5 star ratings or death by stereo........

dont think any of my kit has a star. (Oh maybe the HD DVD player has).

I think What Hi Fi are very keen to promote the notion that only YOU can decide what suits you and to audition the kit you want to buy. We're all different and like different things.

When I set out to buy a complete system a few years' back I convinced myself I'd come home with Arcam kit that had rave reviews and 5 stars all round.

In the demo it left me flat and did nothing for me.

I ended up coming home with a Naim Nait5i amp, CD5i with Dynaudio Audience 52SEs and I loved it then and I love it even more now. The amp gets a 5 star rating but the CD player and speakers only 4.

Why ? Well as What Hi Fi point out, value for money is a consideration. Naim stuff is simply superb, but it is pricey and the distinct lack of features will certainly put some off so perhaps 4 stars is right.

My Dynaudios are special additions so while the standard ones got 5 stars and mine only 4 doesn't mean they're not better, as they clearly are - but not such good value as were an extra £300.

However - I certainly agree that if I were a manufacture I'd jump for joy at a 5 star rating !!!!

I also think that unless your an expert - there's so much choice that at least starting your buying decisions on 5 star ratings is certainly a good idea...

Do you not find though that people tend to buy on the strengths of the star ratings and not what they actually sound like. When i bought my sysytem I listened to a Roksan combo ( 5 star review ) and I must say it wasn't my cup of tea. Everyones musical taste and preferance is different so 5 STARS doesn't always mean good

Which is why we always make it clear that a four-star product could be better for your system and your preferences than a five star - which is the best all-rounder for the money.

I personally use several four-star products in my home system as they suit my musical tastes. But then i've plenty of five-star ones, too, as they're clearly the best at everything.

All shows (as, again, we stress every issue) that you have to look and listen at stuff before you buy - we're merely here to (great phrase coming up that I heard last week) 'choice edit' for you by helping you draw up a shortlist. 

That means the usefullnes of star ratings at all should be questioned then. i mean, the only solid piece of advice anyone can ever really give is "trust your ears". if one wants simple rules to follow in order to narrow ones choices, hifi is the wrong game, it seems. Sorry robg1976, that doesnt exactly answer your question.

 I disagree - we're talking about the subtle differences between four- and five-star products. There are a heck of a lot of poorer products out there not worth hearing at all...

Indeed. And like Clare, I have a couple of four-star products in my home reference system. Yes, maybe they lack certain facilities or haven't got the latest must-have gizmo, but they suit my purposes and blend well with the rest of my set-up.

As we never stop saying, certain four-star products can work superbly with other components to make a stunning sounding/looking system. 

And BTW, if you disagree with our verdicts and prefer to buy something else, that's fine by us. We're here to offer advice and guidance, but at the end of the day it's your money you're spending, and your system, not ours. We just want you to enjoy your music and movies!

thought you might lol! yeah, i see your point. and, i must admit, im not really sure what mine is...except, auditioning is easier said than done.

No I can/t see the point either. Nice glossy mag but for in-depth reviews try ... Have'nt bought any publications for ages but I flick through them at my mates shop. Four/five stars, who cares you'd think but ... a lot of gullible idiots do. Thats why you see so many '5 star' '5 globes' or whatever products for sale on ebay 5 months after launch.

I heard from someone in publishing that the ratings follow the amount of money the manufacturers spend on advertising with the mags ie. more spend = more stars, or at least favourable reviews.......food for thought.......

Certainly not anyone in publishing at Haymarket - though some mags published by other companies may work that way.

I can give you many, many examples of either major advertisers getting poor ratings or non-advertisers winning Awards. The only thing that matter to us is how something performs for the money it costs to buy in the shops.

Want absolute up-to-date example? March issue, out this week, has a three-star review of a product that's advertised in premium position on back cover of the same issue. 

fergs - go hide. quick.

Only if you like roast old chestnuts. 

Hmmm... Three hours from OP to ads = eds.

Damn! I had four hours in the office sweepstake. 

You know, I wish someone would actually name this 'someone in publsihing' or 'someone from a hi-fi company' who always gets quoted in posts like this. 

oops too late. incidentally clare - always agreed on that one, coz i see no reson not to trust you.

Hmmm. think you'll get a smacked bum for suggestingit, and given that Mission always get the back page and those particular products don't get a good rating I would beg to differ. I work in advertising and the back cover commands a hefty premium.