Cinema sections.
Valid point about the hi-fi section being the most popular on this forum. Like joel I'd like to see more two-channel reviews as I'm a two-channel addict.
I also believe you only read the parts that of interest to you anyway. Take the forum, outside of the hi-fi and misc I rarely post threads.
I read all the magazine whether it be tv's, blu-ray or two channel amps there's not a lot i don't read, i think that the magazine has something for everyone what ever your interested in.
I listen to cd's & the radio through my onkyo 606 which is perfectly adequete for me, i already have five.1 speakers in my flat so don't think it's necessery to have two extra speakers & a two channel amp.
Keep up the good work WHFS&V.
JoelSim:Unfortunately real hifi is being squeezed out in favour of AV, PC and MP3. Shame.
I have to agree here - the magazine didnt used to have "Sound And Vision" tacked on the end. However, I guess the point of a magazine is to sell copies and keep with the current trends of the readership.
I don't subscribe because there are issues where there are no tests or features that interest me. Instead I buy as and when I see stuff I am interested in. Over a year it works out about the same as subscribing.
Anyway, the other months are for Classic Car and Practical Classic magazines.
The magazine still looks largely the same to me, with minor tweaks here and there. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary is my conclusion. Good job nevertheless.
Andrews certainly looks like he's enjoying the good life (pun intended!). Richard has had an interesting makeover (2nd or 3rd?) but why does he look so 'down in the dumps'?
1st 'new look' issue - smile, dude!!!
HC - PIONEER PDP-LX6090, JAMO D600, ONKYO TX-NR5009, PIONEER
BDP-LX91, SONY BDP-S790
HF - ROKSAN CASPIAN M2 AMP, ROKSAN CASPIAN M2 CD, PMC 20/23