On Reviews
Don't be cynical
Many favorable reviews have blessed LKV Research over the years. We greatly appreciate journalistic support: without it, we would wither.
Listening to other audiophiles sometimes sadden us with their stories of reviewers keeping equipment or publishers demanding advertising dollars. Over the last eight years, we’ve found no cause for such cynicism. Unearned negativity damages us and robs our industry of its inherent joy: great sound from different equipment designs.
No reviewer has ever demanded our equipment.
No reviewer has ever asked for a discount.
No publisher has ever inquired about advertising BEFORE sending LKV Research a review that is about to be published in any event.
No reviewer or publisher has ever pressured us in any way.
An Example of How it Actually Works. Two years ago, we wanted attendees at CAF 2019 to see our new Veros PWR+ splashed in the free Stereophile swag given away at the show. We paid for an ad. During the show, Herb Reichart wandered into our room, listened, and asked to review the PWR+. Herb loves tube equipment and felt that the PWR+ delivered a 'natural' sound between warm tubes and analytical solid-state. Two months later, his editor approved the request (space requirements, other equipment, … are publishing concerns). After delivery, months went by before Herb's writing was sent to Bill only for the opportunity to write a response for publication in the manufacturer's comment section of the magazine. Stereophile does not allow manufacturers to make or argue for changes to the content of a review. No one contacted us about advertising during this time or after. We had placed no additional ads for close to one year and hadn’t placed one for years before CAF 2019.
Stereophile never pushed us to advertise and wouldn't even let LKV promote the PWR+ in the review magazine; although the publisher was undoubtedly happy to accept our 1/3 page advertisements for subsequent issues. That's how our industry supports itself honestly. Without Stereophile, Enjoy the Music, and Part-Time Audiophile we would all suffer. We need trustworthy communicators, and we have them.
LKV has been blessed by honest, capable reviewers. We thank the following people and sites for their kind words (j.mp/LKVResearch):