Smug and loving it. (Forum).(Editorial)

I have been an avid reader of The $ensible Sound for years, and I have watched the price go up, but it seems worth it. For some reason I haven't subscribed, but I will. My motive for writing is what I perceive as a certain smugness regarding your stance towards the accolades paid to audiophile gimmickry, and particularly the pretentious differences given credit as existing between CD players, amps, interconnects, etc. in other audiophile publications (not to mention the prices of these bits of equipment). I agree with your general stance but I think your attitude regarding inter-connects, and equipment used for auditioning new equipment is an attitude in itself, which, again I think, characterizes your magazine. I mean, some of your methods seem stylistic enough to sound only like a style. In doing so I, (and I am sure others) who want a clear-headed perspective on what is useful and what is not, am left to my own devices in any case. I am speaking of using out of date equipment in which is installed a new piece for review or "an undifferentiated collection of esoterica" when characterizing the cables used for interconnects. Just a bit too blase. I enjoy the fact of your unbiased inclination to test any price point for its value, and, actually, Stereophile and Listener are coming around, ...