Joint reviews are dicey for a few reasons. As mentioned before, there becomes the question on whether or not a person can provide each product with their ideal situation – be it in terms of room, electronics, and even music selection. If you make it past that first hurdle, the second entails the challenge of creating a entertaining yet very informative review that gives both products well deserved attention and thorough analysis – all without giving heavy bias towards one particular side. Often times the bottom line will also come down to attention and the fear of a bit of thunder being stolen in that process. Putting the shoe on the other foot – if you were to submit your creation in for a stand-alone review only to find it to be pinned up against something else which you may or may not have any knowledge of, can put a damper on things. Hence why, as “WEEZ” mentioned in the first response; how important it is to gain manufacturers consent.
However, if I can provide ideal enough conditions for both products and have the blessing of both parties – than its something that in my mind, has plenty of merits that ultimately benefit every party, most importantly the consumer.
As stated before, I will have to eat crow and admit I jumped the gun a bit in proposing a joint-review of these two fine integrated pieces. You could blame it on over enthusiasm! It’s easy to write about cost-no-object hi-fi and claim there is little to pick apart. In a world where most products out there are good, its fun when you come across something truly exceptional – something that allows you to get a sample of the real-deal at common man prices. That, to me, is when you have something really worth writing about!
Jeff - I shot you a PM.
