Buying performance, or by the specification?

There’s a lot of discussion on the Forums at the moment about objective and subjective considerations of products, but one thing remains for sure – when it comes to the AV market, specifications sell.

I’ve lost count of the number of threads we’ve had over there about how one product is better than the other because it has this Sharc or that Wolfson or the other Crystal. And of course power figures are also a big selling point, to the extent that most manufacturers employ a spot of creativity to ensure their numbers are bigger than their rivals’.

Then there’s the sheer number of sockets on offer, most of which many users will never ever use, but which are often quoted in the name of 'futureproofing'.

It’s all roughly akin to a bit of badge-snobbery – you may only have the GLX, but I’ve got the CDX – which so often formed the basis of the pecking order among sales forces in the days before company car fleets started to feel the squeeze.

And it seems at least one manufacturer has finally put on paper what we’ve all suspected all along: people buy AV receivers based on the number of badges on the front.

This is Yamaha’s latest US advertising campaign.



Andrew has written about audio and video products for the past 20+ years, and been a consumer journalist for more than 30 years, starting his career on camera magazines. Andrew has contributed to titles including What Hi-Fi?, GramophoneJazzwise and Hi-Fi CriticHi-Fi News & Record Review and Hi-Fi Choice. I’ve also written for a number of non-specialist and overseas magazines.

Latest in AV
Google TV Streamer on a white background
Google TV's latest update adds a secret feature that could hint towards new hardware
iPhone 16e in black and white on a white background
Apple Event 2025: the new iPhone 16e (not SE 4), but no new HomePod or AirPods
LG QNED91 65-inch LCD TV
HDMI 2.2: everything you need to know about the new TV connection
Sky Glass Gen 2 on stand with Rewind logo
Rewind: hi-fi treats from McIntosh and TEAC, Sky Glass TV Gen 2, Apple launch announcement and more
Apple HomePod 2
3 Apple audio and home cinema products we want, but probably won't see, at the iPhone SE 4's anticipated launch
Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar package on a grey backdrop sitting below a TV
Google and Samsung’s Dolby Atmos rival should be coming to Android TVs, too
Latest in News
Musical Fidelity B1xi
Musical Fidelity's new stereo amplifier houses HDMI ARC and a built-in phono stage
A close-up of the FiiO FT7 headphones' earcups.
FiiO's FT7 flagship headphones take the fight to pricier rivals
A grey WiiM Vibelink Amp on a wooden cabinet between two bookshelf speakers.
The WiiM Vibelink Amp is WiiM's first integrated amp with no streaming elements
Q Acoustics 3050i
Save £650 on this five-star Q Acoustics 5.1 home cinema setup
Optoma Photon Go on white background
Optoma's new on-the-go projector is set to be one of the cheaper USTs on the market
Marantz Cinema 30 AVR
Our Award-winning reference Marantz AVR is still selling at its best price ever