Have your say & ask the experts

I like many others look upon the what hi fi reviews as a pointer into new kit how well it performs and so on.

but under what conditions do the reviews take place?

the best of hdmi cables, the best copper lined power source the best speakers when reviewing av receivers?

I mean its all very well a receiver getting 5 stars but surely thats because the components its hooked up to make full use of the unit.

So when a review gives something a 5 star review its not based solely on the performance of the individual piece as it has a supporting cast of good equipment surrounding it.

Can anyone shed any light on the circumstances under which the reviews take place?

We do use reference kit, but also price-comparable kit (and often more kit as well to really find out how well a product can perform in different situations) so we both test a product to its extremes and with the kind of price-matched contempoaries it's likely to be paired with.

So, for example, a receiver will be tested both with our reference speakers and highest-end player but also, say, a Playstation 3 and a set of KEF eggs. 

If it exhibits a particular sets of characteristics - say it's a bit bright, or, conversely, over-rich - we'll experiment pairing it with other partners, cables etc to see how we can get the very best from it. 

And, of course, all the time this is being done in a comparative environment - each product we test is being compared to a best-in-class rival (and often ones below and above it in price, too) to put it in total context.

 All this is something many of our rivals - who rely on freelance reviews where the reviewers simply don't have access to such a large selection of products to mix and match with - typically can't match.

 More pictures and details of our reference kit here. Any other questions, ask away!

 

ah i get it now so in a sense your also assuming that a person buying a certain piece of equipment will pair it will other equipment of a similar calibre, kindalike your budget, mid range and high end sections you have in the magazine.

heres a question though, do pieces of equipment get marked down if they dont perform so well on your high end reference equipment?

 say a budget receiver barely impresses in your high end equipment but when paired will similar quality equipment knocks your socks off, does it loose something for not being able to perform with the good stuff, or do you ignore that due to performance with equipment its likely to be paired with?

your thorough review process of which was described in the above article shows why you guys are so highly regarded, well that and your forum interaction.

thanks for all your help

ps that home cinema room you have is a bit naff!!!!!!!!!
 

Because to all intents and purposes it is - accepts and displays   native 1080p.

Please don't mischief-make - i've had enough of that today!
 

no clare, i wont..