[norliss]

I've recently got back into the whole home cinema thing and on Saturday grabbed myself a copy of the latest (March) edition of What HiFi.

I'm wiser (more cynical) now than in my younger days when I genuinely believed such publications to be truly unbiased and impartial, but I have to say I was still shocked by what I had just paid £4.10 for.

Firstly, just about every time there's a Group Test, miraculously a Sony item seems to win. The most laughable being when the PSP Lite won out of a group of portable media players which included the Archos: the PSP is a good multimedia device but come on...

It mentions "BluRay" at every given opportunity: without starting a debate on the format war issue, the last time I looked there was more than on HD disc format out there, so surely they should at least be referring to HD media?

They just generally seem to try to pimp Sony kit at every given opportunity, even to the extent that they use pictures of Sony kit for when generic pictures are required eg letters pages.

I haven't seen such blatant advertising masquerading as a piece of media since Casino Royale's often staggering product placement but at least that was a Sony Pictures movie!

What Hifi should be ashamed of itself. Many people spend their hard-earned cash hoping that they will honestly guide them in how to spend even larger sums of their hard-earned money but they're being duped.

I'm sure someone will come to WHF's defence here, but please don't try to insult my (nor anyone else's) intelligence trying to pretend that they're not dancing to Sony's tune.

[Sonic68]

I haven't read it for years but when I used to they did the same thing with Nad equipment. There would be pages and pages of adverts for Nad stuff and then strangely enough they never had a bad word to say about it!

[DELUCAS]

Isnt WHAT HI FI an advertising magazine for sony !!

[Mr.D]

Its a rag. The only worthwhile thing about it is the Richer Sounds offers.
They know zip about hifi and less than that about home cinema and video.


It took them 3 years to stop telling everyone s-video was better than component. They never quite grasped that RGB over scart wasn't such a bad thing and that "NTSC" was not better than "PAL60" in reference to component and RGB ironically enough.

"What The Hell" (and I've self censored myself) would be a better name for it.

[norliss]

Originally Posted by Mr.D

Its a rag. The only worthwhile thing about it is the Richer Sounds offers.
They know zip about hifi and less than that about home cinema and video.


It took them 3 years to stop telling everyone s-video was better than component. They never quite grasped that RGB over scart wasn't such a bad thing and that "NTSC" was not better than "PAL60" in reference to component and RGB ironically enough.

"What The Hell" (and I've self censored myself) would be a better name for it.

Coincidentally, I was thinking that *** would be more apt than WHF

[tdtm82]

Originally Posted by Mr.D

Its a rag. The only worthwhile thing about it is the Richer Sounds offers.
They know zip about hifi and less than that about home cinema and video.


It took them 3 years to stop telling everyone s-video was better than component. They never quite grasped that RGB over scart wasn't such a bad thing and that "NTSC" was not better than "PAL60" in reference to component and RGB ironically enough.

"What The Hell" (and I've self censored myself) would be a better name for it.

You're kidding me. I didn't think they were that bad! I picked up a copy myself once and throw it away in disgust at the lack of intelligence with reviews. For me HCC is like the Cutom Pc of computer magazines but for hi fi.

What Hi FI is the simple choice for people who think Bose is the only market leader. I won't name the other dire pc magazine but you can probably guess what it is if you have no time for research and are very easy to please.

[James Baker]

Who do you think pays for what hifi writers to go out for meals and freebie PS3's and bravias????

What hifi is on the payroll of sony due to its adverts and of course they arent going to bite the hand that feed its...

[Tuddy]

Read this at work as someone left it in the Canteen. The SONY TV won the group test and they had to go and buy it with their own money.

[James Baker]

Originally Posted by Tuddy

Read this at work as someone left it in the Canteen. The SONY TV won the group test and they had to go and buy it with their own money.

I wouldnt have a bravia in the house - even if it WAS free - Have a 17" Sony LCD in the bedroom and its shockingly bad...!

[pwood]

I can hardly find HCC in the shops theses days. What Hifi has lost all credability since they continue to have such detailed HDMI cable reviews. These guys must be aliens if they can note such differences between cables. As for Sony Bias they did not rate their HDMI cable this month so who knows what agenda they are on month to month.

We still read it though ( In WH Smiths of course as it only takes a few minutes) as it does tend to cover more than most and I bet a lot of us head straight to the Richer sound advert just in case we miss a bargain

[Moviebuff]

I used to buy the hi-fi mags all the time -religously.

I genuinly find, that in the years I have used this forum, as well as the net in general, it has put paid to my urge or even need, to want to buy another.

The information on the web tends to be more objective & un-biased ( at least you can work out if it an article or thread was written by a fanboy),
and it doesn't cost the best part of a fiver, for a few pics and words.

Intriugingly, in this world of ever increasing pop ups, you get a whole load more adverts thrown at you in the mags - and you bloody well pay for them!

