I’ve just been rearranging the garage and pulled a few of the original issues of the first editions of HiFi plus and think it shows a more interesting and varied era.
Currently reading issue 22 which has reviews of Nap 300 and 250 power amps in same issue, priced at 4750 and 2200 respectively, the year was 2003.
The biggest thing that strikes me is the quality reviews of items mostly at least in reach in an admittedly expensive (allowing for i!flation) but not stratospheric.
Conversely today much of what’s in the press is just like a Pirelli calendar from the 80’s of exotica that is just unattainable.
Both reviews were very complementary, Paul Messenger and Chris Binns respectively , Roy Gregory offering a second view on Nap 300.
My much loved second system of Densen even managed to have rear cover advert of Beat pre and power amps. Their review in issue 1 led me to seek out the Beat 100 integrated in the first place and still going strong with B300 power amp.
I’ve got every edition of hifi plus since launch, unfortunately it’s nowhere near its peak anymore, but still read it, but far less relevant to my interests or indeed my budget.
The staff used to be more varied and felt like it had a mission, feels more exclusive commentary now, shame, but maybe just represents the direction of travel for this hobby?
They were very lucky to get some great writers onboard.
Chris Thomas is always a pleasure to read, especially when an attempt to break down a complex engineering solution is given some air.
I preferred the earlier Alan Sircom reviews from his days at Hifi World, seems now to be getting more contributors lately after a period when he seemed to write every article in Plus.
I didn’t hear about that, certainly remember all the positive press of all things Nordost.
Actually thinking back I do remember the editorial explaining the switch of editors and thought it was a shame but made sense given the change. Missed the follow on legal bits.
Loved that magazine. Always very entertaining.
The review outlining the superiority of the ‘giveaway’ Linn Basic mm cartridge over the Koetsu Black (IIRC about 35x more expensive) became the stuff of legend.
