The future of audio reviews hangs in the balance as companies bully their way to positive feedback.
The high-end audio market is facing a worrying trend as more and more companies are using harsh legal tactics to silence bad reviews. These actions, comparable to those of the mafia, threaten free speech and the quality of product reviews.
It’s not just a problem of reviewers – this could lead to the downfall of the entire industry.
Case Studies: Legal Threats in Action
It wasn’t always like this. Hi-Fi products used to be known for their quality. And, reviewers helped customers understand them better.
Those days feel long gone, as the lucrative Hi-Fi market now puts heavy pressure on reviewers. The new norm? Follow what manufacturers want or face possible legal battles.
Take Cameron Oatley‘s experience, known as GoldenSound, for example.
In December 2021, he reviewed the dCS Bartók DAC, a high-end converter costing about $15,000.
His analysis wasn’t a baseless rant but a well-informed evaluation. Yet, it triggered a severe response from dCS. The company threatened to sue him, saying his review had harmful lies, even though it had been online for two years without issues.
What’s particularly striking about this case is that GoldenSound had praised other dCS products before, including the Lina DAC. This clearly shows he wasn’t biased against the company. But, dCS set that aside.
In response, GoldenSound initially took down the video and reached out to dCS for clarification.
But when talks failed and dCS demanded changes through a legal notice, GoldenSound stood his ground. He then reposted his review and shared his experience with his followers.
This turned the tide around and triggered a backlash against dCS. Because of this, they later issued an official apology and invited GoldenSound to their factory to clarify things. They even offered to give him a dCS Lina system to use or give to charity as a peace offering.
While this response was positive, it begs the question: why were legal threats the first course of action?
Tekton Audio’s tale isn’t much different. They, too, lashed out at reviewers from Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review for pointing out some technical problems.
But Tekton wasn’t just upset about the reviews. They wanted to check the data before it went public and used legal pressure when they didn’t get their way.
This shows how far some companies are willing to go to control the narrative.
Expert Insights
What we’re seeing in the high-end audio industry shows a worrying trend beyond product defense— it’s eerily similar to mafia-like tactics.
Instead of addressing fair criticism, some companies are wielding threats and legal warnings as weapons to silence their critics.
Audiophile YouTuber The Greek Audio Geek addressed this, saying, “I begin to wonder if there’s a Hi-Fi mafia. There is a coordinated way where there are certain manufacturers, and certain reviewers, both print and online, that get really offended if you have your own thought process, you speak up, you don’t follow the company line.”
“They’re allowed to intimidate and harass people, and when they get caught. You’re not allowed to talk about it because you’ll get blocked if you talk about it. And that they are getting paid in ways that they are not being transparent about.”
Even Mark Levinson, a well-respected figure in the audio world, has also been outspoken about these disturbing trends.
In a recent interview, he didn’t mince words when he described the luxury audio market as a “racket.”
Levinson argues that the industry has moved away from sound quality and new ideas. Instead, it’s now more focused on making money—even if that means silencing those who dare to criticize its products.
He compared the high-end audio market to “supermarket pasta“—mass-produced, overpriced, and low quality. Meaning, the industry is resorting to cheap tactics to gain profits rather than real passion or innovation.
Levinson’s concerns aren’t limited to litigation threats either.
He also said that industry magazines often put advertisers before product quality and that the market has more overpriced gear with little real improvements.
The Loss of Trust in Reviews
These strong-arm tactics have far-reaching effects. When companies use legal threats to control what’s said about their products, how can we trust the reviews we read (or watch)?
As you’d expect, the impact on reviewers could be huge.
The pressure to tone down criticism or avoid mentioning certain flaws can lead to self-censorship. This problem is bigger than a few unpublished bad reviews. It creates an environment where reviewers might hesitate to say anything less than glowing praise about expensive items.
The effects on consumers are just as serious.
The lack of critical reviews, due to the fear of lawsuits, leaves buyers without the important insights they need for big investments.
And, in an industry where things like DACs and headphones can cost as much as a car, honest and straightforward opinions are crucial.
So, What Can We Do?
As consumers, we should band together to resist these coercive tactics. We must push for openness, support brave reviewers, and demand that manufacturers take responsibility when needed.
This may seem like a trivial thing to do. But, based on past issues, people lashing out at companies that threaten reviewers seems to work, making them take back those threats. So, it could be rewarding in a way.
Sure, the growing power of the so-called Hi-Fi mafia is worrying. But, we can keep our community honest and lively by uniting for honest discussions.
Let’s not let the industry silence the voices trying to keep it truthful and innovative. The future of our beloved audiophile world depends on it.