[Starx]

I used to buy the hi-fi mags Every time I need a funny magazine
sorry for my english.

[Jules Tohpipi]

Originally Posted by norliss

It mentions "BluRay" at every given opportunity: without starting a debate on the format war issue, the last time I looked there was more than on HD disc format out there, so surely they should at least be referring to HD media?

What HD disc format war are you refering to?

[homerdog]

I sometimes buy WHF, just to see what's new as much as anything. Obviously, you have to make your own judgements on the reviews, but I find no evidence of bias towards one particular manufacturer. In fact, I would say that the things they like are the same sort of things that everyone on here raves about! I do agree about hdmi cables though!

[LV426]

Originally Posted by Jules Tohpipi

What HD disc format war are you refering to?

It was posted in February 2008. Does that help?

[Jules Tohpipi]

Ah.... lol at Starx for reviving an old thread

[welshy]

ok, old thread and take with a pinch of salt but if you're interested What HiFi have not been rating Sony kit above others these last two issues. Their TV's have been rated 4/5 and a Sony headphone was rated only 1/5.

[William YZF-R1]

Originally Posted by welshy

ok, old thread and take with a pinch of salt but if you're interested What HiFi have not been rating Sony kit above others these last two issues. Their TV's have been rated 4/5 and a Sony headphone was rated only 1/5.

Well I for one won't be buying What HiFi again, thats scandalous and an obvious distortion of the truth. HDMI cable tests were a step in the wrong direction but now stitching up Sony - Unforgiveable .

If I were Sony I'd take my advertising elsewhere.

If only Sony made Xbox 360's my world would be complete.

[Mitja]

I think that you oll have point,but...
You should consider that What HiFi (and other magazines) are in deep market crises.So, of course they cant bite the hand that is feeding them.I still by it acasonaly and it costs 11eur in my country.But you must confes that thay are not sneeky, since we all know they are in Co. with Sony.

[NethLyn]

Well, I still have a soft spot for the Awards, though that's the only issue I buy every year now, the rest I leave on the shelf.

Bias is in the eye of the beholder, what's annoying to me is the magazine had orgasms over, for example, Sennheiser's PX200 headphones, gave the model below that multiple awards, but now the follow-ups have been released (the HD218), there's deliberately no comparison with what went before - as you're supposed to spend the extra tenner on the new set, which makes Sennheiser's PR firm happy, but it's no use to me.

Then again, maybe that's just me, I've had two pairs of any headphones I ever liked, I don't tend to move on for the sake of it. But I'm sure there's plenty of other examples - still, it's train fodder and I buy it once a year. I don't recall them ever saying that the latest Panny DVD Recorder wasn't worth buying compared to the one from the previous quarter like they said about the EX89, so they're making some limited effort to be tough where they've previously been soft.

[NethLyn]

Well I now have the 2009 Awards Issue...and the general attitude this year has been to go high-end despite the recession, my award winning turntable was £120 when I bought it, ten years later the cheapest award winner is £200, and the same with headphones, where the newest update to the Grado SR60i models have been used to push the price up to £100 from the £80 of the older versions, big step up (£70) from Sennheiser's PX range of a few years back. There's a big jump from aspiring to own high end gear to thumbing your nose at people on a budget.

All I have to say is that anyone cynical about Sony's Awards, avoid page 64! Ironically in the year that a family member bought a flatscreen Sony telly and is over the moon with it, that's the year they got no awards whatsoever for TVs.

Criticism is fully deserved when you read the HDMI cable awards, £50? It's all been said in that other thread, so I won't repeat here. The PC approach to the PVR awards is ridiculous, it needs revamping if Sky Plus HD is a PVR for its own network only - as in you wouldn't bother with anything else if you were subbing to that satellite service. If they factored in reliability of products and the flat £65 for an out of warranty callout on a Sky HD box that went wrong, would it still win with a true cost of £104 once the contract finished?

Considering I always seem to be headphone shopping and the December issue rounds up all the little accessories every year maybe that's becoming more useful to me than the Awards, for the very first time. I'll be free of it altogether when I finally make my own upgrades and by the time I finally go flat the question will be whether there's anything better out there than Freesat.

[patton]

Well I have to come to the defence of Sony here because i have owned many Sony products and still do and they have all been fantastic without a hitch..

I have had a Sony DVPS7700 DVD/CD player which has lasted me 9 years and still looks and sounds like new, my Sony 46inch TV is fantastic and i have a Sony 17inch LCD monitor a PSP, Sony home cinema player, and PS3.

Obviously i have alot of Sony products but all for a good reason they are all fantastic pieces of equipment well built and last i never have a problem, and don't get me wrong i know WHF can be biased against companies and Sony is probrably one of them, but for me its for good reason because Sony is very good at what they do...

[MADEINUK]

Originally Posted by patton

Well I have to come to the defence of Sony here because i have owned many Sony products and still do and they have all been fantastic without a hitch..

I have had a Sony DVPS7700 DVD/CD player which has lasted me 9 years and still looks and sounds like new, my Sony 46inch TV is fantastic and i have a Sony 17inch LCD monitor a PSP, Sony home cinema player, and PS3.

Obviously i have alot of Sony products but all for a good reason they are all fantastic pieces of equipment well built and last i never have a problem, and don't get me wrong i know WHF can be biased against companies and Sony is probrably one of them, but for me its for good reason because Sony is very good at what they do...

And there was I thinking I was the last SONY fan left in the UK. But i must agree with the negative views of WHF mags changing opinions on what's worthy of an award.

[William YZF-R1]

Originally Posted by MADEINUK

And there was I thinking I was the last SONY fan left in the UK. But i must agree with the negative views of WHF mags changing opinions on what's worthy of an award.

No, theres me too.

[James Baker]

Its been along time since sony have made anything really good - there tv range these days is the butt of many a joke - I personally wouldnt have a sony bravia in the house and always talk friends and family members out of buying them - but thats the point - sony 'USED' to be a good brand that you could trust but these days they are peddling rubbish stuff at premium prices...

One way they are trying to fight this backlash is by 'using' magazines such as WHAT HIFI...

Remember the magazines sell advertising space and also review products - surely that is the ultiamte conflict of interests!

[CALLMENUJAK]

Originally Posted by William YZF-R1

No, theres me too.

and ME!!

[William YZF-R1]

Originally Posted by Baldybouncer

Its been along time since sony have made anything really good - there tv range these days is the butt of many a joke - I personally wouldnt have a sony bravia in the house and always talk friends and family members out of buying them - but thats the point - sony 'USED' to be a good brand that you could trust but these days they are peddling rubbish stuff at premium prices...

One way they are trying to fight this backlash is by 'using' magazines such as WHAT HIFI...

Remember the magazines sell advertising space and also review products - surely that is the ultiamte conflict of interests!

I could be wrong, as I don't buy the mag, but I am sure I recall a thread in the AVR part of the Forum in which it transpired that Sony don't even advertise in What Hi-Fi.

A few years ago Sony TV's were expensive but IMHO thats no longer the case & are at least on par with similar priced offerings regarding quality/features. I am very pleased with my Sony LCD's and feel you may being doing a disservice to your friends etc.

[NethLyn]

Originally Posted by patton

Well I have to come to the defence of Sony here because i have owned many Sony products and still do and they have all been fantastic without a hitch.

I wasn't attacking Sony, in fact my Mum loves her new Bravia though I have to get used to a screen that you have to stay at the right distance to watch - as opposed to a CRT where the picture might get less than flat depending on the angle, but it wouldn't descend into Jaggies if you got too close. That's more a technological thing, not particular to Sony.

It's certainly true that those loyal to Sony sometimes give the products more support than the company itself, I still haven't bought a Network Walkman because I'm happy with Minidisc still, after all this time, but that's not how Sony makes its money.

As far as I'm concerned, flat TVs, you can see trends (like Samsung emerging as the budget kings) but until we get to say ten years of HD TVs in this country, we won't know how long they really last until they start keeling over. The panels might be rated for five years, the company that can make a flatscreen that gives a decade/11 years like a CRT, will rule the market, and paying for a name won't come into it, when they might fight on price like Samsung does.

[NethLyn]

Well, got the issue after the awards one and it was an excellent mini-roundup of products for Xmas and a retest in the TV area - the Award winner from Samsung kept its crown though they have to get on and test as many non-Panasonic Freesat TVs which have been launched since then, as there are W and Z series models from Sony arriving on the scene.

I solved my own problem...I'm sticking with Vinyl and Minidisc, and purchased another pair of PX 200 headphones. The magazines are an OK guide but you have to "go with your own eyes" as they said in their HDMI cable award section, or go with your own ears for headphones. I'm simply being a lot more careful with this pair as I want them to last longer.

To be fair to the magazine, if certain sections of the market are simply abandoned and left to a few companies, it'll always result in the PC awards giving that we saw with PVRs - If there's only Toppy and Humax at the top of that field with an occasional wild card from Sagem, there's not much to choose from. Also if Panasonic decided to market its twin-tuner DVB-T DVD Recorders in the UK, that would probably be the first new award in a long time.

Ironically after all that, since I like recording Radio shows overnight the Humax 9300T is a tempting buy - I would like to think the What Hi-Fi Award wasn't an undue influence on my choice

[eiren]

Originally Posted by William YZF-R1

I could be wrong, as I don't buy the mag, but I am sure I recall a thread in the AVR part of the Forum in which it transpired that Sony don't even advertise in What Hi-Fi.

They do, and also the official Sony magazine is published by the same people... and the What Hi-Fi editor is also an associate editor on the Sony Magazine, as well as others from What Hi-Fi's team:

What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision

Sony Magazine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some might call that a conflict of interests.